Comments By Heavy C

There's a telephone poll near my companies warehouse, that suffers a terrible fate half dozen times a year because the GPS brings guys that way. Even though it's a well posted residential road they ignore the signs and end up taking the poll with them. Sounds advice. Don't rely solely on the GPS.

Very good read. Lots of solid advice and warnings that future drivers really should take into consideration.

This topic is the main factor for me in my decision to go with local work. Instead of the traditional and more recommended route of OTR. My wife and I had serious discussions about this for many months while I pondered the idea of getting my CDL. Along with the articles and advice from this site, and talking with companies in my area. I made the decision to stay local should I get my license. My kids also played a big part. Having at the time a 3 year old and an infant son. I wasn't willing to sacrifice my time with them. Having grown up without a father the later half of my childhood, I didn't want my kids to go through anything even similar. So I made what I felt what was the best decision for me and my family.

So rookies and future rookies it's very important you have and your S/O have an understanding of what this job can be like. I would encourage not only you the driver but your S/O to read Brett's book, the article we're talking about by Rainy, and all the other information this site has to offer. That way you can hopefully make the best decision for both of you.

Amazing coincidence here. Today EPA chief Scott Pruitt resigns amid ethics scandals

Trump tweeted:

"I have no doubt that Andy will continue on with our great and lasting EPA agenda. We have made tremendous progress and the future of the EPA is very bright!"

The future of the EPA might be bright, but there won't be a habitable Earth if they execute their agenda.

Hmm.

Well that's interesting.

Yea we certainly can't predict what's gonna happen. They do have a lot of things stacked against them. I for one am pulling hard for this to do well. Even if I never get the chance to drive one, I really want to see this industry take a step forward.

Ok Daniel one country. The majority of the EU, Japan, South Korea. There are many countries that are leaving is behind in more than just one category.

Brett so where do you stand on this particular thing, this company. Do you hope it succeeds? Do you think it will fail? What happens to the best of companies that already have a sizeable investment already put into this company?

There may be a slight difference in this latest attempt at alternate fuels though. First off of the social and political climate. The pressure has never been so high to make a change. The ever increasing need to either get away from fossil fuels or at least make big jumps in MPGs is becoming a global issue. America won't be able to sit back much longer with the rest of the developed world advancing. No matter how stubborn drivers are. Second thing is there two major contacts Nikola has in place for when produce rolls out. US Express and Anheuser Busch becoming partners for initial models is huge. These are two top players in the trucking game. And from two different areas. OTR and local type driving. If they can prove these trucks are successful in both arenas, I bet you'll see that next time a fleet is ready to upgrade they may just start signing on.

And it goes beyond just the fueling stations. If this truck gets anywhere near the stats it's projected to get and companies can save money whilst at the same time getting environmental and political groups off their backs. I think your gonna see a big shift in this industry.

I was hoping to get a run down through Boston tonight to catch the ones over the harbor. I didn't. So instead I drove by a kid with a sparkler. Good enough I guess haha

I've never wanted help. Though if someone has offered it I just go with it and give them a thankful nod.

And I've been on both sides of the "helping" discussion. When I was with my first company I literally got in this woman's truck and put it In the door for her. Now hind sight being 20/20 I wouldn't do that again. However at the time my warehouse guy's begged me to do it because she had been trying for damn near an hour and they wanted to get a move on wwith unloading. And she directly asked me if I would because she just couldn't figure it out. Stupid move on my part because had something happened I would've been screwed. Now fast forward to this last year when I was doing jockey work. I sat and watched countless drivers back Into our docks. Many many time blocking driveways. And so many of those times they've asked if I could either assist or put the trailer in the door for them. My only answer now is nope. Two reasons. One my company has a policy against such things. And two, when I think back to that woman I helped before, what did she learn by me doing that? Nothing. New drivers need to learn. I'll make sure they don't screw up my equipment next to them, but helping I just won't do anymore.

But your spot on about the ones recording it to post on YouTube if something happens. It's ignorant and childish.

We all know the importance of conducting a proper pre trip inspection. It is key to avoiding potential disasters. But I want to point out the importance of not ignoring your refer unit. Below is a few pictures from a recent trailer for at my companies main warehouse. The first is the actual fire started from a faulty refer unit. The second is a poster the company provided to show us the resulting devestation. Some of the words may to small to read but the key information is readable.

Mind you we are small to medium grocery chain in the Northeast. The cost of this event was pretty high.

So to anyone new to the refer game. Don't ignore it.

The inherent difficulty of my job doing local work makes it very difficult to get comfortable. Anytime I start feeling that way, this job has a way of snapping me back into reality. Which is nice. Helps me not get complacent. However in my heart or hearts I always knew I wanted to do this. Turns out I was right.

I find your picture assuming though. Because I used to do some jockey work for my current company, I would spend my 12 hour shift backing in damn near 100 trailers a night, but also watch all the outside carriers back in as well. I learned real quick that the truck doesn't make the driver. I've seen guys show up with the flashy long nose Pete's that couldn't find the door to save their life. But a few doors down a Western driver in an older beat up Freightshaker put it in, in one smooth motion. Didn't matter the truck. Didn't matter the company. Didn't matter the drivers age. I could never tell who was a "real trucker" and who wasn't. If there is such a thing.