Comments By andhe78

Just curious, do the inspectors set up inspection operations at night during this blitz, or is it only.during the day?

They are notorious around here for setting up at the border crossing into the states over night. When I ran nights, I'd get pulled in there about once a month at one in the morning.

Speaking of ABS, something many drivers don't know is the ABS lamp needs to actually be labeled. Dot loves that one around here.

Lol, my biggest first world problem that I complain about way too much on my new truck, is the passenger door only opens about half as much as the driver's door (to keep from hitting the mirror.) So since I do my paperwork for every stop on the passenger seat while standing on the step, and my shoulders are wider than the door opening, I have to turn sideways to get my body into the opening. So dumb.

It takes a certain personality to be okay with not going home.

Or, you find a driving job that does get you home. My driving job has me working almost the same hours/shift as the factory guy who lives next door to me. That's what I like about this job, there are thousands of driving opportunities out there, just got to find the one the works best for you.

What should these job openings ads have upfront in there ads in your views without you having to ask ?

Honestly, all I'm looking for is company name and phone number, I can find out the rest of the info. Seems the best trucking jobs don't advertise anyway. Besides, what's important to one driver is no big deal to another-for example, governed speed seems to be a big deal to you whereas I'm governed at 75mph and still choose to drive 64 or less.

Also, does anyone know why in NYC, on the truck route there will be signs saying overpass height is 12'8 but normal semi's can fit under it? I stopped when I first saw it, and then I saw another big sleeper truck just go through.

Banks covered it, but here is the actual paragraph from the NYS vehicle and traffic laws:

Such department of transportation shall cause signs to be erected to inform persons of the legal overhead clearance for all bridges and elevated structures on highways under its jurisdiction. The legal clearance shall be one foot less than the measured clearance. The measured clearance shall be the minimum height to the bridge or structure measured vertically from the traveled portion of the roadway. On bridges or structures having fourteen feet or more of measured clearance, no such signs shall be required.

This being said, it should be taken with a grain of salt. In NY city, you'll probably be fine assuming the bridge heights are actually a foot higher than posted. Upstate can be a different story. OldSchool seemed to scoff, but snow pack is a real thing in a lot of the state. Also, never know when a road was resurfaced raising it's height. Personal story, I'm a local driver who delivers all over the western part of the state with an 11'11" high trailer, the top of my ladder being the highest point. Two A.M. one night at a 12'1" marked bridge, just for a peace of mind curiosity, I parked under the bridge and climbed my ladder. Should have had fourteen inches of clearance? There was only about six by my gauge pole. Long story short, I don't drive under bridges marked less than twelve feet. I actually know two twelve foot bridges in the state I don't fit under. Just because all marked bridges in the state should be a foot higher than marked, doesn't mean they are.

Don't ask about white versus yellow signs, either.

Hooks are great. I have lots of ideas about using hooks, but some of them involve drilling a small hole. (About 3/16”). I think most companies forbid this. Can I do this or will I get in trouble deep?

I was talking about suction cup hooks. I've been using the trucker tough suction cups for years with great success-they'll even stick to my dash really well.

To keep running, I’ll take and volunteer for every bit of load training the company will give me. So instead of being able to haul one product out of one location, I can haul a dozen products out of fifty location. Dispatch loves me, and I’m always running.

Hooks. Used them all over when otr, but they’re a real lifesaver when winter training in a day cab. Couple guys with winter gear, ppe gear, lunch boxes, thermoses, etc., and all with a stick in the middle-getting as much off the floor as you can is great.

Funny thought, what happens if during your two week trial run at the new company, you back over a car while making a delivery and they let you go. That might be an awkward conversation next time safety at your current company pulls your mvr. Don’t know about other outfits, my mine pulls our mvr every month.

Moving from otr to local really requires a different mindset, I did it and it took months to get out of the otr way of life, not sure two weeks would give you an accurate taste.