Comments By Dead Money

This is one of those situations where knowing

The Logbook Rules (HOS)

can really help you run your truck more profitably. Had you put yourself on the sleeper berth line at the shipper, when eight hours had passed you'd still have the same amount of time on your fourteen hour clock that you had when you arrived there. This is the perfect scenario for the use of the split sleeper berth rule.

Let’s say the op had 5 hours left on his/her 14 hour clock, and the shipper took 6 hours to load, then said they can’t stay. Sleeper berth wouldn’t have saved the day. What is the solution the op could have prepared for in advance?

Not only was it an automated message, but you have to keep one very important thing in mind. People know Rainy because she has earned a fantastic reputation and has gone out of her way to build relationships with people within the company. You have yet to haul one single load as a solo driver and you don't even have your assigned dispatcher yet. Prove yourself to be a fantastic driver and build relationships with people and they'll know who you are.

Proving yourself in this industry is one thing a lot of people either don't understand they have to do or don't believe they should have to do. The other thing to realize is that the process of proving yourself never ends. No matter how long you've driven, no matter how great you've been, you have to keep performing at a high level consistently if you want great miles and great treatment.

This article Rainy wrote goes hand in hand with an article Old School wrote called What It Takes To Be A Top Tier Driver.

I don’t think Rainey’s message debunks the “myth” at all. What she shows is that for a select few it’s possible that the myth isn’t true. However for the non-select the myth can be quite true, if everyone attempted to be a standout that would raise the bar, but still only a few would be exceptionable. Therefore for many the myth is true, and it is not misinformation from their prospective.

In my case I realize I’m new, I’m just amazed at how lost in the weeds I appear to those above me. That message was followed up with a voice call where they had my name and phone #, but no idea that I was on a truck states away from where they thought I was.

The text doesn’t retain the large blank space where a name should have gone. Should be Congrats I see ____________ is ready for upgrade.

I tried to include a picture of the Qualcomm message, but it didn’t work for some reason. I’ll type the text.

Congrats I see is ready fo r upgrade, please come out of the Red Roof Inn at 6:10 a.m. to get on the sh uttle that brings you to SH, class sta rts at 7:30a.m. Bring your CDL, med card, training packet signed off on th e back page by the trainer and modules done. We look forward to having you in class

Counter evidence to the myth-buster only because it’s so sad it’s funny.

First off they didn’t even know my name, they left a blank space (no I didn’t blank it out) Second I’m still on the trainers truck, and the person who sent the message didn’t know the truck number. Finally I’ve never been scheduled to go to the Red Roof Inn at that location. I have an apartment close to the school in Conley GA, where my official CDL will be mailed to. So while I’m not being treated like a number, I am being treated like a blank page. The good thing is so far the pay checks have cleared.

My first pass thru the weight station, and the truck 2 ahead of my weighed in at 34700 on the tandems. They had him pull over to the back area. I figure it’s gonna cost him a bit more than scaling. And he appeared to be a veteran driver.

The conclusion of all that drama... I finally got to test on Feb 14, and passed. Did orientation that same day, picked up my temporary (paper) CDL class AM. I guess that means I’m now a morning person. (The M is for motorcycle)

Current status... waiting for a trainer.

Woohoo!!!

Before I left California I canceled my permit because to complete obtaining a motorcycle endorsement the CDL application would need to be closed.

When I applied for a Georgia license, the medical card wasn’t an issue because at that time I no longer had an active permit.

When I tested to obtain a permit in Georgia the DDS accepted the medical card from California, with my California License listed. That might have been an error on their part. I however wasn’t informed that the different number would be an issue.

A phase 1 trainer who was doing a ride along on a day I was being trained on the road (before being tested) mentioned that she felt that the different numbers would be an issue. That same day I brought the issue to the attention of the person who in charge of filing our documents, and rather than passing the issue up the chain, she said they were fine.

So today, I’m not scheduled for a class, and not scheduled for a test, and I get an email stating that since I didn’t sign in this morning, I’ve been removed from their roll, and if I wish to re-enroll I need to contact my recruiter, who is unavailable on the weekends.

I feel like I’ve slipped thru a crack, then had the crack close up over me.

P.S. Since I live close to the school, they aren’t paying for a motel room on my behalf.

You are just going to get a new physical and medical card when you attend orientation at a company anyways. That is why I am sure the school wasn't worried.

Well the school should have been a little worried unless they don’t care if I ever get to test.

My examiner noticed the mismatch and postponed the test until I’ve taken a physical in Georgia, so my medical card matches my drivers license number