Profile For SouthernJourneyman

No they will not fit. Not even supposed to use chains on singles. It's more of a cable system. The chains will shred them up pretty bad, though I've heard the cables aren't to great either.

Snow is getting pretty thick here in Ohio. Decided to get on off the road for the night. Don't really care to go through Indianapolis in this weather.

I drive for Werner and it's true. If you get caught doing a U-turn you're done. They are pretty strict with safety. You also can't park on the side of the road or anywhere besides a truck stop, rest area, or terminal. Makes it a pain when you're running out of time on the clock and you can't find a spot to park..

"You can't park on the side of the road...". Is this a typical policy of all large carriers? I get that this means you have to route-plan well, but it seems this could be pretty hard if you're sleepy and there are no places (truck stop, rest area, terminal) nearby.

I'm sure it's against any decent companies policy. Fairly sure it's illegal to just pull on the side of the road to sleep in most places anyway. Only places I know that it is ok is in certain industrial/business parks that are set up that way. Definitely a no go on the interstate or other highways.

May also want to look into Melton. They're great folks to work for.

Welcome to the team! I've been solo since the last week of November.

Your trainer sounds kinda like the guy I had. Real big on that fuel mileage.

Having stuff you can layer is best. So far I haven't needed thermal under wear, just a heavy coat. But the coldest I've tapped in was around 20*. Couple times it was colder we were allowed to tarp inside. I do have insulated coveralls though. Also insulated gloves help when handling ice cold chains. If you go for long underwear get the newer synthetic stuff. Works so much better than the old cotton long johns.

My advice is to wait till you find out what the requirements are for the company you are going to end up working for. Some you may get away with tennis shoes and cloth gloves. Others not. The company I drive for is strictly flatbed and we haul a lot of steel. When in steel mills and many other shippers we have to wear steel toe leather boots and leather gloves. I really like my Redwing Irish Setter boots. And I get the split leather gloves at Tractor Supply. Cost more than the ones my company sells but they last a lot longer. Keep in mind, you can wear whatever when driving.

As for the two people on the bunk my wife just spent three weeks riding with me. We have a California king size bed at home. Me, I'm 6'1", 275lbs. My wife is nearly a foot shorter and much smaller. I can sleep on a tree branch as far as room. She somehow manages to take up the entire bed at home. Having said that she was ok with us sharing the bottom bunk for the most part. But by the end she was ready to have her big bed back.

Yep. Good ole two stick. Used to drive one in an old Mack logging truck years ago. They can be lots of fun or a royal pain.

Well I got a hard lesson today. I'm up here in Kentucky and ha a load to deliver at 8am. So last night I got up here and found a mom and pop 16 miles from the consignee. Doesn't get much better than that unless you can o/n park on site, which I couldn't. So I set my phone for 6:45am. More than enough time to get up, fix coffee and to a pre-trip. So I hit the road about 7:20. On the way my phone rang. I don't have a headset so didn't answer but I did glance down to see who was calling. Saw the phone number and wasn't worth stopping for. But somethings else caught my eye. My phone now said 8:30. Wait. What? Turns out I was parked on the central side and my delivery was on the eastern side of the line.

Normally I am real careful to plan for time zones but this was the first load I've had that was right on the line like that. Fortunately it wasn't a big deal since it was a first come first serve type of place, but still a lesson learned. I'll be checking that map a little closer next time.

Thanks. Southern. You want to be my trainer? Haha

Maybe one day. Don't think I'm ready for that yet.

If you are down south and heading north then you want to treat your fuel. I live and work in Montana and we always fill with #2 and I have yet to treat. I have yet to gel up either. The fuel up north is going to be different than the fuel down south. A lot of the time they will have a chart on the top of the pump giving you the gel temps of the fuel. At least town pump seems to do that.

You can also ask where you are fueling just to be sure. Maybe some more experienced folks can say, but I'm not sure just how far north you need to go before you start finding treated fuel.

Congrats SamTon. I think you'll be happy over here.

Me personally I would strap each layer individually plus a belly band in the center. Had a load very similar to that last week. Used 12 straps plus two to make the belly band. I stagger them also. So the first strap goes over the top, second strap over the middle layer and third strap over the bottom layer. Then start at the top again and work your way down. After that put in a belly band and start from the rear, should be a mirror image of the front. Some folks may call it overkill but you can never oversight. And I've seen to many pics of pipe going through a cab to take shortcuts.

I agree with what most have said. Review company policy, contact DM.

Otherwise I would get the load to Walmart ASAP in hopes to preserve the load. If they reject then go from there. But I would let them make that decision.

I'd be real cautious about going flatbed then. Not saying all companies are the same but I have a tall load I have to climb almost once a week.

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Will Melton let you take a ladder

Yes you can. There is a spot to strap one to the headache rack.

I'd be real cautious about going flatbed then. Not saying all companies are the same but I have a tall load I have to climb almost once a week.

I'm a bit of a bass player but not much room for all that. Thinking about getting a classical guitar and learning that. Or a fiddle.

Just use the tractor brakes. I was spent the night up there at the J on exit 2 off I80 last night. I only pull the tractor brakes as a rule and still took a bit to get going. They were froze up pretty good. Hate to think how long I would have been beating on trailer brakes.

Ok. I'll be sitting around all day.

Steve- I may have to look into some of those improvements.

One of these days I would like to invest in a Galaxy. I've heard lots of good stuff about them. That and I was a radio operator in the Army so I'm a bit of a radio nerd.