Not quite as easy as it looks, it it?

I think you'll do great, honey! I'm glad you're getting some practice time in the truck. I hope you get more behind the wheel so you feel as comfortable as you can.

Not quite as easy as it looks, it it?

Well I don't think I thought it was easy. Im getting the hang of driving...but the extra stuff...dear lord!
Pre trip is lengthy, then the TIVs, plus post trips, plus four point checks...etc. Lots of gubment stuff to keep aware of.

Won't need to run illegal as Im salaried...don't get paid by the mile.

Yes it is.


Not in the flatbed division at the moment. If I was...then I would be learning how to do that...just going to be driving Van trailers.


Self adjusting - slack adjusters. Plus...either way...company policy says I can't touch em if I'm a noob.


Learning that pretty soon I think. Tomorrow is more time in the sims / labs and driving and then Saturday is going to be a closed course with slow manuvering. Chains is coming up sometime...not sure when.

Otherwise known as 'sissy wagons'

Trust me, the actual real world driving will be much different than what you'll be seeing in training.

The driving isn't even the hardest part of the job. Just wait until the first time you get pulled around at a weigh station for an inspection. That's when the real fun starts

Or spend 10 hours sitting at some shipper waiting around to get loaded and then have to run your ass off to get it there on time. They still want it there on time ya know, even if they did hold you up for hours and hours. I hate grocery warehouses. That's why I do specialized.

Oh well, you'll see soon enough. Have fun.

Otherwise known as 'sissy wagons'

lol...but they are MANLY sissy wagons! I figure if it gets my foot in the door and gets me a job...Im happy with that. Plus...I feel sort of lucky. Only job the company had open in the entire state, plus its dedicated. Ill be home nightly, and work only five days a week and will probably work 50-60 hours a week, thats on the high end. I could go flatbed, but I think I would need additional training for that through the company, and even so...I would be gone from home more. Not something Id like to do... but would if I had to.

Trust me, the actual real world driving will be much different than what you'll be seeing in training.The driving isn't even the hardest part of the job. Just wait until the first time you get pulled around at a weigh station for an inspection. That's when the real fun starts

I know that training is not like the real world, but at least its something. I do know that we have many former company drivers with other Comps who say our training program is much more detailed. Our pre-trip is very lengthy as we name / describe almost all of the components on the tractor and trailer (whereas the DOT does not). Plus safety is a huge thing here. I know probably every company says that, but this is annoying how much they stress safety. They incorporate various data into their training program to help lower the accidents...etc. Ie...their number one issue is slow speed manuvering, something we got training on today in the sims plus a road course this weekend and at the local former airport.
Weigh stations should be interesting because in the end, Im responsible for the truck....want to keep that sucker in top shape.

Or spend 10 hours sitting at some shipper waiting around to get loaded and then have to run your ass off to get it there on time. They still want it there on time ya know, even if they did hold you up for hours and hours. I hate grocery warehouses. That's why I do specialized.

Well Im going to be running a dedicated account so my trailer will actually be on its way to my town when Im sleeping. I will meet them at the local truck stop, swap trailers and make my rounds, then come back and park it...repeating the next day. I've heard a couple of different versions of what I could be doing, but either way, the freight is actually brought to me so I don't have to deal with docks and shippers and the like. Just stop, unload a pallet or whatever and then continue on to the next stop.

Ive heard nightmares about grocery warehouses. eek.

If it were only that simple...bwuahaha.Of course they're going to describe the job to you in the most glowing terms possible, Ziggy, and for your sake, I hope they're telling you at least some truths.As I'm sure you'll learn once you get out there, the best laid plans of mice and men and dispatchers often go belly-up, leaving you holding the bag.

Not trying to be a smart ass here LW...but I should know more than you (just slightly of course) about what my job entails. I don't go to shippers at all. My trailer is brought to me...I mean...you brag about how you know where we live...so look at a sat picture....see any huge distributors or loading docks anywhere? no. My trailer is brought to me every morning from Denver.

It's often not as easy as 'pull in, unload, pull out.' Sometimes there's only one or two loading docks, and several trucks waiting ahead of you, so you get stuck sitting for hours, which of course makes you late on your remaining stops.Often, we'd pull in to unload to discover the shipping/recieving manager wasn't even there that day, or that they didn't have room in the warehouse to take our load, or weren't even expecting us at the time we attempted to drop, despite dispatch claiming the contrary.

Right, and this might be true...IF I worked with loading docks. I get the truck and make stops to auto parts stores and car dealerships.

S/R managers can be real cunts, too. If you're late for any reason, whether that's due to weather, mechanical problems, traffic, or whatever, you may miss your window of opportunity for the day and they can refuse the load. They often do, too. Just to be pricks.

My load can't be refused as the load I get is part of my job. They send me the load that goes to the same stores and dealerships every single day...so I make the same stops every day to the same places.

We've called them from the road at 4:30, telling them we're running a bit late but we'll be there no later than 5:15 (with a load promised before 5:00) and have them tell us "yeah, ok, we'll wait" and then close up shop promptly at 5:00 anyway. You roll in at 5:05 and everyone's gone, the warehouse locked up.

I start my route at 6am every morning I work. At the other end of my route...I finish at about 2 or 3pm and head home.

But hey, who knows, you may have lucked in to the only perfect trucking job in the whole wide world, run like clockwork, with helpful and friendly recieving managers and trustworthy and honest dispatchers.Hahahaha.

Hahaha hehe he he he he. Teehee. and you drove how many decades ago?

Why limit yourself like that? If you have the chance to learn flatbed load securing, take it.

My O/C just doesn't have the flatbeds out here. They are all vans. The flatbed division is based out of somewhere else. Everyone going through here is going to be driving a dedicated thing...but most of them are running western regional. Which is weird because they can't figure out why Im down here at this o/c because WY is out of the western Region they run.

Or you could always pay a lumper to do your unloading for you, but that cuts into your profit rather severely.

or I could hand unload and get 100 a pop.

So, uhmm, you're never going to speed, finding yourself a few miles further along your route than you would be had you kept it to 55mph or less?

governed at a tad less than 65.

I can tell you have yet to comprehend the complexity of log keeping, and the insane penalties for screwing one up.

I didn't know you were in my class? when did you show up!

Whatever, Ziggy. As usual, you know it all.It's going to fun watching you discover what you do NOT know, once you're out there.

No...its just that you as usual are telling me what Im going to be doing. Despite the fact that I know what Im going to be doing because I was told so. Somehow, you think your information about my job and what it entails is more correct than the information I have been given.

Where did I assume you didn't? I mentioned shipping/recieving managers. They're usually one and the same. Auto parts stores and dealerships are not exempt from the S/R asshole requirement.

Right, but they don't have docks. I pull in and use my liftgate to unload the freight myself. They aren't swamped with deliveries all day long. I get in, unload and get out. As far as people being there to sign...Im not sure about that yet.

A nice DOT officer pulls you over and asks to see your logbook. Oi! What's this? Mr DOT knows that the roads you've been on have a restriction on semis, requiring them to travel at no more than 50mph. You are 42 miles (64-50= 14mph x 3 = 42) further along your route than you should be.

Right...IF and WHEN there are restrictions. The speed limit out here on the Interstate is 75 and so is Utah, although they are considering dropping it down to 65. About 90% of my mileage each day is on the interstate. Also...I don't plan on running faster than Im supposed to. No point.

Your log has nothing to do with your pay.

Right. Or not.
You get paid by the mile, although not in my case, but I digress. You get paid by the mile. You drive as long as you have hours...driving eats up hours. If you drive and make it appear as if you were off duty for a bit here and there...it gives you more hours (albiet illegal) to drive, hence making more money. One could even make it look like they are off duty or in the sleeper which would give them a tad bit here and there....adding up to more hours. That pretrip took you fifteen minutes?? Nah...nock it down to 7 so you don't have to log it...then you have an extra 15 to drive. Extra minutes...extra $$.
With the fact that you get paid HHMG miles, sure you get paid what it says on the load. However, if you squeeze in extra time here and there, you will have time for more loads.

For me, I don't need to do that since I won't be anywhere near 70 hours each week.

Also...some companies have forced routing, so technically getting there is their business as well.

I truly hope your boss is being honest with you, Ziggy. Seriously, I do.

But I must tell you, from personal experience (qualifying this by saying I have NEVER driven a truck commercially [legally, but that's another story entirely] and can tell you ZILCH about the industry) That in virtually every industry where I HAVE worked, the people charged with hiring were very adept at glossing over the negative parts of the job.

But you need the work, so it's a gamble you have to take. That's something else I understand.

Boy, are you in for a rude awakening! Best you pay a tad more attention to those who do or have done this shit for a living. I have over a million miles behind me and know a little about the trucking biz.

You'll learn pretty quick that seasoned drivers don't think very highly of rookies these days. The reason for that has been demonstrated in this thread. They come out of the schools thinking they know it all, won't listen to those who have done it for years, and don't actually know shit.

You'll learn pretty quick that seasoned drivers don't think very highly of rookies these days. The reason for that has been demonstrated in this thread. They come out of the schools thinking they know it all, won't listen to those who have done it for years, and don't actually know shit.

I never once said I know it all on this thread. However, I do tend to know more about the particular position in which I was hired than someone sitting in another part of the country assuming this that and the other thing. All Im saying is that I know more about what Im doing than someone who is not doing what I will do. Like you said before, driving the truck is the easy part. However, the very makeup of my position will not be like that of most other drivers out there. Am I being a pompus ass for saying that? No...Im merely pointing out that Im not going to be doing the same as an OTR driver.

If you feel Im off here, please fill me in so I know what you are talking about. I never have claimed to be an expert, nor anywhere near that. Most if not all rookies in any field will have that mindset that they know enough or all of it. I know I dont know all of it. I want to know as much as I can so I can be the best I can.

Sure, LW has driven truck before. Thats a given. OK. With that in mind, she doesn't know what I will be doing, yet tells me what I will be doing as if her lack of information somehow gives her knowledge about the exact particulars of my job:
Mentions logbooks which I am learning. Only one way to learn and so far Im doing a good job.
Mentions flatbed related stuff, something which I won't be doing in the area I've been hired in.
Mentions backing up as if I wasn't going to do that. I already have done straight backing (hard to screw up there) the other day along with a 45 sight side back today. Im learning, thats the key.

The thing here is that I KNOW that the real world will be different. But at the same time...I have asked practically every question I could think of in relation to my position as well and even asked at one point (i believe) for questions to ask. I know the route and towns i will be stopping in as that won't change at all. I know the product I will deliver. I know the time frame of my day and Im learning the prep that I do each morning and night for the truck to get and keep it ready.

Im entirely open to suggestions and comments about what else I could be missing or have rose colored glasses on here.

That in virtually every industry where I HAVE worked, the people charged with hiring were very adept at glossing over the negative parts of the job.

That is very true for trucking recruiters as well. I asked mine lots of questions and she wasn't able to help me out much. After I got hired, my business leader (not really a dispatcher per se in regards to this account) was able to answer all of my questions and make everything clear for me. The recruiter told me I would be getting stuff from a warehouse in my area where in reality, another driver will bring me my load each morning where I swap trailers with him. She told me my route would be in this chunk of WY, and then later on told me the state of WY, but she wasn't sure as she didnt have all the info infront of her. He then told me exactly what towns I would be hitting and that I would be going into UT. So in my case, I was able to go up a couple of levels to my actual boss and get the answers straight from him because he runs and manages this account.
The only question nobody can answer down here is why Im at this location in CA. Im the only student from WY they have ever had and they said that they train the western region drivers and that WY is not part of their region and I should have gone to Wisconsin for training. So Im kind of sticking out a bit in that they need to make sure they are training me for WY's CDL exam instead of CA.

Yeah, I'm sure you know all about it. You only know what someone has told you.

S'ok, you'll find out about the realities soon enough.