Big T's Swift Adventure: Mentor Phase
Topic 19948 | Page 1
Good for you Big T! Safe travels.
Many safe miles to you, driver.
20June2017
Our load ended up not be ready till 0500 so we were a little behind where we wanted to be today.
My mentor still took the first shift out. He drove from Moreno Valley, ca to Cedar City, UT. I took over there and got us to Wamsutter, WY before having to shut down because students are allowed to drive from 0100 to 0600.
It wasn't a bad shift. I drove for 8hrs 56 min and 492.5 miles. I got five backings in and three were night time backings.
Once my ten is done we will be driving out, and I will be at the wheel first.
Have a great day. It is time to do a pti on my eyelids now.
Big T workin' it, gettin' it done, alright:
It wasn't a bad shift. I drove for 8hrs 56 min and 492.5 miles. I got five backings in and three were night time backings.
Dude that's fantastic. 5 backs...etc., great job.
20june17: Clarification: Students are not allowed to drive between 0100 and 0600.
21june17 I started my shift in Wamsutter, WY and ended in Murdo, SD. I am getting used to this auto more and more. It definitely saves your left knee when going through small towns and have several stop signs.
The majority of my shift was spent on US or state routes through Wyoming and South Dakota. Lots of beautiful scenery, but also dealt with the strong winds. My arms were a bit sore by bed time.
Shift totals: 9hrs 36min driving 548 miles 4 backs with two being night backs.
22June17
It was a frustrating day.
I couldnt get the tandems to slide at the receiver even though the pins released. Then I couldn't get the handle to stay out and the customer took pity on me and let us drop the trailer without sliding them back.
Waiting for an empty took a chunk out of my 14 so I ended up just picking up the load and going to the truck stop with about 45 min left on my clock.
At the shipper though I struggled to get the trailer into a tight spot because I wasn't allowing my self to stop and think. I was focused more on my clock than I was on the task and it defeated me. The yard dog finally came and took my trailer from me.
Need to remember to stop, breathe, and focus.
I did 7 hrs 44 min driving, 411 miles, and 5 backs.
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
Tandems:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
23June17
I ran hard today. I didn't do any backings, but did put some miles down.
I drove for 10hrs 50 min and put down 674 miles. I'm tired.
Sorry for the short entry, but not much to say about today.
Big T wrote:
At the shipper though I struggled to get the trailer into a tight spot because I wasn't allowing my self to stop and think. I was focused more on my clock than I was on the task and it defeated me. The yard dog finally came and took my trailer from me.
Great learning lesson here. Never let the chaos of the moment compromise your judgement or focus. Sounds like you might have felt a bit rushed.
Glad it worked out.
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Very true G-town. This job is dangerous as it is without adding the loss of focus to the situation.
Big T wrote:
At the shipper though I struggled to get the trailer into a tight spot because I wasn't allowing my self to stop and think. I was focused more on my clock than I was on the task and it defeated me. The yard dog finally came and took my trailer from me.
Great learning lesson here. Never let the chaos of the moment compromise your judgement or focus. Sounds like you might have felt a bit rushed.
Glad it worked out.
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
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19June2017
Good evening TT. I finally got everything taken care of today and am once again a licensed CMV driver.
I was supposed to get a mentor tomorrow, but explained to them I was ready to go so I ended up getting one today. He is an owner operator with an automatic cascadia and seems to have a good attitude and temperament.
Our load picks up at 0130 in Moreno Valley, CA and goes to Minnesota. 1800 miles and change and can deliver Thursday morning.
During my first 50 hours I am not allowed to drive between 0100 and 0600 so my mentor will have to drive first. My first drive shift will be around noon tomorrow.
Have a good day and I will check in tomorrow.
Owner Operator:
An owner-operator is a driver who either owns or leases the truck they are driving. A self-employed driver.
CMV:
Commercial Motor Vehicle
A CMV is a vehicle that is used as part of a business, is involved in interstate commerce, and may fit any of these descriptions: