Posted: 11 months, 3 weeks ago
View Topic:
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.
Posted: 12 months ago
View Topic:
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.
Posted: 1 year ago
View Topic:
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.
Posted: 1 year ago
View Topic:
May change CB/TT handle after the 1st day on the range! 🤣
I am a grease magnet. If there is some anywhere on the truck or trailer I will find a way to get it onto my clothes. My daughter got me 2 very nice hi-vis long sleeve shirts for XMAS and I have put off wearing them all winter because I don’t want to mess them up. Now it’s almost short sleeve and shorts season.
Posted: 1 year ago
View Topic:
May change CB/TT handle after the 1st day on the range! 🤣
Good "handles" are usually given to us rather than self imposed. Many of us got our handles while in training for this career. I still remember "Splitter." That was such a great handle given to a new driver who kept forgetting to flip his Splitter switch when necessary.
I just realized... most of our current new drivers don't even know what a splitter is.
Oh well, "the times, they are a changing."
For the “splitter unaware “
Posted: 1 year, 2 months ago
View Topic:
If your attempts have been recently it could just be the holidays. Lots of places shut down from the Thursday before Christmas until yesterday or later.
Posted: 1 year, 2 months ago
View Topic:
I didn't pass my skills test in Vermont
For what it’s worth don’t let failing the air brake portion of the pre-trip bother you too much. It took me 3 attempts to get past it. And I used to replace/repair brake chambers and manually adjust brakes in the days before auto slack adjusters.
First time I did not keep track of the time and hit the 30 minute mark as I was conducting the in cab portion of the test FAIL. Second time I did the entire test with both tractor and trailer brakes set. Wondered why the examiner was staring at me funny, I think he was trying to get me to notice my mistake. Third time was the charm and passed the rest of the tests with no issues.
Keep practicing your pre trip routine even though your next step is not clear yet. I had an Audi TT that had a couple of buttons that sort of looked like brake buttons. I put red and yellow stickers on them and would sit in the car and practice the air brake tests. My wife thought I was nuts.
Posted: 1 year, 2 months ago
View Topic:
I didn't pass my skills test in Vermont
Since your brother has a CDL you could possibly rent a truck and trailer from someone like Ryder or Penske. Don’t know if they would rent to individuals and I’m sure it would be expensive.
Your best bet would be to find a testing facility that rents equipment. Don’t think it would have to be in Vermont.
Posted: 1 year, 2 months ago
View Topic:
Do you lose your CDL and have to re-test if you let your medical card expire? Specifically Delaware
I still recommend using the Delaware website to look at your account. Ohio has a similar system and I have changed my status numerous times over the years. You log in and click a box and it's done. You could have this resolved in 10 minutes today.
Good luck.
I am going to call Tuesday when they open, would not make a bit of sense if I have to go back to a school just because of a physical.
Posted: 11 months, 3 weeks ago
View Topic:
Article: A Second Trucking Bloodbath?
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.