Comments By Jakester

Thanks guys, you know, this company has done everything for me, just don’t want to let them down, thanks for all the advise I really appreciate it

Hey man honestly I have heard all about this communication and relationship with dispatch, I have had none, zero, that’s why I was asking those questions, I’ve been out so damn long, when I upgraded no one introduced me to anyone in dispatch or any driver manager or anything for that matter, I just got a call met and old guy,(very nice guy) but he didn’t know much, here are your keys, get a mattress and wait, didn’t wait long, dispatched and no clue what to do, I liked that after the initial aggravation wore off, but to get back to getting there trust and all that, I don’t think they I exists, I’m just a damn truck number rite, everything is qualcom , **** this communication you speak of doesn’t really make any sense to me, I’m a social person, I would love to actually talk and get to know people I work with, not in trucking I guess, thank you old for all your input, I’ve been on this page and following you all since I made my mind up, no regrets.....

Jakester, honestly I don't think you can make that connection between staying out for months and getting great miles or long loads. Drivers create a relationship of trust with their dispatcher. That's accomplished by getting things done efficiently, safely, and without causing issues. I don't stay out for months at a time. I turn great miles and get great loads. Your buddies could do the same.

It's great that you're doing what you are, but it's not what's giving you success. You mentioned their attitudes. If that vibe is finding it's way to their dispatcher then that may very well be their biggest issue. It sounds like you're doing a great job. That's what establishes you and puts you in a position of being leaned on and trusted. They will trust you just as much if you decide you want to go home once a month.

When you are productive you will be trusted and given more responsibility. Productivity is the key. Being a slave to the road will cause lesser men than you to burn out. Don't fool yourself into thinking that's why you're getting great miles. You're getting those great loads because you are taking care of your business, and you are easy to work with. That's the golden formula.

Jakester, honestly I don't think you can make that connection between staying out for months and getting great miles or long loads. Drivers create a relationship of trust with their dispatcher. That's accomplished by getting things done efficiently, safely, and without causing issues. I don't stay out for months at a time. I turn great miles and get great loads. Your buddies could do the same.

It's great that you're doing what you are, but it's not what's giving you success. You mentioned their attitudes. If that vibe is finding it's way to their dispatcher then that may very well be their biggest issue. It sounds like you're doing a great job. That's what establishes you and puts you in a position of being leaned on and trusted. They will trust you just as much if you decide you want to go home once a month.

When you are productive you will be trusted and given more responsibility. Productivity is the key. Being a slave to the road will cause lesser men than you to burn out. Don't fool yourself into thinking that's why you're getting great miles. You're getting those great loads because you are taking care of your business, and you are easy to work with. That's the golden formula.

Spartan so help me understand, what if I stay out to long? I got nowhere to go man, I sleep eat well and drive, I was terrified at this job day one solo, now I don’t check satellite photos of where I have to back into, I check the incoming, but I hope it’s hard, funny my trainer who is a great old time trucker told me, your a long haul driver, you won’t back up much, avoid truck stops other than fuel and a shower, I live by that, but with this virus thing my drop and hook terminal to terminal has found me backing up 3 or 4 times a day, and man I’m learning, doesn’t scare me anymore, I do what my guys and girls at dispatch ask me to do, key word, ask me, i would do anything for this company for what hey have done for me, ya I’m getting tired and may just find a place to chill for a few days, but for now, food needs to be delivered and I’m more than happy to be in the situation the do just that, take care.... I’ve said it before, I wouldn’t change this job for the world!!!!!

Question for all you drivers, I’ve been out since I got my truck solo, about 4 months I think, pretty tired at the moment but I assume hat long, I’m all of a sudden getting these long runs, Seattle to Miami, Miami to to LA, I keep in touch with a few of my buddies from school and here not getting many miles, they request home time every 2 weeks or so and i guess my question is does dispatch really send he miles based on if you want to go see your family, it’s not an issue for me at this moment and I’d rather just run, they on the other hand are getting a bad attitude and I really want to tell them they need to stay out longer, I know what they are gonna say, we were told 2-3 weeks out, if you stay out I’m beginning to think that they give you more?

Learn to shift on a manual, it will teach you about your engine.

Love all this info, after sometime I figured out the most important thing on my truck Is the speaker, so I can hear my daughter say good night daddy, that’s all

1. Air line hose to blow out the dirt that accumulates, and

Laura

Wait so you are saying Laura was one of your best purchases? I guess a Laura could be quite handy to have on the road!! 🤣😂🤣

Oh My Gosh! I can't believe I did that!!

Laura

There's no right answer to that. It's just the way these companies choose run their operation. If you've passed the CDL exam you've demonstrated that you know the basics to operate that vehicle. Regardless of how much training you have most of your learning is going to happen your first couple weeks solo. It's expensive to train a new driver and that may factor in why they train the way they do.

Firs Cooke weeks solo, truer words have never been spoken

Ya RT, funny isn’t it, 3 kids 70 employees through good times and bad, IRS, Audits and just about anything you could imagine, nothing has made my mouth dry more in this life than backing into a tight spot low on time and knowing there is 2 Spots left the TA for a reason, it’s my biggest challenge ever and just one to be one of those drivers who whip it in and out and no worries

Sounds like things are going really well so far. Keep up the good work. This career is very rewarding both financially and the adventure. I'm pretty sure most of us when we initially pondered the idea of driving didn't understand the complexity behind it. I remember thinking that all you do is sit behind a wheel and drive, how hard could it possibly be!

Thanks PR, a lot of people don’t understand back home, you drive a truck big deal, I may of been one of those myself at one point, but damn was I wrong.....

Well it’s been about 2 months solo, been quite busy, I guess not a bad time to start trucking, have gotten into my fair share of rookie jams, not fun but managed I not hit anything and honestly my backing still sucks, the yard dogs at our terminals are cool and Jump in my cab and offer advise, good people actually good people all over this company, it’s been basically a 2 year run (august will be 2 years) closed my business in Boston uprooted the wife and kids and settled in Houston, it’s been one hell of a ride, mom and dad both in there 90s and would love to head back and see them but with all this going on not even possible, someday soon, hope all you drivers are safe and well, I wouldn’t trade this job for the world...

Glad to read things are going well for you, Jakester. Survival of the first year trucking is both the most crucial, as well as the most difficult. Stay positive, as you are now, and you’ll be fine.

Well it’s been about 2 months solo, been quite busy, I guess not a bad time to start trucking, have gotten into my fair share of rookie jams, not fun but managed I not hit anything and honestly my backing still sucks, the yard dogs at our terminals are cool and Jump in my cab and offer advise, good people actually good people all over this company, it’s been basically a 2 year run (august will be 2 years) closed my business in Boston uprooted the wife and kids and settled in Houston, it’s been one hell of a ride, mom and dad both in there 90s and would love to head back and see them but with all this going on not even possible, someday soon, hope all you drivers are safe and well, I wouldn’t trade this job for the world...