Profile For Philly Boy

My company put me in an automatic about 3 months ago and at first I hated it . Until I had to go across the George Washington Bridge and drive through New York. I know how to float gears but the automatic makes it so much easier when driving through areas of high traffic and congestion. But it’s an obvious thing though these automatics like it or not there here to stay . It is a different drive but it’s just a matter of getting used to it. And on the subject of driving a manual is a skill well my opinion it’s a matter of having coordination not so much of a skill . That’s just my opinion.

Hey Dave thank for that information. You must definitely brought up a quite a few things that I did not take into consideration and it’s much appreciated. Thank you.

I didn’t know that it was illegal. I was trying to figure out for myself it was just really with the headache or not . My last career , a barber, was all 1099 and I do understand the headache of balancing your books and keep all receipts I just know that trucking and barbering are totally different. I’m gonna look into the illegal part if that’s the case then screw that I’ll stay where I’m at.

I’m looking for everyone’s input on either staying a company driver and getting w2 for taxes or working for an independent company and making more money per mile but you would have to do 1099 at the end of the year .

Thank you

As of today it makes a year I've been driving and I've done it with the same company, swift . Man let me tell you have I learned a lot . My first month out solo I had a backing accident and then on my third month I got towed. Well did I learn quickly about the importance of GOAL get out and look . Taking your time and trying not to panic or stress out when you did something wrong. And then followed by the importance of reading all signs not just speed limit or height restrictions parking lot signs. Again man did I learn quickly the importance of reading all signs and it doesn't hurt to ask if it's ok to park overnight in certain parking lots you'd be surprise just ask nicely and being respectful of there property comes a long way some places even gave me permanent parking permits. And that drive cam I got to admit I really don't like it but it has showed me how to be safe driver . I got called in for drive came I would say at least once a month for about six months straight . Mostly for self coaching . Then finally I said I'm sick tired of it I'll drive exactly or at least try to like the way they want me to . And I got to admit it's gotten me out of several close calls and I'm a much better driver now . I hear a lot of people complaining about not getting the miles they want before I started driving and a few of my friends that drive gave me the best advice first it was stay with one company for at least a year but the longer the better then it was do not turn anything down because I was new I had to prove myself and to build a good relationship with my dispatcher. That was the best advice ever . I've done all of that and let me tell you I'm making a good buck now I wasn't at first but I am now . It's really important to prove your worth and show your dispatcher that you want to work . I'm happy and excited that I got a year in as a professional driver celebrating rite now by praying that these guys unload my trailer quickly so I can keep on rolling lol . Well anyway I just wanted to brag a little cause I'm happy and looking forward to another year and expecting to learn a lot more in my mind I'm always gonna be a rookie at this and I will never know all there is know about this gig . Everyone out there be safe .

I've been driving now for the same company for a year now and now I'm thinking about trying to get a TWIC card and my hazmats I just want to get people's opinions on the pros and cons of having a hazmat and TWIC card . Thanks

Guys thanks for all the help but i finally figured it it was a bad relay . Thanks

While going through training you'll make mistakes. But when you go solo you'll make all new mistakes. Take your time and learn from your mistakes. Don't let them discourage you.

When use my turn signal it flashes rapidly as if a bulb is out . My 4 ways working normally. I put a new bulb in but it's still not working probably. I looked behind the glove box to see if a fuse maybe bad but I can't find the fuse for the turn signal. Are the fuses for the signal located else where ?

My left turn signal flickers as if a bulb is out. I checked the bulbs and none are out. And I looked for the fuses but I can't find the fuses for the turn signal I need a little help finding out what's going on. Thanks

OK it's been a while since I've been on here . I started driving for Swift now 7 months ago and I'm going to stick it out for the year . Everything has been working out for the most part fairly well and I'm learning a lot . My only issue is the drive cam . At times it's been great on helping me point out my faults but then some times I feeling there nit picking. At one point they were trying to say I was on my but I was using my blue tooth which the company allows. And I'm starting to feel like the cam is used more to punish you than help you. On the flip side if anything were to happen and you did nothing wrong the cam is proof you did nothing wrong. And at times I catch my self looking up at that cam to much. I'm debating on looking for a company with out that cam after a year. That's if there are any out there that don't use it .

If you drive past your 11 hours and your looking for some place to park up how would you log that in ? Can you put that in as a 395.1 or just say you were looking for parking ?

Cool . Thank you .

Any one have any suggestions on where to park in Northeast Philly ? I got a parking ticket last night and definitely don't want another.

Thank you for helping me understand things a little bit better I appreciate it. I'm still new to this I've only bin out there now for a week and still learning the ropes . Grant it I'll learn something new everyday. Thanks again . It means a lot to me .

Maybe I miss under stood what I was told . Dispatch pay sounds about rite but I was told that it was called a live unload but they unload it . I made the mistake of not getting everything in writing.

Thank you for responding back and forth the advice . Those are questions I did not think about asking . I don't do any unloading they do all the unloading and if it takes them more than an hour to unload I get hourly pay . This is my first job as driver I was looking for good pay but also the experience more so the experience and I took into consideration the backing up into tight corners would be could for me . Definitely thank you for the advice.

It's been a while since I been on trucking truth and so far all I got was good advice . Well I got a gig with Swift and I'm on the Kmart dedicated account . For loaded miles I'm getting .51 .37 for empty miles 25.00 on unloads and 15.00 per stop . It sounds good to me but I'm not sure if it is or not . This is my first gig and want to know if I'm being paid fairly and what would be considered good weekly milage. If there's anyone else on the same account what's your opinion on this account. Thank you guys for what ever info you can give .

I'm definitely going to keep on trying. Thanks for the links to check out. I am not going to let my past mistakes define who I am now.