PackRat's 2020 Daily Driving Diary
Topic 27353 | Page 22
Thats all the stars aligning for ya!! I sense many miles and prosperity in your future.
Thanks, Double D! I hope you're right on target with that observation.
I may need to go for a walk in the desert while I'm in NM for a vision quest. Something like, "The Regulators" in the movie, "Young Guns?" Can't do any peyote, though....
Random thoughts:
I meant to post this last week, but this was really Super Strange.
Last week I dropped empty trailer 42991, then then next trailer I picked up was 42990.
I got a dispatch that had in the last five digits my truck number: 50586.
At a shipper , the guy that signed the paperwork had the same first and last name as me.
Strange?
Ooh-WEE-Ooh!
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.
Thats all the stars aligning for ya!! I sense many miles and prosperity in your future.
And time to buy a lottery ticket!
PackRat, I'm glad things are looking up for you...I LOVE following along! (Wish I could do a ride'along, but I hear you don't like Ohio?!?) ;) Still planning on staying w/CFI then?!? I hope your new FM and your #'s and stars~!!!... keep working in your favor, for sure! (Maybe I'll play your numbers, haha!)
Here's Tom's rig that he PC'd home...we have TRUCK parking, and Italian food, (mine!) ya know!!! In case you ever venture thisaway..just saying!
Fm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
PackRat, I'm glad things are looking up for you...I LOVE following along! (Wish I could do a ride'along, but I hear you don't like Ohio?!?) ;) Still planning on staying w/CFI then?!? I hope your new FM and your #'s and stars~!!!... keep working in your favor, for sure! (Maybe I'll play your numbers, haha!)
Here's Tom's rig that he PC'd home...we have TRUCK parking, and Italian food, (mine!) ya know!!! In case you ever venture thisaway..just saying!
Anne, I will be training in OH, most likely starting 3/9. A few days in Willard then out OTR (and possibly back for some backing practice).
My (soon-to-be) new Co. is based there. Thinking of moving my "bus" there (38' Class-A motorhome).
I LOVE italian food!
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Fm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
27 February 2020
I got going on Thursday morning after calling the shipper in Topton, PA at 0800 to see if the load was ready. I was told that it had started loading at 0700, and it was 40 miles to drive there, so I started my pre trip inspection. All correct, securely mounted, no abrasions, cuts, leaks, looseness, excessive rust, air leaks, or stowaways....Only issue I had in NJ was the wind. Too much!
I arrived there at 0917 to check in at security, get the empty drop spot, and the new trailer dock. Tandems were already spot-on after weighing with their scale for the 42,000 lbs load of automotive batteries. Got the paperwork verified, then checked it a third time for trailer number, seal number, delivery business and address, HAZMAT or not. After a really good check of the trailer (noting the license plate light is inop), send in the messages on the computer, then off I go. Still very windy in PA, too.
I drove some extreme side roads for about 10 miles to Interstate 78, but made it. Stayed on that one until exiting onto I-80 for the next few hundred miles.
I intended to go as far as my fuel stop at my favorite Sapp Brothers in Clearfield, PA at exit 120, but the winds got the best of me in under three hours. I shut down at a rest stop and sent in a Weather Shutdown Delay message. It kind of worked out because I was getting a huge headache at the time.
For the day, I only drove 160 miles in 3.3 hours, using 0.5 hours On Duty, totaling 3.8 hours for this shortened day.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
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".
SAP:
Substance Abuse Professional
The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.
Interstate:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).
DAC:
Drive-A-Check Report
A truck drivers DAC report will contain detailed information about their job history of the last 10 years as a CDL driver (as required by the DOT).
It may also contain your criminal history, drug test results, DOT infractions and accident history. The program is strictly voluntary from a company standpoint, but most of the medium-to-large carriers will participate.
Most trucking companies use DAC reports as part of their hiring and background check process. It is extremely important that drivers verify that the information contained in it is correct, and have it fixed if it's not.
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
28 February 2020
I got up around 0330 to 15 degrees, and some blowing flurries, but much less wind, and only half a headache. After the pre trip inspection, off I go to Clearfield to fuel Hannah and I. After that 190 miles, fueled and my DOT break complete, off we go westbound and down.
The more I drove, the better I felt, and the weather improved. I ended the day stopped at some Petro in Indiana on I-70. I can't remember where....
For Friday I drove 500 miles in 8 4 hours, using 0.4 hours On Duty time, totaling 8.8 hours.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
DAC:
Drive-A-Check Report
A truck drivers DAC report will contain detailed information about their job history of the last 10 years as a CDL driver (as required by the DOT).
It may also contain your criminal history, drug test results, DOT infractions and accident history. The program is strictly voluntary from a company standpoint, but most of the medium-to-large carriers will participate.
Most trucking companies use DAC reports as part of their hiring and background check process. It is extremely important that drivers verify that the information contained in it is correct, and have it fixed if it's not.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
29 February 2020 "Leap Day"
I got going this morning around 0230 from that mystery truck stop that I just remembered the location! Right at the Ohio and Indiana border-- The Petro in New Paris, IN.
We drove from there to the next fuel stop in Greenup, IL on I-70 at a Love's for another 130 gallons, then 10 gallons of the useless, government EPA SCAM, DEF fluid....NOT a fan!
Almost forgot that my PeopkeNet stopped functioning on Thursday afternoon, inasmuch as the Messaging and Tracking capabilities (not really a bad thing from my perspective). I actually got a call yesterday late in the morning, asking when I was going to get moving? "We show the winds in western PA have only gusted to 11 mph in the past two hours..." Sorry your equipment doesn't work as advertised, but I left there about 500 miles ago...
I shut down for the day around 1230 today at the Oak Grove 70 Petro in Missouri, just east of KC.
For the day, I drove 541 miles in 8.7 hours, using 0.5 hours On Duty, totaling 9.2 hours.
Since I crossed over the Mississippi River this morning, by tomorrow morning I expect a message that the world ended, and dispatch needs me to turn around to head back east....LOL!
More tomorrow from us...
New Reply:
New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
Preview:
This topic has the following tags:
CFI - Contract Freighters Inc Crete Carrier Choosing A Trucking Company Hours Of Service Older truck drivers Photos Truck Driving Orientation TT Website
Why Join Trucking Truth?
- The High Road Training Program
- The High Road Article Series
- The Friendliest Trucker's Forum Ever!
- Email Updates When New Articles Are Posted
Apply For Paid CDL Training Through TruckingTruth
Did you know you can fill out one quick form here on TruckingTruth and apply to several companies at once for paid CDL training? Seriously! The application only takes one minute. You will speak with recruiters today. There is no obligation whatsoever. Learn more and apply here:
TT On Facebook
Thats all the stars aligning for ya!! I sense many miles and prosperity in your future.