Comments By Dave Reid

TA/Petro doesn't have a similar program, but they do give a shower credit for each fill of 60 gallons or more. I fuel every day at one of their joints, buying either 60 gallons or only the amount over that I'll burn that day. They used to allow us to pump 60 then stop and buy another 60 for two credits, but they now prevent that.

However, I'm guessing Robsteeler's issue wasn't lack of free showers but rather his inability to fit one in daily due to trip schedule and park locations. I used to have that problem as well when pulling reefers with a very aggressive schedule, but seldom have an issue now that I'm pulling dry vans doing mostly open window drop and hook.

See there Junkyard Dog, I didnt know that. I'm guessing TA/Petro has something similar? I guess then what it boils down to is try to fuel at the same chain to gain the daily showers. If the biggies all have a program for daily showers how do people not get to shower as often as they want to?

I live in Oklahoma, my kids are in SoCal. If I decide to go with a big company like Swift, would they be able to alternate my home times between SoCal and Oklahoma? Thanks in advance.

Yes

Interesting question that you don't see asked or posted about. Many companies advertise "No Touch Freight" - and with the exception of some dedicated accounts (Dollar General comes to mind, where drivers have to shove entire loads off) most folks bump a dock and get themselves unloaded.

How many folks here have had to drag pallets or hand unload a box - and how often does this end up happening in reality?

Rick

I once helped pick up some fallen stuff at a grocery store delivery and once helped pick up some stuff at a food pantry (refused produce). So, much less than once a year average. I didn't really have to do anything either of those times, but it got my moving faster.

For those with the necessary determination, getting to a decent income in trucking is actually faster than just about anything else. We earn as much or more than most college graduates, and while many truckers are college grads, it isn't required. Where else can you be trained for free (even earn bit) in just three months or so to then begin earning 40 to 60k first year, 70 to 80k second year?

I have been talking to trucking companies for almost a year now about paid cdl training. But i honestly do not know how companies expect a grown man to be able to survive doing this i say 90% of companies want you to go to there school for 3 to 4 weeks with no pay i understand that but then once you get your cdl they want to train you living in a truck 24 hours a day making 20 to 30 cents a mile even at 3000 miles that is only 900 and they tax you on top of that so i will be away from home for 4 weeks no pay in school then living in a truck for another month or so making 900 if i have a trainer that will hustle they tax that i might make 750 if i am lucky for being away from home that is 24 hours in a day x 7 days is 168 hours 750 divided by 168 is $4.46 an hour and i have to eat when i am out there sure i am not driving all those hours but i am still babysitting there truck i just do not know how a grown man with responsibilities can get into this profession without having a big bank roll to last the first year or so

That is crazy ...seems like someone at the office is dropping the ball here ...they have plenty of loads within a half day of there.

Been sitting for two days in limestone, NY with no load, gotten a message twice about no loads being available in this area. A Swift, Knight, and another truck has also been here about the same time.

By far the longest I've waited for a load, I would figured they would deadhead me somewhere closer to freight by guess not.

If you're talking about OTR produce work, I'd say that it differs from other reefer work to some extent in that there are often multiple pickups from places that load FCFS and then they may have a very time sensitive delivery with little time available between the final pick and dropoff. The driver must often need to figure out how to be at the first pick the night before, check in the minute the place opens, and hustle between the picks and then to delivery. Often the delivery will have to be made during what should be the 10. Delivery can take a long time. Obviously, the reefer unit has to be supervised closely. If product temperature has not been maintained properly throughout the journey, it will be rejected.

Lots of drivers can not/will not deal with produce runs. If one has prior experience dealing with the extra hassles yet is still applying to another produce hauling gig, the hiring folks probably feel the applicant has a better chance of sticking with it then does one that hasn't done it before.

Why do some trucking companies require produce experience? Is it more significant than regular reefer hauling , what’s all involved?

That's a mighty nice route....I've gone that way a bunch of times. We just need to be sure to check what the wind speed is beforehand; that bridge becomes very dangerous when it is windy, especially if we're not heavily loaded.

I took the Chesapeake Bay tunnel/bridge today, very beautiful I just say. Plus it was a nice and clear day after I got out of the fog in NJ.

If we end up missing our sleep time, we may well need to notify dispatch that we need a day added to the trip. Let dispatch know as soon as possible....they will work with the consignee to get the delivery appointment changed.

Pushing it and driving while sleepy is a recipe for disaster. Keeping an appointment is not worth causing an accident or your health.

Stay safe brother.

I picked up a loaded trailer at the Proctor & Gamble DC in Corinne, UT. It had two tires with patches worn off the tread almost down to the base of the tire (would attach a picture but not sure how).

Long story short I went to the Loves about five miles away and got here around... 6? 630pm (maybe 7). Took them three hours to get into a bay and I've been waiting on them just to start the work since (round 9 or 9:30 I think? Maybe 10?

Haven't been able to catch a nap at all since we can't be in the truck while it's in their bay and I have a hard time sleeping when I'm still at "work" regardless of whether or not I'm actually doing anything. At this rate it looks like I'm gonna be up till 1 or 1:30 (its 12:15 right now). Do y'all have any good tips for dealing with this... specifically that I should have been asleep three or four hours ago but I still have a full day to log tomorrow-- I won't be late but I'm going to be groggy all day. Half of this is... frustration and whinging but it's an issue I've had to deal with before but I don't know if there's any better way to do it because shorting myself on sleep is getting harder to do.

ROEHL is a good mega that has some curtiansides

Hey y'all!

I'm new to the forum but not new to the trucking world. Been pulling flatbed since the start of my career in 2012 (not a veteran compared to some but I'm definitely not a rookie 😂). But anyways I'll cut to the chase! I love securing loads and flatbed as a whole. But my back just can't handle tarping anymore because of injuries outside of trucking. Are there any good companies that pull predominantly or only curtains? I currently drive for Maverick** and love the company but I just can't handle tarping anymore because of my injuries.

Help is greatly appreciated.

*Also if anyone has any questions about Maverick I would be more than happy to answer.

That wouldn't comply with the protocol fir testing, Mr Grump. Once told, you have to go to the testing place immediately, if not sooner.

Why didn’t they just tell you. It isn’t like you can do anything to cover it up anyway.