Comments By Dustan J.

Elogs vs. paper, elogs only required that you update your status as any that I have used might take you to the ON DUTY line when you shut off the engine, but YOU need to log OFF DUTY or SLEEPER yourself, and inevitably folks will forget. Paper, as I have used for the past year, requires that you keep yourself straight at all times, though you can program some things in there as needed if necessary though not recommended. For trip planning on elogs, always be sure that you have planned somewhere to get that 30 min in before your 8 hrs are up or you're uber-screwed with HOS violation, and again before your 11/14 is up for same reason. Also with elog, you will be entering your load info into the computer along with any macros that your company requires, like load weight (from BOL) start times, end times, seal #s, etc. Lots of info goes into that. I use a calculator to plan for the trip. Total miles divided by 45 mph for total travel time, then break it into blocks according to your needs. I've had dispatchers try to tell me to plan for 60 mph. Not correct, because your routes will be planned efficiently and take you through towns and such, so plan for 45 mph so that you have safely planned for any stops and traffic and food and restrooms, etc. That is what is taught to trainers, anyway. If anything, you will be more safe that way and have enough cushion time to get there without stressing yourself out.

Please keep in mind that you need a good cable to take the signal from your radio to the antennas. Have had an older rig with the original cable and new antennas with new Cobra radio that still couldn't push or receive signal very well. If you'e gonna install a system, be sure to put in good components or you have wasted your valuable $$$.

Sure feels good, doesn't it?

Toilet paper, baby wipes, and disinfectant wipes. Your toilet paper roll in a small Folgers can will be very safe, and pretty waterproof for those crucial moments. Baby wipes help out if a shower wasn't gonna happen that day. The disinfectant wipes are nice to general cleanliness in the truck, and for dirty restrooms when nature isn't gonna quit.

Clipboard and a porta-file make life easier.

A couple of small-ish storage tubs are very handy for your stuff.

At least a half-package of printer paper is good to have when using Transflo systems, also scotch tape. You have to tape receipts to the page to make it scan to your company.

Keep about a full pack of pens. They will disappear over time, like lighters. Also, lighter. Even if you don't smoke, it will become handy.

Consider a RoadPro lunchbox heater for a hot meal to save you money because canned food is cheap at Walmart. Also because even a crap day becomes better with hot food in you.

I also buy big packs of those plastic laundry soap pods for laundry day because no risk of spillage and no need to measure anything.

Have a towel or two, because not every truck shower has enough towels.

A seatback organizer will save you lots of time and space for storing your maps, pens, reg books and random needed items; I got mine on Amazon for $15 and it is a staple for me.

Anything that helps keep your glass and mirrors clean should be a staple also.

Anything that can keep food cold is good too, because sandwiches are fast, cheap, and easy to make.

Bedding: Don't skimp here. Treat yourself the best you can with nice sheets, warm blanket and the best pillow that you can manage, because caffeine is overrated when you're activating your brain's executive function for up to 14 hours a day. NOTHING ever does a person better than good solid sleep, and if it is the kind where you wake up with drool on your face then you've slept well.

Sturdy work gloves, with leather palms. I had a collapsible push broom when I pulled a dry van, and I swept a LOT of trailers to get loaded.

Commercial tire gauge because you need to be sure that your tires are ready to go.

I personally like map markers to mark parking locations that are not in the truck stop guide or the apps, such as roadside pullouts or otherwise unknown safe parking areas.

I also have two of the 2 gallon refillable jugs from WalMart and a couple 1 gallon water jugs, so 6-7 gallons total on board because your A/C & heater will dry you out and I can easily take in a gallon of water a day. Dehydration will impair you.

Safety glasses & hardhat. Usually issued, but always best to have.

Keep basic medical supplies: band-aids, gauze, Neosporin-type cream, and of course whatever works for your headaches if you get one.

I also keep a small trash can with liners because it helps more than putting a bag on the passenger seatbelt buckle.

I also prefer to use a power inverter that has USB ports on it to power things.

I'm sure more things will come along, but these are the basics that I run with and I never seem to need anything else aside from this list.

I am headed out to orientation on Saturday, to start on Monday, with a flatbed company in their quad division. So far I've pulled dry van a short while, then belly-dump and finally hopper-bottom doubles. The doubles were by far the most fun so far, especially when the hitch is stretched out to the full 100' (overall length of rig) and you're on some tight turns or working your way through towns with traffic. Overall though, I'm excited to go flatbed because I'm not one to just keep a seat warm all day long. I find the notion of strapping, chaining, and tarping pretty interesting since I can put my hands on things. Some folks thought I was being ridiculous to want to go flatbed, but some folks don't want to do much beyond opening and closing a tarp once or twice a day with a crank handle. I sure am excited and hopefully I can get some pictures up.

Using a ball-peen hammer as a tire-thumper is good to be seen with when you're checking your tires when you are stopped. I think everyone hit all the key points in personal protection here within the confines of the laws and policies.

Many times when I ran to and from Canada, I was asked about pepper spray and bear mace, because they don't want it in the trucks. There isn't any reason to NOT have various tools on the truck, so good preparation makes for good work.

When I was doing my time in combat, I was in charge of a lot of female troops, and there were times that called for me to step up the personal protection training because in places where everyone has a few guns on them, tension goes way up.

Avenues of approach: these are areas where someone may likely try to get to you unseen, so at night, use a red light to save your night vision. You can also use mirrors to bounce a flashlight beam into dark areas.

Consider putting a big rodeo belt buckle where it can be seen too. Guys like to use huge bras to ward off lot lizards, so this could get funny sometimes. One of my favorites that no one ever expected to come out was putting a couple of heavy fishing weights onto parachute cord with about 4-6 feet of reach on it. When you bring that out and get it moving fast, most people won't feel like they want to continue messing with you and it can get the point across if you need to land it onto someone's scalp.

I used to teach CHL carriers how to defend themselves after they passed the CHL testing, so not only did I teach how to actually use the gun, but also to generally survive the attack and kick some ass. I've only had one real encounter that could have gone badly, and when I told the guy that I am naming him Monica, the whole thing deflated. Normally a person has already created a script for how they see the attack happening, so I guess the point is that making it crazy makes the whole thing more favorable for you. Generally though, there really isn't much reason for concern because people want to be left alone to fall asleep to their movie or XM radios until they can roll out again. If fact, expect to just be ignored 99% of the time.

When I trained with my first company, the trainer was pretty good in his training regimen and taught me good stuff that works for being safe, finding parking, and various things learned from experience. Since then, I've driven local and moved to take another OTR position. I've gone out with a couple other guys who weren't quite the best "trainers". Things like "You can speed through here" and other such nonsense. I just said "Thanks for the heads up" and promptly put that where dinner would soon end up. After years of highly dangerous military experiences, I place trucking right where I placed handling explosives and planning night raids. The potential for disaster is high, and good planning goes a long way.....but responsible conduct is the huge factor that makes things work. No one can engineer hazards out of your job entirely, that's why accidents are called accidents, and not "on purpose", though negligence is an apt descriptor when someone fails to do something. Apathy and complacency tend to catch up to the ones that get too comfortable or too confident. I've seen people narrowly escape disaster already in my very short driving career, truckers and cars alike. Impatience and carelessness seem like the root causes for most major crashes that I am seeing. Ultimately, just slowing down and knowing that two minutes will not make a major difference in your life could save a major incident and make a much better driving experience. Just my thoughts though.

I would say that if you have the right attitude and get thrills from unique challenges, then you may enjoy trucking. I personally love the freedom to do my job, and the blessed absence of anyone looking over my shoulder. I pull doubles, so the additonal challenges are a lot of fun for me. Planning your haul can be a detailed as you make it, so plan on your plan being thwarted at least occasionally by weather, traffic, customers, mechanical issues...etc. Those make your life very fulfilling when you handle it with the right attitude. Last week a super-single exploded on my rear axle. I've seen guys lose their entire mind over stuff like that. I just roll with it....no blood pressure spikes required for that.

I really like the comedy at the various places that trucking takes you. Truck stops are nonstop fun, as are shippers/receivers. People are endlessly entertaining so if you like people, or at least know how to handle various personalities, you will gather a treasure trove of great memories.

Some guys just have a job in trucking; some have a lifestyle. Neither is more or less correct that the other, but are determined by your level of commitment. I had a local job for six months. Wasn't all that bad, but every day was a frantic rush to earn a living, and I can only look at the same place for so long. Some people are fine with that, so you gotta evaluate yourself to know how hard you want to push yourself and then find a fit for yourself. I tested out for all endorsements when I got my CDL so that I wouldn't be limited. It paid off because within a year I was across the country pulling 60 ton doubles up and down mountains. I never imagined doing that, but here I am. The point being, be very flexible. That can break your spirit down if you are in a truck, several states away from home, and not flexible in your current situation.

I hope I was able to help you out in your search, and be sure to get some of the other seasoned guys here to respond to you as well. Trucking is a lot of fun!!

I've had a Harley or two pass me that were so loud and so powerful that the Harley shook my truck...and I was really getting into the throttle when I got passed. Some of those 107+ ci V-twin engines can make some loud sounds with straight pipes on. I get it, Jake brakes can put out a resonance in the right conditions that can do damage, but I believe that generally it's a noise control measure in places where CMVs travel.

I've been approached for 50+ cpm because I have HAZMAT and double/triple, etc. What I take away from that is: your miles will suck, and you split miles with a team driver on payday. 50 cpm doesn't sound so great now. Currently I get 34-36 cpm, depending on what bonuses I earned. Doesn't sound so bad though, because there is a total compensation package there, and those cost money as well. If you can add retirement account, medical/dental, and other things that a lot of companies don't offer, you're building more than just your wallet. At 34 cpm, running my butt off, it is good.