Need CDL, no exp, no ged, help?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by RobertFord, Jan 28, 2013.

  1. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    In my line of work, time is extremely important. I will have an desk jockey try to coordinate for me. Unless they have some seat time, a desk jockey usually can't do what I need done. I will call the shipper and set up crane appointments, set up drive times with pilot cars or police escorts all while keeping an eye on metro and rush hour curfews and other state laws. Because the time constraints are so tight, sometimes, the night before, I will email a copy of my permits to my pilot cars and meet them on the roll. They'd better be flagged and signed and ready to roll BEFORE I get there. How tight is my schedule?

    Pulled a load out of Milwaukee to Nogales, only 12'11 wide. Needed pilot cars for Missouri and Oklahoma. Stopped the first day at the Iowa 80. Called my Missouri car and told her that I was a few hours out. Next morning, hammered out through Des Moines and hit the show me line. Had to behave to avoid any awards, but was in a bind because we always worry about Kansas (Kansas is super strict). It got dark on me somewhere on US 54 and I found a mom and pop joint that I could eat with a fork, plus a cute waitress hat I could pick on. Called my Okie Pilot car and told her to meet me in Liberal, Ks at 0900. Ripped through Oklahoma, and hammered down us83 to i20. Wanted to make El Paso and stop at the Petro, but was too far out. Wanted to make Van Horn, but didn't before it got dark. Stopped in the mom and pop joint at Plateau,Tx. No cute waitress, but I could eat with a fork. Next morning, had to sandbag and wait for the curfew to lift at ElPaso, then hammer through a goat path all the way across the bottom of New Mexico. Got hung up at the port of entry in Arizona with all the other oversize that had to sit through the ElPaso curfew. Because of the size of the load, I was restricted to the interstate. Now I am fighting to make it to Tucson before curfew. It's Friday afternoon. If I don't make it, I am done until Monday. I cleared Tucson at 1555.

    All of that running, from Tuesday to Friday, steady driving....just to clear with 5 minutes to spare. Went from looking to to not making a check to having a $10 grand pay week.

    Want to learn what to do? Program yourself to get up early. We primarily run during daylight hours only, so when it's time to drive, we have a very limited time to drive. Get up early. Start your day early. Every day. The successful drivers (doesn't matter what kind of wagon you're pulling) always are up early, BEFORE they have to roll out. Even on off days, we get up early because that's what we are used to.

    Beat the bushes. You find out what time they open, how late they stay, if they take delivery on the weekend. Don't be waiting around for a recruiter or dispatcher to hold your hand. Want it to happen? You make it happen. You see these guys all the time stop at a shipper or receiver park and expect someone to wake them up. They will park right in front of a sign that says,"shipping from 0700-1500" and will still be in bed at 0659. Gate gets opened, slow driver jumps up when he hears diesel motors going by him. Fires up his truck and then has to wait for his air pressure to build up. Slowpoke walks inside the joint mad at the 15 trucks that went around him. What were they supposed to do....wait for his stupidity to wear off? If you aren't ready to play ball when the game begins, don't they penalize you?

    Had a driver check into the motel with me when I was going through orientation. He bragged about his experience at heavy haul, and how big and heavy the loads he pulled. Well, he overslept and missed the bus to orientation. They sent him home. His argument was that the other guys going through orientation knew what room he was in and should have knocked on his door to wake him up. A heavy haul company driver. Makes six figures driving someone else's truck and he can't get out of bed. Got canned on the first day.

    anyways, no matter where you go in trucking, plan to be near the front of the pack. If all the guys in front of you are outside their trucks, get out of your truck and see what they are talking about. Odds are, they are talking about something that you need to hear. If they are all in their trucks, walk up the line of trucks. If they're all sitting in the drivers seats, why would you even consider going back into your sleeper? If there are 10 trucks ahead of you idling, and the first truck is off and the driver isn't in the seat, check in at the shipper, ask about the hours, go back to your truck and prepare to go around Snoring Beauty.

    Happy motoring.
     
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  3. RobertFord

    RobertFord Bobtail Member

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    Wow. You're amazing. No joke honestly. I think it would have taken me MANY failures before finding out this information and even then I would have more than likely missed some key info. I can't wait to start rolling! :D

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  4. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    Not amazing...just started driving the old school way. There was no orientation. You went to a trucking company (usually a barn or a double wide) and applied for a job. The owner would ask you, "Can you drive a truck, boy?" You immediately took a driving test. If he liked how you drove and had an open spot (they almost always did Monday morning because of some slacker that couldn't get to work on time, or a job hopper who made a couple checks and disappears for 6 to 8 months), he would put you to work right then. "there's your truck, go grab a trailer and follow Jim and go load."

    We learned everything on the fly. Thing is, you would move up really quick. There were so many crappy undependable drivers that if you were just reliable, you would get one of the better rigs. When you built up your stamina and could run 14 hours or more, then you earned the boss' respect. He would have you pick up the new(er) trucks, get first pick of the loads, and road test the new drivers. Run 5000 miles a week and home every weekend. Took care of the truck as if I owned it, and the boss would buy the chicken lights or the chrome that I wanted.

    Anyways, want to be towards the front of the pack? Build your stamina up ASAP. You may not be able to ride in the saddle as long as some of the experienced drivers starting out, and getting used to driving such a big vehicle will keep you on the edge of your seat at the start of the trip, but will strain you mentally 400 miles down the road. You might get restless and start kicking your feet around. You might start having troubles keeping the truck between the lines. Your eyes may become heavy. Pull over. Either get out of the truck or take a nap. That mental strain will shut your brain down. It's like weightlifting...the more you do it, the stronger you become and easier it becomes to drive for longer periods without a mental meltdown. Being able to keep that left door shut is paramount if you want to make money. But also like weightlifting, you only get stronger when you get proper rest. So turn off the TV and turn the ringer off on the phone. You trash around when you're empty, never when loaded. When it's time to sleep, go to sleep. When it's time to drive, be ready to drive.
     
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  5. RobertFord

    RobertFord Bobtail Member

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    May 28, 2012
    Grand Prairie, Texas
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    I have good stamina, health wise, but I've never driven more then 6 hours straight so this is definitely going to be a learning period in my life. I am blessed to have my grandfather who has been a trucker for 40+ years who taught me how to be a patient and understanding driver. Heck you probably won't believe me but I actually drive 60mph on the interstate, when that is the speed limit, and not 15-25mph over like everyone else because of my patience.
    I've always dreamt of owning my own rig and company and this is the first stone to cross the river. Thanks for the advice and 'biography'. lol I needed to hear this. God bless you sir.


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