Comments By Mr. Curmudgeon

I'm paet of the experiment being wrought on trucking by one of them. All very digital and perfectly well thought out. Even down to allowing factoring in traffic delays. 24 hrs before the actual driving takes place. We have been instructed by the omnipotent and omniscient great computer that "traffic" is not an acceptable reason to be late, as they have factored it in already. I like what I'm doing and my compensation. I just wish the hipster arrogance was less pronounced. Case in point. Had to travel from one location in LA area to another. At 630am. Actual driving time, 1:53 minutes. Their "factored in" allotment? 63 minutes...

Yep. Complex. Especially when you have a preordination of all the answers and no desire to listen to input from practitioners.

Need Help from you folks. I just started slip seating into a 579 Pete, 2023 vintage with 44k miles.

The high beams only stay on for six seconds, before reverting back to low beam. Once they cut out, i have to cycle the lamp switch (quick off then on) to get the high beams back. This is consistent, and does not affect the low beams at all.

My suspicion is a relay issue, but have no way of checking that (i dont think). They do cycle on a quick application by the lever (Trooper Fuchs passed me on my L2).

Any other thoughts?

I like them all the way back, or PDC. That way backing the trailer is like pivoting a pencil, with the eraser end the pivot point. I guide on the tandems for spacing on sight side backs.

Just my $.02 worth

Driving west on I8 near Dateland, AZ a couple weeks ago. Crested the hill at 65mph. Saw the DPS squad in the median, recognized the anticipatory tire short roll, knew what was gonna happen ( I never did the roll until my target was past, why telegraph?)

I was already slowing thru 55 , signaling and shouldering when he got behind me. Trooper Fuchs, very professional and possessed of a personality instead of needing one implanted. Clean Level2. Now if I could just get the outfit to give us "You passed your inspection" pogey!

Always afraid something is gonna have gone sideways after I pretrip...

So far in the new gig I have red tagged two trailers for cracked brake shoes, one tractor for a shock absorber without bushings, and several other trailers for conspicuity tape, mud flap mounts that are falling off, and annual inspection expirations Simple things to see. At least for some of us.

Enjoying being back on the road. They must have decided I get to be their CA guy, since I don't gripe, I just go. Two Albuquerque trips, two Las Vegas trips, and a whole crapton of LA and SanDiego trips...

Getting a bit more used to the traffic on the left coast. And it still seems weird that I have to go thru the produce checkpoint...

Right now in Ontario, parked in the front lot of a shipper that closed an hour before my appointment time. We'll see what they have to say when they get here in the am.

The stenosis and spinal issues have not surfaced, and the paycheck is definitely nicer than the pizza slinging checks were. After lengthy discussions with The Beloved, I have opted not to pursue the age bias EEOC beef. It isn't worth the stress, nor potentially missing work.

I'm standing on my own and breathing on my own. That's half the battle, the rest is up to me.

Old School has it right.

The folks on here will give you their impressions, but only YOU will be able to make that determination, and only after giving it a solid 6 months to learn at least some of the ropes.

Millis' equipment looks pretty sharp, and their drivers aren't aggressive like some outfits.

If you are coming in from another career and haven't driven before, you just need to jump into the water and swim. You will know after 6 months or so (if you give 110% effort and dump any YouTube fired preconceptions) whether driving is for you, and whether Millis is where you should stay past one year.

And lest it not be said elsewhere, Paid CDL Training Programs Apply For Paid CDL Training

are great resources.

Good luck

I pulled the trigger on paying for a hair follicle test in advance of the start of my orientation. Too much riding on going into orientation

Kenneth, if you don't mind my asking,what was the freight on the self pay follicle test?

And kudos to you for being willing to commit your own resources to ensuring your success in your new career, and being willing to go into it 100%. Too many people these days (in my very opinionated opinion) expect everything to be handed to them, to have no skin in any game that involves an employer. Your dedication before hand bodes well for your continued success in this profession.

Cobra 29 Classic will suit you well. Find a radio shop to tune it, and get a decent antenna. You don't need to Electromagnetic Pulse anyone (although some of the schtuff I've heard over the years has made me wish I could), but tuning and a good antenna will increase the quality of your signal l, how clear your transmissikns are, and how far out you can be heard.

Ya, I've got a handle. Sharps50-90. Occasionally someone gets the reference. Billy Dixon, Esquire was the other option...

Did you communicate that you didn't want to continue on, or did you just leave/not show up?

I think the lack of answer might give some clue. "I chose not to continue my training..." could mean he told the trainer who did nothing with the info. By the fact that this was a post and ghost, I suspect otherwise.

I don't care what the job is (even slinging pizza), always write a letter and offer 2 weeks, making it clear you are resigning your position. Keep that, and present it as proof to other outfits.

Hi, Justin. Welcome to TT. Another consideration for you to explore as the holder of the authorities or management of the company would be going to court and defend the driver. The law enforcement agency will have to get lab tests done on the suspected cannabis to confirm presence of the to convict on possession of cannabis, if a local or state charge. IF they do not have crime lab testing done to confirm, that may result in acquittal, allowing you to contest the SAFER hit that was generated. Don't enter into a plea deal until your corporate hired defense (yes, criminal law, not contract law) attorney has seen discovery on the lab results and case report.

IF it is cbd without the active thc component, as so many cbd advocates claim, the pot charge SHOULD go away.

(Not sure if FMCSA prohibits cbd directly, doubt it but haven't dived that deeply into the statutory rabbit hole. I spent 28 years reading, interpreting and applying statutes in my first career, kinda gave up on the deep diving)

Your individual CSA score (if you are a driver and not simply a manager) will not be impacted ‐ individual choices have individual CSA score applications. The company might have issues, but your individual score will stay clean. If you leave the company your score will still be a safe and happy 0.

This probably should be its own thread, as I look at that lengthy response.

Typos? Ya, at least one: multilateral should read "multiple plate"

As far as adjusting the load to get it legal, that's a whole other can of worms. The Clinton, IA nestle plant was quite adept at loading a 40' intermodal box super heavy in the front, but legal gross weight. I once had ~37 - 38k on my drives, and they wouldn't accept my assertions that it was over. I had to haul it to the cat at the KwikTrip for a certified weigh before they rebalanced.