Comments By Noob_Driver

Currently I'm working on a mirror for backing assistance.

Before that, it was a mirrors setup so that I could lay in my bunk and view the "Red/Green" dock lights without needing to get up every 10 minutes to look.

Please keep us updated. When I dont feel a forklift every few minutes I start to get antsy.

I feel bad not giving a real answer other than practice makes perfect and repetition will get you there but it's so true. As far as setups go I think most new people look for the perfect setup whether it's tandems or when to cut, how hard to cut, how long to cut because that's how schools teach it for their course. I think new drivers myself included hung on to that for too long and now I either do it unconsciously or I adjust on the fly due to conditions in the truck stop or at the dock. I used to prefer tandems forward because I could swing the tail faster but now I prefer right at that 41 mark for my backs. I got a buddy who did spotting at a brewery for 6 months and prefers tandems all the way back (complete Insanity to me). Everbody ends up with a different comfort zone you just gotta find yours

If your starting at 3 am you should find some pretty empty lots unless your running out your 11 every day. Where do you run maybe some folks here could give some advice on teuck stops that dont fill up fast so you can get some practice in.

I'm not allowed to park at home either but I'm one of the few who cant here at Millis. I do live on the south side of chicago between chicago and gary indiana so I get it. I have to drive all the way to the North side of Milwaukee to my terminal. But with Smith Transport joining the family I might be able to park at their Remington Indiana warehouse/terminal. The only downside is having to get my services done while on the road as opposed to hometime like I'm doing now.

I do the OD creep all the time, but only in our yard, drop lot or at Consigness. But, when I do, I make sure I am out of the way of others with plenty of space for them to go around. Saves big time on having to burn my drive time and getting my 30 min DOT break before that 8 hour drive time is gone. Keeps me moving in the day cab world.

A yard move wont screw up your 30. It counts as on duty fueling would. I do it during a 2hr or 3hr break so I can pause my 14 if I need to when moving off a dock.

Interesting. I've always wondered about what motivates one carrier to sell out to another. I believe it's either a mutually beneficial merger or one company trying to keep from going bankrupt. Any other reasons?

I cant speak for Smith selling to heartland or cfi (although I do believe that was strictly buisness from what I've read so far.) Millis sold for personal reasons unfortunately. The founder left the company to his sons and family who have ran it for years successfully and really grew it well. But they're getting older and want to retire and noone in the next generation had any interest in running it. There was no significant financial burdens looming that meant bankruptcy we have established contract freight with beer, white claw and carpeting and flooring to keep us afloat on fluctuating spot markets. The board members just didnt want to run it when the CEO and president retired so they took the cash.

We just got a message on this.

We were just told that Heartland is buying us if approved by the SEC. We will still be CFI and still have red trucks. That's all I know for now.

At over $6 per gallon… I think most companies need to revisit this. 🤔

Our company’s policy is not to avoid tolls, time saving makes up for cost

Agreed. The only tolls we cant run are the PA turnpike and the NY thruway east of albany. They would prefer us not to run them but I havent heard a peep in 3+ years. We run alot of beer from elkton VA up into ohio and routinely end up goin 70 miles out of the way to avoid tolls on the turnpike up big hills and back roads at 78klbs. I cant see the toll costs outweighing these diesel prices.

First time I've seen this. This is a Swift company driver pulling a set of "Turnpike Doubles"--two, 53' trailers pulled as a set. This is at Post Foods in Tremonton, Utah.

Does it take a driver with special skills to drive this combo? Or someone crazy?

I would argue that all double and triple drivers have a screw loose. How much crazy varies by driver but I'm convinced all of em eat coco puffs at least once a week, lol.

Anyone know of any electric trucking companies hiring in Columbus,OH?

FAB Express is hiring in that area, but they are all diesel, Mack Pinnacles. Some auto's, some manuals. Might still be a few Int'l's in their fleet in that area; not sure.

~ Anne ~

Aren't they based out of chicago? I swear I see their trucks around home. Is it all day can home daily stuff?

If your manager is willing to ask if they’ve done anything wrong, at least it’s a start.

The cynical side of me might respond; would it matter if I told you? 😆

Just an FYI if you do start looking be careful filling out any forms online where you give out your email or phone number. These recruiters out here are savages and will not leave you alone. I filled out a form that I thought would be different because it was very detailed and I thought it was narrowing my search down to my specific preferences but nope. I hit submit and had 15 automated emails from different companies within seconds half of which were refer, tanker and flatbed which I didnt ask for. Some even contacted my company.

Got that from my dispatcher..... that was awkward.

We did have a good conversation because of it so it turned out well. I wasnt very serious about leaving just seeing what was out there and filled out the wrong form online.