Posted: 7 years, 10 months ago
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Yeah, I've been doing paper logs. not a big deal for me since they drilled that into us in school, which was like 20 weeks.
The only real problem I've had is when I had to swap trailers with another driver to get home. I basically got all my directions and info at the terminal, then left for the spot to make the swap. Another dispatcher tried to send me a message saying the swap spot had been moved, but obviously I couldn't read it, so I sat there for like a day waiting for this guy.
Finally, I called corporate and played a little phone tag to find out where the new spot was. Still made it to my delivery on time, but I'll be glad when I finally get this thing fixed.
Have you been having to do paper logs then? Is that pretty easy to pick up? I only got limited experience at the truck school I attended.
Posted: 7 years, 10 months ago
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I've just got home after my first week on the road solo. Even though the company is switching over to automatics, I managed to get my hands on a 13 speed, and a relatively new one at that. It'll likely be awhile before they pull it from service, at which point I can lease it. Despite what I have heard, shifting really doesn't get old, even in traffic jams, at least not yet.
The first few days were kind of rough, and had me questioning if I was cut out for this line of work. Backing is a whole different monster when it's other trucks and trailers that are the obstacles, instead of little orange cones. But I am getting better, and haven't managed to hit anything. It may take 10 get out and looks at times, but if that's what it takes, then that's what I will have to do.
A big piece of advice. Don't trust the GPS. It is a handy tool, but it will totally get you turned around if you depend on it. My first solo pick up was in Atlanta, and that thing had me turned around so many times. My atlas, and google maps with satellite view and street view have been invaluable.
I'd say the directions on the Qualcomm are also useful, but mine has been down ever since I seated on my own truck. So I'm in like solo hard mode right now. Once I get off of home time, I will no doubt be routed out west so I can stop at one of the main terminals to get that fixed. Until then, using street view along with calling the shipper/consignee for directions for the final approach have made a tough situation much easier.
Posted: 7 years, 11 months ago
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Werner denied employment due to medications prescribed.
Quitting an anti-depressant cold turkey is generally not advisable. If you want to go that route, talk to the doc about weaning yourself off of them.
Posted: 7 years, 11 months ago
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Werner denied employment due to medications prescribed.
It might be that specific prescription that they do not like. I am on an anti-depressant (Zoloft), and nobody seems to care. I thought it was going to be a big deal when I first took my physical before starting school. I almost failed my blood pressure test because I was so nervous about it. The doc asked how long I was on the current dose, and was I suicidal. That was the end of it. Before I decided on my current company, I was sure to ask recruiters about this, and none of them cared either.
Back in about 2010, the FAA lifted a total ban of pilots on anti-depressants. But they only allow 4 of them. Zoloft, Prozac, Celexa, and Lexapro. If I were to wager a guess, I'd say these meds have a better track record than the others, and would probably be much more acceptable to motor carriers than any others.
Sadly, there is still a stigma on these types of meds, despite millions of Americans taking them with no side effects and a much better quality of life than they would have without them. But some nutter shoots up some public place, and later it is revealed he was on these meds. He somehow becomes a representative of all those normal people out there taking these things, that one would never know about unless it was revealed to them.
I think Tractor Man and Brett have the right idea. Perhaps talk to the doc, see about changing to one of the 4 aforementioned meds, and you'll probably have an easier time of getting your career going. Another possibility is to be straight up with the recruiters from the get go about being on the meds. See who has a problem with your prescription and who doesn't.
Posted: 7 years, 11 months ago
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Starting out with an Automatic
What terminal are you training at? I'm going to Pensacola on the 19th and I'm hoping for an auto. Did you say you would be getting a new one? I'll cross my fingers and hope for the same thing. Good luck and safe driving.
Sam
About a century ago, there were some teamsters (small 't'*) that insisted that for city work, nothing beat a team of mules. Mules were more responsive around the newer automobiles, and were easy to maintain - you just feed them.
Well, gasoline powered trucks still won out. The teamsters' work got less and less until all they could do is go around neighborhoods with a mule, and sell photos of kids sitting on the mule, wearing a cowboy hat.
Moral of this story: go automatic, say goodbye to the clutch. Your career will thank you for it.
I had to switch to automatic two weeks ago. Manuals have their advantages, but on highways, hills and warehouse docks, automatics win.
* Originally "teamsters" drove teams of horses: "Teamsters". A team of horses or mules is two or more in harness.
I did my orientation in Gary, Indiana. I'm back at home now until a trainer becomes available. I'm not 100% sure what I will get, but every new truck they order is going to have an automatic. It also sounded like there are far more autos available than manuals, so the odds are heavily in favor of winding up with a new automatic once soloing out, in my estimation. That doesn't take into account what you will drive while teamed with a trainer. You might wind up doing your training time in a manual until you solo out.
I had hoped for a manual at least for a couple years, if only to cement my manual driving skill. However, between my research, plus what Errol said, it might not be a relevant skill beyond the next several years.
Posted: 7 years, 11 months ago
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Starting out with an Automatic
The company that I'm about to start with, May, is moving to an all automatic fleet. Chances are extremely good that I will wind up in one once I solo out. (At least it'll be brand new!) I'm not exactly excited about it, but with more and more OTR companies moving in this direction there doesn't seem to be much sense in fighting it. Especially if this latest generation of Autos proves to be reliable.
I trained on a manual at Baker College and road tested in one. Michigan will give you a restriction for Automatic only if you don't road test in a manual, which is why Baker trains and road tests with manuals. I was OK at it, not great but not terrible either. I would miss a gear occasionally, but was pretty good at using the throttle and stick to feel for the gear and find it again. I'm sure that it's something that I would be able to pick back up again after a few years off but what really matters is what the company thinks.
My question is, how will this affect my future employment prospects if I decide to go local or work for a different company who exclusively uses manuals?
Posted: 7 years, 11 months ago
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On the Job Search. Thinking about May Trucking.
I've returned from orientation at May. Sadly, there are no trainers available at the moment. I'll get roughly a week off, then will head out for a few weeks of being teamed with a trainer. After that, with a little luck, I will solo out and start driving on my own. The company seems pretty good from what I've experienced so far. Unfortunately, the 13 speed manuals are on the way out at May. They are converting to all automatics, and that is likely what I'll wind up in. Too bad, but inevitable if they turn out to be as dependable as they say, no matter what company.
Still, I am excited that this is about to finally begin. My plan is to get some good experience under my belt, and if down the road I still feel the itch for the manual transmission, I will consider the O/O route.
Posted: 7 years, 12 months ago
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Just curious, what exactly is "Attempted Animal Running at Large"? Is that when you try to let your dog loose but it won't go?
I wondered that as well. When I was there for pretrial, there were a bunch of people there, and the prosecutor was basically plea bargaining everyone by throwing an "attempted" at the front of the charge. I probably could've fought mine, but it was the only way to put this thing to bed and get out on the road. Otherwise, I'd have been stuck here for at least 3 more weeks, if not longer, since nobody wanted to hire me until the case was closed. It probably saved me a little money on the fine, and might look slightly better on a background check at first glance.
Posted: 7 years, 12 months ago
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OK, I'm probably being a worry-wart again but here goes. I'm about to ship out for orientation at May Trucking Company. During the whole process of applying for this job, I had an unresolved misdemeanor charge. The charge is Animal Running at Large. Long story short, my dog got out and attacked the neighbor's dog, causing it injury.
I was upfront about this with the recruiter and during the application process. The recruiter said it wasn't a big deal, but that I should get it resolved before starting for the company. My pretrial date was fast approaching and I was pretty sure I could get it taken care of at that time so they scheduled my orientation date and told me to keep them posted.
Fast forward to today. Pretrial. I was able to get the charge pled down to Attempted Animal Running at Large. Still a misdemeanor but I got it resolved and paid for. Case closed. I let the recruiter know the outcome of the case, and sent in the paperwork showing that it is closed. The recruiter said it isn't a problem and we are still going forward with orientation.
Good deal, right? Well, now I am not so sure. I've heard reports of people being told by the recruiter that it is OK, only to get to orientation and be sent home for whatever it was that the recruiter said not to worry about. After 6 months of school I am so close to finally realizing this goal, it would be absolutely crushing to have it taken away at this point.
So I leave it to the experts: Is this a big deal?
Posted: 7 years, 10 months ago
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Weapons in cab?
Hopefully at some point we will see concealed weapons permits treated like driver licenses, where if issued in one state, it is good in all states. My firearm does a pretty good job of collecting dust these days, but getting busted with it out on the road seems like a pretty good way to put my trucking career to a premature end.
A suggestion that I haven't seen is a 6 D-Cell Maglite, like the cops used to use. I put an aftermarket LED bulb for extra brightness plus longer battery life. Just rest that bad boy on your shoulder and shine in the perp's eyes. If he keeps coming at you, it's pretty obvious he's up to no good and...well, I think it's pretty easy to figure out the next step. Also doubles as a good tire thumper!