Starting On My Path To A Career In Trucking!

did they tell you why all drinks needed to be in the sleeper?

Rob, since I am on a dedicated account serving a company that produces aluminum products, I can give some insight on that situation. Part of the process in these plants is a smelting operation. They melt aluminum down to produce the final product. Any sort of liquid introduced in that stage of the process will cause a violent explosion.

Some plants insist you leave all your bottled drinks with the security guard before entering. It's a safety precaution. At the "Hydro" plant in Delhi, LA I'm not even allowed to purchase a bottled drink in the breakroom and then walk out to my truck with it. They expect you to drink it in the confines of that room and dispose of the bottle in the trash can provided before leaving the breakroom.

Old School is exactly correct. Some of the loading areas are very close to the furnace areas and they way the wind comes through the buildings it wouldnt take anything for an empty water bottle with just a little moisture to fall out and take off through the plant.

Thanks guys, that's crazy that such little liquid could cause such havoc. I figured there was a reason for it but couldnt figure out what it was.

Cross Contamination from a foreign source.

Great updates thanks. Tarping in the rain sounds like more fun than I’m ready for.

ROEHL GYCDL PHASE 2 DAY 5 THRU 8.

We have ran hard for the past few days and didnt have time or energy to post.

Day 5

Left the truck stop at Indiana/Illinois state line and headed to Bradley Illinois to the Crown Seal and Cork plant. Our coils were set to become Pepsi Cans. The staff there was not the friendliest bunch and staging was crazy. Ended up getting 2 hours of detention pay because their forklift blew a tire and couldn't unload us until fixed. This caused us to miss 2 loads.

Eventually got a load from Nucor Steel in Kankakee Illinois going to Steel Masters in Steven's Point Wisconsin. We picked up various pieces of steel that would eventually be made into warehouse shelving.

Day 6

Delivered our metal to Steel Masters in Steven's Point Wisconsin. Being a Saturday no one was there so we just dropped our loaded trailer. Took our tarps and securement off and picked up an empty from them.

Next we went down to Fond du lac Wisconsin to Aern Systems and picked up a sprinkler system headed to Omaha Nebraska on Monday morning.

After we got this secure we were both frozen so opted to go up the road to a Loves and shower and rest for the evening.

Day 7

Woke up and hit the road towards Omaha. Once in Iowa in I80 the wind was crazy. Had to fight the truck all the way down the road. Made it to Council Bluffs and parked for the evening.

Day 8

Woke up and drove the rest of the way to Omaha Nebraska to a warehouse that is under construction. At about 0500 hrs they started unloading us. The had to use a skylift to unload or stuff onto carts which 5 guys had to push inside to another forklift that took it to where needed. Needless to say this process took an hour or so. The funny thing about this site was its speed limit.

After being unloaded we were sent to Nucor Steel in Norfolk Nebraska. There is no fast way to Norfolk. It is in the middle of nowhere Nebraska with only 2 lane roads going into it. Once there they loaded us with steel rods going to a John Deere plant in Illinois.

We made it to between Des Moines and Davenport Iowa where we have stopped for the night.

Brandon,

Great updates and thanks for all the securement photos.

I have enjoyed reading all your updates. It gives me an idea of what to expect. I'll be starting Monday in Gary for gycdl in the flatbed division.

I have enjoyed reading all your updates. It gives me an idea of what to expect. I'll be starting Monday in Gary for gycdl in the flatbed division.

Welcome to the forum, BigShow~!! Hopefully you will start a diary of your own next week; some (most/all/many?) of us 'wannabes' simply LOVE living vicariously through these diaries~!!! :)

BRANDON KITTS.... I'm LOVING your diary, as well. Those securement/load photos are amazing. Soon you can start contributing to the 'needing revival' thread regarding flatbed loads and hauling such. (Somebody's gotta fill Turtle's shoes, ya know! O/S carries the BIG torch, he needs some camaraderie, LoL~!)

Best wishes, all~!!

Anne

Hello everyone that has been following. I'm still alive just have been very busy on the road. This weekend I will catch up my diary with the final weeks of phase 2 training and my first 2 weeks solo.