Profile For Grumpy Old Man

I live on southwest Virginia near Blacksburg va I about a month two months ago I went on the DMV and took my air brakes combination and general knowledge test to get my permit I have driven tractor trailers before so to me the driving part is not a problem for me that is why I chose to not pay for a CDL school I would just get them on my own does anyone have any idea where to take the skills portion and road test at I was looking online the numbers I found there was no answer of course if anyone live in va and can steer me in the right direction please do Thank you in advance

You are going to need to go to a school to get a job.

To answer your question DMV will give you the rest but you need a truck and licensed driver.

But without school it will be all but impossible to get a job

“I often wonder if it's like that in other industries. Do most techies mock Google and Apple”

Mostly Apple. Even though they are responsible for most of the innovations in computers and phones.

They complain iPhones are too expensive, even though the latest Androids are the exact same cost.

They claim Apple copies a feature from Android, even when Apple came out with the feature first.

And on and on.

Honestly, the bottom line here is that Kevin has fallen for the whole "us against them" mentality that has ruined so many trucking careers. He's complaining about low miles, crappy paychecks, and the company trying to "twist" something into abandonment, when it clearly is not the proper way to leave a trucking job. You will never find true professionals who understand how this career works having these kinds of issues. They know how to get the best loads, be productive, earn great pay, and leave a job with integrity and class. Unfortunately this driver still has some hard lessons to learn.

I’m not seeing an alternative at this point

Kevin, I've had some medical issues to deal with. In fact I'm at home now, and will be for the rest of this month. I'm facing two surgeries this month, bringing my total to five during my four and a half year tenure at Knight. I've always worked it out with them and never had to relinquish my truck.

There are plenty of ways that a professional driver can handle these situations. The starting point is always in building great relationships with your managers, and having a track record that speaks volumes about your value as a productive member of the team.

To tell them I'm taking medical leave as a covert way of actually switching companies, and then wanting them to pay my way home and then give me a great reference after they have to retrieve their truck from wherever I left it... Frankly, that scenario would never even cross my mind.

Agreed, in my opinion, that is exactly why they let him go, and why his paychecks were low.

Drop the truck off and ride Greyhound home for a few bucks. Get your surgery and recover, then go to work wherever you want.

I was going to be quiet and not speak my mind, since I'm the new guy here, but what the hell. Might as well say what I am thinking, because I can't be the only one.

I notice you didn't answer the question about Maverick's guarantee. The only way you could not be making money there was if you were not available to work.

...

So, what exactly happened after Thanksgiving? Why was the paycheck low before Thanksgiving? Where you available to work, and didn't refuse any loads? If so, the check should have been $1,000.

Then after Thanksgiving, you were sick. I used to have guys call in every Monday, saying they were sick. When I told them they better have a doctor's note or they wouldn't have a job, they magically got better. A hangover is not sick. I worked every day, no matter what, unless I was so sick I was put on bed rest. Which happened. I worked sick so long, it turned to pneumonia. I told the doctor if I don't work, I don't get paid. he said you can work, but you will die. So, I took off a week.

.....

So, things weren't going your way, and you started yelling, threatening, what? And then they cut the cord and fired you.

...

When I first heard they offered a guarantee, my first thought was people would apply just to earn the $50K/yr, and not be motivated to do more. People here set me straight, that if you consistently earned just the guarantee, you wouldn't last anyway. Which made me realize if they are willing to guarantee $50K, they know you can make more than that if you want to work, otherwise they wouldn't offer it.

Good luck, you are going to need it.

I may not make it in this industry myself, one never knows. But if not, it will never be said I didn't try my best, or that I didn't want to work.

TCD might not offer the guarantee.

It does not matter what their policy is about picking up the truck. You still would be quitting. They would then be in their legal right to "recoup those losses" any way they see fit. But if you are straight up front with them something may be worked out. How would you honestly feel if someone did that to you? If you let me use your car, and I took it home 600 miles away, and for whatever reason, you had to come get it yourself. How would you honestly feel?

Talk to them, they may even help you with a ride home, to get your procedure. Thereby keeping the truck at the terminal.

For some reason I thought OS posted this. But I agree, communication and dealing in good faith is key, but I think the time for that is past. I think he was fired already.

TCD might not offer the guarantee.

It does not matter what their policy is about picking up the truck. You still would be quitting. They would then be in their legal right to "recoup those losses" any way they see fit. But if you are straight up front with them something may be worked out. How would you honestly feel if someone did that to you? If you let me use your car, and I took it home 600 miles away, and for whatever reason, you had to come get it yourself. How would you honestly feel?

Talk to them, they may even help you with a ride home, to get your procedure. Thereby keeping the truck at the terminal.

Honestly, the bottom line here is that Kevin has fallen for the whole "us against them" mentality that has ruined so many trucking careers. He's complaining about low miles, crappy paychecks, and the company trying to "twist" something into abandonment, when it clearly is not the proper way to leave a trucking job. You will never find true professionals who understand how this career works having these kinds of issues. They know how to get the best loads, be productive, earn great pay, and leave a job with integrity and class. Unfortunately this driver still has some hard lessons to learn.

From their web site, it appears they do. This is from the TCD page.

Be sure to look for my parking job tonight on Twisted Truckers. LOL It’s reeeeeally bad. Oh well.

LOL. Did you hit anything? If not, it's a good job

And yeah, she's snoring, unless she is an Oscar calibre actress is say she's not just being sneaky.

LOL. Don't mind me, I tend to be paranoid.

Drop the truck off and ride Greyhound home for a few bucks. Get your surgery and recover, then go to work wherever you want.

I was going to be quiet and not speak my mind, since I'm the new guy here, but what the hell. Might as well say what I am thinking, because I can't be the only one.

I notice you didn't answer the question about Maverick's guarantee. The only way you could not be making money there was if you were not available to work.

Then i got a low paycheck before Thanksgiving and I took a few days off for the thanksgiving holiday and got real sick for two days when I was supposed to return. Ok so I expected the check for that week to be horrible but then when I came back they were unable to get me a load for another two days and when they did the appointment times changed from Friday to Monday for pickup which ruined any chance of working over the weekend. So the next check was horrible.

So, what exactly happened after Thanksgiving? Why was the paycheck low before Thanksgiving? Where you available to work, and didn't refuse any loads? If so, the check should have been $1,000.

Then after Thanksgiving, you were sick. I used to have guys call in every Monday, saying they were sick. When I told them they better have a doctor's note or they wouldn't have a job, they magically got better. A hangover is not sick. I worked every day, no matter what, unless I was so sick I was put on bed rest. Which happened. I worked sick so long, it turned to pneumonia. I told the doctor if I don't work, I don't get paid. he said you can work, but you will die. So, I took off a week.

So the next check was horrible. When I got notification of how low it was I called and was really upset to find out their explanation. While I was in my downtime I looked for another job. And knowing I need the surgery I want to get it done prior to going to a new place as it’s been getting much worse lately. While I was talking to them very upset I asked about short term disability and was told I would not be paid at all till I was out 30 or more days. And there policy is to reassign trucks inactive for 14 days. While asking the questions they basically told me that because I was upset and not happy with there policies they accepted my resignation effective immediately and my surgical consult was set for two days after that notice. So I’m thinking of going to the hospital while I’m still covered.

So, things weren't going your way, and you started yelling, threatening, what? And then they cut the cord and fired you.

I don't know you from Adam, but this whole topic tells me that you might as well let them come recover the truck, because you don't want to work anyway, so it won't matter what they put on your DAC. If you did, you would at least be earning the guarantee. If you REALLY wanted to work, you would be earning more than the guarantee. You may go to the second company, and you won't be making enough there, either. So you will go to more and more companies, until you are unable to get anyone to hire you.

When I first heard they offered a guarantee, my first thought was people would apply just to earn the $50K/yr, and not be motivated to do more. People here set me straight, that if you consistently earned just the guarantee, you wouldn't last anyway. Which made me realize if they are willing to guarantee $50K, they know you can make more than that if you want to work, otherwise they wouldn't offer it.

Good luck, you are going to need it.

I may not make it in this industry myself, one never knows. But if not, it will never be said I didn't try my best, or that I didn't want to work.

From what I was told, as long as you are available to drive there is a $1,000/week guarantee. How is that not the same?

Of course the weeks you took extra days off wouldn't count, but normally, if you are available to work, you should be making a minimum of $1,000 gross.

I have a TnT right now and he said Wally from the SIM lab came and told the whole group.in the computer room. His class was even told to gently tap the instructor to wake them and message dispatch. I do not recommend this cause then harassment claims will get hurled everywhere and law suits threatened.

Also, they give a slide show and a CBT about problem solving and the company hierarchy to complain up the chain of command. You had to watch that video, and i just passed a class watching it two weeks ago so i know they are still giving it.

I dont know how you could miss it. But i guess it happens.

If you didnt get this info what exactly did you do in orientation cause this was like day 2 after the DOT and processing was complete.

it might even be on a video on the prime app, ill have to look.

If they cover this in orientation, I would be worried my trainer was pretending to sleep and testing me to see if I followed policy.

I would love to hear why you are quitting what appears to be your first job after 9 months. As a future employer, that would send up a red flag. What happens when job 2 doesn't work out?

Grumpy, Kevin is a driver I’ve followed with interest on here. We both started at the same company and division at similar times, yet our two experiences couldn’t be more different. It’s interesting.

I do know Maverick treated me well when I needed emergency surgery a few months ago while I was on hometime. They came and recovered the truck no questions asked, but I also went back after recovery. Not sure how your plan would end.

Yes, coming to get it because you are unable to drive is different than having to get it because you quit while recovering from surgery they expected to return from.

I had forgotten you were with Maverick. They still only offer glass division for Grand Island. You must have filled the last flatbedding position they had. :)

Good luck

I had hoped having a solid foundation and something to come back to would alleviate some of the stress while training.

Ralph, we don't sugarcoat this career. There's usually considerable difficulties encountered when trying to get it started. Having something to "come back to" doesn't alleviate the stress, what it typically does is provides a good reason to avoid the Commitment needed to see this through. Having a safety net is usually not the best approach when trying to get a trucking career started. We warn people all the time that during that initial three or four months they are going to consider quitting almost on a daily basis. It can be that trying at first. Those who come into this knowing they don't really need to make it work seldom ever stick with it.

I'm not saying what you're doing won't work, but it sure has a familiarity of sure failure that I've witnessed way too many times. If it were me, and I really wanted this, I'd abandon everything and plunge in like there's no escape route. I know that sounds crazy to ya, but honestly that's the way you need to approach it. I think you seriously need to think about if your serious about it or not.

I guess there is a flip side to this, in that truck driving jobs aren't going anywhere. So, if you aren't really committed at this time, you can always wait until you feel you are.

I must have missed this back when it was posted, but my thought was the same as Old School's.

Leaving that lifeline makes it way too easy to give up and go back to your old way of life.

Money should never be your primary focus when deciding on a career. I have worked at jobs mostly for money for the last 25 years, and it has made me miserable and depressed. You have to like what you do to be happy with your job. If you HAVE to make a certain amount to survive, and trucking won't provide that amount, then now may not be the time. If trucking would make you happier than your current job, but it would be NICE to make the money your current job is offering, then my vote would be following your heart.

Be 100% honest with your current employer. Put all of the cards on the table.

You’ll never know how they will support your return to duty if you apply deceitful tactics and assume their lack of compromise.

He isn't planning to return, that's the problem. He plans to quit while out recovering.

I know that.

Be 100% honest with your current employer. Put all of the cards on the table.

You’ll never know how they will support your return to duty if you apply deceitful tactics and assume their lack of compromise.

He isn't planning to return, that's the problem. He plans to quit while out recovering.

I understand that. The problem is how he is going about it with his current company. It’s not on the up-and-up, thus he has no clarity in the consequences.

We also have no idea why he wants to leave the current employer. It’s relevant in terms of assessing the probility of success with the new job.

Although I don’t know the whole story, I’d wait to leave the current employer (if it’s a must), recover medically with them, get back into their truck drive a bit and then execute on the other offer.

Call me old fashioned, his planned approach is the wrong way to go about this.

Oh, OK, gotcha. I thought you meant return to duty with his present company.

You, Rainy, and Michael are spot on, though I didn't even think about the new company letting him go after learning about the abandonment. Good point. I was thinking more along the lines of a reference.

And Kevin, you are concerned about what it will cost you to get home. How about what it will cost the company to come get your truck? If you were in their shoes, how would you feel if a driver just took his truck home, quit, and made you pay two drivers, fuel, etc., to go get his truck?

I would love to hear why you are quitting what appears to be your first job after 9 months. As a future employer, that would send up a red flag. What happens when job 2 doesn't work out?

Be 100% honest with your current employer. Put all of the cards on the table.

You’ll never know how they will support your return to duty if you apply deceitful tactics and assume their lack of compromise.

He isn't planning to return, that's the problem. He plans to quit while out recovering.

Sadly, I've hated this truck from day 1. I was really hoping I would come to like it, but the longer I'm in it, the more I dislike it. I can't bolt anything to the underside of the microwave space. There are lights and wiring in it.

Actually even having the TV on top of the fridge is a problem. The stupid ladder blocks the view of the screen. Maybe I'll bolt the d@mn thing to the under side of the upper bunk. Drivers who don't train (hey there's a thought) have the door to the overhead bins removed and fasten a mount to that. Unfortunately I desperately need more storage space than what's available in this truck. The fridge is great, don't get me wrong, but I already own a dometic portable freezer and did not need the fridge. I need the 2 large missing cabinets that aren't there because of the fridge.

The overpriced steering wheel cover is helping. I looked at organizers that fit on the back of the seats.. ugly cheap blue denim at Iowa 80 and the ones at Walmart, were way too small. I'll have to get some heavy duck canvas and make my own, I suppose. It bites not having anywhere to store my permit book, atlas, and clipboard with bol, spare log book pages, and medical card & long form.

You could use my second idea (the shelving material in the recess) and use that as a base to build a box out of the shelving with a shelf or two inside, and even a door if you want, and then screw a swiveling TV mount to the side of that. Basically building a cabinet that wedges between the fridge and microwave.

This assumes you or your partner is somewhat handy, of course.

:)

Congrats! Where do you go now?

Thank you for the link. I read them. If a person can reach the air lines to connect them that's a good thing. But reaching the chains and binders from the ground would require a really tall person.

Agreed, that is why I said OSHA would likely cite them if he got hurt.

I would assume the shop would install one for a flatbedder.

OSHA also does not seem to require it, BUT if he fell and got hurt, they might well cite it as unsafe.

My truck had to go in the shop at one of our yards. While I was there I was talking to a new driver about his truck so we went over to have a look. I noticed, among other things, that he didn't have a catwalk...

Since a flatbedder uses the catwalk I would assume it's necessary but I don't know. I suggested he call securement at the main terminal because I didn't have an answer for him. Seems awfully dangerous not have one. I tried looking it up online for my own knowledge but I'm not having any luck with that.

Does anyone know for sure?

Apparently not, as long as the air and electrical connections can be accessed from the ground. (I could definitely be wrong, but according to this, it is not required)

Read the regs yourself