Comments By Last Shadow

Hang in there girl, 3 months can feel like an eternity sometimes, but, you will see the light, CR Englan unfortunately doesn't have a good rap, or at least that's what I read from them, but you will get your chance if you can endure this period in your career.

Hahaha.... I made it 3 miles from my next pick up and 1 of my trailer airbags exploded!! Could all these airbag issues I'm having be weather related?? Now that its warm outside....

Wow. That's a bad break right there again!

No, the temperature outside should have no impact on that, really. You haven't mention any other airbag issues, specifically. Now I don't know exactly how they regulate those systems, but if you're blowing out airbags it's possible there's a sensor or valve or something in your tractor that's not regulating the pressure properly. I'm really not sure. But I'm not sure if I've ever had an airbag blow out on the tractor or trailer. I probably have any just don't remember it. I can remember having some brake chambers go out though.

I would call breakdown, or I'm guessing you already have, and ask them about that specifically. They very well may know what's causing that, or if you're just on a run of bad luck.

Hahaha.... I made it 3 miles from my next pick up and 1 of my trailer airbags exploded!! Could all these airbag issues I'm having be weather related?? Now that its warm outside....

You might be right, however being stuck in front of nobody and seeing the cluster of semi's move slowly and than disappear in front of you is pretty sad, I feel left behind😂

I think now you're going to be stuck behind or alongside every truck in the country that goes 62 - 64. That's about the only difference.

We were just talking about this today in another conversation. I don't think it's going to make any difference at all, other than psychologically you're happier doing 65 than 62. If they secretly set your speedometer to read 3 mph faster than you are actually going and they didn't tell you, you'd be doing 62 all day long happy as can be cuz you think you're doing 65 now.

One time I knew someone who told me they hated smoked provolone cheese. So I said, "Ok, next time I'll buy the regular stuff." I went to the store, bought more smoked provolone, handed her a slice, and said, "Here, I got you the regular stuff this time. How's that?"

She loved it.

That's a true story. Honest to God.

Well for me is traffic and parking, if you don't time it just right you'll get in trouble, it has happen to me.

I hear it all the time your a rookie running solo northeast regional goodluck with that! I was born and raised in upstate ny i love it hear i cant imagine driving anywhere else.Company is in love with me im a worker and have been pushing my single trips further and further im sittin in nc right now.im just curious is it because of any particular reason like the cold or occasional weather?j/w id say my biggest gripe is heavy loads on the mountains but its trucking i love a challenge. Thanks Jeremy from ny

I spent lots of time researching trucking here and elsewhere. I studied with the high road training program and got my CLP. Trucking seemed like something I'd enjoy and be able to make money at. I went to The Swift academy and felt the same way. I went out with my mentor for a month, and felt the same way, but my mentor was on the target dedicated account. He said he thought is be great at this, and that I should be able to make 700-1000 bucks a week OTR.

Now I'm out here solo OTR, and I'm running as hard as I can, not turning down loads, and I'm making like 350 a week. That's less than the hourly pay I made as a trainee. What am I doing wrong?

Half of college graduates can't find work in their field, and I'm one of them. I'm drowning in student loan debt and I needed a job with decent pay. Before this I was working as a front desk clerk at a hotel and living at home. I could barely pay my bills.Now all my stuff is in storage and I basically live in the truck.

Sorry to ramble I'm just really frustrated with this, and feel like I bought a pig in a poke. Even if in were to decide to leave trucking I don't really have anywhere else to go. Is it normal to be making this kind of money at the beginning?

Z, that is not normal at all bro, you should be making at least $700 a week and that's on a bad low mileage week.

As of the middle of this month June, we are going to be faster, "FINALLY" I am thinking that's a good move by the company, what do you guys think?

I've been a rookie driver since feb of 2016, I took a brake due to family emergency, anywho here's some advise you might already know, when in your trainer's truck don't be disrespectful, clean the truck, take care of your hygiene whenever possible to keep from getting sick, be focus, take your time your with him to learn the way business is conducted in your company, follow all the laws, ask questions, it's ok to disagree with him/her, but don't make it toxic, once you're on your truck, clean your mirrors and windshield with rain x, you'll be suprise how helpful that is, don't forget to set your 4 ways when parking at a truck stop, and don't be afraid to ask another driver if you need help with anything, the worse that could happen is getting ignored, and lastly don't forget to do some kind of exercise, eat healthy and take pride on how you look, it's not hard to look decent, till next time.

If it works for ya'll driving during the night and sleeping during the day, I have rarely had a bad rest downtime, that's my 5 cents

Whenever possible, I try to park with the sun setting behind me. Keeping the late day sun from beating straight into your windows makes a TREMENDOUS difference.

When it comes to maximizing the efficiency of the A/C while parked, use the front curtains, not the middle curtain. That way you're getting the benefit of all of your vents, rather than just the ones in the sleeper. It also reduces the amount of sunlight coming in and heating things up (also useful when not idling in daylight hours). After you've pulled the curtains, tuck the bottom edge up on top of the dash so it's not blocking the vents. That alone will make a good 10 degree difference.

These tips brought to you by a guy who spends an inordinate amount of time in SoCal, Nevada, Arizona, etc. during the summer.

Well I heard good things, good experiences, but like everywhere you have to be careful.

Oscar Graham wrote:

Is it true most American companies DON'T cross south of the border?

That is true.

I would add that is also the mind set that you bring everyday, I am here to make money be safe and for the love of the job, you must have someone to vent every so often if not you will turn into an ogre, but make sure your audience is the right one.

I got tired of the excruciating heat in Florida, working under the sun vs driving in an ac equip truck was a no brainer, plus I love my big trucks

Just curious. The actual reason I started looking at this seriously, was what I felt was impending job burnout. Some 16 years after I started in this industry, I feel like it's time to close the book. Not just the chapter. The whole darn book. At one point I was somewhat revived by a promotion to management, but ultimately in my gut I know it's time. It's bittersweet for me. So many years I spent sponging up as much information as possible.