Comments By Daniel (Turtle)

Unless I'm mistaken, marijuana can be legalized at the state level, but it's not legal at the federal level. So Companies can still decide their own policy on the matter.

you are correct sir.. That is my understanding also..

The one thing that has always bothered me is how many of these companies do Per Diem.. This is good example.. It is stated up above that per diem is .08 cpm.. The national per diem allowed is $63 per day non taxed.. So some basic math here..

lets say you run an average of 600 miles a day for 5 days at .45 cpm.. 600x5=3000x.45=$1350 .08x3000=$240 of that is non taxable.. But same millage and days if used $63x5=$315 non taxable.. So basically the companies that offer the cpm for per diem is screwing the drivers by not giving them full $63.. And if you look at the bigger picture and say you run 50 weeks out of the year with same average, then your loosing $3,750 that should have not have ever been taxed.. Those of you who make per diem with cpm I invite you to look at your check.. Check what you made for each paid day out.. Then put against the $63 per day and see which one averages out more.. And see if your company matches up to it..

Democratic Republic of the Congo???? lol.. joking....

I am assuming you mean the Data Recognition Corp or the DRC portal.. I have personally never used it.. And do not know if its use in this industry at all.. Do they use it now in some classes? Or is DRC something totally different that I am not thinking about?

Grew up on a farm.. Milked, grew tobacco.. Worked for Hitachi automotive factory as a QA leader for few years.. Started driving at 21.. Came off road to take care of infant son for few years.. Worked as Prison guard, years waiting tables for applebees, Also Home Depot running a forklift.. Back on road.. God I feel old.. lol

I am a different type of trucker..

I think it all depends on how you view your job and what is important to you.. I personally fell in love with trucks as a small boy.. We traveled and as I sat in the back seat with my brothers I would count trucks going down the highway.. I romanticized about traveling cross country, seeing the sites, and meeting interesting people.. I knew this was what I wanted to do.. I knew this would make me happy.. After Highschool I worked in a factory, as a QA leader and walked the floor telling people what to do.. I had great benefits, good pay, and the job was not hard.. But I still would go into the shipping and receiving area and Romanticize about where that driver was from and what he might have seen..

At 21 I went straight to a school, learned to drive.. Met my ex-wife on the road.. Had a kid.. And have seen and drove everywhere I can think of.. I now spend a few days in the office as a recruiter, and I still drive truck locally and regional.. And only cause of my teen son that I have custody of.. I am not enjoying office, and will be going fully back to driving locally, and regionally.. I miss OTR.. But in my 20+ years of being in this industry I have personally loved every bit of it.. HOWEVER>>

90% of all trucking companies I have worked for have not had decent Health, Dental, Vision, or 401k/retirements plans.. They cost the driver out the nose for them.. Main reason is the industry has the mentality that drivers are a dime a dozen and has a high turnover rate of employment.. Drivers come and go.. This is starting to change some, but it is still really bad.. Not many companies have drivers retire from there company of 20+ years of driving.. This is why companies like Factories and Rail, have really, really good Benefits..

I was the first in my family to become a trucker.. My Older Brother who went to College and got a degree, saw the money I was making, and he became a trucker.. His son become a trucker.. My sister married a trucker.. We have become a trucker family, and we all work for different companies and such.. Pay has been going up, cause rates are going up.. The industry is growing and there is a huge shortage of good drivers.. Is trucking all unicorns and rainbows? Absolutely not.. I have just as many horror stories as I do funny good ones.. The Good and the bad times.. And I tell people all the time you have to take the good with the bad in every job.. I would assume that would be the same in your Rail job.. I suggest you take what you know or think you know about Trucking and write down pro vs cons.. And do the same with your current rail job.. Then see which one looks better on paper.. This career is not for everyone.. And I say that to not turn you away.. But I would not suggest anyone leaving a good career path they are currently in to become a truck driver.. Taking care of yourself and your family is the main reason everyone works.. I do not know you, but if you have wife and kids, remember that your decisions effect them also..

Anyways got it all sorted out and took the proper steps. I know i wont get license points but how long do accidents stay on your record? How many csa points do you get? How do you obtain your DAC?

Most companies will look at accidents on a MVR and PSP.. When They run the reports they are normally on a 7 year report.. However.. Most companies will and can hire as long as no more then one or 2 on a MVR or PSP in past 3 years.. It also depends on the seriousness of it.. Something like this will normally not be on a PSP.. But possibly reported to the MVR by the company or an officer if a report was made.. Many companies will document something like this as is a written warning to you, but never file it. They will pay for damages (possibly charge you for that) and not report to insurance to keep insurance down, or possibly they are self insured.. Things like this will not hurt you to bad on Record unless there are several in a year or so span..

They suck, they make ya feel bad or stupid when they happen, but they happen.. Don't loose a lot of sleep over it, and remember to GOAL..

There are worse places then East coast in the Midwest.. Just saying..

The weird part is I’ve never had a problem with straight line. I watched a video before I ever started on the pad always no problems. No problems with parallel nailed them everytime. Off sets kicked my butt, and I’m starting understand why—I didn’t understand how to follow my trailer. I wanted to put the trailer in the hole but not the truck so I get all twisted up. I’m working on it!!!

I have always thought that a proper set up is the most important thing.. Especially when trying to hit a spot, or door.. I always look at my area and try to approach it from the Driver side.. Something I do not think they teach anymore, is the 1 to 4 sweep maneuver... (it maybe have another term now).. Basically you 1, approach and place your driver door center of the space or Dock.. 2. make a hard right with steering till your trailer tandems are near the middle of the spot or door.. 3. make a hard left again till end of your trailer is now in the middle of spot or door.. then finally 4, cut wheel to left while backing to sweep the front of the truck back into the hole with the trailer.. Adjust as needed and again Get out and look after the 3rd maneuver..

There is many tricks like this one to help you along.. It takes time and nobody out there is perfect.. The day they think they are perfect they should get off the road..