Profile For Delco Dave

$12,500 for school?! WOW

Yup, depending on where you go. I looked into Allstate career school here in South East PA before covid. Was $12,000, 6 month course. Choice of either weekday or weekend classes. My local Community College is 4 weeks. $5300, physical, drug screen and permit fees included.

I applied for company training and am currently waiting to hear back from ABF Freight. I’m sure there will be a contract in exchange for their training program as well. If accepted, I will honor said contract and fulfill my end of the bargain

Mirrors - While I always used the rear view quite often, now I used those frequent checks to utilize the side mirrors.

I rarely use my rear view out of habit due to my prior work experience. Been driving stake bodies, light dumps and pulling trailers full of materials or equipment for years, nothing to see in that mirror if the truck even had one.

Good way to really get used to using side mirrors all the time is to flip up your rear view mirror so there is nothing to look at and your forced to use sides

Technically he can't as the constitution forbids it, but he will try

The constitution forbids a lot of what they have done during this covid fiasco. Problem is “we the people” are allowing them to do these things out of fear. A handful of doctors said that we had shut everything down, shelter in place and do this and that for public safety. 70% of the population didn't even question it, they just laid down and did what they were told.

Here we are, 18 months later and none of it has done anything to stop the virus or even remotely control it. Vaccinated people are still getting it anyway.

I got myself in the IRS hole years ago with my landscaping business, think my 2nd or 3rd year. Learned yhe hard way like Old School was saying. If your buddy has been in good standing with the IRS up to this point and doesn’t owe more then 1 year, they may grant him a one time abatement for the penalties and interest. He will still have to pay all the actual taxes owed. They are usually willing to work out a payment plan as long as your respectful and calm when talking to them, cop an attitude and they will seize your bank accounts and put a lien on everything you own.

Also, if a payment plan is granted, pay what you agreed to or more each month and don’t miss a payment or be late

Just curious! Since it’s an hourly gig, do you get OT after 40 hours?? I know A. Duie Pyle pays OT after 45 hrs, was just wondering if the other local/regional companies like Cowan, Ward, R&L, NFI, etc…. Have a similar pay format.

Dont worry about the direct deposit, even if they hand you a paper check on Friday, you’re still paid. Most bank apps have a feature where you sign the paper check, take a picture of both sides, then submit it for deposit into your account of choice so you dont have to go to the bank

Not sure how to insert the link to page but this is the topic Errol talks about delivering new trucks. Enter it in the search bar above and it will take you to the discussion

Truck Delivery Driveaway

Check with your local Community College. Many of them have CDL A training programs and are still training on manuals. My local CC also offers a short program just for A drivers looking to remove the Auto restriction.

When I sit at a shipper for 4 hours waiting to get loaded, I have at least three choices: on-duty picking up, off-duty break, off-duty sleeper, but regardless of what I select, I will still be 4 hrs of my 14 short after that, no?

From my understanding of the HOS rules… Yes, you will still lose those 4 hrs for the 14 hr day clock but…. Going off duty or in sleeper preserves those 4 hrs on your 70. If you have to do that 3 times in a week, you would get another 12 hr day on day 6 allowing you to rack up more miles. Unless you are actually loading the truck or are required to supervise it, why be on duty during that time?

Old School says….

I never spend more than 20 minutes or so in the "on duty" status

Figure those 20 minute increments are pre/post trip inspection, fueling and 5-10 minute paperwork exchanges. Other then that, all on duty is driving

Walmart contracts some of the major carriers for their regional routes. They run 5 to 5-1/2 days then home for a reset. Checkinto what company is helping out the Walmart fleet In your area if you have a distribution center relatively close to you. I know for sure Swift runs out of the one closest to me in PA, J B Hunt may help out as well

So sorry for your loss.

Andrey. Make sure you put away money and pay your taxes every quarter and on time, not doing so will result in penalties and interest. Divide every paycheck by 3 and put at least that much away. That 1/3rd should cover your federal and State tax.

Quarterly due dates for Fed and State are April 15, June 15, September 15 and January 15. Below is the percentage table for Federal taxes. Check with your home state for their percentage

Congratulations!!!!

I have compiled a handful of useful screenshots of reference material from right here on TT like the 5th wheel/Tandem slide chart. Below are wind shutdown chart, APU weight exemption and a time zone map for trip planning

Sorry, picture didnt load last post

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I didnt mean on a possibly busy roadway. Was thinking along the lines of what Joseph L posted. Where you have the room to pull in or reverse in somewhere and safely turn yourself around

Question for you all! I understand true U turns are not permitted. Is a 3 point turn considered a U turn or is that an acceptable procedure to get out of a jam and turn truck around?

Check google maps, they usually show closures for construction projects. Picture below is example of Broad street ramp to I 95 south in Philly.

A lot of road work could have been done during the whole covid shutdown and reduced traffic last year. Not really surprised the States DOT didnt take advantage of it and hit these projects hard, cause thats government for ya! They were all worried about spreading the virus but road work is one of the easier jobs to social distance your crews

For example, they closed a busy on ramp to 95 from Broad St. in Philly down by the stadium complex for work after fans were permitted to return to games, really??? The traffic is horrible down there when that ramp is open

While I admire your drive to get your endorsements - getting your hazmat certification is a little different from the other tests. You MUST be cleared by the TSA first. Most states will let you apply online:

Some states require the clearance 1st, others after Hazmat test is passed. Here in PA, you need to past the test 1st, then submit paperwork and fingerprints for background check. Applications must be done in person, no online registration. Penndot website says since TWIC and Hazmat clearance are both done by TSA, once you have one, the other can be attained at a reduced cost