Comments By Wild-Bill

PJ were you in the infamous class that celebrated graduation a little too hard and almost all got sent home? They still talk about that in GYCDL.

Looks like you’re at the I-80 truck stop. I’m heading through Davenport in the morning on the way to Muscatine. And chance we’ll cross paths?

I’m glad you mentioned that Bobcat. I was reading this and the swift post and wondering when he was going to mention that he drove trucks in the army for seven years...

I’m really not trying to offend anyone but, I’d like to make a heartfelt plea that we stick with trucking truth and try to stay away from COVID opinions. I get it, there are strong feelings on both sides of the topic. Every time the topic is mentioned the conversation turns into a big echo chamber of noise back and forth and usually results in a whole bunch of finger pointing about who does and doesn’t get it.

You folks are experts on the trucking industry and I come here to get an edge on my career, and I value that advice. I also think my doctor is very good at what he does, but I wouldn’t think about asking him for advice on my trucking career. Just like I wouldn’t ask my mechanic for political advice.

If you read JRod’s original post it was a simple plea to wear a damn mask. There was absolutely nothing political about his original post though many read it as political because somehow dealing with a global pandemic has become a hot button political issue for both sides of the spectrum.

There are many things that are assaults on our personal liberties that people just take for granted. I personally think seatbelt laws are an assault on my personal liberties, but it’s the law and my company requires it. I think pants are uncomfortable and legally, I can walk around in my tighty whiteys without violating any public indecency laws, but most places have a no shirt no shoes no service policy and it’s just common decency to wear clothes. So, guess what, I buckle up my seatbelt, put on clothes and wear the damn mask because that’s what the companies I frequent ask me to do, even though I don’t want to do any of those things. Call me sheep if you want, but to get along in society (or a career) sometimes you need to do things you do t want to do.

I don’t recall ever seeing someone get into an argument at a store or restaurant about shoes or shirts being an attack on their liberties. Or arguing with a cop over seat belt use. Maybe I’m just not shopping at the right places.

Alright I started with a plea for restraint, and then couldn’t restrain myself. See how hard it is. Again, I’d like to see if we can call a moratorium on COVID responses going forward right after open season for anyone who wants to beat me up for my rant.

Yes, correct I already have a delivery appt and it was already a tight timeframe without the delay. I’ve been getting some pretty tight runs lately which is good.

I finally got loaded 4 hours later. I talked to the shipper and since they don’t have any more deliveries or shipments they agreed to let me finish out my break in the alley next to the building. So 6 hours of sleep and I can get rolling at 3:00 am tomorrow. That’ll give me enough time to run the remaining miles in the morning before my appointment.

Sometimes a little negotiating, some creative planning and a little luck can get the job done too.

Thanks for the speedy replies

Unfortunately can’t sleep at the shipper, I had thought about that as a possible solution. Should have mentioned it

I’ve only been here 2 hours it will probably only take another hour or so. So, not gonna be able to get 8 out of it.

I had a similar concern about trusting my recruiter starting out. I can tell you that everything she told me was accurate and what she told me would happen did. Everything From rate of pay, miles and even a need for time off for a preplaned vacation all came to pass just as I was told.

Recruiters are not in the business of telling fairytales

I have a dilemma, I’m trying to work through How I can make this load work.

Here’s my situation - I have a 714 mile run starting at 17:00 on 7/22 in Hillsboro, WI (about an hour NW of Madison) and ending in LaVergne TN (just S of Nashville) with a 6:00 appt on 7/24 I thought I could get a couple hundred miles done tonight and Get to the cons late on 7/23 for a morning appointment. However, the shipper is running late it’s now 18:30 CDT and I’m not in a door yet.

So, I have 3 hours left on my 14 and 5:40 left on my 11. Once I get loaded I’ll probable have an hour or less left to drive today. Is there someone out there smarter than me (not hard to do) That can help me figure out if it’s still possible to get there on time? I’m sure I can get 620 or more miles in tomorrow. Just not sure how to fit in the other 100 miles before 6:00. If I wind out my clock today and tomorrow I’ll be parked at 9:00 (ish) EDT and won’t be able to roll till 7:15 and still have the better part of two hours still to drive.

I’m not well versed on the 8/2 split can that help me here? Any other ideas?

Both of those are ugly, packrats is just just devious. I’m gonna need a Boy Scout troupe worth of spotters, a pack mule, laser level, and two rolls of duct tape before I can even start. Seriously, who designs those things. Did you have to pull into the street to set up for a straight line past the parked trucks and oddest on the blind side for the dock? Or is there enough room to swing around in front of auto parts store?

I’m sure there are a ton of good van companies out there. Swift, Prime, Roehl all come to mind. Use the application on this sight and you’ll have plenty of opportunities. The companies will be what you make of them. We have drivers from about every company out there on this site and they’ll all tell you how great their company is.

Roehl has a decent van fleet. I think the top end pay is .525CPM. It looks like we hire from Northern Florida. The van drivers are mostly drop and hook and they keep them moving. I have a friend in van division and he loves it. Also, refer pays a bit more (top end is .585 CPM). But refer is mostly east of I-35 for us. So, if you want to see the west, might not be for you.

If you decide to go that route please let me know so I can pick up a recruiting bonus (not sure if that’s allowed here)