Comments By Papa G

The bottom line is to operate at a speed where you, as the driver, feel comfortable. Who knows, maybe after some time behind the wheel that comfort zone will change and you'll be blowing by me at 85 mph, blowing your horn, and flipping me off! LOL!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, Romans and Country Men..... I humbly bring to you a dose of the real world.

I recently graduated from CDL school and signed on with one of the big start-up companies. I am into my second week of a four-week program with my trainer, and we are hauling some freight baby! So obvioulsy I am a rookie and as such, speak from a rookies point of view. First and foremost I want to say that while the job is hard, it is also interesting and gratifying... and I am loving it. However, and most of you may already suspect this, the Real World looks much different than the comfy little world of our respective CDL Schools with our kindly and helpful School Marms. For example:

In school we are taught that we should manage our speed based on the posted speed limits and road conditions so as to operate in a safe and responsible manner. In the real world..... HAH! Out here CPM (cents per mile) is King. As best I can tell, I may be the only person out here paying attention to the speed limit. Virtualy everybody is passing me. And sometimes these guys are not pleased that you are following the posted speed limit. Here is an example: "It's 2:00 am and I am travelling East on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. It's lightly raining and foggy, and I am passing through a construction zone with two narrow lanes bounded by concrete walls-of-death and a posted 55 MPH. I'm traveling right at the posted speed limit and I see in my mirror a truck coming up behind me. So I hunkered down and focused all of my attention on staying in my narrow little lane so he could pass. This guy, a livestock hauler, comes barreling by me at a speed closely resembling 70 MPH. As soon as the end of his trailer passes my bumper he jacks over into my lane and flips a switch that ignites 3 rear-facing, bright-white spotlights completely blinding me! WTF! I mean... how DARE I be doing the speed limit through a construction zone at night in the rain and fog. What an a-hole.

In school we are taught it is very important to maintain a safe following distance, and that distance should be 1 second for each 10-feet of truck length at speeds below 40 mph (add 1 second for speeds over 40 mph). In the real world.... HAH! Many of the drivers on the road seem much more concerned with cranking as many of those miles as they can per hour, and I understand that. It boils down to making money, which I (and my creditors) am all for. But some guys out here are down right ridiculous, travelling at highway speeds 15 to 20 feet off the bumper of a minivan. What are they thinking...... "Hey, screw that soccer mom and those damn kids! If they wanted to be safe they should have stayed at home! I got money to make! YEEEEEHAW!"

In school we are taught it is very important to conduct a thorough pre-trip inspection at the beginning of your shift. So far, out here in the real world.... HAH! The very first thing my trainer taught me was how to make an e-log entry showing that a pre-trip was done, without actually doing one. Every day I ask my exalted trainer of he would like me to raise the hood and at least check the oil. The answer is typically, no we'll do that later. The weird thing is, this guy is a lease/purchase operator. This means he is working his tail off to eventually own this truck, all the time letting it go to hell in a hand-basket. I suspect, and pray, this guy is not representative of the industry norm when it comes to vehicle maintenance. He is a nice person and I feel lucky to have someone I can get along with, but when I get my own rig I will be running my show a whole lot differently.

So to sum up.... Out here in the real world things work a little differently, but you learn to accept and live with these realizations because overall the job is great. I intend to operate in a safe and responsible manner, and not fall prey to the feeling of "Screw safety! I have to make another $0.32!". In doing so I guess I will be part of the 10% I have been hearing about. Won't you come join us?! Cheers!

At 60 mph, it would take approximately 177 years of continuous driving to drive to the Sun.

How long would it take if stuck to the HOS rules?

You can buy a used 2011 Freightliner for less than the cost of a new Toyota Sierra SUV.

Sheesh! Sucks to be Patrick!

Hello. I am fixing to buy ~2 weeks of groceries. I figured I'd share my list.

I am working without a stove, oven, microwave oven, and anything else other than the mini fridge they provide.

I eat ~1lbs of food a day, to maintain a healthy body weight (~1.2k calorie in take). I tend to drink Monsters (bad habit; Love the flavor), Gatorades, and water. Occassionally, I'll grab a cup of coffee, chocolate milk, or soda.

My shopping list:

x1 loaf of white bread

x2 loafs of wheat bread

x2 1lbs of bologna

x2 1lbs of hot dogs

x1 1lbs of black forest ham

x1 package of cheese

x2 bags of frito lays chips

x1 jar of pickles

x1 box of saltine crackers

x1 container of iodized salt

x1 container of parmesean cheese

x5 1lbs cans of chilli

x5 1lbs cans of lasagna

x4 1lbs cans of chicken alfredo

x2 3lbs cans of ranch style beans

__________

Total cost: ~$60

Total weight: ~30lbs

2lbs a day consumed is ~15 days is ~$2/day.

That comes out to a grand total of: ~$120/month, ~$1,440/year on groceries.

But personally I cannot eat 2lbs of food per 24hr period.. I'd probably consume 50% - 70% less.

Which comes out to: ~$432/yearly bill on groceries for me, for eating good, healthy, and tasty!!

Any and all opinions are welcome! I do buy a wider variety. This is just what I am purchasing for the next two weeks, before home time. :)

What brand of chili do you use?

Having a small driving range at a truck stop wouldn't be a bad way to pass time, would it? Golf is about the most physically demanding sport most drivers would consider, just after darts, so that would work. You go take out your day's aggression on some golf balls before catching a meal and a movie.

I think Brett might be on to something here. You could take one of those reinforced carts that scoop up the balls ( you know, the one we're always aiming at) and put a big sign on it that reads "Weekend Dispatcher". Could be a moneymaker.

I am keeping a log of all the suggestions, so thanks everybody. Incidentally, i am at the Freightliner Service shop in Evansville, Indiana off of I-64, exit 25, and there is a golf course right across the street.

On the TT sure, the "help" Instructions are in a link when you click the Photo button on the "New Reply" section.

Yes, I saw that. But things are a tad different in the Ipad world. Not necessarily better, just different. I have downloaded a Google Pictures app, but can't quite figure out how to identify an "address" to import the pic. Oh well, the beat goes on,

Cheers

I am a new driver just learning the ropes and paying my first year dues. I enjoy playing golf, and if any of you experienced drivers, who also enjoy the sport, has any intel on truck stops that are near golf courses or driving ranges.... please share. Thanks!

Is there a method to upload photos directly from my Ipad?