Profile For Amish country

I have the garmin dezl 770. Like Jamie it has taken me down a road or 2 that I probably shouldn't have been on but weren't restricted. And mine doesnt like to take some country routes that are faster and ok to be on. Being local I probably end up in a few places you guys most likely wouldn't venture anyway.

Overall it has been great. Worth my investment in it already. The only thing i dont like is the suction cup at times. Itll be stuck good for a couple months and then won't want to stick worth anything for a little bit.

If I had the choice I'd switch mine to duals. You dont get the same traction with singles. When I'm empty they will lose grip on wet roads and they've been pretty bad in the snow so far. Like Susan said, blow a tire and you're stuck. At least with duals you might be able to limp it to a shop or at least save the rim.

Is the weight savings that significant? I've used both types on trailers and they weighed the same. Our Mack's run duals and they weigh very close to my my Volvo with singles.

Local companies do have you do a pti. When I did my road test it was the first thing we did for the truck and trailer. Tires, lights, fluids and brakes.

Just wanted to throw it out there that it isn't a local thing all around.

Congrats. I see then around a lot in the Harrisburg area. The tanks pull easy and you'll learn the system quick. I dont do food grade but I'm sure it's similar procedure and style of unloading. Interested to follow you to see what differences there are if any.

So final pay figures for 2018. From April through December with 1 month of training (paid at $750 a week) I was able to gross $40k. Not to bad for my first 8-9 months of driving. There should be no reason that I dont crush that number this next year since I won't have the lower training pay and know what I'm doing and more efficient with unloading and routes.

I have been extremely happy with my first company and as long as they'll have me and keep me moving I do not plan on leaving. I am home every night, making a good paycheck and generally left alone to do my job. For years I've been saying its "going to be my year" and never seemed to come around. I made changes this past year and ready to MAKE this my year.

Other then that I dont really have any updates. Same truck and everything and mostly the same customers every week. Winter hasnt been terrible here so far. If it gets to bad on the roads where I dont think I can safely deliver my dispatcher just moves it to the next day without any hassle. I essentially lose a load on the week and some money but getting home at night is always more important.

Thanks for following along and hope this continues to help someone.

My 2013 day cab shows a drive pressure of 57 psi for roughly 76k. 60 psi gets me around 78-79k. Obviously a different setup then you have but it gives you an idea. I know old school had a volvo. Maybe he will share what his reads.

Shifting is something that definitely takes practice. Just start slowing early to get your shifts in. Once you can double down pretty decent it will be a whole lot easier to get there. I dont really have advice for ya since I'm still newer myself a dont have to shift often anymore. Doubling down you drop your rpm a little lower then normal (800 vs 1000 for instance) and rev up a little more then normal to get the gear. Dont expect to be a pro at it your first week, itll take a little while to get comfortable.

Congrats on the new truck. Not sure if it will work the same but on my volvo if you bump the idle up once the idle shutoff warning comes on it will cancel it. Will stay cancelled until you hit the brake.

I deliver to a roofing tar paper plant in greencastle pa. Every flatbed has always tarped the load. Never understood it since the rolls are outside on pallets in the weather. All the respect to you guys. That's a long process that I'll admire from the sidelines while unloading mine.

I do dry bulk locally. What would you like to know? I haul mostly feed quality but have done pebble and cement/ash. Most dry bulk pay a percent of the load, typically 24 or 25%. So instead of mileage it comes down to tons delivered and how many loads you can run a day. I pull no less then 24 ton, typically 26-27 ton multiple times a day . You have to work the air pressures to unload the tank yourself.

Running local I am making $1200-1400 gross a week in my first year of driving but I work for that money. Days are long but that comes with most local jobs. I dont know of that many that haul otr cross country other then maybe Venezia. Your area may play a big part in it as well concerning quarrys or cement plants.

Just let me know what you need more info about and I'll do my best to answer.

Not sure if it's the same on Van's but our tank ABS is run through the service line (blue glad). If it's not sitting right and leaking a little it will cause the light to come on.

Anyone planning to come through PA today and tomorrow. They are closing the interstates at 1200 ahead of this snow storm and will lift the ban "when conditions are stabilized".

You kinda get used to the long sleeves but the summers do get warm. Long sleeve, pants and steal toes every day. Except for the quarrys I can pull the sleeves up a little. You also dont realize how much heat a safety vest can hold in until you take it off.

I do mostly feed mills, chicken farms and waste to energy plants. The smell can really get you on those warm days. Chicken farms are one of the worst and the flies are insane. I cant leave without having at least 3 in my truck just from opening the door twice.

Kind of like flatbed it takes a certain person to actually enjoy the work. Were our here getting dirty and in the weather every day too.

You can keep your tarps though. I'll just watch as you guys do your thing.

Looks close. My guess is an airbag issue with air ride.

A lot of what has been said is true of the dry side as well. I dont haul food grade so dont need to have the tank washed constantly and being local I use the same tank daily. Makes it easier knowing exactly what your working with and how it unloads.

Customers always know your coming and typically dont keep you waiting. 90% of the time I'm unloading within 15 minutes of getting there. I was just talking to another driver about rude people and how we never see that side of the industry. Customers are always happy we're there because they NEED the product. Without it they cant make animal feed, purify water, create electricity or handle waste.

Benefit over liquid is there is no sloth or surge. Once its loaded that's where it stays for the most part.

Days are long, 12-14 hours but that's my choice to run my clock. But I am always doing something between driving, loading or unloading. If I had to wait 2 hours just to get loaded I would go crazy! I'm always loaded in under an hour and spend an hour to hour and half at the customer. Also, I control how fast it unloads.

Backing can definitely get interesting. Sometimes your backing down an alley or you might have to run the hose down a hill. Either way as long as you're within 30 ft you can unload.

I love it and will probably never do anything else. Plus 53 ft would be so long now!

This month finishes the first 9 months of my trucking career and very fast 2018. The only regret I have with this career change is that I didnt do it earlier. Once I get my w2 I will post my final gross number from April-december.

2019 is already looking promising. I'll have 4 months to add to what I did this year and get a week of PTO with my 1 year mark. They announced that they were able to negotiate higher rates that should run out to a 10% increase which means we indirectly get a pay raise by getting paid % of load. Also have some new contracts. All starting with the new year.

I am very grateful for the opportunity I've been given and it has made life significantly easier while being able to go home every night. Have been able to lay the start of a good financial base that has allowed us to plan 2 family vacations and seriously consider homeownership.

Going to keep my head down and working hard to make 2019 everything I want it to be.

I deliver to a lot of chicken farms and they have all had a scale on site. Even the family run farms have a scale.

My company, jp donmoyer is always hiring and theres more work then we can keep up with. Its dry bulk tanker. Local and we have a terminal in Nazareth. Assigned trucks. I've been solo for 8 months and gross between 1k-1400 a week.

It's a little bit of work having to hookup hoses and work the air pressure of the tank but not hard.

I'm very happy here and dont plan on leaving. I have a diary "my pneumatic tanker job" if you wanted to get a better idea. I think the sign on bonus is like 8k currently.

All of this! Especially taking turns or curves in road wide. Have almost done the weigh station. I have the bar habit of going through yellow lights that my truck wouldn't be able to stop for. Also, use the cruise a lot more.

Congrats! I agree, it is fun stuff. After about a month or 2 on your own you won't even think about it anymore and will be familiar with where you're headed. Then sit back and watch the money grow as you get faster and can take on more jobs.

Training going good?