Profile For Auggie69

0300hrs

Time to make the donuts. Pretripped and rolling by 0330 for the remaining 66 miles. This is such a good time to roll into or near the city, traffic is always light. Even the Throgs Neck Bridge, which is under perpetual construction, is a breeze.

0450

Arrive Westbury, NY store. Live unload of 16 pallets.

Ok cool. I went about my business doing my normal post trip. When things were squared away I climbed up in the cab, released the kingpin, dumped the bags, slowly pulled away...

and watched in horror as my trailer gently but squarely sat right down onto the drive tires!

Yup, I'd forgotten to lower the landing gear. At a time when I should have been laser focused, I focused so much so that I overlooked the obvious. Thanks to good training, I at least adhered to one basic practice I always follow: When pulling out from under a trailer, always go slow and watch your mirrors. It's this practice that allowed the trailer to go down silky smooth without a sound, and I saw it the instant it happened. It was so smooth that the managers didn't even notice. I simply re-inflated the bags, climbed out and lowered the gear as if nothing happened. It helped that their attention was divided between myself and other drivers at the time.

I'm sharing this because there are 2 lessons here that any driver, experienced or not, should be reminded of.

1- Don't get kocky. In showing off, I threw myself off my own game instead of focusing on the business at hand.

2- Never get so full of yourself that you can't share your own mistakes, so that others may learn from them.

So no harm done. Moving on...

All my little boo-boos have happened EVERYTIME my routine is broken. I have to make a mental note to either start over or doublecheck everything.

Indian River Transport is a tanker company. It’s recommended a rookie get a minimum of 1 year experience before handling bulk liquid.

Swift is the Walmart Dedicated Transportation partner for the Winter Haven DC.

Please take a look at our starter links:

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road CDL Training Program
• CDL Practice Tests

Good luck!

Yeah, and looking at the requirements you need a few years experience too.

Hey everyone,

I had a quick question. Im thinking about getting my CDL just to better support myself and wife. I was wondering if anyone knew of any companies that hire in Florida and offer dedicated routes for new CDL grads?

I am okay with being out multiple days, I am just looking to be home like once a week and just run the southeast states. Thanks for the help! Stay safe.

Don't know anything about the company but these guys are out of Winter Haven and I see them throughout the Southeast.

https://indianrivertransport.com/

OS you are so very right. Thanks G.

I have made some good money with this truck. I can afford this. I have been smart with my money and more to the point. I alwsys knew this day may come.

My point is many people do not look at things this way. They look at bigger paychecks. All the revenue the truck makes is not profit, or for the driver. I see people leasing trucks alot. They think they are going to make so much more without realizing the whole picture.

I will do ok through this, many would not. It hurts for sure. My profit margin for this year will take a huge hit. For those reading this. I have a substantial income outside of trucking that pays my household bills. Many people rely on trucking to support their family. If this was my case I would be in serious trouble with an incident that happened in the blink of an eye.

I appreciate ya’ll for your kind words. I knew the risks when I bought my truck. I am prepared for those. I want those who aren’t well prepared to think about this situation long and hard before jumping into this part of trucking.

Hope you're back on the road.

Remember: Always, always, ALWAYS play with house money ;)

Hi! I'm interviewing for a Dollar General Reefer position out of the Westville IN DC (it's a fresh/frozen only division) and am wondering if anyone has experience with driving directly for Dollar General? I know Werner and others have DG accounts but am wondering what it's like to be an actual Dollar General reefer driver?

I know it's driver unload but it's from a reefer so it's a little different than unloading the dry van. There's a lift gate and I'd be wheeling in 2-3 loaded carts per store, leaving them in the cooler, and wheeling out and collapsing the empty carts...

Thanks for your input!!

I do local P&D in the city. EVERY Dollar General I drive by I look at how I would get in and get back out with a sleeper and a 53ft trailer.

Then I say, "Nope. Not me."

Has anyone had any advice or been told how they should handle being in the middle of a protest while on the road. I know the best situation is not to be there but you cannot have for knowledge of all situations?

This idiot broke into the lead trailer and then fell under the dolly.

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

Wheel chock

Bet this make quite the noise when it hit.

Oy. The best of the Verst.

I got a lot more miles and a raise with the dedicated account I’m on and home every Saturday leave Monday morning. I have my kids on the weekend so I can’t go back to home time every few weeks. I didn’t know if I could draw until I find another job or had to take what was offered. It’s scary.

Just APPLY! The worst thing that can happen is they'll reject your claim and you'll be in the same situation.

They'll research you income history and then they'll probably contact you about your reduction in hours unless they can already see it on your paystubs.

Just want to say thanks to all the veterans! Y’all are the ones that know the real price of freedom!

Thank you. By honoring us you honor those who have fallen. There are not many of us left who do NOT know someone who has died in the service of their country.

I lost friends in the 101st Airborne just about 35 years ago. Can't believe it is has been so long.

He'll be on here in a couple of days saying he's a dedicated driver and if we know of any companies that will hire him with one tiny incident.

Ya, right?

"The trailer only had a small dent in it! They totally ruined my life for a minor error!!"

What I can't believe is whatever and wherever this guy did this obviously law enforcement didn't get involved. So he drove that trailer, landing dragging and the rear tandem axle not even hitting the ground to the DC!!!

Haha! Auggie69, that's dedication!

It's also hilarious! I wish I could hear the conversation between the driver and the broker or dispatcher.

"I got the load delivered, but it's got a few issues."

"What kind of issues?"

Well, let's just say the sagging freight markets had a negative effect on this load."

"What's that supposed to mean driver?"

"Well, do you remember telling me that the current crisis is putting a lot of downward pressure on our freight load?"

"Sure, but I'm still not following you?"

"It's hard to explain, I'll just send you a picture."

LOL! The one positive word I could come up with was also 'dedication'!

Outside a Costco DC. I was stopped in the outbound lane that guy was actually DRIVING INTO THE DC!

Dude, you can't be serious!

I thought if the accident was your fault your not eligible for a year, seems nuts to not allow you in because of some bad luck.

I keep passing on it because I can not back with someone watching me, without fail if I notice someone watching I forget everything and look like I am back in school.

Which is a shame because when I was in school 2 of my instructors had 5 combined state titles and a national titles between them. It would be nice to try and join them

No, I think it's ANY kind of accident.

One of our guys had a lady run into him on the highway a few years ago and he was disqualified for the next competition.

Thanks PJ makes me feel better about it. How are you liking the Lee? I almost bought that instead. Tech I go to was saying its 50 watts out of the box and he has tuned them to upwards of 60. My Galaxy is getting 50. Also a plus the Lee comes with a Ranger mic.

And 40 Days what happened to my Cobra?? Absolutely nothing haha. Was easily getting 10 to 12 miles out of mine with a predator 10k antenna. I just decided to go super trucker with a radio lol. The cobra will be a trusty backup.

5 watts for your Cobra and 50 watts for your Galaxy.

You think a 50watt lightbulb would get hotter than a 5watt?

That's the source of your heat.

At OD only P&D does since they are out in public with customers, they keep us linehaul drivers locked up, as not to scare the public. As long as what you where is not offensive it should be fine.

Opinions vary, but all my naked lady tattoos are covered by my pants.

With linehaul something to consider is most of the runs depart after 9 pm. So you may have to work night for awhile or even forever if your location doesn't have anything else. But you will get 2 days off a week

The main thing here is that I basically consider any work day a bit of a wash, because I know long hours are part of the deal. Something where I'm doing 4x14 would honestly be ideal for me. I've seen some around, not necessarily line haul, but out there. The main appeal of linehaul for me is that I'm home most of the time, get regular days off and it seems to pay well, in part because the industry is historically unionized.

I'm not looking to do this until August of next year, because I'd like to hit the road with the family for another year, living out of the RV and winding down my business.

OD sounds like a good company based on what has been said here and what I have read / watched other places , so I'm wondering about the relative merits of dock-to-driver programs versus the traditional long haul / OTR training route. I'm not terribly bothered by more active work. I like driving but the whole "sitting on your rear every day for a year" part of the OTR route isn't my favorite thing.

The best opportunity you have for linehaul in LTL is to pick a VERY LARGE hub to work at. Many more opportunities and many more personnel moves. If you pick a small place to work you will literally do NO driving for a very long time and if you are extra-board right now you'll work some and maybe not at all. Not wanting to start until next year will probably be to your advantage.

Create a long term plan and stick to it. No matter union or not. Though I DO agree with the union statements on this thread. I feel YRC is not long for this world. They may come out alright if they get Fed money.

If you're willing to do p&d, you'll get to days a lot faster. At FedEx P&D has start times ranging from 6 am to 10 am. They usually work 10-12 hour days and FedEx pays overtime after 8 hours a day.

I'm not opposed to P&D, but linehaul sounds way better. Just sit down, drive for a long way, drop your trailer, turn around and come back. Simple. The "boring" aspect of it appeals to me.

Yeah, but union or non-union you'd end up working the dock a lot while you're on the bottom of the extra-board. At least it's not much more than an 8hr shift but you won't be driving anywhere.

You want a daytime job? Do P&D. You want a daytime job in linehaul? Work 10-20 years working the dock and running nights and THEN you'll earn you way to a daytime slot.

FedEx ground needs help. I'm going to be a package delivery driver for the time being. I'm fine with it because it gets me off the dock and my driving time has tapered off to once or twice a week by volunteering for weekends. Otherwise, it would be nonexistent.

I enjoy doing package delivery, I think it's fun. I would do it full-time if I could do it under the FedEx umbrella and not under a contractor.

I would do Express at my current rate of $28 and change. I did it for a year but they were cheap. Never got hours and pay was never over $16

Doesn't matter - I'm furloughed :)

It's from state and federal; I didn't have any problems applying like other states might have. The only issue is the tax situation because it's only witholding 10% federal and 5% state from the state's unemployment and 0% from the extra 600. This is about 8.2% total.

I know that before I would have to gross approxamately 3400$ in two weeks to take home $2400. Right now, it's gross 2600$ take home 2400$ approxamately. That's 400$ a week missing in taxes. I BELIEVE that social security and medicare aren't required for unemployment, and the total gross is a lot lower too, so I don't know what I'm underpaying. But if I assume I need 25% taken out, then that's $224 a week I'm not supposed to have.

Basically what I'm saying is anyone else getting this don't spend it all at once cause we're gonna be owing at the end of the year. I'm just going to change my witholding to 0 exemptions when I go back to work.

Good point on SS and Medicare not being included. Pretty sure they are not taxed with UI.

Keep in mind you might not make as much this year as last due to the unemployment so your taxable income might be less.

That said, if you want to be safe, figure out your Tax Rate from your last years taxes for both Federal and State and sock that away or plan for it.

For example, if you made $50K last year and paid $5K in Federal taxes and $2K in State Figure on withholding 10% for Feds and 4% for State. Either let the state do it or do it yourself.

Sounds like you're doing great!

I've been running steady since starting back at Crete three weeks ago. Most days I need to run about 500 miles to stay on schedule. Always pre-planned for the next one in advance, too.

The worst so far has been today. I delivered at 0900 this morning in Phoenix. The next one goes from here back to Dallas. Only issue is it won't be ready until after 0600 tomorrow, so I'm sitting most of the day here at the terminal, and I hate hot weather. It's supposed to be 103 degrees this afternoon.

The Crete COO was on the Dave Nemo Show this morning. He stated our freight hit the slowest point two weeks ago. Our forecast shows it picking up each week for the foreseeable future. Hopefully, everyone will see this happen.

I'm in your corner on this. However the XPO CEO said he sees this going for 10 months. I can't see that happening.

3 weeks ago, Our freight was slower than usual for a week. Since that week, it has been business as usual.

That's great! Wish we could say the same.