Doubles????

Topic 33214 | Page 1

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Jared B.'s Comment
member avatar

Hey guys,

New here and just wanted to ask some advice from you all.

So I've had my cdl for 7 years now. I started out otr for a few months and got a job offer from a local outfit so i left drove a mixer truck and later on switched to another company hauling big reels of cable and other freight. So long story short most of my experience in driving is class b.

I had no problems with otr life but the local offers paid close to what I was making and I can be home with my wife and kids everyday.

So with that being said I always looked for opportunities to use my class A again but most local companies here want at least a year or more experience under your belt so had no luck.

Well I was offered a position recently that pays similar to where I am now and wants to hire me on pulling doubles. I talked to some drivers and have some saying that I need more experience pulling 53s and some telling me that it's a piece of cake and I should do it. But I don't want to set myself up for failure as my cdl is clean with no accident tickets or violations. And it's my passion and what puts food on my table so I want to be smart about the move.

Now that I got that out of the way what do you all think. Would I be getting in over my head. Is it really as difficult as some drivers make it out to be I'm a pretty quick learner but want some advice from those who are far more experienced than me. Thanks for any advice

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.

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.

Doubles:

Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
NaeNaeInNC's Comment
member avatar

For my personal comfort, after two years OTR , and the amount of "near accidents" I witnessed both a FedEx and XPO driver get blown around with today, I personally wouldn't take that risk. I was super light today, the wind wasn't even close to shut it down territory, but these two were wiggling all over, and drifting out of their lanes. I thought for sure one was going to hit the ditch today.

That's a big fat nope, not for me. God bless those that pull doubles and triples.

Hey guys,

New here and just wanted to ask some advice from you all.

So I've had my cdl for 7 years now. I started out otr for a few months and got a job offer from a local outfit so i left drove a mixer truck and later on switched to another company hauling big reels of cable and other freight. So long story short most of my experience in driving is class b.

I had no problems with otr life but the local offers paid close to what I was making and I can be home with my wife and kids everyday.

So with that being said I always looked for opportunities to use my class A again but most local companies here want at least a year or more experience under your belt so had no luck.

Well I was offered a position recently that pays similar to where I am now and wants to hire me on pulling doubles. I talked to some drivers and have some saying that I need more experience pulling 53s and some telling me that it's a piece of cake and I should do it. But I don't want to set myself up for failure as my cdl is clean with no accident tickets or violations. And it's my passion and what puts food on my table so I want to be smart about the move.

Now that I got that out of the way what do you all think. Would I be getting in over my head. Is it really as difficult as some drivers make it out to be I'm a pretty quick learner but want some advice from those who are far more experienced than me. Thanks for any advice

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.

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.

Doubles:

Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Klutch's Comment
member avatar

I took a local job pulling doubles after being OVR for a year and couldn’t be happier. Any details on the position? Some parts of the country would definitely be more challenging.

Doubles:

Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.

DoctorWho_214's Comment
member avatar

It depends. I enjoy driving doubles over a longbox now that I've been driving doubles on my route every day. It takes turns, in my opinion, a lot easier than a longbox. And call me craxy but I enjoy building my sets. Now for that hard part. Driving in inclement weather would prove challenging until you've gotten some experience under your belt. Having to chain up an extra axle or driving in moderate to high winds can tire you out for sure.

Doubles:

Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.

Deleted Account's Comment
member avatar

Your location and the type of job it is important. If you're strictly doing linehaul pulling doubles or a 53' terminal to terminal it wouldn't be too bad with little experience. You get into pickup/delivery for an LTL or food service that's much more challenging.

Most LTL companies are struggling right now due to lack of freight. Fed Ex Freight furloughed drivers, other companies are canceling runs and their drivers are sitting at home not making money. Generally I'd agree that LTL is an excellent option but given the current state of the economy and the lack of linehaul drivers I'm seeing on the road its very alarming. If I started my day around midnight it'd be a constant stream of the linehaul guys/gals out on I80 from Des Moines to Davenport IA. Whether I'm passing them or they're heading opposite direction I always make a comment to myself about how rough it must be since it's no where near as frequent. In the last couple weeks I've seen only a handful of Estes or Saia. Dayton Freight (who pull 53's) is even less.

Terminal:

A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.

LTL:

Less Than Truckload

Refers to carriers that make a lot of smaller pickups and deliveries for multiple customers as opposed to hauling one big load of freight for one customer. This type of hauling is normally done by companies with terminals scattered throughout the country where freight is sorted before being moved on to its destination.

LTL carriers include:

  • FedEx Freight
  • Con-way
  • YRC Freight
  • UPS
  • Old Dominion
  • Estes
  • Yellow-Roadway
  • ABF Freight
  • R+L Carrier

Linehaul:

Linehaul drivers will normally run loads from terminal to terminal for LTL (Less than Truckload) companies.

LTL (Less Than Truckload) carriers will have Linehaul drivers and P&D drivers. The P&D drivers will deliver loads locally from the terminal and pick up loads returning them to the terminal. Linehaul drivers will then run truckloads from terminal to terminal.

Doubles:

Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.

BK's Comment
member avatar

Jared, I have no experience pulling doubles , so I can’t give you any input about how they drive. But you already have some excellent advice in the previous comments.

From what you say about your current situation, I would caution you about jumping into something new at this time when you apparently have a solid situation already. Seems like a very lateral move that you are considering.

About the same pay? Just to get class A experience? Nothing wrong with that goal except the timing. The economic trucking waters are murky. If you dive into unknown waters it can be risky.

You have a pretty sweet gig right now if you can be home with the family every day. Be careful what you wish for, it might come true and be “double” trouble.

Doubles:

Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.

Bobcat_Bob's Comment
member avatar

Doubles are not that bad. You just have to be a little more careful so you don't get the rear trailer going nuts and ending up its side. Also can't back up, so you need to make sure you can go forward.

And call me craxy but I enjoy building my sets.

I'm so over it now lol.

Doubles:

Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.

David W.'s Comment
member avatar

Doubles are easy in the summer but it's a different world in the snow or ice.

Doubles:

Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.

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