Profile For Ralph G. ( Arejay )

Thanks for the update Tyrone! Glad to hear your training is progressing. I have to say I was concerned that maybe the updates stopped because you quit or something. Also, I do hope you are feeling better from whatever was ailing you last week when you replied. I did apply to JP, but unfortunately was not selected. The only thing my recruiter could tell me was that they only select 5 or 6 candidates from over 600 applications they receive each week.... so my search continues.

I'm in exactly the same boat. I originally went to school and earned my CDL about 23 years ago now. My license was downgraded when the new medical certification requirements kicked in back around 2011 or 12(?). I checked with the DMV here in Florida and I only have to get a new DOT Medical then bring that along with $85 to the DMV and they will happily re-instate my CDL with no re-testing required. Of course, I'd have to test for any endorsements needed (Combinations, AirBrakes, etc)... but those tests are cheap, $7 each. I agree with Old School to find out, you will for sure want to call your DMV office to inquire about your status and what options you have if your license has indeed been downgraded. Out of curiosity, what state are you licensed in?

Hey Tyrone! Any updates? I hope you are still going at it in the JP program and doing well?

I've been following this post with great interest. It has been a good read and provoked a lot of thought about different theories and life styles. Ive been pondering what I could add to the conversation then the insults started flying in the direction of the OP.

I seriously don't beleive for a second that NE means any insult or injury in stating his opinions. And by sticking to his guns and not caving in to peer pressure, people are becoming offended. Folks, in my humble opinion, that is the biggest social problem we face in this great country.... people are too quick to become offended over other peoples thoughts & ideas. I hate to say it, but some of the anger filled name calling responses have been far more offensive than anything NE has said yet.

Im sure most folks already know this, but be very careful with any meds/sleep aids, even over the counter that have a sedative effect... some are banned and could put you of service for a couple days.

Abot? Geez, that should have said 'a bit more' lol.... i wonder sometimes if ill ever get used to writing on my phone. Good Grief.

Hey there Johnnie Mac, congrats on your decision and progress so far. I must ask though if you can describe abot more about the training program you are attending. If my math is correct, this is a 21 week course? Is that full time, or part time on nights/weekends?

Must say that I was pleasantly surprised to see Hoekstra on the fleets to watch list. I was raised in that area and even interviewed for a driving position with Hoekstra back in 1995 before I went off course from trucking & logistcs and into the IT world for the past 20+ years.

Yeah, this definitely is not a new phenomenon... when I first started driving OTR in 1994, I was taught to always back into the trailer (with the trailer brakes locked) to ensure the kingpin was locked before rolling the truck forward. Bare minimum, id always do a quick walk around the rig to look it over every time i got out of the cab. That along with a back in / tug test and I never had to wonder when or if I would drop a trailer.

No. No employer can violate the ADA.

Seems there are some exceptions to the ADA rules. I recently went on a tour of a local winery and they had a sign at the door saying " no pets allowed on premises, INCLUDING No service animals. " i presume that must be due to health code or some other such reason.

Even though the coverage is still a bit wonky, T-Mobile is now offering unlimited free video streaming from Netflix and some other services in addition to the free music streaming. I would consider using a T-Mo phone with a generous data plan whenever I can and keep cheap a Cricket or Verizon pay as you go phone for phone calls and backup data where I can't use my T-Mo device, although T-Mo has been rapidly improving their coverage over the past two years. My math says that combining two devices and services together is more cost effective than trying to buy a massive data bucket from VZW that you may or may not use and then get hit with massive overages if you under buy and accidentally use more than planned. That and you have the added benefit of a backup phone when and if needed.... nobody has perfect service everywhere.

You two should be ashamed for even saying that word lol. On the other hand, it was 72 in NYC yesterday.

A) I live in the hills outside of Buffalo in one of the nation's fiercest snowbelt regions. Doesn't matter what you say, snow is coming hard and fast soon enough

B) It was 72 here yesterday too!!!

72 sounds good! It was 92 yesterday in Tampa!

I see where you're coming from Erol, but at a point I think I'll have to disagree with your analogy.

Feeding the driver is a personal expense to maintain the driver, therefore yes that is on the drivers dime.

However, paying for parking (especially when no reasonable alternative is available) is a cost of doing business.

I think we can all agree that it is a good business practice to minimize expenses, that objective must also be balanced with the good business practice of mitigating risk as well. If paying for parking will help to keep the rig, the freight and the driver out of harms way (ie, parking on a ramp) then it is a justifiable expense, just like a toll or scale ticket, part of getting the freight from A to B.

I say you both agree to disagree. Either way, companies do not reimburse you for parking fees. As Errol stated, you may be able to claim it as a work expense on your taxes.

I'm cool with that. :)

I'm certainly not trying yo start an argument or anything (not my style), I'm just curious if there are any carriers who will reimburse for parking?

I see where you're coming from Erol, but at a point I think I'll have to disagree with your analogy.

Feeding the driver is a personal expense to maintain the driver, therefore yes that is on the drivers dime.

However, paying for parking (especially when no reasonable alternative is available) is a cost of doing business.

I think we can all agree that it is a good business practice to minimize expenses, that objective must also be balanced with the good business practice of mitigating risk as well. If paying for parking will help to keep the rig, the freight and the driver out of harms way (ie, parking on a ramp) then it is a justifiable expense, just like a toll or scale ticket, part of getting the freight from A to B.

I presume it would be a reimbursable expense much like tolls or scale tickets, but it piques by curiosity to know what companies will or won't reimburse for parking fees? With parking being such a scarce resource, I'm surprised that paid parking is not yet the norm. I have a feeling that if the Feds & States don't make moves to vastly improve the parking problems in the future this will become very common practice.

A Microsoft Surface 3 or Surface Pro 4 (should be coming out soon) would perhaps be the best compromise between a tablet and a full computer. I've been playing lately with a Surface Pro 3 running windows 10 and it does everything I ask of it just wonderfully, I think it may work great as a travel computer.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRETT! !!

A semi-truck carrying gear for Jason Aldean’s Burn It Down Tour flipped when the driver lost control on the way to a show in Prince George, B.C. The Tuesday morning (Oct. 6) accident took place when the truck veered off the road and struck a rock.

http://tasteofcountry.com/jason-aldean-truck-flipped-over/

On a more serious note, the issue is getting attention... I recently saw a segment on the morning news about the lack of truck parking and what can or should be done about it. It was on our local Fox morning show, I'll see if I can't find a link to post here.

The FMCSA can solve the parking problem by banning Swift trucks — because every time they leave the parking lot, two spots open up

Only two? I thought the average was more like 4 spots opened up when a Swift truck leaves the lot?