Profile For Dan67

It all depends on how the company ordered the trucks from the manufacturer. My current company has Freightliner trucks and they common key them by year made. Newer trucks use 1 key but the older use a different key. Previous company had trucks in a batch common keyed. One thing everyone needs to be aware of, the locks will only keep an honest person out. Need to be vigilant on where you park and how you secure your doors when inside the truck sleeping.

One of my regular customers guard shack has a handheld CB. I can talk to them on channel 5 to check in without having to get out of the truck and walk down the pad to the shack. This used to be more common years ago.

First off, watch your speed. Second, speeding 15mph over the limit is a serious offense. Contact a local attorney that is in the area of where you got that ticket and try to get them to reduce it in court. If you get a second speeding ticket conviction in excess of 15mph over within the next 3 years, you will be disqualified from operating a CMV for 60 days. You could not legally operate a truck for your employer. If you where to drive a CMV while disqualified you risk being disqualified for an additional 1 year. See 49 CFR 383.51 This is a serious problem and you are required to inform your employer of all tickets. Does not matter if in your personal car or CMV. Failing to do so will result in termination, no company wants a liar they cannot trust.

I think it's cuz I'm an old lady...72... and the company is amazed at what I will do, like chaining up in the winter time, working on reefers if somebody walks me through it, etc.

Laura

Laura, why are you working so hard at 72? Its time to relax and enjoy the retirement years. I am set to retire at 62 1/2 in 5 more years. I think its amazing you are still able to bust it out and I applaud you for the work effort. Something the newest generation fails to do..

I know I am a bit late on this. Get that truck back to them ASAP, you are working for free. Do not buy fuel for that truck out of your pocket. Find a job with a bigger company. No money for payroll means the company is flat broke.

My company is a bit different. They want everyone to be off 2 days a week or for a 34hr break. Nobody runs recaps, not even the team drivers. We work hard those 5~6 days in a row and then home. My 2 days off happen to be Saturday and Sunday. The majority get either a Friday-Saturday or a Sunday-Monday off and a few drivers get a Tuesday-Wednesday off.

I am a shift driver and home daily. I drive a stubby, (lightweight sleeper) and I use sleeper birth status occasionally when sitting at a long 2+ hour load/unload to pause my clock. I go "off duty" while sitting in the cab, or if I decide to take a nap I go "sleeper birth". Both are correct. When I am done for the day, if needed I change to "sleeper birth" to get the required 8 hour minimum. We have to have a total of 10 hours "off duty/sleeper" daily. Even though I log "sleeper", I don't stay in the truck. I drive home and sleep in my own bed.

Just 1 thing I would add is show 1 minute "on duty" or "on duty yard move" before and after going to an off duty status. Remember we need to log it as we do it. After you get loaded/unloaded we need to open/shut doors, do paperwork etc. Our logs need to be accurate as possible and should reflect that. I know many OTR drivers just use "sleeper" and "drive" and only use "on duty" for the pre and post trip inspections. They try to conserve as much of their 70hr clock as possible to maximize their earnings. But, we still need to show on our logs we are doing the little stuff.

The first year is always the hardest and it will be the lowest paying. That is just how it is.. As you gain experience and knowledge start looking at different companies. But for now if you can wait, I'd wait until the economy improves and you gain more experience. Cannot give you advice on dating relationships, I was married with kids when I started driving.

Not bashing on you. But you need to understand that you where behind the wheel and not your trainer, so the fault is on you. The trainer and you should have had your heads on a swivel looking all around. The trainer has too get a feeling on what your abilities are and advise you on what you are doing correctly and what needs improvement. Coaching you onward and doing more observation as your time goes forward until he releases you to the next trainer or you go solo. As for the debt, you signed a contract with Swift and you will need to honor it. You did not complete 12 months employment with them so you owe them the amount for your training. I doubt any of the mega companies will touch you until you have repaid that debit and get atleast a year of safe driving under your belt. Look at the various class B jobs out there. Driving dump trucks and garbage trucks etc. One thing that gets beginning drivers in trouble is, they focus too much on the tractor and not enough on the trailer. Truth be told, their job is to drive the trailer.

The more backing you do the easier it gets. Being a local guy, I am on 3~5 trailers a day. While the road drivers use 3~5 a week. I've heard from several of our customers say they see experienced drivers struggle to back and then they see me come by and just back it in. It's a skill, the more you do it the easier it gets. The right setup and tandem position can make or brake a back up too. Still to this day it is important to GOAL. The best backing job is the one you don't hit anything or anyone.