Comments By Greg H.

Well, I wrote this long winded reply, lol, but it wouldn't submit. Could be my internet connection, I've been having trouble with that. Aaa, it wasn't that long, short really. Basically, just thanks (on my own behalf) for all of the replies. Old Schools above info. was really useful. Oh, haha, and I commented that all of this reminds me of word problems in Math, I really hated those.

Well, I was going to eventually start a thread regarding the 8/2 or 7/3 split. I see there is one started so, I'll go with this. Maybe we'll all better understand it, or in my case, understand it at all, after this thread. It just confused me I think.

Someone who actually gets it, please do explain it.

I will comment on one thing. You mentioned that you have to take an 10 hour break at the end of the day, but 8 had to be in the sleeper and I believe that's wrong. I don't believe it matters weather or not if the 10 is all off duty or sleeper or a combination of both, amounting to 10 hours.

My most recent employer, the owner, use to be an DOT Judge and we had a short conversation in regards to the split. He understood this crap. I should have sat down with him and got him to explain it to me.

Personally, I don't use the split or try. I just stick to the 10. I'm not much of a split person.

I understand completely where you're coming from but, you might want to tone it down a bit.

My training was only supposed to last 3 to 4 weeks, it lasted 7. 15 days of it was spent in a hotel room in Jurupa Valley, CA (Ontario) going back and forth from the terminal because, they simply did not have trainers available in that area. At least, smoking trainers anyway. I vape....

My Driver Coordinator was very kind about the whole deal and made sure I got paid the whopping $500 a week. I'm being sarcastic because I'd come from a low income job before getting back into trucking. Well, it paid ok but, work dwindled along with my pay... Soooo, anyway..... $500 was a treat to me. Even while I was with a trainer, regardless if the truck broke down, or for whatever reason, my $500 a week income was secure. I got paid. It wasn't my fault btw, getting stuck in Jurupa Valley for 15 days. Long story... another day.

I mentor/train now, and students are always in such a hurry to get anywhere. Slow it down a bit y'all and learn.

Students be asking me, 'how long do we PreTrip?'. And I'm sitting there thinking, 'you lazy a**'. I grin and reply, 'as long as it takes'.

I get laid over with a student, and they're like, 'we don't have a load yet?'. And I'm like, 'if you're looking for something to do, I have a small broom and dust pan, you could clean out the truck'. And they look at me like it's beneath them.

Honestly, I think there is only one student that I wasn't really glad to see get off of my truck.

And, from my knowledge, it cost Swift, the company I'm working for now, $6000 to train each trainee.

So, woohoo.... 🙂

Uh, :) suggest wet naps or whatever they're called. Wipes... and plenty of changes of clothing. Of course, this only works if you're not to lazy to change your clothes. ha ha

It had been 25 years since I'd driven over the road. I don't even remember what I did back then. My first trainer suggested Wipes, and I was like, oh, cool. It hadn't crossed my mind. And I do bring along plenty of changes of clothing. So, if I do not make it to the laundry often, I will at least not be wearing the same pieces of clothing to often. Oh, lol, and a mess load of socks. I've got so many socks it's pathetic. :)

I also have a large bowl and plenty of water onboard, soap, wash clothes. So, there are ways to stay generally clean, for anyone who is having this problem and needs a solution. A little clean up every now and then is a whole lot better than nothing at all. A little wipe down won't kill you and you'll feel a million bucks better.

During May-June of last year, I went to Swift Academy, in Corsicana. All were 10 speed manual transmissions.

Other helpful info is that they had 4 certified testers at the academy, that I was aware of. This meaning that we didn't go to the DMV to test. We all tested right there on the property, and took the road test in Corsicana. Even though, you do have to still go to the DMV to get your CLP.

It was rumor that they were no longer going to be able to give the road test in Corsicana but, would rather have to go to a different location picked out by the DMV.

All was setup so that you would not have the automatic only restrictions on your license.

And some trainers do still drive manual transmission trucks. You can request one if you'd prefer to train in a manual truck.

You made me think. Lol Stop it. :)

I think bottom line, you won't have to ask, you'll know.

I think we all were scared, nervous, whatever word you want to put to it.

I had a little over a years OTR driving experience, and other, when I went to school a year ago. I was still waking on pins and needles though. We all have our reasons I guess. Mine was that it had been 25 years since I'd driven an 18 wheeler. We all have our reasons.

There were a variety of people in our class. Some older and so e younger people. I found it to be comical that the older ones were still scared. I mean, people who have had a life long of experiences but, an 18 wheeler still scared them to death. lol

One of the guys that was going to school had 15 years experience OTR, and he was still nervous about it.

Anyway, we all go through the same process I think. Just go into it with the willingness and desire to learn everything you possibly can. A lot will come over time. It's a process.Youll learn what you need to learn in school to pass your test. And, you'll learn what you need to learn while out with a company trainer to work for that particular company. And, you'll also learn basic road knowledge while out with a trainer.

Anyway, yeh, it's a process. Take it one step at a time and don't get ahead of yourself. Use a simple rule, speak up if you don't understand something. Don't keep your mouth shut if your not getting it. Ask questions if you need to. Be aggressive but, not annoying.

Be yourself. We had one girl that would get in the truck during backing practice and she'd be all over the place. You could watch her turning turning turning the wheel every which way. We'd be talking with her and she'd say, 'I wish I could do it like you guys'. That's one place where she was making a mistake. She needed to learn,and stop trying to back like us. The instructors would get frustrated with her and walk away because, she wouldn't listen to them and do what she was told. She'd keep on turning turning turning that wheel, trying to be something she hadn't become yet.

Yeh, I've heard that too. It's normally easier for someone to learn to drive a stick in an 18 wheeler that doesn't have any experience with a stick shift.

Good luck!

No, wait, I was thinking that PreTrip would be required by law to be remarked but, actually, all they would care about is whether or not you would pass inspection.

Okie dokie then....

wth Rubber duck? lol

That's a new one on me. I can understand why you wouldn't have to, per say, put what you're doing, as long as you put yourself Onduty. Even though, I just thought of something. Wouldn't it be required to put, PreTrip because, this is actually required by law. Anything else, I doubt they give a crap about. I mean, maybe they don't want you running out of fuel on the road but, I doubt they give a crap whether you fueled or not. And, they definitely don't care if you pick anything up or not. Hey, that's your paycheck, not there's. All they care about is whether or not you're over weight when you cross their scales, and if you have all of the proper permits.

Sooo, yeh, I can see how some of it is irrelevant to them. But, like I mentioned, what about PreTrip? That one wouldn't make sense not making note of.

I like to dot all my i's and cross all of my t's so, yes, I leave a remark for everything. Definitely doesn't hurt. Definitely would be beneficial to everyone to do so. That way it wouldn't leave anything to question. Last thing anyone wants is to have to spend an hour or two explaining to law enforcement what you've been up to. Not that anyone can remember every little detail.

Where were you on the night of, and what were you doing? Hell, I don't know, check my logs. lol

I always thought it was a dot requirement. I think that’s what I was taught in cdl school but recently discovered it’s not required. Or maybe it is and the dot website isn’t up to date.

“Question 23: When the driver’s duty status changes, do §§395.8(c) or 395.8(h)(5) require a description of on-duty not driving activities (“fueling,” “pre-trip,” “loading,” “unloading,”, etc.) in the remarks section in addition to the name of the nearest city, town or village followed by the State abbreviation?

Guidance: No. Many motor carriers require drivers to identify work performed during a change of duty status. Part 395 neither requires nor prohibits this practice.

Anyone add remarks on the status line on the elogs. On paper we had to log what we was doing under each status change. Do we still need to do this on elogs?

Yes it is required by DOT.

Hey! Rick C.,

FFE? I worked for them back in the 90's as well, actually Lisa, a part of FFE. I've got that right don't I? Lisa was affiliated with FFE? Anyway, not important necessarilly. I didn't last near as long as you did though. I left them and went to JBHunt. I worked for them for a year, and believe me, I remember the long nights. 36 hours without sleep. Driving 600 miles on 4 hours sleep. Whew.... lol I think I enjoyed driving at night better back then than I do now though. But, I generally keep everything on day time runs. Even though, I do have to do a little night driving from time to time.

Personally I went paid training this time around, with Swift Transportation, also not necessarilly important.

Good luck!