Profile For Delco Dave

Wish I could take my boys out for a day on a flatbed run, they would love it. ABF has a strict no rider policy, we don’t even have passenger seats in most tractors.

Every terminal does have one tractor with both seats for training purposes and rescues

I was on the midnight shift for 7 months, just switched back to days last week. Like you, the melatonin did jack squat for me trying to go to bed at noon-1pm. I ran on a couple hr nap each day for the 1st week. My body started to adjust somewhat the 2nd week out of exhaustion I suppose.

Took me close to a month to really get used to being a vampire. Got some black out curtains for the bed room week 3, they definitely made a difference.

I run local P&D for ABF Freight, mostly the Flatbed. We don’t have a safety based bonus system so the features built into the trucks and Samsara don’t affect us financially. What they are, is annoying. Luckily I run an older tractor, 2016 Mack Pinnacle, which only has the lane departure and adaptive cruise.

The lane departure is the worst. Many of my stops are residential which require me to travel small, tight roads. Some are so small my tractor is riding both the center and shoulder line causing the sensors to go nuts for miles. It also picks up tar strips on the highway all the time when I’m centered in the lane.

The low bridge and restricted road warnings from the Samsara can also be a bit frustrating. While they are good features for obvious reasons, I know where I’m going and where I need to get to. Often the only way into a neighborhood for a delivery is on a truck restricted road and the device yells at me every 20 seconds all the way in. I also know where the bridges are from my trip plan. Depending on what my load is, I’m often 13’4” or less which allows me to pass under the listed clearance.

I have driven some of the newer tractors that are loaded with all the features. Don’t like the auto braking for collisions either. Have had it pickup overhead signs on inclines and objects on curves. Feel its more liable to cause and accident rather then prevent one.

Just have him apply everywhere and see who bites. Most community colleges have a job assistance program to help find their students a job

His best chance for a home daily gig might be food service. They seem to be the most willing to hire rookies due to many drivers not wanting to do the labor. Check for companies like Sysco, PFG, UNFI, McLane, ETC… in your area. Many of them use 2 drivers on a run for heavy routes which could serve as a training period. Food service is a lot of manual labor so he’s gonna have to be in decent shape. He could also possibly land a line haul spot but he will need a doubles/triples endorsement.

P&D is still pretty slow at the moment and wont pick up till spring depending on how the economy is doing. P&D for a new driver is tough, you are backing that trailer 10-15 times a day into some pretty tough spots.

If you're pre-diabetic then my guess would be you're not on any medications at this point. If this is the case, great. No worries.

Correct.. No meds at this time other then a low dose of Crestor for cholesterol. Last test my sugars were at 5.5, they have been right there in that range the last 5 years since the Doc started checking. Cutting out most of the sugar should hold the number right there or lower it. We’ll see how it goes next summer

I’ve never been what I consider overweight despite what the BMI scale says. I’m 6’3, 220-30 lbs and have been since I was 20. Almost 50 now.

I have been on a low carb/sugar diet since I got my CDL almost 3 years ago. I recently took it a step further after following this thread.

Before this conversation I was eating what I thought was healthy. Apple/Cinnamon instant oatmeal for breakfast. Meat( Beef, poultry, pork) and veggies for dinner. Snack on zero sugar beef sticks and cheese, pistachios, cashews, almonds throughout the day rather then a lunch. Pork rinds when getting the urge for chips. Apple with peanut butter and grapes as my sweet treat. Maybe a couple iced oatmeal cookies.

I have cut out the oatmeal, veggies and few cookies the last three weeks and have lost 8lbs and noticed a jump in energy levels. Feel generally stronger moving freight around on the dock. Also… Not as sore after a rough dock shift, my body seems to recover faster.

I am sold on this diet and will continue on it for life. Hoping my pre diabetic sugar levels will go down at my yearly bloodwork next August due to this diet as well.

Thanks for bringing this diet to light.

ABF also offers storage of the trailer until your ready for delivery. Sure Upack can give you the rates

I work for ABF Freight, we do this all the time!!! Contact your local ABF terminal, go online, or call the number below. We will drop a Pup trailer or 2 if needed at your house with a ramp and a bulkhead. You load it, we come back, pick it up and and ship to new house

Congratulations on your award!! I can get some pics of our gear to help with the tutorial.

I don’t pull doubles as often as I used to since I’ve taken over the flatbed run at my terminal. I do still run sets a few times a month to Amazon, Walmart and Target DC’s on the lighter flatbed days. We call the dolly’s gear, not sure who made our older ones, new ones are made by Hyundai. Older ones have the pet**** air valves, newer ones have the push button brake release.

I’ve noticed that the dolly’s are slightly different from company to company. For example, the UPS pups pintle hook looks to be lower on the trailer closer to the ICB bar where ours is right under the floor. Great idea to have a doubles thread to help new peeps understand the equipment and process

Yes, more info would help like why they can’t return. Breakdown, weather, delayed at shipper/receiver. If the reason is out of their control, yes, they should be compensated.

I work for ABF, we are paid hourly as well. If we break down or can’t drive due to bad weather, we are put up in a hotel and are paid the entire time until we return and clock out at our home terminal. It would be rare to never that the city drivers would have this happen but our terminal line-haul guys could get stuck at the DC in Carlisle where this policy would go into effect.