Comments By Bill A. Parking Lot

I've read that maintaining weight distribution between tandems and drive tires is tricky and a constant battle as you load and unload different vehicles, not to mention the high center of gravity .

That's about all I can offer !

I was reading about weights on line. Had not considered the high center of gravity, good point. They seem to be willing to put up two two months training into new drivers though. Thanks for your input. If anyone wants to know how things go I'll post from time to time, but don't want to ramble if other drivers are not interested. Going to jump into it with 110% and see how it pans out.

Well, I start Monday hauling cars. The money "sounds" good, starting at 23%, we will see. They felt I should only need a week or so of training based on my experience, but I made it clear that I would not go solo if I did not feel safe/capable. They seemed to be fine with that and said they would rather take 3-8 weeks if that was what was needed. ($2500/month training pay) If any one cares I'll keep positing about hauling cars, the pay difference, hours worked, etc. These people have three more new trucks coming, are in line with Oregon DOT, and look to be a solid company.

Hi, everybody

Thanks again to the kind folks who answered my previous truck driving questions. I really appreciate it. I've got a few more questions today and could really some explanation if somebody wouldn't mind.

For company drivers, what is the complete procedure that drivers typically undergo before embarking on each trip? From what I've seen on television shows, workers measure freight for length, width, etc., but are there other important steps/precautionary measures companies employ to prepare a truck before its journey? Also, are there typically fuel pumps at the companies where drivers work where one can fill his/her tank, or do people simply rely on roadside stations when they need to fill up?

Also, how often during a delivery do truck drivers have to pull into weigh stations? Is it just a one-time thing per trip or do drivers have to stop as they enter a different state or something?

Again, pardon my ignorance of this subject area. I'd be utterly grateful for any insight someone could provide.

As for trip preparation, duties vary depending on truck and trailer type. All drivers will inspect the rig and trailer for safety and reliability. You can go to any truck stop and buy a inspection log book which lists all the things they check on, and more experienced drivers will know the equipment they operate well enough to know if they have to check additional items. Dry van's are often locked or have a seal on them to ensure know one has tampered with food products, so a driver can't check for load shift, etc. That's not to say that I have not broken a seal if I hear a strange bang or boom. I also note the time and location of such events to ensure the receiver that it was me and not some form of tampering. They still have the right to refuse the load, but I feel the driver has a right to know what is going on with it as well. Only happened to me once. When hauling a flatbed trailer I will inspect the usual; tires, brakes, lights, etc. but also look for any loose items on the deck left by the loader and often find cups, bottles, and junk like that mostly on hot days. Even if its a plastic bottle with a little water in it and can't hurt a car behind you it could still scare the s**t out of someone and make them swerve and ... We also check all straps ensuring they are snug, in good condition and that their are enough for the weight being carried. Straps will be checked often through the trip to ensure they didn't loosen up as freight settles. If a driver fails to notice improper load placement the load can shift causing straps to become very loose and dangerous. The list goes on and gets even longer for car haulers, low-boys, reefers, and other equipment. Truckers have far more responsibility than the average person would ever consider, and if people knew the care and concern we put into these tasks they would respect the average trucker far more than they do now. I could go on and on to answer this question, but ya only get so much for free. LOL.

Can't tell you about all companies, but due to the costs related to installing and maintaining fuel tanks, regulatory requirements, possible additional employees and more it seems most companies fuel at truck stops. Larger companies negotiate deals for reduced prices based on volume purchased, etc.

Scales are a crap shoot. Much like a random drug test as best as I can tell. More often than not you will come across scales shortly after crossing a state line. (Port of entry) These are the scales that are often open 24/7. Many of them will used cameras to record your license plate number, some have "weigh in motion" scales so they know about what you weigh about 1/2 mile before you get to the scale, and some have a overhead camera recording the driver as he goes over the weigh in motion scale. The official can see if you look over-tired, tell if you are potentially overweight, get a plate number for use in case you don't pull in when required, etc. Often you will get a bypass signal prior to the scale exit, or a bypass on the exit ramp, take a designated 35 mph lane, and can get right back on the road without using the slow lane to be weighed. If you haul for a carrier with a bad safety score they will see that since they enter your DOT number and this can affect how often you get pulled in for inspections or to have driver log books reviewed. Many companies with good track record use electronic communications when approaching the scales and are bypassed and you can google that for more info. I've run from Portland OR. to Nogales AZ. and back without going over a scale, then from Portland to Seattle and back and get weighed 4 times. Volume of freight traffic will determine high traffic freight "lanes" and these will generally have more scales.

At 42, I have decided that truck driving is more likely to pay my bills than being a school custodian. (The first job that came along after an 1800 mile move) I would say that 95% of my employment history has been in male dominated fields, so that part does not bother me. I come from a family of truck drivers (both parents and both brothers) so I know the lifestyle, demands, disappointments, and rewards. WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE FOR CDL TRAINING? WHICH SCHOOLS SHOULD I AVOID? I LIVE A LITTLE WAYS FROM SPRINGFIELD, MO, AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHICH ONE IS BEST....

Are you in school yet? If so, hows it going. If not, do you still want help picking one?

Now I don't claim to understand you gals like a Dr. with a PHD in family psychology and with the new breed of men called "metrosexuals" I'm not even so sure I understand men any more! I do know a few basics I can pass on. First I know women are often stuck between a rock and a hard place. Many woman go to work every day and have taken on a new roll of being partial provider. You go to a work world of bottom line priorities and nurturing is not welcome in the work place in most cases. Yet after days, weeks, or months of being a worker bee as well as mom and holding down the fort at home your truck driving husband or boyfriend comes home and expects a certain amount of TLC. You've been in a mode of "git-er-done" and shifting gears to being spouse is very hard, and in many respects unfair. I may not have been driving my whole life, but I was in the Navy and spent 65-75 days at a time under water in a submarine. No calls home, no communication. Much like being on the road except a much higher divorce rate. We older guys come from a world where dad went off to work and mom took care of the home. We are often unprepared to deal with this modern world where the traditional rolls don't work and we never had an example of how to make it work. Our dads came home and de-stressed with sports, a man cave, or sitting behind a news paper. Wifes knew we guys understood and appreciated how critical their roll was and that if it were not for his wife he would not have a safe haven to decompress in. Men knew how to express gratitude for what his wife did and knew how critical it was to have a "safe haven" to come home to. Women did not need to go to a job where nurturing is not welcome. Women could place a priority on the full time, never ending, and very hard job of keeping a home a home. They would have friends to talk to or spend time with once in a while and they lived in a world were offering caring support was not only OK, but productive and necessary. Women use both parts of their brains at the same time so they can think and express themselves at the same time using both logic and feelings. Men use one side, logic, first. They often react at that point, and then review with the part that "feels". As they get more mature they learn to use the logic, then check in with the feelings, and then speak or react. New advances in science show this to be true. Non the less, you go into the work world and are forced to mimic how men think. How can you be expected to shift worlds back and forth? Men on the road don't get any practice and cant practice how to communicate with women because if he takes time to "check in" with his feelings about what he is experiencing rather that react with logic first he will run over that 6 year old kid that just darted out in front of his 79,000 pound rig. Now things are all mixed up. Women need to work because a one income household seems necessary just to make ends meet. Women are forced to disconnect with their nurturing side to compete in the work world and men have to accept the negative feelings they have about themselves for not being able to be the sole provider. No wonder the divorce rate is so high! We are all being shifted into new rolls that our parents didn't have to deal with, so we didn't see examples of how too live as we do. We saw examples of how to live like generations before us did. Times have changed faster than we could and todays men and women are playing catch-up. We need to catch up and figure it out so we can set the new example for our children. Any thoughts?

I've read that maintaining weight distribution between tandems and drive tires is tricky and a constant battle as you load and unload different vehicles, not to mention the high center of gravity .

That's about all I can offer !

I was reading about weights on line. Had not considered the high center of gravity, good point. They seem to be willing to put up two two months training into new drivers though. Thanks for your input. If anyone wants to know how things go I'll post from time to time, but don't want to ramble if other drivers are not interested. Going to jump into it with 110% and see how it pans out.

I've gotta tell ya - I don't really know the first thing about it other than talking to guys that have done it over the years. I never heard anything I thought would discourage me from doing it. Like any job it has its good and bad. The pay I've always heard was good. The bad was typical stuff like the ramps get slick in the winter, you have load and unload the cars yourself (I don't know if all companies require this or not), and little things like that.

I'd say see if you can speak in person with a few of their drivers. Maybe go to a terminal or a fuel stop they use and get a few opinions. I don't know of anyone here at TruckingTruth that mentioned hauling cars before so you might not find out a lot here. But talking to their drivers in person would surely be what I would set out to do if I was in your position. I'd want to find out all I could directly from the people doing it.

Yep, I plan to go to Jubitz in Portland to ask around. Thanks!

Thanks guys trying to strat a new job worked construction for 35 years got laid off ben out of work over ayear.had to cash in stock for school and to pay bills.i hope being out ove work for solong wont hirt me.I had know truble in school . I used to pull trailers all over when i worked doing poured foundations and concrete .I have ben doing some side work just ot get out of the house.I live around the ALBANY NY area so weather plays hell with construction. The last co I worked for i was there for 7years no ins or benifits no retirement.SO i left at least you can drive in the rain,snow,cold,ect.

If I were you I'd also take advantage of the training resources on this site to brush up when you get back into the driving job hunt. Sure can't hurt.

Was about to pull the trigger with Knight Trucking and got a call from a local car hauler. Good company, sound financials, and been around for a while. Pay is crazy good for a driver only on the road for 2 1/2 years. (23%) I want to do this right, safe, and long term. Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated! Bill

Oops ya better ask on that 10800 bud that should be in a month and even so ya should still make it.bc knight only require 2500 per truck a week.

Hey, thanks for confirming Knights good rep. Some one who eats truck stop food in mass would probably cry about the physical. I'm 52, don't "work out" except working hard for a living, and eat right and can run circles around most 30 somethings. Crazy Rebel is right too. I ran through NV lots going from OR to AZ and did the back roads, 70 MPH Legal! I ran night time for the most part. Had nothing to hide from the scale inspector, but why waste time stopping when I can run hard while they are closed and they were usually closed at night. A 600 mile day was common and easy to do. I'll bet if you and your DM set your goal to reach your miles and they can count on you from time to time helping in a pinch, you'll get miles you need without giving up too much HT. You sound smart and reasonable so you already know this I'll bet. I did not burn any bridges with Knight, but got a last second offer to haul cars for big bucks and good home time so I'm taking it. Still keeping in touch with my recruiter, he's a good guy, just in case.

No DUIs or OUWIL or any thing yeah im trying to get some pre hires to findout if going to school would be viable in Michigan there are michigan works offices that will pay for your trucking school but was hoping to get into a Company sponsored training program with Prime but they denied me because i was fired from my last job. your site is a great source of info keep it coming.

Hi,

I also want to encourage you to do the state paid training. Just my opinion but a company sponsored school will some how include a obligation to them. Minimum term of employment to pay them back or payback in lump sum if you move on, or other things. I looked into Knight Transport, and with TONS of great advice from this site learned they are a good outfit. If your situation dictates that you make money while training check out Knight using this web site. Great program and reasonable pay for a trainee. Keep using trucking truth for your info and be suspicious of any third party advice, (I got a buddy who...). Not going with Knight myself, last min. unique offer came in and I'm taking it, but keeping my relationship with the recruiter I was dealing with because he was a good guy and I can trust him. Success will be through hard work and knowing how bad you want something. If you want this, roll up your sleeves and get to work! You'll get it. Best of luck, Bill