Comments By Phil C.

Bailing wire them its a good temp fix

I use the jake brake on low when climbing and shifting, it drops the rpm fast so you can shift sooner rather than wait for the engine to spool down normally. Phil

WHOA, DUTCH!!

When you mentioned "medical card", I realized that mine was in a box of old paperwork that I had removed from the truck! Fortunately, I am home today, and the card it now in my purse.

You may have saved my butt big time! THANKS!!

"As of January 30, 2015, Class A, B, or C commercial drivers which certify as “non-exempted interstate” drivers are no longer required to carry their Medical Examiner Certificate in their possession."

I remember a recent post where people were defending the "9 is fine 10 your mine" supposed buffer. My response was...there is no buffer. People above claiming its all about the money are mistaken. Its about safety. It probably costs the town money to write low violation speeding tickets. Most fines for speeding 1-10 the ticket is $30 bucks. However, if you fight it and go to court you could add $188.00. Add to that the cost your insurance will go up, and I don't really agree with the article I will link here, its for full coverage insurance, and you could end up paying something like $1800 for that speeding ticket in the long run. But that makes the insurance company money, so lets ignore that since the posts above are talking about the government making money by enforcing the speed limits.

So if you factor in wages and fuel and other costs for the officer, paperwork processing costs, equipment costs like computers and radar guns, they (the government) are losing money. If you go to court the money you spend there goes to paying the courts wages, processing, equipment, building and utility costs and etc. So just how much do you really think they are making off a speeding ticket and what do they do with that money?

The reason they enforce speed limits does have to do with money, but not in the way you think. When speed limits are not enforced, people tend to speed more and more. And then you get accidents. Accidents are what really costs the city government a lot. You have police response, fire department response, DOT response for signs and such, ambulance response, towing and clean up. So its not speeding tickets that make money, its speed limit enforcement that saves money. Its about keeping people safe and keeping traffic moving. How many traffic jams are caused by speed related accidents? My guess is its quite a lot, perhaps 90%.

So personally I like speed enforcement. We are professional drivers, we (should) obey all traffic signs and laws. We should realize that safety is the number one priority. We should plan our trips so we don't have to speed. IF you drive 500 miles at the speed limit of 65 it takes you about 7.7 hours. IF you speed and go 70mph the same 500 miles takes you 7.15 hours. So by taking unnecessary risk and speeding, you save half an hour. Half an hour at 65mph is 32.5 miles. Say you make $.40 per mile. $.40 x 32.5 = $13.00. So by speeding and taking all the risks associated with it you make an extra $13 that day. For me that is simply not worth the increased risk that comes with increased speed. More accidents = more rules and regulations, like we don't have enough already. It also costs more fuel to go that 5mph faster, so you lose your fuel economy bonus.

So My opinion, and that's all it is just like everyone else posting here, is that speeding, especially in your semi, is a lose lose lose situation. The risks and negative factors far outweigh the $13 you might make, and your driving record will be permanently affected, which affect your hire-ability, your insurance, your reputation, all of that. IS it really worth it? In my mind, no, no its not.

Phil

Phil, I completely understand your point. Speeding is unnecessary and dangerous. BUT...... 1 or 2 MPH over the limit is simply a money grab. There is no such thing as a $30.00 speeding ticket in Arizona where I live. $250.00 and up. If a State or Municipality is going to state a zero tolerance policy on speeding, even 66 in a 65, that is a money grab pure and simple. If you try to go to court and fight it, with that policy in place, the Judge will slap you down. Points on your license, big fine, done. I'm Sorry, that is just not right. My RANT is over, you may now return to your regularly scheduled programming.

Actually in Arizona, where I am from, 1-10 mph is only a $15 fine, over 10mph over the limit is the $250 fine. Since we were talking about the 1-10mph fine my previous statement stands as true.

Practice practice practice. Also if your having a problem with which way the trailer is turning, try this. Put your hands on the bottom of the wheel. When your hands are on top you turn the wheel the opposite way the trailer goes. But when your hands are on the bottom of the steering wheel, you turn the wheel the same way you want your trailer to go. Another tip is to always go slow backing, just idle along, but keep it moving. By the time you think you should correct to straighten out again you probably are too late, so try and anticipate it. Use both mirrors, and spot mirrors. Try to imagine the trailer tires pulling you into the spot instead of you pushing them. Just some tips that helped me but its really just a matter of keeping calm and practicing. Also watch other students and learn from their mistakes.

Phil

Hi, first time posting on here. After a long bout of unemployment (if you don't have a CDL in western Oklahoma you aren't working apparently), I've decided I needed to make a change in my life. I've always loved trucks...being around them, watching them on the roads, etc. so I'm resolved to see if I have the right stuff to join in.

Unfortunately, as I stated before I've been unemployed since last August, other than a few odd jobs here and there. Money is scarce, almost non-existent. I did some research (mainly on this site) and Prime seems like a fine company to work for. I sent in an application for their trucking school (I already have my CDL permit). This morning, a recruiter called and said they were declining due to my work history. What confuses me is I don't have a history of hopping from job to job...the last job I had I was there for almost 4 years. Ive never quit a job either (layoffs and company restructuring got me). Is this something that other companies will say as well? It's pretty frustrating.

I've contacted Swift, and a local trucking school as well (American Trucking School in Oklahoma City). I'm determined to make this change, but it's not gonna be easy it seems.

Any gaps in your work history must be filled in. If you were on unemployment you must show exact dates and have some way to prove it like pay stubs or tax forms or something. Talk to the recruiter about what specifically is the problem and work to fix it. You can still be approved, dont give up, most companies want a 10 year work history and any gaps in employment must be verified somehow. Get a letter from the people who hired you for odd jobs, use exact dates the timeline must be accurate.

Phil

You need Combination vehicles, air brakes and general knowledge tests to get your permit. When you are consistently getting 100% on the practice tests here you are ready to go take the tests at the dmv.

Phil

Forgot link: NC speeding costs

I remember a recent post where people were defending the "9 is fine 10 your mine" supposed buffer. My response was...there is no buffer. People above claiming its all about the money are mistaken. Its about safety. It probably costs the town money to write low violation speeding tickets. Most fines for speeding 1-10 the ticket is $30 bucks. However, if you fight it and go to court you could add $188.00. Add to that the cost your insurance will go up, and I don't really agree with the article I will link here, its for full coverage insurance, and you could end up paying something like $1800 for that speeding ticket in the long run. But that makes the insurance company money, so lets ignore that since the posts above are talking about the government making money by enforcing the speed limits.

So if you factor in wages and fuel and other costs for the officer, paperwork processing costs, equipment costs like computers and radar guns, they (the government) are losing money. If you go to court the money you spend there goes to paying the courts wages, processing, equipment, building and utility costs and etc. So just how much do you really think they are making off a speeding ticket and what do they do with that money?

The reason they enforce speed limits does have to do with money, but not in the way you think. When speed limits are not enforced, people tend to speed more and more. And then you get accidents. Accidents are what really costs the city government a lot. You have police response, fire department response, DOT response for signs and such, ambulance response, towing and clean up. So its not speeding tickets that make money, its speed limit enforcement that saves money. Its about keeping people safe and keeping traffic moving. How many traffic jams are caused by speed related accidents? My guess is its quite a lot, perhaps 90%.

So personally I like speed enforcement. We are professional drivers, we (should) obey all traffic signs and laws. We should realize that safety is the number one priority. We should plan our trips so we don't have to speed. IF you drive 500 miles at the speed limit of 65 it takes you about 7.7 hours. IF you speed and go 70mph the same 500 miles takes you 7.15 hours. So by taking unnecessary risk and speeding, you save half an hour. Half an hour at 65mph is 32.5 miles. Say you make $.40 per mile. $.40 x 32.5 = $13.00. So by speeding and taking all the risks associated with it you make an extra $13 that day. For me that is simply not worth the increased risk that comes with increased speed. More accidents = more rules and regulations, like we don't have enough already. It also costs more fuel to go that 5mph faster, so you lose your fuel economy bonus.

So My opinion, and that's all it is just like everyone else posting here, is that speeding, especially in your semi, is a lose lose lose situation. The risks and negative factors far outweigh the $13 you might make, and your driving record will be permanently affected, which affect your hire-ability, your insurance, your reputation, all of that. IS it really worth it? In my mind, no, no its not.

Phil

Best answer is above ^^^, you have to get your cdl in your state of residence within 30 days of moving there, because its also your car license.