Comments By Donald M.

Its a bit of self-discovery when you pack. How little do you need to function; and how little do you need to finish the task at hand. I've been around the world in all sorts of situations; and it took me a long time to get to the comfort level I'm at. I'm not saying that anything you're doing is necessarily wrong; but as you work your way through it; less is more.

I would suggest reviewing at times during your journeys what really sat in the luggage for the entire trip. Did you need to signal Batman? If not, perhaps the Million candle power flashlight was excessive. Did the hotel have a laundry and a soap dispenser? Perhaps packing the bag of soap was not worth the convenience of putting $2.00 in a dispenser. Maybe packing a Tide Pod would have been a better choice (and they could have been packed in the shoes).

There is no right; just what is needed, and what is excessive.

Good luck with your journey!

While I'm sure you missed quite a few items, I'd like to suggest that you are guilty of overpacking.

Rule 1: Anything that can be bought on-site should be bought on-site. (deodorant, soap, toothpaste, shampoo, etc). I would pack a small toilet bag with a few of the 3oz bottles of shampoo/body soap a travel deodorant, the electric shaver and a toothbrush with a travel toothpaste. Packing laundry soap is flat out ridiculous. If a Wal-Mart or other big box is available I wouldn't pack more than one change of underwear and a set of thermals. Buying a pack of underwear on-site is fine.

Rule 2: Layered clothing is better than specialty clothing. A rain shell can be combined with a hoodie and be more functional than a 3 system jacket. I would rather have a few print Ts, a couple of polo shirts, a flannel shirt, a hoodie, and a rain jacket. Than what you've packed.

Rule 3: Less is always more. Lose the 3rd pair of gloves. Wear the running shoes or boots as your driving shoes (And yeah... I knew a bloke that did running; 99 shoes for every type of run. :) )

Rule 4: Consolidate tech gear. Having personally carried books, tablets, Ipods, smartphones and a 17" laptop; I've definitely found I don't need to lug all of it around. (It's heavy.)

Rule 5: Carry-on luggage ALWAYS contains the bare minimum; stowed luggage carries everything else. NO EXCEPTIONS. If your luggage gets stolen, lost, or misplaced; the carry-on should have everything you need to push off and hopefully run to a stored to replace the rest.

If you've heard anything, I hope you take away that less is more, and do try to remember; those sleeper berths are really only built for 1, and your going to be twp in that canoe for a while.

My choice was Roehl Transport, mainly because of home time, but also due to their close proximity to my home so I will have more work and better home time. I urge you to do more in depth research into company sponsored training and also not believe the rantings of disgruntled drivers in this industry. This career is what YOU make it, you will have bad days, but that happens in any industry. Good luck in your travels and in training. Please keep turning to this site for advice and some humor. And use the high road training tools available here, they are free and help so much. Good luck

Does Roehl run in the NorthEast? I live in RI, and would love to find a good fit with a company that dispatches along the I-84 or I-95 corridors. (Think Worcester, Providence, Quonset, Groton, or New Bedford)

And pay is always a concern with me. I'm not sure what their current CPM rates are and increases.... they have a funky rewards program.

Slipped on the step getting off truck. Told trainer. She decided I wasn't hurt. This was at noon on Friday. Finally got off truck Saturday night. Called coordinator Sunday n left message. One person claims said a test wasn't required. Other said it was. Had to go to my own doctor in Houston. Claim wouldn't be honored because not timely reported. Ended up driving back to Lancaster to do drug test and physical. They gave me a piece of paper to do a physical at another clinic. This really spooked me so I went home n let them know I thought I needed advice. I got a discharge for a DOT Refusal of drug test.

FMCSA 382.303(h)(1) is exception to post accident resting rule when "departing or alighting" parked motor vehicle."

Anyone run across this before?

Wish the admin at Swift could make up their minds. Looks like all the work, time and money was for nothing.

Can I dispute this?

Thanks for your help!!!

If you have been terminated you can follow the dispute resolution policies in your company handbook; but I suspect that you won't get any results.

Your claim is there was an accident; and the company most certainly has a call for "for cause" drug testing. Those policies ALWAYS have a termination clause for failure to comply.

The only real question is why have your own doctor do it. That's what confuses me. It's usually a testing company (Quest Diagnostic, etc)

I'm at Swift, and you need to re-do the math, Don.

The first mileage I got was at 33cpm, not two bits*. Also, FWIW, Swift is catching up with a 2¢ raise to 0.35 CPM.

* old-fashioned term for 25¢.

Thank you Errol! I figured some of the info on this site might be a bit out of date.

I have a tendency to be hyper analytical, and really want to know the dollar value in choice; so I decided to compare two schools and what my year (Yes, its only 360 days long) would look like pay wise. We're going to completely ignore home expenses; and just look at income and school cost. This should in no way be taken as a bash against any company; just sort of a reality check:

The companies: Prime and Swift

Prime: School cost=3500; Out of pocket=1260 (if I can, I only sleep with my wife.); 30 days of my life; 90 days OTJ training @ 600/wk leaves me with 2954.29 in my pocket; 120 days of the year gone.

Swift: School cost=3900; Out of pocket=550; 21 days of my life; 42 days OTJ training @ 450/wk leaves me with -1750 in my pocket; 63 days of the year gone.

But that's isn't the story for the year; we sort of have to take a look at "What's in the wallet for the rest of the year." So we'll make a broad assumption the miles are the same, and modest. I set a simple target of 2050 miles per week. YMM (Actually) V.

Prime@90days solo(.39cpm)=10279.29; @180days solo(.39cpm)=10279.29 and for the balance of the year(.40cpm)=7028.57. Total income=$30541.43

Swift@90days solo(.25cpm)=6589.29; @180days solo(.26cpm)=6852.86; @270days solo(.33cpm)=8697.86 and for the balance of the year(.34cpm)=2688.43. Total income=$23078.43

So my question is this: Other than stopping at every WalMart in the nation, why choose Swift over Prime?

So I just started my driving portion of the PSD program with prime and I'm having issues with backing and I'm not really comprehending what my instructor is telling me...any tips or suggestions welcome

Go slow. Less is more. If it doesn't feel right stop. Watch BOTH mirrors. Think of pushing a ball with your nose. The tail of the tractor is the nose and the trailer is the ball. When it's online it goes straight. If the tail wags right, the ball goes left. In the worst case, pull forward and straighten it out; do it again.

Go slow.

I'm anticipating a career change, and have driven local box trucks (25 years ago :) ). I'd like to get my CDL-A and go OTR.

I generally am looking for a low-BS company. I have little or no desire to have a dispatcher breathing down my neck to break rules, or the law (I don't mind working with support people at all! Just not the unrealistic kind). I have a hard work ethic; and I have always felt that this is the simple key to any work career.

But I need pay. Optimally I'd like to be in a situation that I'm averaging $1K gross a week. I'd like to be able to bank my hometime and have a few days off the road with wife and family if I can.

If you work for a company with a driving school; and can recommend your company based on those above criteria; I would like to hear from you what you average in miles, and pay; and if there's something unique about your company that you'd like to share.

My thoughts ran toward PRIME and Roehl. Both seemed to have that feel.