Comments By Greg M.

When I was hauling mail a few years ago I drove the owners old 1994 Pete 359. The USPS was using a few short shipping containers to haul mail. They were really difficult to back into spots at first. They were so short that by the time I could see the rear of the trailer around the sleeper it was not where I thought it was going to be.

They do ride nice, but more difficult to back.

I was at a place two days ago and a new driver (two weeks solo) rolls in with a extended nose 379 Peterbilt, pulling a 20 foot shipping container. I watched her try and back it for at least 15 minutes all over the lot. Everywhere except the assigned dock beside me. Finally I got out to help with some guidance. Well, 15 minutes later, I end up backing it into the dock.

They really look cool, ride nice, and exemplify "Truckers".

Not sure what all the secrecy was about. Load was a bunch of short pieces of the wood that pallets are topped with. Took it to a dumpy pallet refurbishing place.

Someone is either afraid of being cut out as the middleman or they don’t want the shipper to realize they are providing a competitor with raw materials.

Of course it wasn’t sorted correctly and they wanted to know where it came from. Said I wasn’t sure and to check with broker.

Broker also asked if I could haul more of their load’s because I communicated so well. Told her it wasn’t my call.

On a strange load right now.

Was instructed to call broker before arriving. Instructions were to go into shipper empty handed with just a piece of paper with the pickup number and broker name. Told repeatedly that it is a “Double blind shipment “. Not to tell anyone where I am taking load.

Getting loaded now. Picking up at a pallet company and dispatch has receiver as another pallet company but the address in the dispatch is not that company. Looks like a pallet customer.

I think a little pallet arbitrage may be going on.

It’s unlikely that these types of companies would have a training program where they help you get your CDL. If you have a cdl they may be willing to train you in their equipment.

Be aware that driving these types of vehicles can be extremely dangerous. You are always loaded to max capacity and normally deliver to construction sites and are loading/unloading on unstable and uneven terrain.

I grew up driving dump trucks and I remember being “scared” on a regular basis. You often pull onto jobs knowing that you are likely to get stuck and will need a dozer or other truck to pull you out.

Have you considered school bus driving? Where I live there is a shortage and schools have signs out advertising free training. That would get you a class B and enough experience to be considered for the construction type jobs.

Last week my company had 4 new drivers start. I saw the safety guy on Friday and asked him how they were doing. He laughed and said "Fine, when they decide to show up." Two of the four called off multiple days their first week. Wonder how long they will last.

Also companies normally contact prior employers to verify experience. If your goal is to avoid the current employer finding out, that probably won’t work.

I went by the Richie Brothers yard on I70 west of Columbus today. I have never seen so many tractors in their lot ,both sleepers and day cabs. Saw quite a few that looked to be owner operator types along with fleet models.

I was a victim of the infamous “tail sweep “ today. At my regular morning customer parked next to a Penske driver on the same account.

Got hooked up and walked back on drivers side to check load and suddenly heard a loud bang and the trailer shook. Immediately followed by a bunch of air horns going off. Ran back to front of truck to see this mess. Penske was almost to the exit with my friend the yard spotter in hot pursuit.

Driver had tandems all the way forward and could not comprehend how he hit me.

FYI. That little tool box under the passenger door is $5k from Peterbilt.

I agree with everyone else that not disclosing was a big mistake.

Are you sure you can even pass a DOT physical now if you disclose the heart attack? You need to have a LVEF of at least 40. I had a heart attack a little over 3 years ago and am doing fine but I consistently test in the 35-40 range. You will also need to have your cardiologist sign off.

Up until about a year ago I used to haul mail part time. Company only did trips between a bulk mail center in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, about 80 miles round trip. One Sat I worked and ran 3 trips. Of the 6 legs I actually hauled freight 1 time and that was just a couple racks of mail. Bob tailed once and pulled empties 4 times.

We do the same trips on the same schedule, regardless of how much or how little mail is on the trailers. I can't imagine a steadier or easier driving job than being a USPS contractor.