Comments By Ted P.

FYI, depending on the year of the truck, there are more than a few "tricks" helping a truck to stay running, even if the auto shut down doesn't want to stay running... IF there is an owners manual on the truck, read it, it might give you options on how to "disengage" the auto shut off and keep the truck running, just be careful the running or idle of the truck might be related to the auto shut off switch...

Another Idea that has worked in the past is to either set the "reds" or chock the tires front and back of one tire.... then push both red and yellow in... truck will think it is in traffic, and you will be fine for going to bed, but make sure the truck will NOT move, to help make you feel better about going to bed warm, chocking the tires you might wrap a chain around the tire chocked and lace a chain through the chock(providing there is a while in the chock) then lock it...

I shut down last night in Watertown, NY. Conditions were awful when I got there early in the AM. The fleet manager didn't give me any grief at all. The bunk heater decided to stop working though, and it wasn't quite cold enough for the truck to idle continuously😡...but that is another story.

This is something most of us take very seriously, me included.... I have seen winter storms in the mountains, and east coast can get just as bad as "cabbage mountain", or "vail pass" ( don't know if it is called that now) "triple sisters" can be bad too. I have even had the opportunity being up towards Alaska a few times usually during the winter... If you do not feel "safe" get to bed there is always the next day... it doesn't have to be blizzard conditions out, it could be temp or high winds, which this area is known for during the winter... Unfortunately, being shut down for 3 day cause of the holiday does suck, which I am sorry for. it is what it is... in the future, remember YOU are the Operator of that truck, not "dispatch or the receiver/shipper... you watch you, most of the time when you are driving in bad road conditions, dispatch will listen to your wishes, safety usually comes first and foremost.... I live in south eastern Wisconsin, the weather is known for getting very badly very quickly... please be careful... have a safe and happy new year brother....

I had to shut it down in Minnesota on Wednesday during the blizzard. White out conditions and very high winds. Dispatcher didn't have a problem with it, And just told me to let him know when I felt it was safe to drive again. The only problem receiver was closed Christmas Eve christmas and the weekend so I have to wait till Sunday night to deliver. Brutal...

I'd suggest talking to the office people when you get a chance too, they might have a school you can go to with there endorsement, it does happen, and Fedex does hire within, better get used to driving doubles and triples... or they might have a P&D route for you to do as well...

Being 50 already in my opinion, start eating as much of the "low Cholesterol" foods out there ( avocados, hard boiled eggs, garlic) to help your blood pressure, and try to stay away from the foods and drinks that increase your Blood pressure as well or get off of it a day before another DOT Fed-Med exam... being a truckdriver eating or "munching" is a by product to driving long hours, also you might want to wear "Tension socks" knee highs to help the circulation problems you might encounter... ask your Doc. I have had to wear mine for the last 10 years now... 18y driver here... be safe, and good luck Merry Christmas y'all

So I've been sitting here reading through forums crunching numbers looking at options. 51 years old and have decided that my next move in life would be to get my CDL. I currently do Home Repair and rental rehab and in addition to that work at FedEx Freight on the dock driving a forklift. I do this primarily for benefits. The combination of the two over the last year and a half have just proven to be a tremendous amount of work with little payoff compared to the work. It would be nice to be down to one job. Prior to doing my own thing I worked for 28 years as a graphic designer in the left that career to get out of the office and do something different. I was able to prove to myself that I could do it and actually not just survive but thrive. Now I'm back with the same anxiety and apprehension. A case of analysis paralysis. I filled out an application with prime spoke to recruiter yesterday she was very helpful and patient answered all my questions. I also spoke with recruiter from C1 truck driving School here locally. I'm trying to determine which one is the lesser of the two evils. I like what prime has to offer in their commitment being only 12 months seems very doable it still feel apprehensive about being away from home for such a long time. Any other old guys out there doing the same thing? Thanks for listening Chris Indiana

There are allot of companies out there doing just Local work, with that being said, OTR and Regional companies utilize the "DAC" report, some local companies do not do DAC, however, they do use a "federal system that is attached to your CDL now, (PER- O'bama) (clearance house), or something like that Incidents might be on there, it is for companies to make sure you cannot lie on an application even though some actually do it worse... YOU could also get a copy of your MVR report, and DAC... you could try to get with an LTL carrier, line haul is either doubles and triples, or just 1 53"-er... or you can do P+D work you bump 25-30 docks a day pick up one or 2 pallets go back to the terminal when full... fast paced, and big benefits too...

most of them are union, and then it changes the game if your union.... drivers have a process to got through, and the company has a process to get rid of you also... just throwing tht up there... E.F.S. ( Expedited Freight Systems) , YRC, FedEx, UPS...etc.... they don't usually listen to DAC, but get the DAC first tell them first... if yur being honest they tend to work with you.... Good Luck

Running out of hours is a responsibility of every driver, IF you run on 8.75 hour days totally daily you will never run out of hours... save your hours as much as possible even when you first start off, I know once you start your hours the 14 hour clock doesn't stop, but your 70 does... so utilize the line 1 option just remember to put yourself on line 4 before going out driving again and flag or identify as a "tire check". not including the first INS, befor you drive beginning your hours...

Delivering on the 21 st in Aurora co I’m running on recaps can’t find somewhere to park till delivering very date and I’m only gonna get 3.5 hours back on the 21st 🤨🤨🤨got another appointment the next day in New Mexico wasn’t my idea but got stuck with it any way frustrated lol

In any accident / incident, information isn't wrong to disclose, a 3rd party "moderator" is going to have a non-partial opinion.... I have been in 3 accident in my driving career total, I also have made millions of left turns, but never been in that situation, 2 of mine we're in a quad axle dump truck only allowed in wisconsin and michigan, 2 were non-preventables... most of us would get you a decent opinion from putting ourselves in the situation of how we'd handle it. I'd like to ask how long have you had you CDL, and what were the particulars of the accident, ( divided highway, light controlled, speed of them, dash cam, weather conditions, day or night, etc...) all are factors in this situation... there are SO many companies out there your bound to find something, if not OTR, try Local, or even a CMV of some type, garbage truck, cement truck, delivery trucks, "hotshots", commercial deliver van non-CDL, all require a "fed-med" card I am sure you have already... good luck, AND Merry Christmas...

.......... Taking the written test is a 2 part test, ( in Wisconsin) some states DO differ a little depending the major concern for the state, Cali has mountains type "hills" west on 80... first part is multiple choice, and the second is a sign test, don't think you can get those wrong though, and NO they aren't hard, but the written test that is multiple choice are off the DOT booklet, and it reads like "stereo instructions too"...LOL

IF you taking these "practice tests" and getting the answers right, no worries , you got this, just remember the questions are similar but not identical to the practice questions... AND once you get the Lic. the techno-garbo goes out the window, cause there are few facts in that book that people really do... sad but true... sorry

I live in Wisconsin, I have also been driving for the last 18 years, "the mask mandate" as you referred to isn't an issue when your with yourself, as you were suggested before, but for "Some people" it is a major safety issue to not have one, and some people think the company will come down on a truck driver driving without one. but IF you choose to drive without one, get ready for the "cry babies"... for sure... With this being said, it isn't a "LAW" so the enforcing it isn't an issue either, whether it is suggested or not isn't the issue, but from what science says, you should be fine... granted this IS my opinion, but cry babies do what cry babies do....smile*