I'm BAAAAACK!

Posted on Tue, Nov 21 2006 @ 10:24 PM [EST]

My goal is to not end up where this guy works.

Well, I am back to the blog. I have been feeling much better healthwise, so I have had a lot of business to take care of. It's been one thing after another- but the good thing is that I am making forward progress and I am hopeful about getting into a good training program ASAP. In my spare time I have even been gassing up my car and driving around for hours on end- I have been bitten by the Road-Bug and have come down with a serious case of the Wanders!

I bought a general purpose CDL-A study manual from a huge bookstore here in Buffalo, then I went to the local New York DMV office for an official New York Manual. New York seems different in some ways- did you know there is a seperate license certification for Steel Coils here? I didn't know that. But I do remember some really horrific accidents which happened in Buffalo when Steel Coils got loose from flatbeds. Anyway. I also got a regular driving manual to brush up on the general rules-o-the-road, and even a motorcycle book, because I want to do that someday too. I got a driver's Abstract- I am proud to say I have a SPOTLESS record! Any other background check will reveal that I am also a model citizen and a very good boy:) So I have been reading and reading. Also I have downloaded a few documents concerning the FMCSR's and other rules and regs. It is easy, on the internet, to get sidetracked,too- I have been reading a lot about current debates concerning truckers and things like the HOS rules and other items. I have really been doing a lot of research, and what an education I've been getting. I Strongly recommend all Newbies educate themselves as much as possible.

I have also tied this all in with VM's idea that I should keep my eyes open... I have learned a lot that could be discouraging, if I let it do that to me. For example, I've learned a lot about how drivers will sometimes fudge their log books so that they effectively end up giving away a lot of their time to their employers (who may wink and turn a blind eye) at the loading docks and elsewhere... Drivers really get screwed! I have a newfound respect for the drivers out there who continue to bring us the 'goods' while working under conditions that exist in NO other industry! However, I think our minds are very powerful tools, and that we can all prosper even under adverse condiitions provided we have the right attitude. (BTW- I am NOT accusing ANYONE of having a bad attitude!) So that's what I'm going for- a positive attitude and the knowledge that I am ultimately responsible for my own success or lack of it. I know, easier said than done.... I will be the first to admit I don't know sh*t about the realities of life on the road!

So how about it, pros? What are some of the biggest things to watch out for out there? How will the companies and Shippers/Receivers try to screw us newbies when we get out there? What would you do over or do better if you could start over? Let me and other newbies have it right between the eyes!

Thanks in advance- I have a feeling this will be interesting! ~R

Category Posted: General

Comments

OH, I almost forgot: HAPPY TURKEY DAY to you and yours, from ~Riverman!

Comment By:
Riverman on Tue, Nov 21 2006 @ 10:27 PM [EST]

You will find out real quick that we are not giving the employers anything when fudging on the logs. I pretty much know what places will have trucks sitting for a long time and I refuse to go to them. But there are times when it can't be helped. If a machine breaks down or the computers crash you may have to sit. If that happens I'll tell dispatch that I'll be late at the other end. But for most companies,the only way to make a decent amount of money is to mess with the logs. Regional and shorthaul are about the toughest to keep legal and make money. I run regional and run between 2600 and 3200 miles a week and home every weekend. My longest run will only be 700 miles so that means delivery and pickups every day. No time for sitting around at all. What you think you will do and what will actually happen will be 2 very differnt things. Many newbies can't figure out why they don't make good money and end up quitting

Comment By:
Roadhzrd on Wed, Nov 22 2006 @ 11:25 AM [EST]

Hey VM, Isn't that you in your truck?!!

Comment By:
Roadhzrd on Wed, Nov 22 2006 @ 3:28 PM [EST]

Good one Rdhazrd,...the truth is you can eat off my background check. No preventable accidents, no tickets.. No nothing..Only one NON-preventable accident which rookies will scratch their heads thinking,..whats that? Well a non-preventable means that not only it wasn't your fault it means you couldn't have prevented it. See in the trucking world even if it wasn't your fault it goes to a review board to see if it could or could not been prevented. For example someone runs a stop sign and slams into you. Yes it wasn't your fault but did you check to see if your intersection was clear before crossing?..As for logbook "Creativity" you just have to make it beleivable. In no way can you log 5000 miles legally but you can log around 3000 miles legally. As for advice for dealing with recievers since thats one of my many hats. Pull some charm and NEVER give any attitude. If someone is an A-hole to me I will make them sit until their appointment time. (continued)

Comment By:
VM on Thu, Nov 23 2006 @ 6:14 AM [EST]

Just say "Hey brother can I unload a little early?" and 9 times out of 10 I'll see if I can or not. But if someone is an A-hole to me giving me attitude I make them wait until their appointment time. The main thing is be nice and explain to them subtly that you get paid by the load or mile and you need to make your next pickup but pour on the charm. This will get you in and out of a place quicker than anything else. Be a salesman, which I can do, smile a little and ask for things. Many recievers don't know and don't care how you get paid so they will make you wait, but if you pour on the charm and get them to see your point of view it can mean dollars in your pocket. VM-out!

Comment By:
VM on Thu, Nov 23 2006 @ 6:23 AM [EST]

I'll tell you a true story, here goes I was scheduled to unload in someplace in Austin, TX. I was doing a favor for dispatch. And when I got there on a Friday the lady said oh you'll have to come back Monday. I said "I can't do that I get paid by the mile" I bit my tounge and had a smoke with some of the employee's working there. I explained my situation to them on a smoke break...humbly and next thing you know I was unloaded with an empty trailer ready for my next pickup. So the moral of this story is "Be nice" Make the recievers/shippers understand that you get paid by the load/mile/percentage same thing..Pour on the charm and this will make a big difference,..If I was an asshole do you think anyone would help me?...Uhh no. VM-out!

Comment By:
VM on Thu, Nov 23 2006 @ 6:35 AM [EST]

Which bring me to another "Texas" story. The saying is "Don't mess with Texas" well Texas always screwed with me for some reason. Of which my ancestors fought for Texas by the way, so it made me intensely angered. Dispatch told me drop your trailer in Houston at some god awful place. In which if you've never been in Austin its rather a large place. So I spend 3-4 hours finally findind a place to drop my trailer, unpaid mind you. The next thing you know dispatch says "you need to pick up a trailer for your next dispatch" all unpaid mind you. Thanks a whole hell of alot again SWIFT you think I wouldn't post your Bullshit on here think again. Rot in hell SWIFT. So rather pissed I bobtail and make my pickup spending 7-8 hours UNPAID around Houston finding these places. When I get there dispatch says security has your BOL so I go to security, security says I don't have your paperwork go to dispatch. So once again I go to dispatch which they say I don't have it security does (continued)

Comment By:
VM on Thu, Nov 23 2006 @ 6:56 AM [EST]

I get so mad I actually punched my trailer. It didn't hurt the trailer any but my hand throbbed for a couple of weeks. Finally security finds my BOL and apologizes I call my father and say "Dad,..I just did something really stupid" and explained to him what I just punched a trailer after having such a bad day. I couldn't call my wife. I just needed someone to talk to after that mess. ALL UNPAID MIND YOU,..I lucked out in life and have a wonderful FATHER I can talk to man to man. So I go home with a probably broken right hand that throbs with pain thanks again to SWIFT. This is what some of you will have to go through if you go with (fill in the blank) trucking. Thats why I get so angered when rookies mention SWIFT. Not only was the pay terrible but to put up with so much and make so little its unbearable...VM-out!

Comment By:
VM on Thu, Nov 23 2006 @ 7:06 AM [EST]

By the way if you do go to (Fill in the blank) trucking realize that this is NOT the usual way trucking companies do business with drivers. I like my current job very much and they don't ever disrespect me the way some SWIFT comapanies have. VM

Comment By:
VM on Thu, Nov 23 2006 @ 7:11 AM [EST]

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