Vent & Brag...

Thanks Turtle/G. We are both very excited to move forward with this plan. Been in the works a few months and has all come together.

You are a glutton for punishment with that scenario! I truly hope it works out on both fronts for you: Business and Personal.

Yes sir I am. Thank you I think we have a solid plan, so now to just work the plan.

I beg to differ Kearsay lol am stuck in Orlando, until Monday morning (p-up closed wknds) the freeways are a mess and the drivers? yikes!and I thought home in Calif was bad hahahaha......Haven't been to Joisy yet, MA & PA closest I've gotten (so far )

For giggles go to Gatorland off of South OBT. If north of Orlando go to the Willow Tree in Sanford for an awesome German meal.

West of Orlando you can hop in a wetsuit and swim with manatees. My girl and I did this. They loved her. Sucked on her hair and wanted their bellies rubbed :)

https://riverventures.rezdy.com/60137/swim-with-manatee-tour-endangered-encounter-3-hr-crystal-river

Thank you, I just saw this reply. It has been a rough go at the CDL to be honest, the holidays I find are even worse as there is more idle time it seems as most go into holiday mode. My final opportunity for it (for a year at least) is in january after that according to the state I have to wait a year.

The good thing is I have all my base needs taken care of , shelter, food, heat, etc. More than some folks have. Im just looking forward to 2020 being the year where I get this and move on. There have been alot of lessons along the way, looking forward to graduating from this class and moving onto ones where at least a pay check is involved.

Appreciate the thoughts and I will keep forum posted on progress

Moe

Don't give up More. Just don't. Hang in there. Use the holiday to reset your mind so to speak. And try again when you are able to. I can imagine how frustrated you are with the process. Some get their cdl easier than others. Some got pure luck. Think of it like this once you get that cdl you will be set for as long as you choose to be. I'm barely getting into my second year of trucking and am making very good money already. And so can you More. You got this.

Still no CDL or job for the holidays. Have all I need though

Vent : dealt with the stupid snow and Ice this morning, pulled into the lot with 10 minutes left on my 14 (took a hour break)

It's nothing to "brag" about, more liked relieved.....lawyer text me earlier....RR CROSSING TICKET - DISMISSED! I'll create a new post about it later tonight or tomorrow morning.

Congratulations Rob T.

On both making it back and the ticket.

Out of curiosity what do they do if you run out of time on your way back?

Congratulations Rob T.

On both making it back and the ticket.

Out of curiosity what do they do if you run out of time on your way back?

Thanks! We're allowed to use the 16 hour rule if we can make it back, which I had available if I would've needed it. I'm off until Wednesday so I'll get my reset in that's why I took my full hour. If taking the additional half hour break would cause you to go over your 14, 16, or 70 clock they'll pay it out. I could've had them pay me for the break and not take it but i was talking with the lawyer so I felt I'd be better to not be driving so I wasnt driving distracted and knew exactly what was going on. If we run out of hours we get a hotel. We have probably a dozen or so sleeper cabs but the senior guys like those and take them to Omaha because 350 miles is soooooo far lol. We use the CLC Lodging card so I look at my phone app to find hotels with truck parking. For example, 2 weeks ago on a sunday I took 3 stores in Davenport, a store in Peru Illinois and pick up at Kraft in Aurora Illinois. It was "only" 605 miles which is why I took it. I started at midnight and made it to Kraft at 9am. Even though we have 3 empty trailers there mine, and the other guy who showed up just after me, wasnt loaded. I waited nearly 2 and a half hours. At that point I felt I could still make it back using my 16 but it'd be close so I had hotels in mind I knew had space for my truck. I planned on stopping in Iowa city if needed so I'd only have 120 miles to finish driving the next day as I'd be close and then start the next days route. Between the weather changing, wrecks, and needing to adjust tandems to get the load legal I barely made it to Walcott IA before hitting my 14. I started monday just as my 10 hr break was up. Due to icy roads it took me 3 hours to go about 160 miles. Did my post trip then grabbed my monday load which fortunately there was a 2 stop Iowa City route available that ended up giving me 13 hours for the day. Anytime it's over 600 miles they plan on you to layover. Many times we can make it back though, we have 6 trucks a week run to Kearney and Grand Island NE, 662 miles that 90% of the time make it back. If planned layovers is all that's available when it's your turn to bid they give you the first pick the next day. I have 8 guys under me and there were short days i could've taken so I didnt get to jump in line. The other guy at Kraft ended up laying over in Walcott as well. Unfortunately for him there are only 2 guys below him and there were 3 sioux fall runs left. He ended up getting mondays SF run unloaded then got a hotel since it was our last day of work. If the load is "hot" they may send 2 guys as a team in a sleeper such as Madison Wi and pickup Sargento cheese near Sheboygan (820 miles) or Madison with Bel Giosio cheese in Green Bay Wisconsin (927 miles). Periodically Kraft is deemed hot and they've been known to send a driver in a company car 80 miles to go get the driver and then drive the truck back.

Long story short, if you run out of hours you're staying out overnight. In my 11 months with the company I've had to get a hotel maybe 5 times. I dont mind doing so occasionally, I'm able to actually sleep. Get caught with 5 lof violations I believe in 1 year its termination. Suspension after the 2nd one. Unplug your ELD? Terminated with first offense. They're very strict with logs and tell us log exactly what we're doing. They want it to be clear so we also are told to NOT log off duty while being loaded or unloaded at outside vendors. Take your break before you show up, or after ALL business is handled there.

Vent : dealt with the stupid snow and Ice this morning, pulled into the lot with 10 minutes left on my 14 (took a hour break)

It's nothing to "brag" about, more liked relieved.....lawyer text me earlier....RR CROSSING TICKET - DISMISSED! I'll create a new post about it later tonight or tomorrow morning.

I guess you earned some good karma for reporting the incident right away. Congrats!

Just wanted to revive this thread, because no matter how bad your day went, at least you're not this guy:

Toilet Paper Load Catches Fire

Vent: I was fired on Tuesday after turning down a dispatch from NC to NJ. First load I've turned down. Guess I won't answer any future questions about CFI.

Brag: I enjoy being home, not worrying about parking, it's a short walk to a bathroom, no wait time for a shower, and no clocks to keep an eye on.