Location:
Swaledale, IA
Driving Status:
Rookie Solo Driver
Social Link:
Farmed for 35 years, now rent farm out and got CDL for a new career. Have driven semis for 30 years only pulling grain trailers to and from farm to market. 2 kids 17 and 16 so still need to be home most nights at least until they are out of school. Company I work for is so far very good at getting me home with the truck at night and letting me get them going to school in morning some.
Posted: 2 years, 3 months ago
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I was always told by company to put in sleeper berth when done for the weekend and I have only had DOT look at my logs 1 time, only been stopped once, I they never said anything wrong with the way it was done. I will check with the office on Monday and see if I should be doing it differently.
Posted: 2 years, 3 months ago
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I may be wrong but would definitely have to fight them on it. We get done for the weekend and truck goes into sleeper berth but I go home. So no one is in the sleeper berth and what I do or where I sleep is none of the DOT's business as long as not doing anything illegal and even that has nothing to do with driving until you back in the truck and going on duty.
Posted: 2 years, 3 months ago
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Technically I do not know how you should have done it, but I would not worry about whether I was in sleeper berth or off duty for showering or any other off duty activity.
Posted: 2 years, 3 months ago
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I have got conflicting answers to a HOS question. When taking a 7/3 type split can I take the 3 hour first and 7 hours 2nd or does the 7 have to be first? As I understand I took a 3 hour rest/sleeper berth with about 2 1/2 hours left on my 11 and 3 on my 14, I then should be able to come back drive for up to those 2 1/2 hours and then go sleeper berth for at least 7 hours and be good to go again, Correct?
Thanks, Joe
Posted: 2 years, 3 months ago
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Wind especially when light. I always am careful opening the first door to not be behind it when opening a sealed load and do not know how it was loaded. Stuff can be leaning against door and want to fall out on you.
Posted: 2 years, 3 months ago
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Got rear ended. Liable Drivers Insurance not paying.
I do not understand what you want exactly. If you got paid for the truck and the trailer and any damaged load got taken care of the insurance should not cover what your contract would have paid you in the future. The insurance money should replace your truck and keep you going. If you are using this accident to try and get out of this business you are not going to have much luck with that and should not.
Posted: 2 years, 3 months ago
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$800-$1000 a week is right in the ballpark weekly before taxes and medical. As for being local if you have been in warehousing for 15 years talk to the drivers that come to your facility. The job you are looking for may be coming into your place every week already. It never hurts having contacts in any job hunt. I went to a private school to get my CDL because I needed no help with driving, I already had many years of semi driving experience just no CDL and I had the job lined up beforehand. If that were not the case the private school would be the wrong way from what I understand. A major company will want to put you through their training anyway and guarantee you a job when successfully completed with no out of pocket cost and pay you for the trouble of training you.
Posted: 2 years, 3 months ago
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If you are truly being held hostage and you have crossed state lines you should call the FBI.😊
Posted: 2 years, 3 months ago
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Best starter company for the most otr travel?
Some companies will state no New York or no Northeast or no California and many will pay more for travel in those areas. But most all the majors will take you everywhere their are loads to pickup and deliver. Once you have been around a while you can request from your dispatcher to goto areas you would like to go. Good luck.
Posted: 2 years, 3 months ago
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Is this something new or has it always been.
If he was using the window squeegee and water from by the pumps then it makes sense and you need to just relax and have some patience. If he was using his own cleaner fluid and towels then he should have moved ahead. In the long run that extra 10 minutes will not make enough difference in your life to get worked up about.
Posted: 2 years, 4 months ago
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Local driving/Rookie/hours/LADY TRUCKER
I do not know where you are located but I see a lot of younger women drive gravel trucks in the Twin Cities area. It is steady work year round and really good pay. First thing is taking care of the kid or kids you can always go OTR later if you want but driving sump trucks once you have been with a company for a while and get some seniority can be a pretty good gig.
Posted: 2 years, 4 months ago
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The website of the state you will be taking the test will have a downloadable study guide with the pre-trip. If you are at a truck stop in the area where they sell paper logs and other truck supplies the back of most paper logs have a pretty good pre trip checklist also.
Posted: 2 years, 4 months ago
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Forget the restrictions, my question to you is do you have experience in a manual, 13 speed or other? If so it will come back easily.
Posted: 2 years, 4 months ago
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What Exactly Is A High Performer?????
I would say a high performing driver is one that will not be late for a pickup or delivery, unless weather or breakdown occur, when it is physically possible to be on time. That is not always possible. I have had 1:00pm drops and 11:00am drops the same day, that does not work. When you have those the good drivers will get on the phone if needed to line things up to keep moving. Also most but not all accidents, even the ones that are not your fault can easily be avoided without causing you any delay just by smart driving. Also getting to know the people at the places where you pickup and deliver is very helpful and will get you in and out of a place quicker at times and always more pleasantly.
Posted: 2 years, 4 months ago
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Unless you are hauling light loads you will never get enough weight up front doing that and I will bet your single will turn circles inside what the tandem will do.
Posted: 2 years, 4 months ago
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Crst orientation for new drivers who got there licenses from a school
Most companies will pay for orientation as you have been hired at least provisionally by that point.
Posted: 2 years, 4 months ago
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I would sure talk to more than 1 person there including your "fleet manager" before going down the "I am going to sue them" road. I would hate to guess how that will turn out but would not bet on it being great but probably costly.
Posted: 2 years, 4 months ago
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I would not think where your CDL is from would matter to any carrier. So do not mess with trying to "fool" the DOT or your new employer. If they are not hiring from a certain area that mostly means they will not get you "home " there very easily as there is no manufacturing opportunities for them to get loads in and out. Florida is an area that has that problem as it is easy to find loads going there most times but very hard finding loads back out as the economy is more consumer than manufacturing driven.
Posted: 2 years, 4 months ago
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Told company’s insurance company would not insure me because of age 70
Just thinking out loud is it because you are of an age for full medicare and they do not want to overlap with that. If so ask about rider to cover what it does not. I am only guessing with 0 knowledge.
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Posted: 2 years, 3 months ago
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Sleeper berth question..
I am not trying to argue but your condescension is beyond anything I have encountered. I know I should not submit this because it will continue but I will this one time.