Comments By SOBER-J

Only time I used GPS I was running flatbed in South Carolina. Got to talking on the CB to a driver that was going to same shipper and I never been there. He had it I didn't. We ended up on a dirt road for about a mile and he kept saying " can see the yard and the place we going right here on my GPS it's just another half mile." Well it was but the damn road was blocked from that way in and we had to back out!

Yall use them if you want to but my advice is learn to read a map and get your directions from the last exit you get off.

I'm Sober-J over

That's right you can't tarp in the sleeper. This is just what I was trying to pull out of you. I ran flatbed and tarped loads and no how long it can take. Show at least 15 but 30 would be better. You should be fine.

Now we get to your miles the 70 hour rule and that you had five stops on that last run. Also now that I know your pulling flatbed makes all the difference in the world. Cause you got to do some type of unstrapping, unchaining, or untarping at each of those five stops and put the final pieces of your equipment away at the last stop. So even at 15 minutes at 5 stops that's over an hour. Then you have to have on duty time for your pretrip and fuel. That's why I was trying to get a little more info out of you.

We just here to watch out for you man. And help sharpen up your skills. These are the reasons I was asking the questions I did because I knew you were getting close. Yeah these guys and gals running teams can do 3800-3900 safe and legal but they mostly load and deliver runs that are over 1500 miles and its a lot of drop and hook. You not in that boat. Just saying big brothers watching.

You doing good man. You showed what your made of and your company sees it. They going to give you some good runs. Find you something fun to do you probably ready for restart after this anyway. Then next week you gone hit 3000 miles again.

Sounds to me like you "putting the butter on the biscuits and being the job"!

I', Sober-J over

No doubt about it. It is coming. Read Glen Beck he's a big time news guy on one of those channels CNN I think or one of the other big ones. Like you say though I hope I can get my 20 to 25 years in and retire before it comes. This technology is going nowhere unless something catastrophic happens. This guy who's very educated and on the front lines of the media and technology thinks the world going to be like the Terminator movies one day . With skynet and machines taking over. And the truth is it's possible.

Going to be tough for our kids.

I'm Sober-J over

I agree 100%! That is kind of my outlook on the whole situation. I really do not remember much except always traveling. I grew up traveling. Maybe not in a truck but I just do not feel comfortable sitting in one spot all the time and having the same thing every day. I want a new challenge or at least a new experience every day....My factory and warehouse days of the "same ol' same ol" lifestyle are over. It was the main reason I enjoyed EMS. Unfortunately, it is getting harder and harder to get into Fire and EMS and the pay rate for those fields is not exactly keeping up with the economy....I have always been the type that does not care what I do as long as I love my job....I love firefighting...but I have to actually start caring about how much money I bring in....Since I love traveling it seems to fit perfectly....we all have to do what we gotta do to put the "butter on the biscuits" as my dad used to say...lol

OK just so you know I'm using that one. "The butter on the biscuits" probably gonna see that one in some of my posts. Traveled quite a bit myself and staying in the same place gets old. Keep in touch.

I start with US Express next week. Bought me a General Lee today so I 'll be talking. Once I'm back on the road I only be able to check in here weekly or bi-weekly. No lap top or notebook or kindle or whatever else all this stuff is just yet. Maybe later.

Sober-J over

What is this about logging your prepass and tolls? I know about fueling but have never heard or gotten in any trouble for not logging these other two situations.

If I get the green light for prepassing the scales the last thing I want to do is stop so that I can put it in the remark section.

Ok sorry if I confused you. You don't have to stop and log it or flag it. Here's an example, your on the drive line from Christiansburg VA Which is mile marker 118 on I 81 And you left Christiansburg at 1:30PM You cross the scales in Troutville at mile marker 150 ( still in VA) that's roughly 30 minutes. If some one were trying to cheat the logs or "back log" there log book, (again if its not a computer log) they may have been waiting at a shipper or receiver or fuel or traffic earlier in the day. So to show on the log they got to Natural Bridge Va (marker 175) earlier than they actually did they would just say they left Cburg at 10:30AM instead of 1:30PM. And show no waiting at various places. But the prepass shows when you actually crossed. Now if there are no accident or incidents you probably would never hear anything about it.

So you could actually cross the scales at 2 PM but your log shows you crossed scales at 11AM. Again this would be if your not using computer logs. The computer will not let you cheat it that way.

Are you getting it? Basically if you have the "power of the pencil" or a paper log you can drive 60 miles an hour or 70 miles an hour if your truck runs that fast. If you were to start your day at 6AM and wait some where for whatever reason for 2,3, or even 4 hours that would just be eliminated then whenever you stop your not actually taking the full ten hour break which isn't legal.

Just saying. Big Brother is always watching.

Sober-J over

As usual Mountain Girl hits the nail on the head! You going to spend plenty of time waiting once your in your own truck. Waiting in fuel stop lines waiting to load and unload, waiting in traffic back ups. Just about everyday your out there you'll wait on something or someone to get out of the way.

The only reason I can think of for not starting now is if there is a bonus involved. Once you call a recruiter and give your name the sign on bonus clock starts ticking. That can be a big perk even if your a student. What I mean is you call a recruiter and give your name then they say ok we got a 3000 sign on bonus (just an example some are higher or lower depending on the companies) if you can be here next week. So being hind sight is 20/20 it could be better to not call anyone until you know you could leave the next week after you call.

As far as winter driving goes... I would not consider that in my decision. Winter will be there every year so you will eventually get that. If it does really concern you though just make sure you start school in Nov or Dec but there still no guarantee that you would hit a drop of snow. Just depends on were the loads take you.

I'm Sober-J over

I'm x military myself Hotshot and sounds like your "good to go." One thing I've found from all the different posts that people write is that sometimes I can tell if you have the right attitude coming into this business just from a few sentences. And it sounds to me like you do.

Not to get all deep but I agree. A man's most important goal should be to provide for his family. Now what I say next might sound a bit cold but I just do not have time to tell my whole philosophy on life, family, and raising children. I am married and have two children who I have been with as a father since day one. They mine and I helped make them. I have always been a guy that feels like if I do the right thing to be the best father I can and provide for them the best that I can they will respect me more in the long run even if I wasn't always around.

Here comes the cold part. I m more concerned about staying a part of their lives when they become adults than I am being there when they are children. Let's face it we don't really remember all that much when we were very young. You and I, we are truck drivers and that's how we provide for the family. My children are 3 and 13. And when I get done trucking in 20 maybe 25 more years they going to be roughly 23 and 33 and may have kids of their own and I will be a granddad. That's when the real spoiling and fun starts for me.

My parents live close by and spoil the crap out of my kids. I look forward to being in that spot. The days when I been trucking for 20 years and got a pretty healthy bank roll, done put my 2 through college and giving their kids anything and everything they want just because I can and I want to. And I believe I can by doing this job right here.

Your exactly right if you are an OTR trucker your job is to be away,and as I like to say My A$$ is gone "Be the job!"

I'm Sober-J over

Dale talk to US Express. I been out for 5 and a half years myself and going to work with them next week. Right now they are going back to a 18 months in 10 year period instead of a 1 year in 3.

You can check out some of my posts about it they all have US express in the heading.

I'm Sober-J over

Yes driver you are running hard! That's what it's all about though right. You out there to make money. Get loads picked up and delivered. The economy depends on you and you are taking care of business! As I like to say you are "Being the Job."

Nobody should have a problem with that. However..... you just make sure that you are safe and legal. Been out there myself and I will tell you right now that you can run that many miles but you getting close to not being legal... possibly. Not saying your not running it safe and legal I have no idea what your runs have been. But I know and the other experienced drivers from this site know you may be pushing it.

You made a hell of a pay check this week. Do not try to get as much as you can get if it is not safe and legal. This is your career and your living. If you get caught doing something illegal it will be a major set back for weeks or months. Don't let your company push you harder than you want to run.

Once again I am not accusing you of anything just be careful. Because if the sh#$ hits the fan your dispatcher never told you to run that hard. Trust me that's what he or she will say. They will put all the blame on you. And you will be the one getting reprimanded or at worst let go. The dispatcher still going to have there job.

Trucking is a marathon not a sprint. Pace yourself. It's not worth a couple hundred dollars more a week if you don't get anymore weeks, right.

Let me just ask you a couple questions that could come up. Do your fuel stops match your log book? Especially if you have computer logs. Also, Do all your tolls match your logs? Do you have prepass for the scales? Does your logs match the times that the prepass let you go by the scales?

And again not making accusations just a bit curious. Just trying to let you know what to watch out for because, and this is the first question you asked. Yes your running hard. Like I said though if you are safe and legal.... no problem.

I'm Sober-J over

Wow, I'm about to start at US Express next week and they were talking to me a little about becoming a trainer in the future. Hope that doesn't happen often for you.

When my first trainer taught us straight line backing we had 1 guy in the passenger seat and 2 sitting in the bunk. Once the truck was rolling backward he got out of the seat, stood up, and turned around to tell us how difficult it was to SLB. Of course he was making it fun because the whole time he talked the truck and trailer kept goin in reverse in a straight line. I say he was talking a good 15 to 20 seconds before he turned and got back in the driver seat. It was hilarious.

I'm Sober-J over