Profile For Deb R.

What does a dispatcher look like? Ha ha, I have had the same one for 4 years and had no idea until someone showed me a FB photo a few weeks ago. It's weird to not actually know the person you have to work with every day, we have never met.

I had a yard driver approach me and say “you must be new, I can see you are way oversteering”, that actaully helped me a lot - just relax, and don’t crank the wheel so hard. I also went to WalMart and got some small orange cones from the sports section, and set them out for visuals. It’s better when you get on your own and don’t have a trainer watching. Take as much time as you need. Rushing always seems to end badly.

I’ve been to the caves in Missouri, lucky me, my load was a drop and hook all set to go in the trailer lot outside. So I dropped my empty, then bobtailed into the caves to see what it’s like in there. Really something, and would likely be anxiety producing if a person were claustrophobic, and no doubt a challenge with a 53’ trailer! No cell service, that’s for sure. Then I got back outside, hooked to my load, and off I went.

Four years with Wolding, only had one time that I was in a spot where they required a TWIC, or pay an escort vehicle $50. Wolding reimbursed me the $50. That was in Philly shipyards.

I live about 2.5 hours from our terminal. When my truck needs service, it drives me crazy to sit around there all day. If I lived closer, I would keep my car there, leave the truck with them, and drive home. Then I could mow the lawn or something like that while they worked on my truck. That is the only time it really is an issue for me, and it does not happen often.

I don't totally trust a spotter; I will GOAL, and say something like "I really appreciate your help, but I just have to get my bearings so I know what I'm doing". It will get easier, really, it will.

There is a Wolding drivers FB page that is sort of a virtual watercooler. We can talk frankly about things, get advice on directions, places to park, quirks of customers, and we can get to know each other. I can honestly say that in 4 years I have never once felt lonely out on the road, and the ability to connect with the other drivers is no doubt part of that.

And of course, they are dog friendly!

I have been with Wolding for almost 4 years. There are quite a few drivers and office personnel who have been with Wolding for decades, and that says something right there. It’s a family company, and has a friendly atmosphere. Hometime is very flexible. I like the variety of freight that I get. They’ve always been willing to switch me between midwest regional and west coast when I’ve asked for a change. They take safety very seriously and equipment is well maintained so we often get the “green light” to pass scales. I have never had an issue with payroll or reimbursement for supplies.

My two cents - home ownership and OTR is not such a great combo if no one else is at the house to take care of things. Whenever you are home, your "break" will be filled with home maintenance projects, and you will never keep up. While you are gone, the mice will move in and think the place belongs to them. If you totally enjoy home projects, it's fine, but they can completely eat up your reset.

Best thing to do for your back is to keep your core muscles strong - i.e. situps for lower back, and get out of the truck, walk around and stretch.

Coffee! The stuff of life! A good cup of coffee is priority for me, therefore, the truck stop stuff = yuck. Also, I am often at a customer or rest area where the only option is to make my own. I have an inverter. I use a small, single serving size drip coffee maker. No pot, it goes directly into my mug. Uses size #2 (the little ones) filter. Put a scoop of good ground coffee in, a cup of water, and my mug gets filled up with awesomeness. Cheaper to use than the Keurig-type and I don't have to get special pods. The used grounds are no big deal, I just throw the little filter with the grounds into my trash bag. It helps to have a napkin handy to catch drips. My coffee maker has a mesh filter that TECHNICALLY means you don't have to use a paper filter, but I tried that once, and dealing with the used grounds was a mess. Use a paper filter! As for water, I always have multiple gallons on board. I am a little phobic about running out of water. I buy gallon jugs, and keep refilling them until the plastic gets brittle, then replace. You can fill up jugs at many rest areas.

I have the same set-up that Turtle does, only with a ratchet strap circling the fridge and the bunk to keep it from moving around. I can hear the compressor getting knocked around as I am driving, always hoping that it's not too much. Had it for 9 months so far, much better than the 12volt mini fridge I had from Loves, this keeps things cool enough when I am out for multiple weeks, and having a freezer is awesome. I have found, however, that as the weather gets warmer, it's pretty darn hot "upstairs" and the fridge has to work harder. I plan to come up with a way to direct the AC vent air onto the back of the fridge.

Regarding locking differentials, G-Town says:

I also use it when dropping a load at any Walmart with a pitched dock ramp (down towards the bay doors). Otherwise when spanning the crest of the "hump", after dropping the trailer, might be spinning your wheels.

Well, that enlightens me about the docks at Menards. I wondered why I could not escape their force field; I engaged the Diff Lock and drove right out of that hole but did not know why it happened.

Also,

Always, always, always turn this "on" or "off" only when completely stopped.

Why?

Load straps and trash. Not too exciting.

I can second Patrick's suggestion to look into H.O.Wolding. They are extremely accommodating about hometime. But, as others have mentioned, of course, if you are at home, you're not making any money.

I agree with 6 string, congestion is congestion. I find parking near Atlanta to be very challenging. LA can be boring because of the walls lining the roads, there is nothing to see. If stuck in Chicago traffic, at least there is tons to look at! I really dislike Vegas at night because the lights are blinding and the other drivers are either distracted or aggressive.

Patrick, I love those Menards deliveries! Being a Wisconsin gal who's done lots of home reno, I am very familiar with their stores. You can go shopping while getting unloaded; did you know they have a grocery section? Also, one of my favorite spots to spend the night, line up at the guard shack to be the first one in the morning. Super quiet and clean, just be sure to use the bathroom before the store closes!

You could likely find a spare 6 hours a week, especially if you run recaps, but it likely will be in bits and pieces. I find it rare to get a big enough chunk of extra time to do anything that requires preparation/concentration (like getting tax papers organized, for example). But that's how I do things, you may be able to do a bit of that computer work, stop, then pick up again later.

Does your truck have an auto greaser? The alarm on that comes from the center area of the dash. Scared the whooy out of me first time it went off.

I have refused loads only twice: once because my recap hours would not have been enough to cover the trip, second because I had a vacation planned, my truck was acting up, and I wanted to stick closer to home so as not to miss my flight in case of breakdown. Other than that, I just go where I am told. If it's a new area, I figure in a little extra time since I don 't know the roads or where to stop for breaks, and I prefer not going someplace new in the dark if I can help it. The rest is all adventure to me. I have not been northeast much, some New York State, once to Philly shipyards, and those were fine. Other places I have been to that had been played up as sooooo bad, turned out to be no big deal.