Comments By Trucker Chris (CK)

I typically use two load locks/bars for that and had those types of loads often when i ran western regional, they've never shifted or toppled. If in doubt, add another load lock. I typically carry 8 just so I never get caught with less than I need.

Springfield MO? Looks like a place I've delivered several times.

Laura

Is that you in the middle, LoL ?!?

Sure is, to both! lol

Share some photos of unique and interesting places you've ended up on the road. This place is still one of the coolest I visit.

Hours of blissful solitude...punctuated by moments of sheer terror.

They say the same thing about airline pilots.

I don't know much about them, but some of their equipment looks like it's held together with tape. My first Level 1 was in CA at Mountain Pass CVEF, and there was an Ashley truck in the bay next to me getting written up for all sorts of things.

I was nervous because it was my first one, and the inspector told me I had nothing to worry about with my 2020 tractor and 2020 trailer (this was around beginning of July 2019.) He then pointed to the Ashley truck and said "This guy on the other hand...." and giggled.

That's really the extent of my knowledge and experience with them. It may not be typical.

"The only predictable thing in this industry is unpredictability."

"...But that's truck drivin'. "

That's awesome Daniel, congrats on getting to where you're at and good luck!

Jim,

This is entirely on you. You knew what you were doing, you knew you were putting your career in jeopardy, and now you're acting like a child accusing these companies of falsifying your drug test. You cry discrimination, but let me explain something to you: being a user of illegal drugs (MJ is still illegal at the federal level, and DOT is very clear on this,) is not a protected class. It's a ridiculous statement. Both Werner and Pam are reputable companies. Man up and do what you have to do to return to duty.

Don't Make The 6 O'clock News!

Or YouTube. 🙃

I use my Garmin Dezl 780 for cross country navigation. I use my Omnitracs Navigo for last 10-20 miles as it has been hand programed in some instances for the specific customer location. Both GPS systems do absolutely get it wrong, and often.

I use my company provided last mile directions to understand the specific routes they want us to take near the customer, and the overhead Google Maps satellite photos to get an idea of what the customer location and surrounding area looks like.

I also subscribe to TruckerPath and pat for their truck GPS plan, but only use it for route planning and to find stops along the way.

My Rand McNally motor carrier atlas is an invaluable reference on the rare case that I need it. But when I need it, I'm very grateful I followed the advice of many here and bought one.

GPS should be updated often and the atlas should be replaced at least every 2 years.

Hi Anthony, let's take a step back here and look at your post piece by piece.

my girlfriend finally got a trainer who shouldn’t be one and things went south fast. The trainer wouldn’t let her drive, if she did drive the trainer would watch over her like a hawk, then would try to drive her shift after not sleeping all day. Her trainer would then stop and take 3 hour breaks while having a loaded truck to get sucked down and would then call dispatch to say it’s my girlfriends fault they are late to the drop.

It is not your job to decide who should and who should not be a trainer. This is a decision that is made by the training department after recommendation by the fleet manager; we have to meet certain requirements in order to be recommended. I find it very hard to believe your girlfriend's trainer wouldn't let her drive; that's a rare accusation and flies in the face of the common argument "the trainer is making the trainee do all the work." You better believe we are going to watch a new driver like a hawk, my life is in the hands of my student. I'm also here to train, and I will make constructive criticisms when mistakes are made, as will I coach when something can be done better, or in a way I prefer. Training is stressful, and it's rare I get a full 8 hours sleep with a new trainee. I also take three hour breaks when needed. Is it possible that your girlfriend is driving too slow, stopping too much or otherwise causing delays? Most of our loads are not super tight, but some are. While the trainer shouldn't be driving on the student's clock, I have to wonder what truly lead up to it.

This lady has been with prime 8 months, has a brand new truck ( no idea how or who’s **** she sucked for it)...

Stop, just stop. You just made a very inappropriate, childish sexual comment about a female coworker. I promise you the company takes this stuff very seriously, and they are active on this board. Check yourself before you wreck yourself.

Many drivers get a brand new trick fresh out of training. I certainly did.

...yet says she can trust anyone who’s not my girl to drive with her then goes off telling her to stop talking before she does something she might regret doing with

Um... what? Please restate in a coherent manner, thx.

also saying she’s packing her **** and throwing her off the truck in the middle of BFE.

Something obviously lead up to this blow up, and you're not providing the full story. While it's not appropriate to drop someone off in the middle of nowhere, any company terminal will certainly do. If it's a matter of safety, that's a different issue entirely and will be handled by the trainer at her own peril with the company. It's very rare to just kick someone off the truck without good reason.

My girls has called prime once before it got worse to tell them what’s going on and a second time when it got worse a couple days later. Prime paid for her hotel but then next morning calls and tells her it’s her fault and the trainer is perfect and has done nothing wrong. Tells my girlfriend to figure her way back home and they won’t pay her and she’s off pay till now.

Sounds like your girlfriend could potentially the one in the wrong. Her first step in resolving the issue is to have an adult conversation with her trainer and try to work it out. The next step is the fleet manager. If that doesn't work, she needs to work her way up the chain of command.

Basically my girlfriend was in a truck with Adolf hitler and would t allow the trucks Curtains to be open while my girlfriend wasn’t driving and had to stay in the back like a damn hermit crab.

Calling the trainer Hitler is an insult to all those who suffered under his orders. No, the trainer is not Hitler. They may be awful, in your opinion, but let's tone it down. What are you even trying to convey about curtains and crabs?

It is true that if your girlfriend is in Sleeper berth status she is to remain behind the front seats. Legally, she cannot ride up front while loging SB time. Is that something that confuses you? If so, we can elaborate in a follow up post.

Is this prime breaking a contract leaving her stranded in the middle of Slidell in an unsafe environment or just a **** company who doesn’t give a damn about the people they hire.

Prime has provided your girlfriend with a trainer and has upheld its end of the bargain. What is unsafe about the environment she was left in? In your 30,000 miles of TNT you should have a pretty good idea of the company, and it should be clear to you how well we are treated, but you seem to have made up your mind to the contrary because of whatever this situation with your girlfriend has been.

Please approach this "like a grown-up" and try again. Btw... why isn't your girlfriend the one posting if she is the one having the issues? It would be easier to address her concerns directly.

P.S. I see Kearsey responded above. Read her post, line by line, and absorb it.

Open your Prime mobile app. My Prime > My Progress. Your hire date will be right there at the top of the page, along with your CDL expiration date, Medical expiration date, and next anniversary date.

I did, and they wouldn't, the steering rods were rusted together, interaxle locks didn't work the fuel gauge was busted, shocks were bad tires were bad and out of spec they never wanted to replace them I had it in various shops of theirs and the TA for 6months. When I wanted to do a lease purchase to simply have more control over my vehicle itself I was given a load of **** and fired for something other drivers didn't get fired for. Sometimes it's the company, and with a company like Schneider where everyone is a literal number stupidity happens all too often anymore and the only excuse you ever get it well our system works or we wouldn't be this big of a company. No, your this big of a company because your mega company system hijacked the name of a great man in trucking and expanded your bull**** slowly under it until people start calling it out and then get met with responses like the other drivers and owner ops are giving now when it's simply not the case anymore.

I'm not buying that, sometimes it is the company. My truck was broke for 6 months when I was driving with Schneider, the home time issue similar but I didn't care as much about that, the pay not so great because I was always dealing with maintenance issues the company refused to fix that were dangerous. Drivers blaming other drivers for not fitting into cookie cutter operations 100lb heads with management/psychology degrees come up when they call out a companies bull**** is a bigger issue, makes the drivers look weak and replaceable with AI/GPS systems.

Two Drivers go to the same Schneider Orientation. One has your experience and goes through seven companies in less than two years, the other stays with Schneider two years before moving on.

Driver one, after five years, realized HIS mistakes and settled into company number…uh, who knows? Driver two is on his second company and plans to retire there.

Maybe reconsider your priorities/objectives?

They couldn't fix it in 6 months?? Why didn't you ask for another truck? 6 months is a long time to wait on a truck repair.

So... what did Schneider fire you for that you claim they don't fire others for?

If the equipment isn't legal, why would you run it at all (other than possibly to the nearest shop?)

When I was at Prime, if that happened I used my previous trip number. That's been a couple years, but I can't see why that would change. Ask your fm.

This is still correct. Also, if you do not have a trailer, put BT for your trailer number.

Absolutely not.

Really?

So you're going to pay the fine for violating HOS?, You're going to take the risk of being put OOS for not having enough off duty time before driving? So you're going to pay for the cost of next year's insurance premiums?

If your company says not to, then don't unless you want to go work somewhere else.

To be fair to the landstar driver, he probably had to get approval from the company so that decision might not have been his to make.

That's still no justification for refusing to leave a customer's property. If they want you gone, you have to go, approval or not.

Exit the private property when directed, then figure the rest out afterward.

Lol, what Sid? Your headset on too tight?

I feel like we're not getting the full story here. This job is what you make it. If you hustle, are easy to work with, manage your HOS properly, safe and on time there is no reason you shouldn't be making money.

As for the truck with 400k... who cares? You're a company driver (I suspect) and they pay maintenance. Your transmission went out on a down grade and it sounds like you survived, so you must have used your brakes because, well, that's what they're there for. Trucks break... my buddy's brand new P4 blew its main seal 200 miles out of the yard. My 2020 P4 had an air flow sensor go out, the transmission wiring harness had to replaced after getting stuck between gears on Donner, and my SCR system died when the DEF pump failed.. all required dealer down time, and there have been other issues here and there that have put me in the terminal shop.

Calling your DBL names on a public forum is generally ill advised. Schneider is a legit company, so a personal reflection is probably in order here. Jumping carrierd so quick doesn't look good. Good luck to you.

You will be out here for 20 years and still have bad days when it comes to backing. Just keep practicing and you'll get more comfortable with it. You're right, the schools only teach you how to pass the test, which is why we always recommend that you go with a paid company training program that will teach you how to do the job after you pass the test. It's not too late to get some real otr training with a mega carrier if you're willing to commit yourself, they will take new cdl holders and teach you the job.

I stumbled on this article a few minutes ago. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/nov/22/indentured-servitude-low-pay-and-grueling-conditions-fueling-us-truck-driver-shortage

“If you can work construction and get paid $20 an hour and be home every night, why would you drive a truck and get paid $10 an hour to not be home for weeks?”

Do some truck drivers really only make $10/hr?

I don't think he was being literal. If you're making $10 an hour as a Class A driver, you're working for the wrong company.

Free? No. But plenty offer them for a reasonable price...