Comments By Lawrence H.

Just make sure that your not getting it wrong. If your running one state only you can log driving 12 hours driving and on duty 16.

Make sure you are going at least 70 mph when your driving through fresno or they will give you a ticket for driving to slow.

If you called osha they would probably be shut down in hours because lives are at risk with your hours. I was told to redo all my logs because the fuel times didn't match. I told them if they match I'm out of hours. They told me they had their bit inspection in two weeks, do what I had to do. They got a perfect cvsa score, most illegal company I ever seen.

You need to call and get right with the court or an arrest warrant will be issued. I worked for a dry van company where all loads were 52500 to 53600 lbs. A real pain when its 3 in the morning , the trailer is preloaded and your wondering where he set the bulkhead in the front. Your in irwindale and the beer is due in fresno in 5 hours. But you have an ace in the hole, you won't be getting a speeding ticket cause all trucks are governed at 54.6 miles per hour !

Your best bet is to go to a self training company where they train you for free but you must drive for them for pre determined amount of time. Examples would be, jb hunt. C R england, shneider national. I know a couple of them pay you 400 a week while you train.

Remember on your microwaves it takes twice the size of microcrowave., to start it. SO if you have a 400 watt microwave, then you need a 800 watt generator.

I only use the clutch when I leave that stop sign. Once I leave that stop sign, no more clutch untill I miss a light.

Well after having my own trucks I drove for a company out of san bernardino. For 3 years I left sb went to irwindale dropped an empty and picked up a loaded trailer for fresno. Six loads a day, sdix days a week go to fresno with the dasycab petes set at 54.6 mph. That's it. Trailers are preloaded with ast least 52,800 pounds of coors light. So the reason I liked being the owner came into play, I don't like working weekends, unless its working on my own eqipment. When that new pete broke down I would get a rental. The difference between 54.6 and setting the cruise at 62 mph was 30 minutes one way to fresno, That's not setting the cruise until I got to the bottom of the grapevine.

I joined, and used the quizzes. I asked one silly question, and I was off to do this thing!

I started school back on January 12, took six weeks to get out of there! I couldn't parallel park that rig for nothin' unless no one was watching lol.

I researched every company that would let me have my dog, and grilled all the recruiters as they came through the school. All of them I caught in a lie, except for the May Trucking recruiter. So, I signed right up! The way I saw it, there were going to be really crappy days out here as it was, I didn't want to be working for liars as well, because then crappy just gets crappier in my opinion. There are things I don't like, but they told be before I signed on, so I can't *****. But I will complain a little. All these companies are governed, but we are one of the tightest. 61 on cruise, 58 on the pedal. Gets a bit hairy at times going that slow. But what do you do?

So, I got in, and got put with a trainer finally, as a woman, they wanted a woman trainer for me. I also smoke, so they tried to get me with a smoker female, and well, I got a female. She did let me smoke, but not when the truck was parked. I was very grateful. She was great. I learned at MY pace, she didn't freak out, she explained all my "whys" and we got along wonderfully. Something I know I am blessed about, I've heard horror stories!

3.5 weeks and I was solo! What!?! Ok, so I panicked a little. I didn't feel ready, but I passed the road test, pretrip, and skills with the safety dude. (it wasn't at my yard so I can't remember his name) so, I guess I was ready. April 2, was relieved that safety dude was busy for the 1st, cause I didn't need to be an official April fool soloing out.

1st day alone was HELL!!!! I got lost. Twice. I had to have road construction guys move some barrels. I had to make traffic back up at a light because I couldn't turn tight enough, and honestly, they were encroaching in the intersection so I didn't feel too bad about that. One gal didn't see what was going on because she was too busy yapping on the phone. I still laugh...I hit the air horn to get her attention, and the phone went flying! At that moment, I knew this was the job for me. I was going to stick this horrible day...er, week out, just so I could do that again some day lol

S..L..O..W..L..Y.. it has gotten easier, I have learned how to check my gps against my routing, and directions. I don't get lost very often, nor very badly anymore. I realize, I only have myself to depend on, and that is just flat odd to me. I still struggle with energy to do laundry, and even shower sometimes, but I do it. Sometimes, getting somewhere for those things is a struggle, but I'm getting better. Some of the dumbest things get to ya out here. For example, I get free showers at FJ/Pilot because that's where we fuel. So, I am always looking for a stop at one of them. Sometimes its impossible. So, if I get stuck at Petro/T.A. I at least take advantage of the laundry facilities if I need to do laundry. For a while, I din't stop there at all, because I figured no shower, I'd rather be at a rest area, they are quieter, and usually prettier. And the dog can play more :) So, getting over the don't stop at Petro/T.A. was biting me regularly, because, when I did hit the shower stops, I was so friggin tiredWell dont most times, laundry waited anyway. See, I told you, DUMBEST sort of things....

So, here at almost 2 months solo, I found time to share. Only because, I got stuck on a 34hr reset. In Nashville. At a Pilot. Showers yes. Laundry no. Go figure. Yet, I have never been happier.

I also run my CB, and some of the things I hear about us women drivers! I don't get on them and fight, I just laugh, and think...No wonder your a OTR guy, society won't have you with that sort of attitude. You know, I'm happy, and I'm sorry you aren't.

Gonna run, I hope to stay in touch better!!! Thanks for such a great place to learn and be encouraged!!! May Trucking questions, ask away. Just remember, I'm pretty partial to my honest company.

I hauled steel and galvenized coils for 25 years. They wouldn't reload it. Or no scale close by and you already had the coils rub rail tarped.