To Be Or Not To Be.....
Topic 303 | Page 1
Hey Doug it's great hearing from ya!
You make a lot of excellent points indeed.
As far as trucking being in a state of chaos, I would say it's very fluid and dynamic. Things certainly do change quite rapidly at times - loads get cancelled, trucks break down, drivers get sick, appointments get changed, etc. You really have to roll with it out there and be able to adapt to constantly changing circumstances. People who are used to very regimented routines will definitely have a very difficult time adapting to the dynamic environment in trucking. But it's something you have to do if you're going to enjoy yourself out there - no doubt about it.
You also make an excellent point about dispatch not understanding what a driver's life is like out there. In fact, almost nobody in the offices of trucking companies has significant over the road driving experience. Neither do the law makers and enforcement officers that govern the industry.
But at the same time, do you have any idea what it's like being a dispatcher , logbook auditor, safety manager, recruiter, customer service rep, sales rep, or load planner? Most drivers don't. I would say the entire industry would be so much better off if we all understood a little more of what our co-workers go through during the course of a normal day. We all get frustrated quite a bit with each other, and often times it's simply a matter of ignorance - we have expectations of each other and make a lot of assumptions about things but in the end we truly don't know what our co-workers are going through. It causes a ton of grief.
I'm glad things are going well for you out there! Stay safe and have a blast!
Logbook:
A written or electronic record of a driver's duty status which must be maintained at all times. The driver records the amount of time spent driving, on-duty not driving, in the sleeper berth, or off duty. The enforcement of the Hours Of Service Rules (HOS) are based upon the entries put in a driver's logbook.
Over The Road:
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.
Dispatcher:
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.
Once again, Brett, you impress me with your insight and thoughtfulness.
I'm getting a bit addicted to this site. If I do pull the trigger on this end of life career, I will be miles ahead of the new recruits when it's CDL time. I fell like a few months absorbing this site, I could jump in a rig and take off. ( as long as I didn't have to back up )
I back up just enough horse and hay trailers to be really bad at it... lol 
Hey Doug it's great hearing from ya!
You make a lot of excellent points indeed.
As far as trucking being in a state of chaos, I would say it's very fluid and dynamic. Things certainly do change quite rapidly at times - loads get cancelled, trucks break down, drivers get sick, appointments get changed, etc. You really have to roll with it out there and be able to adapt to constantly changing circumstances. People who are used to very regimented routines will definitely have a very difficult time adapting to the dynamic environment in trucking. But it's something you have to do if you're going to enjoy yourself out there - no doubt about it.
You also make an excellent point about dispatch not understanding what a driver's life is like out there. In fact, almost nobody in the offices of trucking companies has significant over the road driving experience. Neither do the law makers and enforcement officers that govern the industry.
But at the same time, do you have any idea what it's like being a dispatcher , logbook auditor, safety manager, recruiter, customer service rep, sales rep, or load planner? Most drivers don't. I would say the entire industry would be so much better off if we all understood a little more of what our co-workers go through during the course of a normal day. We all get frustrated quite a bit with each other, and often times it's simply a matter of ignorance - we have expectations of each other and make a lot of assumptions about things but in the end we truly don't know what our co-workers are going through. It causes a ton of grief.
I'm glad things are going well for you out there! Stay safe and have a blast!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Logbook:
A written or electronic record of a driver's duty status which must be maintained at all times. The driver records the amount of time spent driving, on-duty not driving, in the sleeper berth, or off duty. The enforcement of the Hours Of Service Rules (HOS) are based upon the entries put in a driver's logbook.
Over The Road:
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.
Dispatcher:
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.
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What's up with all the post that says "Subscribe"?
I forget to hit the "Notify Me of New Comments" button.
I like getting email notes.
... and I'm a dumb-ass :)
Damn, your right, I do look like a horse!!
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What's up with all the post that says "Subscribe"?
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Boy, has that question come up many times for me and I see for others, also. For me I ask that question several times a week in the morning before I get started. Once I am on the road though I know the answer. I WANT to be here. Even when I am on a three to five day(3-5 weeks out is what I seem to like) break I really start to feel anxious to get back out there. A couple of observations though. Since I am new to trucking, 40k miles in my first 14 weeks, I have seen some things that are I think worth mentioning. First of all I have noticed that the whole industry seems to run in a state of chaos. You may have one or two days that seem to go just as planned but then there are the next 10 days that are in total chaos from dispatch all the way up. Just something you have to take with a grain of salt. Second, I have seen some of the most horrendous driving by people I have EVER seen in my life. Maybe I just didn't notice before. And not just car drivers either. I have seen some really horrid driving by fellow truck drivers. These aren't Volkswagons we are driving. Third, the roads around most cities are horrendous. I don't know how trucks survive as long as they do, or driver either. So far the LA area has been the worst I have driven on. Even the "interstate" highways there are a mess. Forth, just being tolerant and understanding that the industry runs in a state of chaos will get you though most days. The chaos is not our fault and most times is really no ones fault. It just happens. So be nice and you will get the loads you want and shippers/receivers will treat you with a little more respect that the person that gets in their face. Fifth, too bad Driver managers are not required to run at least a month with a driver. Maybe they would get a better understanding a feel for what we go through out there. Lastly, do a thorough daily inspection and document EVERYTHING that you find and keep pushing you DM to get you to a service location when the service is due. It's your life and the service is a very necessary part of being safe and also keeping your truck running and able to do the long hard runs. I posted a few times a truckindoug and was not around for a while. Didn't know that there was a new forum format. Looks nice and is a bit easier to navigate. I am still, for the most part, having fun driving and look forward to more. I am passing my 5th month in about 10 days so I am close to that magic 6 months and am now looking forward to finishing my first year. Be safe and Keep on truckin
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.
Interstate:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).
Dm:
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.Driver Manager:
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.