Profile For Grumpy Old Man

I strive for high standards in interpersonal communication. Before this thread or others builds on assumptions to any unspoken meanings on my part, kindly point out where I've failed.

By not sticking to your own supposed high standards. If you have something to say, grow a set and say it.

I ask again. Where is the invective here that so bothers you?

My guess would be the part about Cuomo, Trump, and Democrats

Glad you are feeling better

Glad to hear you are doing well Mark

Pretty much everywhere I go now we are not allowed in the receiving offices and need to fill out a questionnaire at the quarries. The customer I have been delivering to daily for the past 2 months is making us call and they will meet us at the door.

Yesterday I called and nobody answered. I opened the door and looked in to see if they were out of the office where they put the bagged ingredients in and saw someone sitting at the desk IN THE OFFICE. (This isn't the person I usually deal with and he hasnt always seemed standoffish). I walked up to the door and knocked and he didnt even look up. Opened the door a little just to get his attention and he starts freaking out about how I cant just walk in there. I explained that I called and nobody answered but he didnt care. So I went back outside and after about 5-10 minutes my normal guy came out to do something else and got everything for me, never saw the original guy again. He wouldve had me standing out there all day.

Here's the kicker. The pipes are locked so they need to give me a key or pair of keys and I give them back. They handle the paperwork and have me sign in and sign the bol and receipt. So even with all the office barring there is still 3 chances of transfer. Keys, paperwork and pen(that everyone uses). In the end it doesnt really matter.

Exactly the point I was about to make. They have to take the BOL, so all the rest is BS

There is no such thing as a 1099 company driver.

Either you are a contractor or an employee. Can’t be both.

I had one lady give me a big smile and thumbs up, and another wave.

Sure wasn’t because of my good looks. Lol

Congrats Grumpy!

Had a feeling it might have been Essity/SCA.

Had a buddy deliver there yesterday at 1100. That was a picture of the entrance. He got lucky and got told to drop by the yard guy who had just dropped an empty.

Sorry you had to wait so long, and hopefully you got a good door. That first one you get to past their stop sign is pain.

Im at our Terminal in Weedsport NY and dreading a load from there tomorrow. Fingers crossed I head West to Buffalo.

LOL. Door 8. Guess which one I got.

It wouldn’t be half as bad without the giant hole you have to drive through. I thought I was going to get stuck. I got it in with a couple of pull ups. Luckily no one on my right made it easier.

Kearsey / Rainy ;

This just in from Jeremy replying to PJ in the 'Coronavirus Affect on Truckers' thread:

"Last i seen he has made it 75% work force reduction now except for “essentials” so i guess itll depend on what your hauling and how “essential” it is i have fellow trucking friends definately being affected here in ny. Update no new news from me not getting better or worse."

We all wish you well, quick~~!!!! , Jeremy~

Anne :)

It is now 100% except essential businesses.

Best of luck, Jeremy

Roberto, welcome to our forum!

Your instructor is giving you some basic outline or steps that will enable you to pass the test - that's it. Don't try to analyze it or overthink it. For now just try to follow directions and get past the test.

Once you get out on your own you'll develop your own methods and practices. I never even think about looking at my landing gear when backing. All that is for is a reference point to help you do what's required for your test.

Yep. After you get your CDL, your company will teach you what you need. The landing gear will likely never enter into a backing situation again.

Thanks everyone.

Anne it was SCA/Essity in Saratoga Springs NY

It sometimes seems shorter, and sometimes seems like forever.

102,000 miles. Not bad for a regional hourly driver.

I celebrated with a 16 hour day yesterday. Was the 12th truck in line at 1500 for a load of toilet paper. Finally got a door at 1100 with 27 trucks behind me, loaded at 0200. PC to truck stop. Waiting for someone to take the load from here, as I have to reset. Used my 70 in 5 days, mostly driving until yesterday.

Wolding will give you whatever you want off, unpaid. Maybe not 6 weeks your first year, I’m not sure. But I can take off whenever I want, no need to turn in my truck.

I have an automatic Oiler.

If you can’t safely complete the turn stop and wait.

Parked beside one yesterday. Equipment looked new and clean.

I do right buttonhooks all the time, and sometimes even a left buttonhook.

I was told by my company’s training department on their road test that legally you can use the entire roadway if required for a turn. So I use whatever I need. And many times I have had to combine a buttonhook and a jug handle, and once used 3 lanes of my side and two of the other side and STILL had to go over the curb.

If you know you are going to have to do a buttonhook at a light, when approaching start about the length of a pickup or maybe slightly more, swing your cab into the other lane to block it and set up for your turn, after checking your mirrors of course. That should leave your trailer blocking anyone from pulling beside you and the truck set up for the turn. Keep watching your tandems all the way through the turn. If you need to use the other oncoming lanes as well, then do it. If traffic is there, stop and wait. You have to do whatever you have to do to make the turn without hitting anything. Ignore people blowing horns. They will get over it.

A couple other thoughts occured to me since the first post. It's a lot, but there are a bunch of components in the mechanics.

Does it shimmy at different speeds?

Is it a shimmy while you're bobtail, or only with a trailer?

Does it get worse under acceleration?

Is the shimmy in the steering wheel, or do you feel it in the pedals, or in your seat?

Does it occur the same at different speed ranges, like 20-30 mph, then stops, then starts again when you are going 50 mph and over?

They need to check the wheel balance, torques on the lug nuts, and if the wheel is actually centered on the hub correctly, too.

Seems to happen only while braking and worse at around 45, maybe a slight shake while driving but negligible, if any.

Steering wheel shakes violently, fender mirrors and hood shake, feels like a wheel is wobbling.

I watched them torque the lug nuts after balancing the wheels

Pulls right, originally when braking, but now all the time.

Bobtail or trailer both

I am currently on my 3rd (possibly 4th, not sure) trip to the shop to have mine fixed. Pulls to the right and shakes violently when braking. Drums and tie rods replaced, wheels balanced, problem returns after a couple hundred miles.

They need to look at your toe in on the steer tires, the torque on the wheel bearings, and check out the king pins.

Thanks I’ll mention it. I had asked they check the wheel bears and king pins

RV transport is another thing I was looking at.

Might want to look again. There is simply way too much competition out there to make RV transport a viable option.

One of my wife's family members tried it. Bought a brand new Chevy dually and hit the road toting RVs all over the country. 3 years later the truck is broken down, has 450k miles on it with practically no resale value, and still costs him $700 a month. He finally gave up and now drives a rig for Logistics One to get himself out of debt.

Thank you

I looked into that as a possible income after retiring.

Like Old School, I am a previous business owner, and my research found that it looked like a quick way to go broke, and I was only looking at class A motorhomes where the only investment was a car to tow.

Not sure if I responded to this, but congratulations to all if I didn’t.