Comments By SAMUEL C.

Hauling paper to a Georgia Pacific plant

I live in Chatta'vegas, and drive through ATL at least twice a week also, and there is no good way around it, like Brett said, you can take pig trails, but you really don't save anything. I guess the best practice, is timing, I try to plan my trips so I miss the worst part of the rush hours. The real challenge is when I have to drive ATL, Chatta'vegas and crashvile (Nashville) all in the same day.

I have even went full tilt on some loads, if I know exactly where they are unloading me and the weather is in my favor, I'll totally strip it down the night before. Bungees, straps and tarps pulled and rolled. Yes, you are worn out from a days worth of driving and you want to call it quits for the day, but I look at it like parking, it's all about the setup.

"First in, First out....To the victors go the spoils. Never forget you are competing with the other drivers out there, and you will come out on top."

Thanks for the advice OS and I put it to use this week. Sunday night, pull bungees and straps that night, pulled my tarps early that morning, waited to be unloaded. Monday and Tuesday, the same. Wednesday and today went a little different, because of my first in, first out, I was ready to roll early every morning, which allowed me to pick up my loads early and with a little politeness and a phone call, I delivered early, both days.

As a side note, my phone rang today, thought it was my fleet manager, nope!!! It was a "shiny shoe", the head load planner. He thanked me for the great job I did this week, but asked if I could tame it down a bit, they were having trouble keeping up. Thank you as always Old School for your valuable insight.

Welcome to the brotherhood. Like parrothead said, good company. I've been with them almost 2 years

What kind of stuff do I need to take with me to orientation? I wasn't provided with any information yet but I have heard that I need to show up with at least collared shirts. Is that true and what else do I need?

Getting closer to your orientation date, they will send you an information packet by snail mail or email, that will explain your arrival date and time with what to bring. While there, keep a positive attitude, be punctual and a willingness to learn and improve yourself. The second you arrive and the entire orientation , you are being closely observed and scrutinized by the company, so mind your Ps and Qs

So I found out this past Friday I have been accepted to start orientation with McElroy Truck Lines. Since I am not done with school yet and do not have a set graduation date just yet, I am planning on starting August 1st. If I get done with school sooner, then I will start earlier. Scared, happy, nervous and excited all at the same time. If anyone has any tips or suggestions as to what I need to do to prepare for the start of my new career/lifestyle, I would be happy to hear them.

Welcome to the brotherhood. Like parrothead said, good company. I've been with them almost 2 years

My son and daughter where worried about "daddy getting lonely " on he road. Their solution, they bought me a minature plastic parrot that sits on a swinging pirch. I gladly Velcroed it to my dash. He's only 3 in tall, but me an "Rocky" have had some meaningful conversations, plus I think he likes it when I finally pull the brakes for the night, so he can stop swinging. Some days, I think he gets car sick

First time going down Monteagle in a truck. I made it safely but used the brakes more than I would have liked to. Anyway, anyone in the area this morning? Near the bottom of the grade there was a bad accident. A guy's trailer appeared to have exploded. I'm assuming he was carrying hazmat. It looked like someone hit his trailer with a missile, literally just rubble. His cab didn't have a scratch on it. Maybe his brakes got too hot? Just wondering if anyone else saw

I live in Chattanooga and have hauled many loads over the "Rock". Eastbound is no joke. When I'm going over, I'm usually hauling Sheetrock and it puts my weight at about 77k. I ease through the inspection station, wait for the green light, progress through my gears to 7th and set the engine brake. Turn on the 4 ways and ride the right lane. It can be a slow ride, but no load is worth my life. I have watched guys cuss me for "creeping" down, but I usually pass them at the bottom as the wait on the shoulder for their brakes to cool. If you catch it at the right time of day, it is an awesome view.

After two big trucks have run over it and then a third, it was more like a red smear with a head. No tenderloin or back strap was noticeable

And always remember - for US while driving a rig - FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY is considered a "serious offense".

This can get ambiguous for the officer that pulls you over - but there has to be "room for someone to pass". Doesn't say that "someone" has to be an aforementioned Prius, or a full rig - but if you always follow your "seconds rule" - you will (hopefully) give yourself ample time to react to an incident, without making a pancake of whatever is in front of you.

Common "defensive driving technique" when dealing with a tailgater - suggests you add the reaction time distance of your unwanted bumper-hanger to your following distance.

Bud (as others noted) nailed it - slow down safely, and make it less advantageous for your tailgater to continue.

Had one doing it in a 4-wheeler last week (with me in mine). I'm doing 4 over in the left lane - nowhere to go in traffic (as I would have gladly moved over). This guy is making "shooting gun fingers" at me while he honks and flashes (one day out of the hospital for me - no firearm in my belt). At that point, I slow down to 5-under. Wait for him to dangerously weave around me (and other traffic), get his tag number, and make a quick call to FHP.

Rick

I was traveling on US 278 in Alabama one evening, following another big truck, I was maintaining an adequate following distance. I had another big truck behind me, trying to push me down the highway, when the driver in front of me came over the CB, "watch out, here it comes!!" Unaware of what was about to happen, I eased off the gas and covered the brake. The driver in front of me had a deer hit his truck, it popped out from under his trailer, I slowed to minimize any damage to my truck, but my trailgater wasn't so lucky. He started telling what he thought of my family linage as the carcass struck his grill and headlight. My only response was, I thanked the driver in front of me for the warning and the driver behind me an apology, but recommend he maintain a safe following distance.