Profile For Thomas C. (aka Ghost)

LA is not a part of CA. We Californians do not associate ourselves with such a crappy city.

LA is a completely different territory. They out to make a wall around it and sell it back to Mexico.

Truer words never spoken. I'm from Bako and from what I can tell the rest of Cali doesn't want LA.

Happy New Year!!

When you get to Prime, even as a company driver you are allowed 2 hrs a day for off duty driving. You will find out the restrictions as to how you can/can not use them.

Ernie

That's good to know. I spent the New Year at my current job getting double time and a half. Woot!

Enjoy your home time! Thanks again for all the info. One week till I head down to Springfield!

Congratulations man! I never had to go through my wives father. Mater of fact my mother in law offered me a place to live when my relationship with my own family was not going well. Wired huh?

Welcome Bill !!! You are our very FIRST parking lot !!!!! I've heard such horror stories about hauling cars...So I'm glad you came here, so we can get it from someone who knows !!!! Fell free to post about your experiences and the learning curve...

Although this company is a solid one, they did put me solo a bit too fast. With the holidays and all I think they were short handed and sent me out with only three days training. Understand though that I'm also a heavy equipment operator and learned the hydraulic system rather fast. My issue was that I put two Toyota Vans, 2013's, too close. One facing forward on the top over my drive's and one backed on at the front top position of the trailer. (Loading cars/vans/trucks/suvs is like doing puzzles to make height, length, and weight.) These things are long and I already knew I was not going to get as many on as they wanted. Two vans were close to each other making my turn radius very tight but felt I could just be extra cautious. Well, my first drop had a detour about 1 mile from the lot and it included a jack knife turn. Long story short I put a basket ball size dent in one van, busted three tail light lens covers between the two vans, and shattered the rear window of one van. Called my boss right away to let him know so he could start damage control with the client and he just said, "Look Bill, we stuck you in the truck with only 3 days training. We told you you would get from two weeks up to two months! Don't even worry about it!" When I got back he teamed me up for a day with a guy who's been hauling cars for 15 years and was picking up full size trucks. Long and tall! This guy made loading look easy! I learned a ton of good stuff from him and expect to be dispatched out this AM with a full load. Then the boss gave me a cool, stainless steel company coffee cup. (Already got a jacket worth about $150 bucks and lined sweat shirt worth about $50) Feel very lucky to have found these guys!

Wow! If only all companies handled their business this well! Who are ya hauling for if you don't mind my asking? I always thought this would be an interesting sector of the trucking industry. I would be interested in the enclosed vehicle haulers as well.

Congratulations on the new employment. Hope to run into ya someday!

Wow Tracey.

Very strong story. It stirs up a lot of emotions in myself as it causes me to reflect on my on life and the lives of those that are near and dear to me. Although I may not personally suffer from a drug or alcohol adiction, about 80% of my family on both sides suffer from some form of addiction. Tracy you are a blessing to this community. Not only as a member but as a steward of wisdom, precedent, and recovery.

God bless and Merry Christmas!

Now I think it would be best if I reached out again to some of my family that is currently struggling at remind them that they are never alone.

If it was safe to mount my busa on the catwalk I would try and figure that out. But that long 700+ pound bike would definatly be a hassle. I was looking at folding bikes myself. My standard bike was stolen out of my shed a few years ago and I have never picked anouther one up since my wife hates bicycles. How much room is in this storage area?

Guess I just got my question ansered as to where you were going by reading this thread. I will be joining Prime for schooling and training officially on the 7th. I just hope my instructor and trainer are as cool and patient as Ernie and yourself.

I would have done the same thing as well. The two smells that turn my stomach fish(which I am allergic to) and smoke which I personally abhor. So when is your start date at Prime? Perhaps I will run into you there. You are going to Prime correct?

Congratulations! Enjoy yourself out there!

Yeah...I should really change my pic...since I hate my Harley, and I"m gonna sell it and build a custom trike...It gonna be cool, but it sounds really weird...a trike out of a subaru !!! So I'll haveta chase down a pic...and then send it to Brett...cuz I'm electronically challenged...and don't know how to do that stuff...and I'm Irish...and I don't wanna learn

That could be cool. Subaru boxer engine rather than a VW? What is the doner car?

Your a WOMAN!?!

Just kidding! I figured it out reading some of the old posts when I first showed up here!

Fortunately those two posts made me giggle like a little kid that discovered the word "poop".

Congratulations! Sounds like everything is heading in a good direction for you! I can't wait to read about your first solo adventures!

Congratulations friend! I can't wait to see the follow up on the next phase of your career!

Merry Christmas all!!! And a safe New Year!

Fingers crossed for ya!

Hey all,

Just a quick update. Going to be starting my career with Prime. I start orientation on the 7th of Jan. I'll try to keep things updated. Right now I don't have a laptop but I hope to remedy that prior to hitting the road. Looking forward to seeing the open spaces out there! Stay safe everyone!

Congratulations Mike!