new to trucking, orientation on Monday

Congratulations! If you are able to get on a mentor's truck quickly you'll likely be able to run a lot of hours/miles at this time of year. Take care out there. Conditions will be a challenge.

 

Slow going while you're paid by the hour is fine...

Once you're paid by the mile then you need to make sure you stay safe and decide whether you're going so slow you are selling your 70 hour clock too cheaply. If you start going too slow you might be better off parking it until it clears up. If you are running in the west then chaining and running below 35 mph is part of the game to get over the passes. You can't wait until April.

 

That's how you get preplans stacked on you. Prove that you're a runner, then if you're sitting, give them a reminder...

 

This. If the times are unrealistic on a load put in another one(macro 9). Don't be afraid of macro 22 (late). Above all it's not an adventure its a job. You get the job done the planners remember you. Sometimes not in a good way-they know you can get a crap load done and put it on you instead of someone they are unsure of but a lot of times they'll set you up a nice one after for your trouble. And yea if your sitting CALL. I'm intermodel now but it still applies. Qualcomm first though. DM's will not get annoyed if you ask for work-they get bonuses too. Drive safe.

 

@ marvelfan, welcome to the club. First things first - you are going to get a bunch of officers with big belly who will try to piss you off. Don’t get defocused. Don’t pay them no mind. Once you are through with the test, all you have to do is collect your CDL from the counter if they deliver on the same day.

 

Welcome my friend. Im new to this career myself and joined here to gain as much info as I could. Good luck in your endeavors.