Profile For Ralph D.

Not sure if it's useful for those of you driving semis but this is what I like to use when I'm road tripping in my 4 wheeler. It's awesome for the western part of the country.

Oss weathershare

I've always wondered....

When your sweeping or blowing out a trailer how do you catch all the garbage/pallet bits? I can't imagine places like it if you do it onto their grass or parking lot.

On to another part of the Friday news....

I don't believe that 10 million miles for a second. I know five drivers that have passed the 5 million miles mark. All of them started at under 21, driving was their only career path, and all of them are over 70 years old.

Packrat, I wondered about that myself. At 2,500 miles a week, every week it's almost 77 years to reach 10 million miles (I think my math is correct, please let me know otherwise).

Is it feasible for a driver to go a year without time off, let alone 77 years?

Please note: I am not a driver, and have no experience about any of that.

Thank you for the measurements gentlemen, also good to hear there are some possible attachment points. Definitely figured that was going to be an issue with not wanting to damage/alter the truck. At home its attached to the wall with 3ft of 2X6 and six 4in lag bolts on either side, certainly not possible in a truck! haha.

But now i'm hijacking the thread, my apologizes.

I also don't sleep on a bed, I have slept in a hammock for years and really don't sleep well on a bed anymore.

How are you planning on accomplishing this on a semi? I have seen drivers string a hammock beneath a trailer before.

I have thought long and hard about that. Honestly I think its the angle that does it for me. I thought maybe one of those triangular pillows might work, but thats the only decent idea I've had so far.

I have always wondered/worried about sleep studies that have you go somewhere. Wont your sleep be more restless because your somewhere unfamiliar or do they somehow take that into account? I also don't sleep on a bed, I have slept in a hammock for years and really don't sleep well on a bed anymore.

As a hopeful driver one day, I would say foremost in my mind is health insurance. Who has it, what it covers, copay's, deductibles, etc. I realize all that will change depending on the person and their needs, but it seems that there is not much info about it on companies websites.

Rick,

Those folks that consider my posts "worthless", can just scroll past them.

Those people are missing out on more than they know. I always find your posts thorough and engaging to read!

Brett,

I don't post much (because i'm also a non-driving f**k) but have been lurking and reading daily for a couple years. After reading a recent thread I was feeling really down about this site and within a couple days you posted this thread and I certainly feel more encouraged now. Thank you so much for your level of integrity, the amount of your time you put in, and in general shaping this site to be the beacon of light in a fog of information.

Packrat,

Unrelated to food, but I have a Danby dehumidifier that I bought reconditioned off Amazon around 2013 and its still running strong! Use it daily in the bathroom when showering as there is no exhaust fan. I hope in the last few years the quality has not gone down hill because I would definitely buy again!

G-Town,

That said; at the very least, if coming off a couple days of home time log the PTI at the beginning of your shift as on-duty with the remarks “pre-trip inspection”.

Is that just because of the extended absence from the truck?

I live on the coast of Washington and drove to central Oregon (Prineville) to watch the eclipse. I drove down the night before so traffic was fine but leaving was a different story. What is normally a 5 hour drive became a 9-10 hour drive, it was crazy but absolutely worth it!

Rick,

It has been a few years since I got a ticket but the amounts were so low that I have just paid them and didn't give it a second thought. I know you have many times recommended to fight any traffic ticket. Is that only to keep it off your record as a CDL holder or because it was still cheaper for you to hire someone and fight it?

Wow, I thought hard trying to figure it out. I guess not hard enough! Thanks PackRat.

Grumpy, what does the PAL/LAP stand for?

I had forgotten you switched brands of truck, thank you for the explanation and the screen shots. Every penny counts! :)

Rainy,

IIRC..... With in the last few months I believe you said something about switching to an automatic really brought down your fuel bonus. Did that continue to be the case and does the new scale change anything about that? (Assuming it was you that said that, please correct me otherwise!)

Old School,

We have a total disagreement on how our walks are to be conducted. I'm wanting to move quickly and get my heart rate up, she wants to go in between each truck cleaning up the food scraps on the parking lot!

I have a 70lb Australian Shepherd/Heeler mix and have the same problem. I always have to tell her "we are going for a walk, not a sniff!" :)

For those of me that have never heard of them, what is a detention stamp? I assume having to do with detention (duh haha) but don't recall ever reading anything about them here before.

Turtle,

which is precisely where the wife and I will be going in a couple weeks as part of our Yellowstone tour for our 25th anniversary.

Although im sure you've looked into it, spring for the "America the Beautiful" pass. Well worth the price if you're making more than 2-3 trips to national parks in a year. Have a great time!

Old School, it really makes a difference to see the conversation and not just get a paraphrased typed version.

One worry I have as a hopeful student (one day) is walking the line between being a "problem child" and communicating enough. Is there TOO much communication?