Comments By Gary A.

Wow, great story Freightdog! I had to share it with my friends..You should've been a WRITER!! anyway, I think I'll be ok. I'm actually kinda looking forward to it (I'm weird that way)...Thanks!

Once I get settled into a steady job, I will be purchasing one of THESE bad boys for my rig:

Alienwares' Steam Machine

I've always been a huge fan of taking a short nap or two during the day to revive. Works wonders.

But I think the 14 hour rule keeps a lot of people from taking a break when they'd really like to. I mean, once that clock is ticking you have to roll. If you have to spare, great! Grab a nap. What bothers me is when people have 4 or 5 hours left to drive and only that much time left on their 14 clock. You can stop - but you're not going to get to the destination before that 14 hour clock runs out. If it wasn't for that 14 hour rule you'd stop, take an hour nap, and finish up your last few hours safely.

Without a doubt - nobody is "making" anyone do anything out there. You don't have to drive when you're tired. And most people won't when they know they shouldn't. The problem is when you're "on the fence". You could probably push through and finish up the day, but it's going to be hard. It would be a lot easier and safer if you could just grab a quick nap and then finish up your day but you simply don't have time on the clock. Do you park the truck, tell your company you can't make it on time, and take a service failure? A couple of those in a 6 month period and most companies will fire you. Do you push through and just try to be extra careful about staying awake? Your flirting with disaster and threatening a lot of lives, not just your own.

I think the 14 hour rule puts drivers in a tough spot. I think a lot of drivers wind up pushing through when they'd feel much better if they had the time to take a nap.

Ok, so it's really no different than 4-wheelers, on long trips I would usually "push-through" (I used to live in Chicago and drove straight through from Atlanta few times-about 14-15 hours). I was TIRED, but not sleepy-tired, if ya know what I mean..Just GLAD to get there..my problem is getting out of routine, where I'm used to going to bed at a certain time and getting up at a certain time.If I get out of THAT, then I can get pretty drowsy come time I usually go to bed. And THAT is my biggest concern, however, when I take the mandatory 30-minute break and nap fro 20 minutes or so, I'll be fine...

The local TV station here in Atlanta was interviewing big riggers about drivers getting enough sleep and rest after the Tracy Morgan accident, and there was a guy saying "you don't get NO rest on this job-Can't make no MONEY if you rest!!!"

I call B.S.-I personally can take a 10-20 minute nap ANYTIME during the day and feel refreshed totally..I know sleep patterns may be out of whack sometimes, but that's why you catch a nap when you can..Am I right???

I luv you guys! Gonna fit in well with y'all!!!!

I was passing a rig on my way home and saw a bike VERY similar to the one you have strapped on the tractor! I was thinking "now that's SMART!- I'm gonna get ME one!"Of course I don't suppose they're much good in winter weather...But if ya wrap up good enough, why not?

Hmmm.That's what i get for watching YOU TUBE! That's where I heard that driving big rigs on ice was like driving a tank..thanks guys! I guess I'm overthinking all this stuff, I'm a smart guy and feel confident that I can trust my instincts. I REALLY want this career, and just have to go with my training and lessons I learn from y'all and stop reading so much into it...Thanks!!!!

Thanks guys, you've taken a HUGE concern off my mind. I will refuse to do anything I consider unsafe. Even if it costs me my job.

I'm no wimp, Like I said, I drove all over the midwest between December through March, recovered from several skids, etc and have a reasonable idea of how to handle icy roads, just not in 40 tons of truck!!! I know a rig's weight makes them easier to handle than other vehicles, as long as they're loaded heavy, and I have YOU guys to lean on, when I get scared stupid!!!!!

IF everything goes according to schedule, and from some of the posts/blogs/diaries I've been reading, by the time I'm on my own rig, after all training is done, it will be early to mid November. RIGHT BEFORE WINTER!!! A rookie with a couple months behind the wheel going into winter driving...sheesh..Best to get it over with eh??? I'll be the most TERRIFIED, MOST WHITE-KNUCKLED driver not to mention THE SLOWEST rig on the road for sure.. Seriously, I HOPE I'll have a good feel for my rig by then, and will know the ins and outs. I drove a van all over the midwest on icy roads before, found out that waiting for and following snow plows is a MARVELOUS thing, not to mention driving VERY slowly and carefully....I suppose the good thing is that if I survive the winter, I'll be feeling pretty confident. Have any of y'all started your careers this same way??

Thanks y'all..I've been reading some of the CDL Training diaries ( a lot of 'em as a matter of fact) and got a pretty decent idea of what's coming. I did drive deliveries for quite a while here in Atlanta, but that wasn't semis, just delivery vans. So I have a little experience driving for a career, but realize that NONE of that will matter going into it. I actually went to a private truck driving school for 1 day a long time ago..Got to back a BIG RIG for the first time! Did it by myself and pegged it right in the hole..THEN they told me tuition was like $8000.00 and I said "Man, I can pay for 3 semesters at COLLEGE for that!" so I didn't go back...

The HARDEST part is the waiting..school doesn't start until July 2nd, and I think that's only for one day before the holiday..I've been studying the training materials, and will probably go through the whole thing again while waiting...Just want to get STARTED!!