Comments By Oscar Graham III

G-Town, Rainy-D, Brett, Patrick and everybody else here:

Here is my promise on my own future grave:

I won't dare start any NEW threads here until I have read:

Truck Driver's Career Guide Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version) High Road Training Program

PLUS

Charlie Mac's thread: A Motorcycle, two dogs and new underwear

You can all hold my feet to the fire on this one.

Perhaps, most if not all of my personal concerns will be covered in the readings above. Perhaps, I should have read everything and did all my homework before getting diarrhea of the PC mouse and keyboard here.

Having been a semi (5-ton/class 5/ diesel/airbrakes) driver in the army as well as a motor pool mechanic, I did learn to use the Johnny bar on the steering column to override the tractor brakes when going down hill to prevent a jackknife. The trailer's brakes only apply and hold the tractor back so as not to push the tractor down hill. My section sergeant also told his soldiers that by habitually using the Johnny bar, the tractor's service brakes get saved from wear as the trailer will often belong to a customer outside the section. Wear his brakes out not your own! The army 5-ton trucks had no Jake brakes, however. Not even a blower!

My apologies for long winded threads....now, off to reading I go!

I fear dying of a heart attack from improper dieting and lack of regular physical workouts much more than getting killed in a trucking collision.

A truck accident is the least of my fears quite frankly.

If you were a student on my truck while I was training and had uttered those words, you would have been back at a terminal hoping for a new trainer. It tells me you don't take the risks seriously enough for me to allow you to drive my truck.

I have not decided to make trucking a career yet.

I would rather voice my concerns here than to an employer later on.

Over and over I keep hearing in the news media about drivers who are overweight and lacking in fitness.

I am here just to brainstorm. Tell you all what's on my mind. I am innocent.

I really don't know most of what needs to be known about this job.

Is this NOT a job for an analytical person like me? What type of personality is generally required? What type of mental state is needed?

Yes, I hate nasty surprises and like things in my life and at work neatly structured and organized. I don't like to ad lib things, I like things well-planned in advance.

I really don't know what the risks are. I have not been yet formally trained and educated about this job.

Should I be SCARED? It can't be quite as hazardous as being a soldier or a fire-fighter. Maybe I am wrong, though.

I think most trucking accidents have been attributed to lack of sleep on the part of vehicle operators and/or the use of substances. I don't smoke, drink or do any unlawful drugs.

Most accidents are due to human error and not mechanical malfunction.

One has to be well-rested to remain alert on duty.

Nobody here knows me to be making final judgments on me.

Please correct this line above.

I fear dying of a heart attack from porn dieting and lack of regular physical workouts much more than getting killed in a trucking collision.

should have read

I fear dying of a heart attack from poor dieting and lack of regular physical workouts much more than getting killed in a trucking collision.

I wish we had an edit option to correct post typos.

Well, I have a lot to learn and know about this line of work.

I am not trying to be picky. When I ask questions about what is available to drivers on the road in terms of food, I meant well.

I was expecting to hear from those with first-hand experience. If one has been driving for a couple years, i figure those people can easily say what exactly is out there along the routes and what is not. A truck is one large ball-and-chain to have in one's livelihood every day. I sort have figured that. I have never worked in the transportation industry, except as a vehicle mechanic, before so any traveling-type jobs are somewhat of a mystery to me.

It was not intended to be as stupid question.

I fear dying of a heart attack from improper dieting and lack of regular physical workouts much more than getting killed in a trucking collision.

A truck accident is the least of my fears quite frankly.

I need to know what all the no-no's are.

Is this forum a place to talk casually, shoot the breeze?

Most companies aren't going to pay for your cell phone. You have a QualComm for communicating with work.

I use my phone for a lot of things. Mostly for the GPS, Transflo mobile plus app, Truckers Path app and entertainment.

Since I use my phone for work related business, I can deduct a portion of the bill on my taxes. I usually claim half.

Patrick, do you mount your phone on the dash when you drive?

Does your company truck have its own GPS system?

If so, do you just navigate by your own personal phone anyway?

I can see how a driver can get inundated with technology.

I'm glad you can write off part of your phone costs.

I would suggest going with Cricket. They have a completely unlimited talk, text, data (no throttling) for $70 a month. They have several inexpensive android phones to choose from.

Cricket uses AT&T for signal.

Thanks, Patrick.

I take it that the company I work for will not likely supply me with a company-issued phone. If I work as a trucker I will be too rich to continue to qualify for the Obamaphone anyway.

I don't talk much on the phone and hate high phone bills. The digital/nav technology will be more important than the voice in the cab.

I don't know if the truck's GPS system will provide any of the information that Trucker Path provides.

My Garmin Nuvi GPS in my car provides basic information as how to find the nearest Walmarts and other local businesses but not comprehensive information on big-rig parking and other on-the-road services that are critical to commercial trucking.

Right now I have an Obamaphone. It is a smart phone Android that is free to me. It has limited mobile features however.

I would not want to spend my earnings on a mobile telephone subscription and equipment that is expensive.

I would want something like Trucker Path to aid navigation over the road.

Can Trucker Path be built into on/in-dash GPS systems? Is it a smartphone app only?

I have a laptop, but those don't seem very handy behind the wheel.

I would think modern trucks would have an advanced GPS system built into the dash with something like Trucker Path built right in to the system.

Do truckers have to actually mount their smartphones on the rig's dash?

If Trucker Path is a phone-only app, what type of phone instrument and phone carrier would I have to subscribe to to have Trucker Path access on the road?

Will this phone also be able to have Internet access without a wi-fi connection?

Part of learning the trucking trade is to know what electronics and technology I will prudently need, how to use it fast and efficiently, who will provide them and who has to pay for them.

Are phones used by truckers on the job company-supplied?

G-Town suggests:

check with store management

The quickest, easiest to find store management is the checkout supervisor. No, they're not management, but they do know what's going on.

Trucker Path reviews are very good at letting you know a store's policy. If you "hit it" right, WM parking is also planning for restaurants and even a laundry. Of all the store parking available, WM is the most consistent for allowing trucks to park, an overnight for your 10 hour break.

Three of my faves:

• Queen City in Meridian MS (I-20)
• Newborn's in Tallapoosa GA (I-40 at the GA/AL line, fantastic buffet)
• Grady's in Pulaski, GA (I-16 west of Savannah)

I have never been to an excellent buffet. Most of that food tends to sit out a long time and get stale.

I am a stickler for quality not quantity.

Oscar, your posts remind me of some recent folks who've been in here. Everything they posted were researching into the reasons why they did not want to be a truck driver. You've now gone from your distaste for the modern shapes of our trucks to the excessive proportion of fats in our foods. And you even went so far as to worrying about the way our foot pedals are shaped in our trucks. You seem to be either happily unemployed, or just amusing yourself by trolling trucking forums.

Which one is it?

Sometimes I think you're a mind reader. I was thinking that on his first post - which is why I haven't responded to any of them.

Brett could probably check IP's to see if he's one of our recently "dearly departed".

Not the typical questions we see from our typical "curious newbie", but detailed, almost nit-picking ones.

Fuel Pedal on a Peterbilt?

Reveal yourself demon!

Rick

For security reasons, I don't dare reveal my true identity over the Web. I don't know anybody here personally.

But we don't need attacks like DEMON. I am not a bad man, just a cautious one.

The fact is I don't know if I want to be a truck driver yet. I am a try-before-you-buy type man.

I am also a get-off-my-lawn type of man.