Comments By Pick/Grin

Talked to a driver for them. 15 years of driving and he said he loves the company. All auto, and he was payed percentage, hotels paid for since he drove a daycab, good hometime. Sounded like a sweet deal.

More power to a successful woman. I'm a traditional guy, but I think I have a thing for women that can outdo me. Especially behind the wheel of a rig haha!

Talked to an oldboy from TN about Melton. He said they're doing him right with pay and miles. Said I'd do well to consider them in the future. Not interested right this second, but anyone know if they hire down in south FL?

A man does it for thirty years and his family grows without him. He can't do anything else for work because his skills only apply to one specific industry. He could go local, but his family is too rooted in an area where there aren't any positions. He didn't expect the economy to go to crap so many years later and never saved up to retire so he's gonna have to work til his last day.

From what I've heard from older guys. I don't wanna be like that...

But I like my overalls :(

In the Atlanta airport right now actually. I like the city, but this place is insane haha

Keep at it man, gotta keep those good vibes. When you make friends and one guy messes up, the rest of the group reassures and gets him back in the right mindset. You'll soon be behind the wheel, and it is a scary feeling. But when everybody's keeping each other in high spirits, you'll get comfortable very fast.

I still keep in touch with two buds from up in Kentucky. We went to CDL school together and went our separate ways, seeing whose landed the best job, whose got the nicest truck, the best loads. Friendly competition keeps a guy on his feet you know!

Look, I dislike Patrick as much as the next guy...

But don't you guys think we're acting a little immature here? We're getting ourselves to his level when we should be the adults not the children. Lets point him in the right direction using our wisdom and knowledge, if he doesn't listen then so be it - but insulting the man on a personal level makes us the goofball, not him (in my opinion).

He's a young man in his 20's, how many of you were foolish and acted stupid when you were his age?

I'm 22 and have so far been a firefighter, a lumper, worked in a (violent) nightclub, and have done quite a bit of work with a heroin addicts in rehabilitation, among various other odd jobs. So, not I.

I don't have the best gig, but it's a start, and complaining about every little bump and bruise makes a guy bitter. If I got fired, I'd accept it and scramble to get back to work asap, not go on a woe-me-rant.

For managing hours, I learned real fast after hitting my 70. If you can keep it below ten a day, you'll be good, but planning takes a lot. You need to know where you're starting, where you're going, what roads you're taking, and where you're shutting down. Typically I'll pick truck stops that I've been to, and I'll always keep in mind to pick two backups just in case. It does no good to plan a whole day and nothing more, because if you've got an hour left and the truck stop is packed, you'll need to go elsewhere.

So, plan for the worst everyday. Don't plan to go through big city with only 2 on the clock. If you have to stop early because you think/know you won't make it, don't fret. Use one of your backups. Always have a plan b, you will find yourself needing to resort to alternatives from time to time.

If you can go on a break, do so. When I get to a dock area, I check-in and immediately go off duty once I'm backed up to a dock. If you let your clock stay on duty when you're not, you're just wasting precious minutes. Always be mindful of what your status is set to, because there's nothing worse than getting back in your truck and seeing that your clock has been set to on-duty driving for two hours. So, be cheap with your hours and aim to be as time efficient as possible.

Hope this helps a little. I don't have experience like some of the other guys here, but one of he first things that I learned is that time is money, and you need to know how to make the most of it.

Jack Harsch if you don't mind looking it up. Not sure what the location says for my profile, either Florida or Kentucky.

This is true, but unfortunately many shippers and receivers don't seem to share this same work ethic on holidays...

I am on a 3 stop delivery in western Oregon, the second drop of which was made Friday around 1pm. But since the third stop does not accept Friday deliveries, is closed on weekends, and has Labor Day off, I had no choice but to park the truck, rent a car and drive home for the weekend. I'll be back on Monday night to finish up the load Tuesday morning.

Happy Labor Day!

My first holiday on the job and I got held up for six hours at the consignee a few days ago. So many short runs since Thursday, I haven't left the Chicago-Milwaukee area. Work is work, but it's kind of a bummer when you have dinner, breakfast, and another consecutive dinner at the same truck stop. Oh well, I'll be home Tuesday so I'll hold my tongue. Drive safe y'all!