Comments By Rob T.

find it interesting. From what I've gathered, there are not that many top teir drivers, yet there seems to be a collection here, and I think we gravitate towards other drivers of the same caliber. One of the traits that is prevalent here is self honesty and self assessment, I think that is a cornerstone of success.

In life in general self honesty and assessment is a huge part of positive results. In addition to what Davy mentioned what separates this forum from others (like Reddit) is that for the most part we can agree there are no bad companies. Go elsewhere on the internet and you'll hear how Swift or any of the other large carriers are terrible, that to make good money you need to find a company with only a handful of trucks! Our members here have shown us that with the right attitude you can be successful at any company. Old School is a perfect example thriving at Western Express then Knight when he chose to move on. We've also had members that did quite well at other companies that are labeled bad elsewhere. Often times the "bad" company just isn't a right fit. We place higher value on certain things than the next driver does. Maybe I place a value of hometime higher than pay so I take a job at a company that is more flexible but pays less. The next guy may desire to live out of the truck taking minimal hometime so they value pay more than hometime schedule. The trick to being happy in this industry is finding the right company that has policies that match what you're seeking. Sometimes drivers will have vastly different results at the same company. It could be a variety of reasons like your dispatchers performance, or maybe the truck you're issued is a lemon so you're constantly in the shop.

What I love about this site is referrals are frowned upon. It helps ensures you're getting the best advice possible. You don't need to question if someone is misleading you so they can score a referral bonus even if the company doesn't seem to be a good fit.

We have a great group of drivers here and im very proud to be apart of it. I often times share mishaps or mistakes I've made to show newer drivers that 6 years in I still make mistakes and need to resolve it on the fly. It gives you an idea of what can happen, how I got myself into that situation, how I got out of it without an incident/accident or more importantly what I could have done to being in that situation in the first place.

Keep up the great work drivers!

Regarding the trailer brakes, do you recommend not to pull the trailer brakes if docked?

Most places require brakes to be set and lock your gladhand. I've never had my brakes lock up but I've gotten in the habit of applying light pressure to the brakes to help dry them.

The inspection lane had a steady stream of trucks all day though, almost all cold related issues. Also quite a few tows into and out of the yard.

Another driver from my company called me today. He said his red glad hand broke off the trailer. He called Michelin (road service) about 430am in the Minneapolis area. They said they'll try to find a provider to come out and do the job. Nobody had picked up the work order by 9am so one of the ladies in the office called some connections she has at a local to the area NAPA store and they had him on the road by 10am. Still had no ETA from Michelin but was told due to extreme temps work orders are open 12 to 16 HOURS and since he has heat, out of the way, and at one of our stores he was a low priority.

It's a pretty easy repair, he said 5 minutes is all it took, but our company is very picky about repairs only being done by mechanics. They do not want the drivers doing anything which is understandable BUT in turn he spent over 5 hours waiting for a 5 minute repair.

There's enough Case law on this topic for Rob to be ok. I'm sure his employer knows this and that's why that backed off. While they can't force him to go out, once an employee decides to go out that decision lives and dies with them.

FMCSA says

Under this section, the driver is clearly responsible for the safe operation of the vehicle and the decision to cease operation because of hazardous conditions.

I have no regrets over my decision my any means. I did quite a bit of research into this after last years storm and even sought advice from our DOT Enforcement, the state OSHA office, and FMCSA. By the time I realized I was disciplined (points) for refusing to run it was past the time anybody could do anything. After looking over my previous correspondence with said agencies I can't claim STAA as I called in before the first snow flake fell. If I called in after it began I'd have a case. Even though other states that were getting it were in rough shape and southern IA was terrible, where our yard is along with my destination the storm hadnt started yet. The storm was expected to start in Des Moines between 10 and 11pm and quickly move across the state. My depart time was 2am so I called in about 8pm and went to bed. Even though the storm and conditions were forecast for nearly a week, because the conditions weren't currently present STAA doesn't provide protections in my situation.

However, regs protect a driver from refusing to run in dangerous conditions. When all the texts started coming about wanting drivers to cover routes while travel was not advised for much of the state, even though they included at the end to leave when comfortable the frequency and volume of messages comes across as harassment or coercion.

I'm glad you were able to manage Kearsey. That sounds like an absolutely terrible experience. Up until this past week we haven't experienced winter. Is it spring yet?

Kearseys experience brings me to something worth mentioning. When you're in a daycab you have far less options to stop and stay safe in inclement weather. Sure you can stop at a hotel but often times those right off the highway are places that appear to be so dirty I wouldn't want to be anywhere around it. For the route I would have driven across I80 there's only 3 motels in the first 100, with only 1 being something I'd be ok with (exit 201 Brookyln next to Pilot) There's quite a few in a Coralville/Iowa City that would be decent then nothing for another 50 miles until Walcott/Davenport. It's far more difficult to weather a storm in a daycab by shutting down early.

Good for you, Rob. I'm glad you're willing to step up and speak up for what's right. I would do what you did and sit it out. No amount of money is worth the dangers associated with that. Fortunately, FedEx has no problem shutting down and sending everybody out the next day. On Friday, they shut down everything going west because of the weather Ohio was getting.

I've driven in quite a bit of crap I shouldn't have and I'm confident in my abilities. HOWEVER it's everyone else around me that worries me even on clear days. For me, a blizzard warning is an immediate no go. Any other conditions I'll go out or bump my time back depending on the situation. It really bothers me the way they handle inclement weather like this. Last winter it was the same. Yes, loads need to be delivered. Most of the messages include something about safety being a priority, leave when you feel safe etc. But when you're sending so many messages about loads needing to be covered and such its sending mixed messages in my opinion. Last winter we had several newer drivers shocked that I refused to run in those conditions and they felt like they had no choice but to go out. In fact I was told "how do you get your pants on with b***s that big." I will always give 100% when I'm working BUT I will not jeopardize safety to do so. As a CDL holder it's ultimately our responsibility since we're behind the wheel. If I go out and involved in a major accident most companies will wipe their hands clean and say "we told him leave when he feels safe we didn't force anyone to go out." Despite many messages trying to get guys to get out there. It's nothing personal towards management. It's about protecting my CDL and livelihood. Other than their mindset on this I'm quite happy where I'm at. I'm sure at some point I'll be met in the yard by someone from management wanting to discuss it. I really don't care. I'm still contemplating filing a complaint with the FMCSA because in my opinion it is harassment and coercion for not running in unsafe conditions, which the regulations in place protect the driver and make it the drivers call to go/no go. However, I also don't want to put a target on my back. Who knows, we'll see what transpires in the near future.

They were still trying to cover loads today so around 10am i called and said I'd take a short run since they were offering an additional $300 for anyone working extra and roads were almost normal. Battery in my truck was completely dead so I had to use another guy's truck. Worked 6 1/2 hours and made $600. They called me on my way back and asked if I was interested in working extra tomorrow for another $300 extra as they tried to cover 5 more loads but I have other commitments.

One that gives me the biggest trouble to coupling to your trailer when it's very cold. The grease thickens and sometimes makes it hard to connect to a trailer, and you may think it's connected but it's not locked completely.

In this situation, I refused to take out the load. I called in Thursday evening for my Friday run because the load I had would've been running out to a store in Davenport, then a store 30 miles north to Clinton IA before running empty across 80 to my backhaul back in Des Moines. Technically the blizzard warning didn't kick in until 10am but I knew with the light snow combined with wind out of the north just below the blizzard threshold coming out of the north and being empty I wasn't doing it. I'm glad I made that choice, as I80 was shutdown around Williamsburg IA (MM220) for several hours due to jack knifed trucks around the time I estimated I'd be passing through empty. I'll still receive an attendance point regardless if I were sick or due to weather, which I strongly disagree with and went back and forth with management about when I refused to run in a blizzard last winter around Christmas.

We continued to receive mass text messages friday (6) and on Saturday (7) about the conditions and needing to get some loads covered. Saturday I finally got tired of all the messages and sent my VP a strongly worded,yet professional, message about what they're doing is nothing short of coercion and harassment. The response I got back was "Sorry you feel that way. This is the best way to get info to drivers." I sent back that if we're viewed as professionals then treat us as such. Poor planning at the stores level not stocking up for a storm that's been predicted for a week in advance doesn't constitute an emergency on our part. At this point everybody that wants to or is willing to go out already has. If a driver wanted or needed to know info about conditions it's the drivers responsibility to reach out or use available resources to know conditions such as 511 app. It's also a huge distraction for those out on the roads to have their phones frequently going off.

Blizzard warning was extended until midnight for much of the state. Nearly 48 hours after the last snow fell, and 8 hours after the blizzard warning expired these are current road conditions.

I'd be willing to run in these conditions for sure but still exercise caution as the current temp is currently -16 with 15 mph wind causing salt/brine to be less effective.

They took me off the mass texts but my buddy sent me a screenshot showing they sent 6 more Saturday showing routes available and such.

I lost it recently due to my DOT Physical expiring. It was close to expiration, then my dad passed away, and I came back home to help my mom close out the business they had together.

How long was it expired? Info I found from FMCSA states your CDL will be reinstated after you update med card as long as your drivers license isn't suspended or renewed.

Regardless, almost all drivers can agree that private schools don't teach as much as they should. In reality you're paying to be taught just enough to pass the test.

To clarify, what I mentioned about cdl being reinstated with a valid medical card is texas specific, as that's where I'm assuming OP resides/licensed due to school location.

I lost it recently due to my DOT Physical expiring. It was close to expiration, then my dad passed away, and I came back home to help my mom close out the business they had together.

How long was it expired? Info I found from FMCSA states your CDL will be reinstated after you update med card as long as your drivers license isn't suspended or renewed.

Regardless, almost all drivers can agree that private schools don't teach as much as they should. In reality you're paying to be taught just enough to pass the test.

Here's a scenario I'd like to hear how others would approach it. You're traveling in Iowa, particularly Des Moines, taking a load out in any direction. You want it make it back to Des Moines by the end of your shift. About 10 inches of wet snow fell Tuesday, 3 inch snow squall overnight into Thursday. I80 still had wrecks from those and didn't advise travel until Thursday. Thursday evening through Friday morning another 10 inches of soft fluffy snow as Temps plummet to around or just below zero. Blizzard warning in effect for nearly the entire state Friday at 10am through 6pm Saturday. Sustained winds 35 mph gusting up to 50 mph out of the north/northwest. Dispatcher/manager tells you conditions aren't bad and "other drivers are doing the posted speed limit." This is what the 511 app shows, purple is Travel Not Advised, pink is completely covered.

You pull up plow cameras on your 511 app and to the north where the map shows green (seasonal) you see this. Temps are forecast to stay below zero until Wednesday mid day.

visibility looks pretty poor and I can see the ice on the road. Current temp is -5F.

I'd like to hear how others would approach this. Do you run in these conditions? What factors play into your decision?

Let's talk about it.