Comments By Andy C.

Lol button, I'm finding the truth to be much more interesting than my initial research showed me, it's quite the adventure being a trucker. Still wouldn't trade it for the world! Experienced drivers such as you, instructors like mountain girls, rookie like me. It's worth it to sit here in New Jersey watching the wind blow the leaves on the wonderfully colored trees while the sun is shining...off to Ontario...then? Who knows. I love that i chose to do this. I enjoy the stories you all share, i enjoy my own foolish ones.

Heh... Today was my day. Arrive at shipper, early too. Two and a half hours away from my delivery. Five hours left on my 14, sweet deal, time to drop hook, move on to next load. Well, shipper took their time. Ok. Two hours left on clock, I'll just cook over to flying j's forty minutes away. Not. After all said and done, I've got fifteen minutes left after being loaded. Long story. I am sitting in the dock door, an hour left on my ten reset. After sitting here for six, what's another four between friends? Lol . They are kool with it...

Lol, i suppose it's all part of driving. After a nice relaxing weekend with my kids, i found myself with a relay load going too Ajax Ontario. The confidence is back, leaving the errors in the dust. Delivered without a hitch. Now off to dreaded New Jersey lol You guys (and gals ;) ) rock! Thanks for everything!

Mountain girl, i had the same problem with my trainer. More often than not he would tell me. Turn right, left, etc. Not leaving me to learn myself. It took its toll i think, since I've been on my own, a whopping three weeks lol, I've figured out more than i did while training. It's actually easy to focus on what your doing and ignore the guy staring you down As you are Backing into that spot. But I've found that a lot of truckers are very kool and understanding. I've been spotted without asking, given a thumbs up with smiles after i finish, and generally just great guys. Do what you have to do, if it takes fifteen minutes, so what. Better to do it right than in a hurry.

Best part of the job, lol, crazy places you have to get in to... Beautiful truck!

Where were you when i was learning backing! For a 90 back, into wasn't until i met my trainer that i was shown an easier way to do it. As close as i can to the spot on my left. Scare the mirrors he would say lol. Once my drive wheels are on the center of my spot, stop and turn hard right go until the tractor is facing straight forward. Ignore the mirrors, only through the windshield. Then stop, turn hard left, forward until the tractor is straight. Again. Ignore the mirrors (for all intensive purpose. Of course watch for unexpected things). If you follow GOAL you will see that your rear end is perfect. Keep the wheels straight and start backing, adjust as you need and bam, your good. One pull up to straighten out and your parked. Terrific!

Andy...since you're basically a neighbor "Buffalonian", what school did you go to or did you do company training. Curious.

Looking forward to reading more of your "rookie" posts. I'm sure I'll be running into the same things in a few months. Be safe out there. Go Bills!

Jimbo, as buffalonians we know the "Aww crap" feeling. How many super bowls? Ha... I chose Roehl trucking based on recommendation from a friend who drove for them. They are a training company, but great people. I put this all under file under ROOKIE, but seriously, the achievements are great too. Backing my truck for the first time into a dark enclosed dock, a blind side back around a corner (seriously!) without a hitch. The fist pumping hoot and hollar things that just make you feel great. I put my errors out because we are not alone. Poop happens, just clean up and move on. Wouldn't change it for the world!

Congrats jolie, i know what you mean, Marshfield is a great place. The information overload is incredible isn't it. But trust me, someone who had one heck of a time getting downshift right, it will come together ha. Gets to the point where you don't even think about it. The excitement of learning doesn't end. At least not yet. I've been alone for three weeks now and i still feel that rush, despite the rookie mistakes lol. I may have an ulcer by now, j/k but it's worth every minute. Keep the great attitude and you will be fine. Let us know how it goes for you!

It's been.... Interesting this far in my career. Three weeks in and there have definitely been times I've already questioned the wisdom of my choice to drive big rig for a living. Ha. High points, i do really enjoy cruising along the highway late at night, music playing, just enjoying the sights. The times that i Tully realize what i am doing. Driving a truck. Looking in my mirrors and fully comprehending the size of the trailer i am pulling behind me. As a complete rookie, it is quite an amazing feeling. The downsides are.... Frustrating tho at times. Missing an exit, having your drive twenty Miles out of your way to find someplace to turn around, an error that i probably wouldn't admit if it weren't for the people here, your all great, a turn coming up, a street just before that i mistakenly took, well, no big deal right? Lol it dead ended in a McDonald's parking lot... And not a huge one. Took me a few minutes, and a whole lot of stress and cursing under my breath, but i turned around in this tiny parking lot without damaging anything. Slight victory after a big screw up. I picked up a load way down in southern PA, scrap cardboard. My gross weight was 77,893 lbs. If you've been down there, you know the hills are murder. And lots of them. Well, first hill, gather speed to get up it, 9th gear to 7th, to 6th, speed dropped, to 5th, to 4th... As I'm trying to drop into third to limp my way up the hill, i miss step on my clutch, stall the truck... Oh no!! I need another foot now to hold my break while i restart the truck and try to get moving and not roll backwards... Of course i pop the clutch too fast, stall again. Others waiting behind me, heh. Ignore them, try not to let the pressure and stress get to me. Finally get rolling again. Took about half hour but finally found a scale. CRIPES! I have 42,000 on my rear tandems! Thank goodness there was another trucker who was kind enough to realize a rookie was in trouble, helped me out a ton. And after some great advice i was on my way again. Legal like and all lol... Saving grace is being able to come here and see I AM NOT ALONE. Home now for a day or two, gather my wits and go back out with a little more wisdom....

I'd like to rehash this subject if i may... I'm still having a tough time with the hours of service rules. I think i understand the drive nine hours idea, I'll be trying that. More times than not I've wound up over the past two weeks with 5 or. Six hours to get to my consignee, but an hour or so short on my clock. I've driven myself to the point where i am on the side of the road with 5 minutes or less on my drive clock and its only 7 or 8 am. Lemme tell ya, after two times on the 322 or 22 in southern PA, not a stop in sight, staying on the side of the road for 15-16 hours, i do not want to fall into that position again... Can someone help me understand that a little better? My trainer didn't really cover it very well unfortunately. I find it a little confusing still....