First Six Month Solo In The Books

Thanks, Dennis. I'm sure you're eager. I remember you were racking up the miles and putting in the time before your bicep injury. I'm sure we'll be seeing your driving diaries again in the near future.

Congratulations Bill! +33k miles in a quarter is very good for a new driver. You’ve worked hard and earned it, plus the extra bonuses.

I’m a little jealous wanting to get back out on the road!

Well, this just in: I qualified for all bonuses during the second full quarter of my solo experience as well. I drove +33,000 miles in the second quarter, was 46% under max idle performance (top in the Cascadia fleet), surpassed the revenue goal by 12%, and met all fuel and route compliance qualifiers. We have some very high-mileage drivers here who stay on the road six days per week. I only drive five days a week, and about once per month I work a six-day week and am regional. Getting in the top 5 mileage-wise is not going to be easy unless I start squeezing in those Saturdays. Something I'm very reluctant to do unless there is an urgent need or a hot load. Very thankful they work with me on this.

I'm not bringing this up to brag, well maybe a little; I really worked hard and was persistent and disciplined to hit my goals. If you're a rookie, you can do it too. But being successful in trucking is not easy, as MANY here on TT have discussed repeatedly. I am willing to go the extra mile when called upon to do so. I did things I didn't want to do. And I'll continue to do so. I get up every day willing and able to do what I have to do (legally) to make this day a good and successful day.

One thing is for sure, a driver's success depends not only on what they do but what their fleet leaders and dispatchers do for them. Getting loads is one thing, but routing a driver to hit their mileage goals consistently is another thing altogether. It's a team effort, and I'm thankful I always have the support, and I mean always have the support I need to be successful.

Looking forward to the next six months of my rookie journey, I will keep doing what I'm doing, and how I'm doing it, making those subtle changes needed to improve performance and safety - especially with winter fast approaching.

Safe travels. And remember, today is a good day; tomorrow will be better!

I'm so happy for you, Bill !!! Your last sentence is MY mantra; especially as of late !!

You're quite the success story yourself....

One thing is for sure, a driver's success depends not only on what they do but what their fleet leaders and dispatchers do for them. Getting loads is one thing, but routing a driver to hit their mileage goals consistently is another thing altogether. It's a team effort, and I'm thankful I always have the support, and I mean always have the support I need to be successful.

and quite the team player!!

So glad things are going awesome for you; and you're tippy toeing into the winter. Good mindset, yessir!!

In the interest of the 'futures' (aka: aspiring drivers, of course!) ... you should put a word or two in your bio, at least mentioning your journey, your company, and/or somesuch!

I know, it's not a requirement; just makes for a better find of your great information, paying it forward as you do!!

Best always, man! Keep keeping on, please stop/share here, often!!

~ Anne ~ ( & Tom! ) ~

Congratulations Bill! +33k miles in a quarter is very good for a new driver. You’ve worked hard and earned it, plus the extra bonuses.

I’m a little jealous wanting to get back out on the road!

Any news on your stuff, Dennis? I've missed a bit with technical issues (of all kinds) in the lasts 10 days; yet I looked, and couldn't find, re: yourself!

Hope all is moving forward, and may your plans and wishes be fulfilled, good sir.

Always,

~ Anne ~

Hello Anne,

Thank you. I'm dedicated to be the best I can be in all that I do. It's not that I have to be the best, it's that I try to do my best I can do with everything I do. I made a couple of rookie mistakes like almost driving right past a weigh station and catching the attention of the state police enough to be pulled around to the back of the scales for an inspection and a lecture. But, all-in-all, a pretty good six months.

I did see where they updated the September stats and I made it into the top five mileage and was second in safety score for the month. I hope to keep the mileage up, but I had a low-mileage week last week of 2200 miles. Some catching up to do.

I'll keep the bio in mind and try to update something next week.

Also, I have to get with you and Tom about some of those honey holes in Ohio. I found a good one just off of route 76 on route 131 North as I was headed to Three Rivers Michigan two weeks ago.

Take care.

Well, this just in: I qualified for all bonuses during the second full quarter of my solo experience as well. I drove +33,000 miles in the second quarter, was 46% under max idle performance (top in the Cascadia fleet), surpassed the revenue goal by 12%, and met all fuel and route compliance qualifiers. We have some very high-mileage drivers here who stay on the road six days per week. I only drive five days a week, and about once per month I work a six-day week and am regional. Getting in the top 5 mileage-wise is not going to be easy unless I start squeezing in those Saturdays. Something I'm very reluctant to do unless there is an urgent need or a hot load. Very thankful they work with me on this.

I'm not bringing this up to brag, well maybe a little; I really worked hard and was persistent and disciplined to hit my goals. If you're a rookie, you can do it too. But being successful in trucking is not easy, as MANY here on TT have discussed repeatedly. I am willing to go the extra mile when called upon to do so. I did things I didn't want to do. And I'll continue to do so. I get up every day willing and able to do what I have to do (legally) to make this day a good and successful day.

One thing is for sure, a driver's success depends not only on what they do but what their fleet leaders and dispatchers do for them. Getting loads is one thing, but routing a driver to hit their mileage goals consistently is another thing altogether. It's a team effort, and I'm thankful I always have the support, and I mean always have the support I need to be successful.

Looking forward to the next six months of my rookie journey, I will keep doing what I'm doing, and how I'm doing it, making those subtle changes needed to improve performance and safety - especially with winter fast approaching.

Safe travels. And remember, today is a good day; tomorrow will be better!

I'm so happy for you, Bill !!! Your last sentence is MY mantra; especially as of late !!

You're quite the success story yourself....

One thing is for sure, a driver's success depends not only on what they do but what their fleet leaders and dispatchers do for them. Getting loads is one thing, but routing a driver to hit their mileage goals consistently is another thing altogether. It's a team effort, and I'm thankful I always have the support, and I mean always have the support I need to be successful.

and quite the team player!!

So glad things are going awesome for you; and you're tippy toeing into the winter. Good mindset, yessir!!

In the interest of the 'futures' (aka: aspiring drivers, of course!) ... you should put a word or two in your bio, at least mentioning your journey, your company, and/or somesuch!

I know, it's not a requirement; just makes for a better find of your great information, paying it forward as you do!!

Best always, man! Keep keeping on, please stop/share here, often!!

~ Anne ~ ( & Tom! ) ~

Hello Anne,

Thank you. I'm dedicated to be the best I can be in all that I do. It's not that I have to be the best, it's that I try to do my best I can do with everything I do. I made a couple of rookie mistakes like almost driving right past a weigh station and catching the attention of the state police enough to be pulled around to the back of the scales for an inspection and a lecture. But, all-in-all, a pretty good six months.

I did see where they updated the September stats and I made it into the top five mileage and was second in safety score for the month. I hope to keep the mileage up, but I had a low-mileage week last week of 2200 miles. Some catching up to do.

I'll keep the bio in mind and try to update something next week.

Also, I have to get with you and Tom about some of those honey holes in Ohio. I found a good one just off of route 76 on route 131 North as I was headed to Three Rivers Michigan two weeks ago.

Take care.

Howdy, Bill !!!!!

Everything sounds like it's really going AWESOME for you; makes me remember the 'tender' days of Tom's, I don't know who was beaming more, me or him, hahaha~!

Good for you, it's really refreshing to hear this, for sure.

Now, about that bio . . . . LoLoL! Holding my breath ... (ok, nope!)

Next tho, about the 'Hidey Holes' ~ omigosh, where you just described; Perrysburg/Dixie Hwy, the 131 ?!?!? That was one of our BEST; was nice to be a tad bit outside Toledo; we delivered asphalt to The Shelly Co., right there on the SE side of the bridge!!!

If you stayed in Perrysburg off Dixie, not far from the Pike/76, you may just have found ours . . (?!?)

I'm jumping to hear, now!!!!!

Be safe, Bill. Always a pleasure, man;

~ Anne ~

Hi Anne,

I'm sitting here waiting for a dispatch load for only the second time in six months. This after a 1hr tire replacement. That's what I get for bragging about how well they keep me running. Lol. I've been waiting for a couple of hours now.

My mistake on the off the path truck stop. I was in Indiana headed north on 131. That route only runs a bit over 1/2 mile in Indiana , just off 76. The rest of it runs all the way up through Michigan.

Hello Anne,

Thank you. I'm dedicated to be the best I can be in all that I do. It's not that I have to be the best, it's that I try to do my best I can do with everything I do. I made a couple of rookie mistakes like almost driving right past a weigh station and catching the attention of the state police enough to be pulled around to the back of the scales for an inspection and a lecture. But, all-in-all, a pretty good six months.

I did see where they updated the September stats and I made it into the top five mileage and was second in safety score for the month. I hope to keep the mileage up, but I had a low-mileage week last week of 2200 miles. Some catching up to do.

I'll keep the bio in mind and try to update something next week.

Also, I have to get with you and Tom about some of those honey holes in Ohio. I found a good one just off of route 76 on route 131 North as I was headed to Three Rivers Michigan two weeks ago.

Take care.

Howdy, Bill !!!!!

Everything sounds like it's really going AWESOME for you; makes me remember the 'tender' days of Tom's, I don't know who was beaming more, me or him, hahaha~!

Good for you, it's really refreshing to hear this, for sure.

Now, about that bio . . . . LoLoL! Holding my breath ... (ok, nope!)

Next tho, about the 'Hidey Holes' ~ omigosh, where you just described; Perrysburg/Dixie Hwy, the 131 ?!?!? That was one of our BEST; was nice to be a tad bit outside Toledo; we delivered asphalt to The Shelly Co., right there on the SE side of the bridge!!!

If you stayed in Perrysburg off Dixie, not far from the Pike/76, you may just have found ours . . (?!?)

I'm jumping to hear, now!!!!!

Be safe, Bill. Always a pleasure, man;

~ Anne ~

Hi Anne,

I'm sitting here waiting for a dispatch load for only the second time in six months. This after a 1hr tire replacement. That's what I get for bragging about how well they keep me running. Lol. I've been waiting for a couple of hours now.

My mistake on the off the path truck stop. I was in Indiana headed north on 131. That route only runs a bit over 1/2 mile in Indiana , just off 76. The rest of it runs all the way up through Michigan.

Hello Anne,

Thank you. I'm dedicated to be the best I can be in all that I do. It's not that I have to be the best, it's that I try to do my best I can do with everything I do. I made a couple of rookie mistakes like almost driving right past a weigh station and catching the attention of the state police enough to be pulled around to the back of the scales for an inspection and a lecture. But, all-in-all, a pretty good six months.

I did see where they updated the September stats and I made it into the top five mileage and was second in safety score for the month. I hope to keep the mileage up, but I had a low-mileage week last week of 2200 miles. Some catching up to do.

I'll keep the bio in mind and try to update something next week.

Also, I have to get with you and Tom about some of those honey holes in Ohio. I found a good one just off of route 76 on route 131 North as I was headed to Three Rivers Michigan two weeks ago.

Take care.

Howdy, Bill !!!!!

Everything sounds like it's really going AWESOME for you; makes me remember the 'tender' days of Tom's, I don't know who was beaming more, me or him, hahaha~!

Good for you, it's really refreshing to hear this, for sure.

Now, about that bio . . . . LoLoL! Holding my breath ... (ok, nope!)

Next tho, about the 'Hidey Holes' ~ omigosh, where you just described; Perrysburg/Dixie Hwy, the 131 ?!?!? That was one of our BEST; was nice to be a tad bit outside Toledo; we delivered asphalt to The Shelly Co., right there on the SE side of the bridge!!!

If you stayed in Perrysburg off Dixie, not far from the Pike/76, you may just have found ours . . (?!?)

I'm jumping to hear, now!!!!!

Be safe, Bill. Always a pleasure, man;

~ Anne ~

Was that truck stop Gallops in Middlebury, IN?

Not gonna lie that I love finding those off-the-beaten path truck stops because you are nearly guaranteed to find a place to park and not have to fight truck stop traffic during the peak of shutdown time.