Comments By Susan D.

Most companies require a minimum of 160 hour training certificate in your quest to obtain your cdl, before they can hire you, unless they operate their own cdl school and you are attending that school. I seriously only personally know of 1 company that will hire an inexperienced driver without that certificate.

Its nice that Jim Bob, Fred, or whoever is willing to teach you. Hopefully it's with the company's consent and you are properly insured in said training vehicle, but it still won't get you that almighty 160 Hour Certificate of Training or a vehicle to test in.

My recommendation from logging exactly what you are doing comes from past experience.

For example. You stop at a rest area for your brake. When you get in the sleeper, you log sleeper. You wake up a few hours later needing to use the restroom. You put on your shoes and head inside.

While in the restroom, DOT pulls into the truck lot and begins conducting inspections. They see you out of your truck and heading back to it (to go back to bed). However, you're up awake and are fair game.

Believe it or not, my company has had a driver ticketed for being out of the truck sleeper when that driver was logged into the sleeper berth.

I personally have seen this happen to other drivers in rest areas. Wake up, break isn't complete but sitting in the drivers seat smoking a cigarette, checking their phone or whatever.

So again I say log exactly what you do. If its difficult to remember to change your status then stick a note on your steering wheel or whatever it takes to help you remember. Luckily my company has a statement in our permit book that says when loading or unloading that we are off duty and not required to count freight or any other responsibility beyond checking in/out and docking.

The best strategy is that if you are not on duty and/or driving, you should be sleeping. You need your rest to be able to operate the truck safely. There's 3 of you in this truck, so guessing it only stops for fuel, driver changeover, and an occasional shower. Staying up to socialize won't help you at all. 2 hours or less max of the socializing. I realize you're very new, but teaming is definitely it's own animal. When I teamed, I had to teach myself that anytime you're horizontal in the bunk, you need to be sleeping. Keep it dark, pull those curtains and get the zzz's you need.

Best wishes to you.

Technically, you log exactly what you do. Now if you were taking a split break, (8/2 split) that consecutive 8 hours in the sleeper would have been important.

Awesome. I used to cook the majority of my meals on my truck. Unfortunately for the last couple years I haven't. The freightliner I've had simply doesn't have appropriate horizontal surfaces (shelves) with nearby outlets sufficient to do any real cooking other than heating things in my microwave. I still miss my old 2016 freightliner even after a couple years in this newer one. The built in fridge, while nice, has practically no freezer space and I really don't even use it. I've had to pare down on weight in this truck also because the fuel tanks are mounted much more forward as well, often giving me over weights on my steers particularly with full tanks. At least the APU allowance covers that overage.

I miss cooking in my truck for sure, but I've never found a way to make it practical in this truck.

I'm sure you'll love your instant pot. I used to carry a similar aroma 3 in 1 cooker. Have some great recipes if you're interested.

With 2 DUI'S we'd have never recommended paying for your own school as they'll easily take your money and no guarantee of being able to get a job.

Many companies will not hire anyone with one DUI much less 2. Some will hire after a number of years.

I'm so sorry you didn't get advice here sooner, but it is what it is.

Apply literally everywhere that hires new inexperienced cdl holders. The reviews wont matter, as previously stated, you don't have the luxury of being choosy. TransAm, Pam, whoever.

We do have a list on the forum of companies that hire with a DUI.

Yep Mikey is correct. Don't falsify your logs. Fueling must be done "on duty". I've NEVER seen DOT camped out in any truckstop (being snarky here, because I absolutely have).

This forum is geared towards helping new and prospective company drivers navigate cdl school, company training and that first year.

I sincerely doubt anyone here would have too much knowledge about a hot shot. You you have your own authority and elogs?

Congratulations on reaching the 5 year mark!

Be careful with the new rules. We've already had a driver get cited for logs during an inspection.

Idk about everyone else's company, but mine will automatically pause the 14 hour clock on any 2 or 3 hour break. The problem is, with no 7 or 8 hour sleeper berth period, that 2 or 3 hour off duty pause, doesn't count. I've heard other companies the drivers have to check a box saying that 2 or 3 hours will be paired with a sleeper berth period and THEN, it will pause that 14 hour clock.

Be aware of what time you started your 14 hour clock and make sure you don't exceed that, unless you're doing a split break. Your elogs may or may not accurately reflect your remaining time. Also you can be on duty not driving to fulfill that 30 minute break. Personally I like my 30 minute break off duty because I typically use that for lunch or restroom break.