Comments By Shiva

I have fir the most part tried to be positive through this whole training experience. However these last few days I'm riding an all time low. My TNT phase is almost over as far as miles are concerned. My trainers attitude has been better. All things considering I should be elated to start this new adventure. However I have yet to figure out or impress my trainer enough with my backing maneuvers. I'm starting to think my training will continue, and financially I don't think I can continue if that's the case. I am spread pretty thin and bringing home just $1600 a month is not something I can do for very much longer.

The backing problems I have all start with the set up. If I get a good set up which is rare, I usually guide it too far to the blindside. To date this has been ok since all my backs have been empty on my blindside.

I honestly just don't know if I will get this. My trainer has done all he can do. But my brain does not get what he is saying. I have yet to hit anything, and I do eventually make it into the hole, but like I said I'm either not straight, not centered, not aimed right, there is always something I have done wrong. I just can't get it right.

Do as many pull ups as necessary

Hey so I'm just wondering. I'm about to leave the company I'm at for a local schneider gig. I just want to know what they expect on the road test? I float gears all day and don't really double clutch. Think that might be an issue?

You should be fine

Also, when they say weekends, that means home on the weekend for a day and a half. Say home on fri night back out sunday afternoon. Be nice if they gave ya the whole weekend.

I know what you mean about OTR. I didn't like it either. I started with JB Hunt Regional Intermodal last June, after running 6 months OTR. it made a huge difference for me and my family. After 6 weeks in regional, I was offered a local intermodal position. I'm loving my job now. With JB HUNT Regional, we would get a full 48 hours home, but JB Would let us stretch it to 56-58 hrs. For example, if I got home Saturday afternoon, I didn't have to start back out until Tuesday morning. You should consider JB Hunt if Schneider doesn't work out. Although, I have heard no complaints from Schneider drivers. Schneider would have been my 2nd choice, if I didn't come to JB HUNT. JB recruiters were more aggressive when talking to them. Anyway, good luck! I hope everything works out for you, like it has for me.

Where are you located?

I highly recommend getting some hometime to help clear your mind. Try to see if you two can get some days off if possible. Hometime always worked wonders for me and my students when I trained.

I agree, some home time will be good to clear the air and start again fresh for both. I made the mistake of at least not going home for thanksgiving. I still refuse to call my trainer 1 1/2 years after getting off his truck

As stated within my profile, I'm a class B tri-axle dump truck driver going OTR very soon. Never received formal (CDL school) training. I was never taught double clutching method.

My new company stated that "all DOT driving testing must use the double method". Well I guess not Texas, or at least my Texas DOT examiner. I've floated since day one, albeit a tad painful for the old trick at first!

A bit long winded to get to question, sorry......" what the hack is double clutching and why?"

Thanks in advance for response/ advise...

I think it depends on the DOT examiner. I was taught to float from day 1 and floated during my driving test. The examiner say anything. I passed and still float today. Double clutching seems like a bit too much movement for me

My whole whole viewpoint on this matter is that he shouldn't have been fired. Disciplined, but not fired. His career is now ruined in trucking.

Brett, I'm not pointing fingers but I disagree. MERICA

Well then you go ahead and "fight the good fight" if you feel that defending your right to run into steel structures while blaming others is somehow going to help you. It isn't my time you're wasting.

that doesn't mean they couldn't potentially hit one if bad luck strikes.

We talk endlessly about taking personal responsibility in this industry. Certain trades demand a much higher level of personal responsibility than others - firemen, police officers, military, handling explosives, logging, commercial fishing, and many others. If you think hitting a bridge is bad luck or it's someone else's fault then you need to find a desk job or become a politician before you kill yourself or someone else.

Is anyone here aware of any bridges out there that are low bridges but are not listed in the Rand McNally Motor Carrier's Atlas?

And do you guys have any idea how many low bridges there used to be in Chicago back in the day? The list in the Atlas was several columns long back when I started driving. I drove Chicago more than any city in the country during my career and I never hit any bridges. Never hit anything for that matter.

Some people get the job done and don't make excuses, place blame, or shun their responsibilities. I didn't have the luxury of cell phones or GPS or Qualcomm or any of that when I started driving. I had a Rand McNally Atlas, a pen, and a notepad and I figured it out just fine.

In fact, I live in New York State where the overwhelming majority of our bridges are purposely marked wrong. Some were updated with actual height, others were not. And yet I still never hit a bridge or planned on blaming anyone else if I had.

Brett, good for you. Your website has been extremely helpful and thank you for creating it. However, I do disagree with some of your philosophies. 1 being that we are 110% accountable. I agree witho 99% on that. But given the times we're in, where technology is threatening to take our jobs, they put speed limiters, cams on the trucks, navigation (GPS systems) on our trucks. How could the company not consider to be a little accountable. The bridge is unmarked( county or city should be accountable for that), if the road was repaved (the construction company) is somewhat accountable. If there were no signs indicating that it was a no truck route(again, city or county) is somewhat liable. Rand McNally is not 100% accurate. It may have a low bridge listed, but if your not sure which way you have to turn once you get off the highway, I would hope there are signs that would indicate a restricted truck route.

but this attitude that the driver is "ALWAYS to blame " is complete BS

When a driver hits a bridge the driver is 100% to blame.

When do the companies accept fault?

When a driver hits a bridge the companies never have to accept any fault.

I don't know how to be anymore clear about that. There are no gray areas. You do not drive your truck into a bridge and there is never a reason why it's ok, nor is it anyone else's fault. I understand we all make mistakes so I'm not saying it's not ok that mistakes are made but I am saying it is not ok to place blame elsewhere.

Trucking is not a job anyone should be doing if they aren't ready to assume 100% of the responsibility for their vehicle. Knit quilts if you want to screw up and point fingers. No one cares if yarn unravels. Don't run 80,000 pound big rigs into gigantic steel structures and then start pointing fingers. Unacceptable in my book.

Brett, I'm not pointing fingers but I disagree. MERICA

I recently did one of the big no no's of driving and struck a bridge. It was unmarked and the company GPS led me down the road. There was minimal damage to the truck and I wasn't even cited for it. I was terminated from my position for a preventable accident. I have 1 years experience with an otherwise clean record. Do I have any options or is my career over?

Company GPS, I would think they're at fault

The company GPS, and any GPS for that matter, will never be at fault. The driver is the captain of the ship and he decides what to do. If he decides to foolishly follow a computer instead of using his/her brain then he is an accident waiting to happen. And it will happen.

Truckers need to get away from relying so heavily on electronics. We have drivers who have been driving for years that will be like a chicken with its head cut off if you take away their GPS. Its a sad situation.

Daniel, I get what you're saying. I agree up to a certain extent, but the company is also at fault and should share some of the blame. The "company GPS" routed him to an unmarked bridge. He should have proceeded slowly and stopped if he was unsure, however new drivers are not always going to make the wisest decision. Was he able to back up? Turn around? Who knows, but this attitude that the driver is "ALWAYS to blame " is complete BS. When do the companies accept fault? Especially the smaller ones, they always blame the driver. No representation when you go into those safety meetings after an incident. I am not speaking about myself, but I have 2 buddies that were fired because they were blamed for something that really wasn't their fault.