Profile For Delco Dave

I actually had a driver on anther shuttle route say to me; Bro you need to take it down a notch down, you’re making the rest of us look bad

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I encountered this same scenario after working for years non union then joining the union in the building trades! My work ethic is what it is and I like to stay busy and produce results. I was getting things done 2-3 times faster then pretty much anyone else and longtime guys were not very happy with me. But when things got slow, guess who taken care of and never got laid off. When new jobs were starting, guess who’s name was on all the foreman's crew request list.

Unions do breed a level of laziness and a theres always tomorrow attitude in some people. But, there are still many motivated, hard working people who do deserve the higher pay and perks a union gig has to offer. Its unfortunate that the union makes it hard to weed out the slackers

Either going to apply for YRC/Yellow training program or go to local Community college CDL school and apply to ABF 1st, and whoever else if they dont hire me. I’ll even go food delivery for Sysco or performance foods if necessary. Worked labor trades my whole life, not afraid to unload truck. Unfortunately, OTR is a last resort for me, wife doesnt want to hear anything about OTR or mega carrier OTR training.

Been holding off on starting a thread or training diary until I’m actually hired or started school

Hey Two Sides, I’m in the Philly area as well. I applied for ABF’s driver development program at the Aston/Chester location. Even though there are multiple driver positions open, they are not currently training in house. Union rep said get CDL and apply again

The ABF location I applied to did not hire me for training. They are very short on drivers and are looking for people already holding a CDL. I’m going to either apply for YRC/Yellow’s training program or go to my local Community college CDL program and apply to ABF again with a CDL after the holiday’s.

Don’t want to stress the family out and put them on the back burner by being focused on training during the holiday’s. I’m currently making decent money working for a property management company fixing up rental properties. They know I plan to get my CDL and are willing to be flexible with me taking half days/days off to get DOT physical, permit, hazmat background etc… when the time comes. They are hurting for workers like most employers and are happy to have me for as long as I can give them

Thanks Anne!!! I mentioned it once before in Real Diels Cowan thread. Held off on starting a thread since I’m still waiting for an interview and dont want to jinx it!!

The way my luck has gone the last 2 years I didnt want to jump the gun. Was supposed to go to training in April 2020, covid screwed that up so I took the temp job delivering for Amazon. Tore a ligament in foot working there which led to surgery. Finished up physical therapy in September and started working full time for a property management co rehabbing rentals and running Doordash here and there for some extra $$$.

I know its not recommended here but I’m trying to get on with ABF or another local co that offers training to be around for wife and kiddies. I think my 25+ years of towing and backing landscape trailers will make going local as a rookie not as big a risk as someone who has little to no experience maneuvering a trailer prior to training

Well, once the suspension is more than 5 years old it will no longer be something that shows up because companies don't go back that far on MVR.

When I pulled my own MVR from the state it was the same price for 5 yrs, 10yrs or lifetime so I pulled the lifetime. Thats how I know the underage drinking suspensions are on there.

Then… Found out they show up as summary offenses on the background check when I applied to drive for Doordash and Uber eats.

Luckily they are so old that they shouldn’t prevent me from being hired. Currently waiting to hear back from ABF Freight, recruiters and HR already reviewed and approved my application. I’m in the potential interview phase waiting for hiring managers decision. I applied for their driver development program

Hey Old School!!! I had a few underage drinking charges 25+ years ago as a teen that resulted in license suspensions. They do show up on my MVR because the license was suspended as a penalty even though I had not yet taken my permit or driving exam. They also show up on a background check as a summary offense, including the under 18 ones.

In PA an underage drinking charge carries a 3 month suspension for 1st offense, 1 year for 2nd, 2 years for 3rd and every other after.

I dont think the pay is too much of a factor with the driver shortage, the pay is actually really good once you figure out the job. I think the bigger problem keeping a lot of potentially good drivers/employees out of the business is the time away from home. Way more people would be entering the trucking workforce if they could be home every week. Maybe somewhere down the line these OTR companies will come up with a regional swap system similar to linehaul to move a nice chunk of their freight which would allow people to get home regularly. Of course true OTR would still be there for people who want to run for weeks on end

I agree moving the cones is right thing to do but…. If the light turns red while you are moving them and turns green for the cross traffic aren't you then at fault for obstructing traffic if someone slams into you???

With the way so many people drive around playing with their phones and not paying attention these days, sacrificing a few cones may be safer for all depending on where you are and how busy the roads are.

$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.