Profile For Pete B.

This is how close I came to an elk hitting me a while back in Idaho... came around a curve and there he was....

And there he goes! (Thank God!)

I looked up “dogged determination” in the dictionary, and there was a picture of you; great job Marc, way to stick with it. Looking forward to having you join us on the roads!

Congratulations and good luck! You continue to lead by example, even in changing companies, by showing how hard work, professionalism, and a commitment to excellence can pay off big time. I’m really happy for you Turtle!

Sorry Packrat, I'm sure you know. I read the first question a little too quickly and figured it came from the OP. Didn't scan left and see your name there. Sorry.

Yes, there is a designation on the BOL... the very first column should have an "X" in it, and the column header should read "HM" or "Hazmat." The shipper is accountable for knowing if the load is Hazmat or not. My company has sent me to pick up Hazmat loads, where as far as they were concerned I was getting loaded with a Hazmat product, but in fact the load turned out not to be Hazmat. The shipper will know. MSDS paperwork may accompany the paperwork, may not, because if carrying a Hazmat load you need to also have the "ERG Handbook..." That's Emergency Response Guide Handbook. The ERG handbook details how to handle the Hazmat product in the event of an emergency. You also need to have all of the proper & required permits for the states you'll be traveling through. If you don't have any of these you do not transport a Hazmat load.

I've been living out of my truck for 2 1/2 years now, and counting. My home is in another country, on another continent, so I don't really have a choice. I'm here to drive and make money, so living any other way would be counterproductive to that. When I need to get somewhere I get as close as I can with the truck, walk, and sometimes use Lyft or Uber. I'm saving a ton living this way. My approach may seem a bit extreme, but it works for me, I'm achieving financial goals already, and I've completely adapted to this lifestyle.

Unless you plan on running in snow country all of the time, such as having a local job or dedicated account where you are driving in and out of the snow throughout the week all winter long, the automatic chains will be a waste of money. I haven't chained up much; once before I had to cross a mountain pass, another time on a mountain pass, and once to be able to navigate a miles-long access road to a site in the middle-of-nowhere... each time I got faster and better at it, to where now it really wouldn't slow me down that much. You are speaking of the device that automatically feeds the chains over the tires, correct?

I’m more of less reiterating points already made here... I haul HAZMAT regularly, for the past 2.5 years; whenever I fuel I always combine it with pre- or post- trip when possible, as well as adding the “tire check,” as the tire check is required when under a HAZMAT load. So sometimes in the morning, my On Duty time will show the remarks “Pre-Trip/Tire Check” and “Fueling.”

Bill, no you do not have to have your CDL yet, but you do need to have your fingerprints & background check completed before you take the HAZMAT endorsement test.

I also used the High Road training program, as well as these CDL practice tests, and passed the HAZMAT endorsement test with no problem. You’ll do fine with those.

The most common things I end up doing myself are replacing lights and/or mudflaps on trailers.

The four or five mudflaps I’ve replaced were of my own doing, all but one.... I used to like to bump the curb with my tires, until I realized I was yanking the mudflaps off when I did that. I don’t do that anymore. (I try to get my truck as far back as possible, but without putting my engine next to someone’s sleeper berth).

Talkin’ about the movie, just finished watching it for the first time, noted four good takeaways:

1. Apparently in 1978, reckless driving + speeding (11 mph over) = $100 fine!

2. Pig Pen had in his cab-over a color tv, bar, and warm-water water bed!

3. The Rubber Duck’s lady friend offered him a beer, while he was driving!

(Saving best for last):

4. The Rubber Duck, the hero of the movie, was a tanker yanker!!

If you haven’t already, ya’ll need to watch this, for some serious good fun! For a movie based on a song, it’s not half bad!

Jaime, I’m late to this party, but I’m going to share my thoughts anyway. You have indicated that you prefer flatbedding, and have no desire to pull dry vans. Keep doing what you enjoy. You’ve done what all new drivers are asked, and that is to remain with your first company for at least a year. This of course doesn’t give you carte blanche to begin job-hopping, but I think you’ve proven that that’s not going to happen anyway. There are excellent companies out there, TMC, Maverick, Melton, and Prime, just to name a few, who also have great resources similar to Schneider that offer the flatbedding lifestyle you appear to seek. I’m pretty sure that if you’re driving a skateboard down the highway and a tanker passes by, you’re not going to look wistfully at it and regret not going that route. Either way best of luck with whatever you decide to do.

I met a lady over a year ago parked outside a consignee... she kept a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig on her truck. She had a ramp for it to climb in and out of her truck. It looked like it weighed at least 300 lbs. It was her pet, she loved driving with it. So I guess the question is, how many concessions or sacrifices are you willing to make to bring your pet along with you on the road? Nobody can answer that but you.

All of the “A” states, plus Ohio. If your in-cab device gives you the ‘bypass’ signal, you still must pull into the weigh station.

I think this suggestion may be too late, but from Suffolk, Buckroe Beach may be your best bet. Take 664 to get near there.

Went for a hike in Rifle, CO, and came upon this magnificently crooked tree.

You’ve been driving OTR for three years, so you should know the hours you want to work are not a good fit for truck driving. Too many unpredictable variables to count on being home early in the day, consistently. ESPECIALLY in Houston, where traffic is abominable most of the time. You’re only going to get in two or three loads per day, working those hours, and that’s not a good deal for anyone, your employer or you.

No worries.

I looked it up on Google.

Classic.

Welcome to ‘the family,’ Marc. Don’t stress over the ‘5 days out w/a TE’... if you think you need more time, or if your TE thinks you need more time w/a TE, just speak up, and they’ll extend your time out. Good to have you on board.