Profile For Errol V.

Here ya go:




(Did you want to add a photo? Just above the input box is a blue button to add a photo.)

Is that loss of control? What are the tracks in the mud leading to the front end? Just coincidence that someone else ran off the road there?

This is not "loss of control". The road was dry, no rain. The loss was in the driver's understanding of how to make a U-turn and the danger of driving a truck (at any time) on raw dirt.

As for the dark tire marks, I'm not sure. The way they go tells me they may have been there before 10Roads made an appearance.

Steve, you call me a "harsh critic" when I explained how your "assumptions" (your word) are incorrect. The factors I wrote for you are based on observation and experience. With one "Rookie Solo Driver" post you want to tell us how things should be.

I have driven over the road, worked regional accounts and line-haul (where there's nothing that needs memorizing). And trucking companies have worked many of the kinks out of their operations to get the industry to work safely and profitably.

I do not expect you to get too far in this business if you continue trying to use your imagination but do not want to adapt your thinking to reality.

You do have to freedom to choose your company and your type of driving. But as a new Rookie Solo Driver, please don't drop into this forum and try to tell us how we are wrong.

Ok, I watched all five minutes and thirty-nine seconds of this guy.

The issue is about a settlement. The stuff about lights-out and bed checks that CRST is accused of doing and by making a settlement, they promise not do that any more. So you have to assume that these "bad" things are going bye-bye.

This video was posted two months ago, and the changes may not be in effect yet. Also there are questions you can ask a CRST recruiter directly and being "yes" or "no", you should get the right answers.

On this forum we have discussed CRST's non-compete contract that says if you jump to another company you must pay off CRST before they will release you to go work for a competitor. As your YouTube "buddy" says, the 3-to-a-room, lights-out seems more like a jail.

If you want to look around the trucking business, look here:

• Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing Your First Truck Driving Job
• Article Category: Finding The Right Truck Driving Job
• Forum Topics Tagged "Choosing A Trucking Company"

Yes, Chris, welcome to the club. More than once I've arrived at the pick-up only to be told to come back in two hours - the load was not ready. However the total wait came to a whole 24 hours. I got no extra compensation. ("Detention" is only for time you are at a dock and if the guard shack doesn't give you a dock assignment, that clock doesn't start.)

Steven, you list yourself as a "Rookie Solo Driver" with two posts. Then you regale is with all these dirty "facts" that OTR driving:

requires the greatest amount of skill and discipline because you are constantly visiting new shippers/receivers that you've never visited before. ... more unexpected situations (especially backing in random docks), more dilligent trip planning, more route analysis, etc. ... tractors ... have an inferior turning radius are significantly more challenging to back up than day cabs that local drivers use.

How do you come to this conclusion?

Local drivers don't always have the same route, the same stops. Most Pickup/Delivery (P & D) includes those "unexpected situations", and surprise, surprise, day cabs have a shorter wheel base than sleepers, but both being tied to 53' trailers, the turning radius is about the same. (I've driven both types of tractors.)

Now let me throw some arithmetic at you:

In OTR, you will be at a new-to-you dock about every 2-3 days. In between is miles/hours of interstate road, the easiest kind of driving there is. Yes, you have surface street and tight traffic for a while, but local driving has that local stuff all day long. With 4-8 or more stops every day.

Finally, there's a reason the Bigs don't like to put rookies on local assignments: they are more dangerous than OTR.

Generally, if something happens that you feel might affect your career, let your boss or someone else the office know. That "heads up" could save your hiney. The worst that can happen is that they say "Thank you" and basically toss that fact into the round file because it wasn't important.

Was he trying to make a u-turn or make a delivery in the damn field. Sheesh. And honestly Ifyou’re going to attempt a u-turn at least use all the room you got. Meaning it looks like he just turned from the inside lane. Almost looks like there would be enough room if he stayed as far right as possible and than cut it.

Yes, this is how you do make a U-turn. Take as much space as possible. But.... On the other hand, do not drive on "dirt" unless you are positive the ground can support the truck. Handy fact: the front axle maximum weight is 12,000 pounds, or 3 tons on each tire. Take a closer look in the photo. The steer wheels have sunk down to the axle in the wet dirt.

At any rate, there's probably a driver job opening at 10 Roads now, if anyone wants to apply.

Not me. I've seen the way their drivers operate.

PackRat ponts out:

That company hauls a lot of the US Mail.

There's usually another alternative to most U Turns. All he needed likely was make a series of left turns around the block, or go to the next highway entrance, BUT NOOOO!

This road is used by many trucks, and the crossroads in either direction are well used truck routes.

Through traffic had to use the one lane at the back of the trailer. The driver's and another person's feet can be seen sticking "out" of the bottom of the trailer.

At any rate, there's probably a driver job opening at 10 Roads now, if anyone wants to apply.

There's a reason many companies actually forbid drivers from making U-turns. Here's one:

On a semi-busy street, the driver decided to turn around. He figured he could go a bit wider in his turn, but failed to realize that after yesterday's rain, no piece of open dirt will support a truck.

Denni0s, We do need a little more information.

Generally lumper fee are paid by the company, sometimes directly or of you pay and send in the receipts they paid you back. It seems by your post that you did get your money, but the company figured their payout to you was income. It's not income, it's your business expenses, just like the tolls and wiper blades you bought and hopefully got paid for by your company.

(These dock workers are lumpers with a P, not 2x4 lumber)

Now about that 1099. That hints that you are working for an owner/operator or a small company. Is that the case? That's a problem of is own. Did you get a 1099 or a W-2 for your income taxes?

Plumcrazy states:

Don, nobody is asking you to read my stuff. Don't you have some money to make, sir?

This is an asinine statement. Why do you post things here if we don't need to read it?

Plum crazy reveals:

US Army, 8 years

Must be all that saltpeter.

This is why I'm not wasting my time with trolls like this.

A #2, is your trainer a Lease or owner operator?

It's not "hard news" - "This Just In ... ". Probably be in the last third of the show.

Derrick, having no accident in your rookie year is the surprise. Newbies are kind of expected to have a small cruncher in their first few months. You are going to be okay.

You will probably have to talk to a Schneider safety officer. And be assigned to take a class in Close Quarter Maneuvering (driving safely in a parking lot). Then you'll have to get back in the truck and stay hauling freight again.

Trust me, you have become an expert in moving your truck in tight spaces.

I'll be stopping my CDL class to watch TV!

Jim, a back-up camera like the one coming out on cars these days will not help. With getting your CDL already, you know the control you need comes from you watching in the driver seat. The camera, situated 60 feet behind you, will only show you the things you are backing into but because of the geometry of that tractor-trailer combination as you back it up, it won't help you guide the trailer all that much.

As for the other driver helpers, RealDiehl lists them for you. Funny thing, these are neat features on 4-wheelers, but some truck drivers feel they are losing their reason to do more than hold the steering wheel. I like being spoiled by them. They do keep me out of the Safety Office!

James surmises:

... now that I have my CDL and am talking about next steps, [my partner] is still supportive, although with a little skepticism. She says she's OK with me being out on the road while she takes care of the dogs, but I'm sure there's a limit to this,

Keep this very much on your mind. Even when speaking of our future, things may seem OK. But when reality strikes, opinions & feelings may change. Don't let that slide when you are gone for a month or more. Usually the minimum road time is around two weeks, but your company would prefer 4-6 weeks at a time. Also, with a two-week trip, you probably won't get very far from home (as in much west of Illinois kind of thing.)

I spent several weeks in Caldwell, NJ last fall teaching a driving course for Amazon. Let me just say the area is "different" from what I'm used to in Memphis.

Wrangler, You still have a tough decision, but it's about the tiny, almost unimportant stuff. I have no experience with Millis, but have worked with CFI (brace yourself, Big Scott (CFI's biggest fan) should be along shortly. Like most companies, if you don't mess around, you will get the miles you want at CFI.

As for terminals, they are not the important thing and should not be a deal breaker. Old School rarely stops in to any company terminal because he does not have to. while at Swift, I do live close to the Memphis terminal. The best thing about that was I always had a place to park my truck when I stopped at home. That is really the big benefit. If your FM wants to see you, or you need to take some class, you will be routed to a terminal or wherever, for what you need.

For CFI teams, here's a two year old topic: CFI Team CPM? Big Scott? (Bear in mind those numbers are two years old.)

Victor asks:

Speeding ticket and i was giving an example with the 40 tickets i want to know if these carriers would take anyone as long they dont have a criminal record

Trucking companies are looking for drivers who are already driving safely. Traffic tickets are a good indicator of (un)safe driving. Traffic violations aren't really considered "criminal records".

There are Trucking Companies That Will Hire Felons.