Comments By Eric K.

I just upgraded February 1 and while my home terminal was at the time Rochelle IL, we were at Lathrop CA so that's where I was issued my tractor.

It was clean. Not detailed but still much cleaner than I expected as well too had heard the horror stories. The parts department issued me a new mattress - my coordinator told me that they would. I was also issued the lock, gladhand grommets, breakers and wiper blades. The whole permit packet was already stocked as was the folder they give you with info on chaining, kingpin settings, Comchecks and a bunch of other info.

Good luck!

Yeah, I'm always the optimist - LOL!

By "quickly" I mean "not all day" so it's probably the wrong word.

Hit the dock at 0750 so we'll see what happens.

Walmart does allow parking but my leader says she shows the pickup as pre-loaded so I guess we'll see when I get there. If so, problem solved - "hopefully!"

OK, I think I have it figured out.

Leave at 0600 and when I get to the dock, sleeper berth until they're done. Should be by about 0815. Assume 2 hours for load, back on duty and my pickup is right by a Flying J. I'll park there and go back off until 6, then hope they can get me loaded quickly so I can return to that Flying J for the night. If not, I'll gladly pay for a night at a T/A 30 minutes away, if I have to. That'd be the next closest stop.

There is a Walmart but it looks hard for trucks to get in and out of the parking lot.

Thanks!

I was concerned about both.

If I start pre-trip at 0600 and leave at 0630, I'll get to the receiver and checked in by 0815.

Go to SB as soon as I hit the dock and that stops my driving hours of course but doesn't the 14 hour daily clock keep rolling and with it, eating away at my 70? I was never really good at the logs so maybe I am over thinking it and making it more complicated than it needs to be.

That's why I LOVE this group - so friendly and understanding when it comes to new guys like me.

As of right now, I have 3:45 left on my 70 and will gain 6:30 tomorrow and 8:34 Wednesday. I am a full 8 days in.

As far as I know there is no way to load early. I'll check but wanted to see if there was another option that I was overlooking.

I was thinking split-sleeper too but am really confused on that. As I understand it, I can take 2 hours, then work a few hours, then take 8 and it will reset me to when I started the first 2???

HOS rules exist. I get it. They're in place for safety - the most important reason of all. They are a PITA because of this dilemma I have...

Tomorrow I will wake up with 9:45 left on my 70 and am only 1.5 hours away from my 8 AM delivery. No problem there. Live unload. Ugh. I have my next load at 18:00. Again - live load. It's about 1.5 hours from my delivery.

So, assuming all goes well, I'll leave here at 6 AM, get to my delivery at 8 and if they take 2 hours, I'll be done at 10 - with 4.5 hours off the 70, leaving me 5:15. How on Earth can I make this work? Seems to me that I can't.

Once I get the load I can sit for the night and take off in the morning, but how do I even get there? I don't want to call my DM yet unless there's something that I am missing.

Advice please! You guys have been awesome .

Thanks for all the tips!

Man, thanks for those. I've seen most of them and while they show people doing it, they don't explain the "how" and I am a very analytical "how and why" guy. I'll take a look at the ones you listed that I hadn't already seen. Thanks!

Not sure if this is same as videos but what I do; 1. Come in perpendicular like you said and about 6-8' on left. 2. Go 1 1/2 spots past open dock. 3. Go (slow) hard right (then I count two seconds) and back hard left until trailer bottom is 45 degree in my mirror. Bottom right of mirror to top left. 4. Stop. 5. Cut steering wheel all the way right and start backing. Make adjustments as you go. 6. Get Out And Look as much as needed.

Some lots allow more room than others, but this works great for me.

Also it'll make a difference where your tandems are. The further back they are the longer it takes the trailer to respond.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

OK, that's a start!

Questions...

After Step 2, do I STOP, then turn the wheel hard right?

After Step 4, the back end of the trailer should already be pointed pretty much at the spot, correct?

As I said, I tend to over analyze things, but if I don't know the why all I am doing is memorizing steps and not able to correct on the fly.

Thanks again!

We really didn't get much training on it in school. Unfortunately, schools tend to train for the test. I guess the idea is that you will get the rest during mentoring. Problem is, during my mentoring, we really didn't have an opportunity to do it. Once or twice and that was it.

I was at a shipper and they gave me a specific numbered spot they wanted me to drop my trailer. It was just too tight to get a full turn and back straight in. I tried for like half an hour to no avail. I finally gave up and told the guys that I was going to find another spot and drop my trailer where I could fit it. Found a spot and got it in there in the first try. Easy peasy.

This is what I tried - first, came in perpendicular to the spot about 10 feet away from the line for trucks. One my left - not blind side. Went about two spots past it, then put it in reverse and cut the wheel hard right to kick the trailer back left. I kept running out of space and came in too sharp. By the time I went to straighten out, everything was out of whack.

I THINK what should have done is come up to the spot, then when my drives are centered in the spot i want, turn hard right WHILE GOING FORWARD. Then "S" back to the left and get the back of the trailer aimed at the spot I want.

I have been trying to find a good video but reality have only found ones showing it being done and not really explaining HOW it is done. Anyone find a good one that I might be able to use?

What advise do you guys have for a rookie that is pretty lost on this?

It is hitting me hard too. Never really had a job where I was this independent either. All of it can seem like too much and overwhelm me at times. I've only been out a month and I find that on bad days, the homesickness hits hardest.

I just pray for guidance and strength and lean on my family with phone calls. It's really all you can do. I am sure it will get better.