Profile For Joseph I.

While I know this site really pushes the company sponsored training, there are a lot of good well qualified schools out there for drivers. Just remember there are disreputable people and companies in all walks of life. I went to a program I paid for but with a company I knew to be reputable and I also knew the owners of the company and had my work lined up before hand. I would venture to guess more drivers get there CDL in ways other than company sponsored far more than the other way around.

From your side just bad timing. From your dispatchers side she can see you were in SB I believe so if it was important they probably should have followed up with a call if you did not respond to the message, I assume you are suppose to let them know you received the message.

I find so far for me, which is not very long, that in times like that my dispatchers sends me knowing I will have better luck getting unloaded than they will dealing with it on the phone. I have had very good luck working with end handlers but most I have been to a couple times and always worked well with them.

I remember in my first week I had a delivery to make in South Dakota and when I pulled in to the lot the driver near me was complaining he had been there for 3 hours already and was only half unloaded and the unloader took his lunch break so he was left sitting. The guy who came to unload me started my load and I helped with a couple things and we visited about the job and he said it was his break but he would get it unloaded first. As far as I know the guy who was complaining may still be sitting there.

Do you ever use stakes in the side rails to help with sliding or is not done on trailers. On our 5th wheel trailer I made some stakes that will set in the side holes without falling through that are easily removable and stored when hauling things on it. Do not know if it is what the DOT is looking for but it worked for me.

The easiest way is to basically open your own business as a maintenance shop. Doing a little work on the side and then being able to bill out your own work. You will gain more deductions that way but I believe your business will need to be able to show a profit for it to work with the IRS. You will have to remember that if you are wanting a deduction with the IRS the money has to go somewhere so you will have to show a profit somewhere else so money wise if you are only working on your own truck it is a wash ( not worth doing ).

If what you say is true I assume you were making good money. If that is true and you lost your license for unpaid ticket that would show a great lack of responsibility in my opinion. Before even looking into a CDL go to your DMV and get your drivers license cleared up first if you want to drive. If you are looking for another heavy equipment job that does not require a license then go that route but still clear up the license issue anyway.

I do not listen to music much and drive through areas with very poor radio choices. I listen to a lot of podcasts. Some old time radio some sports and lots of science and tech. Anyone have any favorites especially trucking industry related one I might check out?

Do not know your location but you should not offer to work for free. I do not believe that would be feasible for you or the employer. Look into garbage trucks or local cement or gravel trucks, not a bad place to start and very good money.

The CDL and all the endorsements are good nationwide and I believe without being sure also Canada and Mexico. As to what a job in the oilfields will require beyond that for experience you need to check with individual employers. I am sure it is different for many.

KJ you realize in acknowledging it was your fault you just blamed your training, your trainer, the GPS and your companies policy for following the GPS. Until you realize none of those things contributed or caused your accident you are probably much better off not in a truck.

That is to bad but I would say what happened and the way you described it is not how any trucking company would want you to drive not just "Roehl". Stopping and hitting the flashers before getting into an intersection that was "blind" would have been far better for you and your truck. I was in downtown San Antonio 2 weeks ago and making a right turn where a car coming from my right made me turn shorter than I intended, if I had continued the turn I would be replacing a stop light, I stopped hit the flashers and waited for the cars to clear to make the turn after backing up half a truck length. Some comes with a combination of experience and patience. I have only been OTR for less than 6 months but I know the main goal is getting the load delivered to destination safely with no damage to cargo 1st and 2nd on time. In my opinion.

I have been inundated with ads and glowing reviews about this Hot Logic Mini for use in the truck. I do not currently have anything to cook or reheat with in the truck. I have never cared for microwaves but am not opposed to them but this product sounds like it would be nice if it really works as it says. I am not opposed to paying $40 to find out if it is any good or not (have spent more money on worse things) but just curious about anyone who has actually used one. Thanks.

I do not know who it will matter to but asking via a phone call cannot hurt, the worst anyone can do is say no. More info on the accident will probably be required by employer but there are a lot of drivers out there who have had accidents in the past.

I went private because I had a job lined up and just needed the CDL no extra training to start with them. If he does not have a job ready then I would do as they say on this site and find a place agreeable with you two and willing to put you thru school and pay for it with a job waiting and a years commitment to make the training free. Then after a year or 2 of solid driving experience you can either stay with the same company or consider a move. Good luck.

Night works great if you like it and it works with deliveries and pickups. I had to come North from Laredo to Iowa last week and hit San Antonio, Austin and Dallas all before morning, I would say it saved at least 90 minutes over day time probably more. I like to listen to local AM station when nearing big city that gives good traffic reports as I am driving. It has saved me more than once when deciding witch route to take, either through or around city.

I had a new fridge from the place I work in mine but it would trip the inverter some times and we could not figure if it was a frig or inverter issue, plus unless I blocked the door it would come open sometimes with pop rolling on the inside. So I bought a big igloo 12 volt that will hold 1/2 gallon milk lunch meat or meals in Tupperware plus a 6 pack of pop at the same time and it sits between seats in truck and do not believe I would go back to frig even if they solved the electric problem.

Backing was always easy for me, but I came from 30 years of farming. So actually 30 years of backing all kinds of equipment much harder than a semi. The best I can tell you if you are on the road it may look silly but during your 30 minute break or when you take your 10 try to do it at times when the truck stop is less busy and practice all types of backing. I see a lot of guys who have driven a long time out here who can not back worth a darn. So take your time and use your mirrors. I find especially on blind side backs the mirror button so you can reposition the mirror helps a lot, swing it out so you can see the back of the trailer. If you are unsure always get out and look. Before backing in look things over usually one way is better and easier than the other. Good luck.

I deliver a lot to Menards so have the whole store to wander or find a comfortable chair in the lawn and garden. One place I pick up in St. Paul has TV, Microwave, clean restroom, use of a phone for business and descent supply of reading material. It is also shared with employees during their lunch break so not specifically a drivers lounge.

I drive for a smaller company, less than 30 trucks, and they run all less than 2 year old Cascadia's, except for a few older trucks the feed truck guys use. Owner says to keep and hire drivers most companies will be running the newer equipment with all the bells.

I would say to give it a chance as it will not be efficient for you are them to keep flipping you from night to day especially in the same week. You still need your 10 hour breaks and if you switch from day to night that will normally mean more down time. That being said I had to go from MN to Laredo TX last week and drove days down there so I could make my drop and pickup, I had a long wait getting loaded so stayed till evening to get a 10 hour break in and drove back, my choice, at night. It was great getting through San Antonio and Dallas before daybreak and the next night hitting KC at about 2:00 AM I never even had to take the cruise of or slow the whole way through the city.