Off To The Races

Does anybody else ever get the feeling of being a horse at Kentucky Downs waiting on the gate and buzzer? This is a daily thing for me.

I'm done sleeping, been up for 2 hours. Done got a cup of coffee, pre-tripped the truck, made sure all my paperwork is in order, talked to the wife. Now I am stuck here waiting for the next hour. My 10hr has 45 mins left and I have to show 15 for my morning pre trip. Granted CO policy is 5, but I have to do a paper log during training so it is easier to show 15. So I am sitting here forbthenext hour chomping thru my bit just waiting on my stall door to open.

Drive safe Y'alland God Speed

I Feel that way everyday I wait for cdl training Lol its a mutual feeling brother! The excitement will be fulfilled simply because time never stops! Haha what a relief! Just imagine waiting 45 days or 45 minutes! Haha I have about 50 days left until School! I'm super excited! Lol I drive trucks at my job in the yard and I am always feeling so tempted to just leave and stroll down the interstate...... Then reality sinks in and I realize that I would end more than just my career in trucking if I did such a thing lol so I wait and I utilize the time I have to practice backing or shifting. Good to know your not alone! Ever! So yes... I understand you...

The bad thing is even after I am on my own, I am going to have to get used to this. I sleep 5 to 6 hours. No matter what. I usually try and waste an hour to 2 hours before I go to sleep so I don't have such a long wait in the morning. But every morning inevitably I am waiting on my buzzer to ding so I can get rolling down the Highway.

Patrick wrote:

Granted CO policy is 5, but I have to do a paper log during training so it is easier to show 15.

A race? Only when I am doubled up and I returning to the DC for my second load with a hot clock.

Curious though,... you can complete a reasonably thorough pre-trip in 5 minutes, tractor and trailer?

Although I am not familiar with the 5 min. pre-trip rule for CO you are quoting (anyone else know this to be true?), most carriers want to see a minimum of 15 minutes, either the beginning or end of your shift. You need to ask yourself; "if I travel from Colorado to New Mexico and DOT pulls you in for a level 2, are they going to honor and accept the 5 minutes logged for pre-trip in CO?" I don't know, but why risk it.

For the benefit of everyone reading this forum, 5 minutes is not enough time to check everything we should be checking. For the record I usually take a minimum of 15...occasionally 20 if the trailer is a "beater".

They expect a thorough pre trip. They only require you show 5 mins of on duty for it. I will honestly probably just keep doing 15. Those few times I have run out of my 14 before my 11 was because of live load or unload. And it wasn't even close. Usually well over an hour difference. So those 10 mins wouldn't make a bean of difference. Besides it just makes things simpler. Show 15 mins for pre or post trip, drop n hook, live load or unload. I use the 15 doing paperwork, lol. I always do my pre and post trips while I am not logging "on duty" time. Mainly because I only sleep 5 to 6 hours and spending 30 mins or better on the pre and post trip eats up some down time and keeps me entertained.