I have been getting ready to prepare for OTR trucking...did I miss something ?

Nah, not really, you still could drive home. Boy, i can see it now, she comes up to you at home and says " i ain't got no panties on " and you reply " shut up stupid " i have a feeling that you would be in your pick up for a looooong time. so don't practice talking on a c.b......

 

Nah, He could practice talking on a CB just turn the radio way up and key the mic to air your favorite tune to all who thought they would have a nice quiet day out there on the Highways and By Ways!.
I also thought of this one, Get your self a binder and shove a bunch of invoices and paperwork that doesn't really matter to anyone even the landfill doesn't miss it, and put that in the pocket in the door of the pick up truck and wait for a windy raining day and then pretend you are pulled in at the scale and the sign says "Driver on the Scale park as far away from the scale and bring in your paperwork." Then you grab your binder with of course you are sure it is all in there, but leave your wallet in the truck because it has your Physical Card and your CDL in it, Get in line at the check out stand at wall mart or somewhere there is always a line, get to the counter and pretend the clerk(Scale Master)( called master because he has become the master over your sack of jewels while you are in the scale house) Asks for your CDL and Physical card and so you have to run back out to the truck and get them, And so you leave the log book there and the binder there for them to peruse while you walk the 1/4 mile back to your truck and back.... Driver never ever do this, They will find every mistake there ever was to make in the paperwork and the log book, take it all in with you the first trip and treat them like your new in-laws who both have terminal illnesses and if you can make it last 6 months you and your wife will be wealthy healthy and wide pocketed for a remainder of your years!!! Hang in there you are catching on quick. Down The road I go. Good Night(Day)

 

your killin me china

 

Hmmm Should I say it?? Should I be that guy who points out the elephant in the room? Steriotypes?? Well, Ive never been the guy to keep his mouth shut, so why start now.. Dont know if this is a problem in the US but it IS a problem in Brampton, On that I see often as a Heavy Tow Operator.. Why do OTR by yourself? Why even do it with one other member? Why not go to your church with 4 of your brothers and cousins, and get THEM to buy you a truck.. THEN, ALL 5 of you pile in and take turns driving non-stop at a rate that undercuts EVERYONE ELSES BY A LOT, keeping truckers wages at what they are for the NEXT 30 years!! And to keep yourself moving, Cut a hole in the floor to $#!t through so you NEVER have to stop... and dont do it to the side, right in the middle of the floor so it lands on the spinning driveshaft and goes EVERYWHERE.. May sound like a SHOCK to a lot of you, But I see it ALL THE TIME and hear horror stories in the shops. SOME bad trucker habits are funny to talk about.. some AREN'T!

 

It is just as much a problem in the US. Seen quite a few up here too as you say. Most mechanics won't even bring those trucks in the shop anymore. I know a few that absolutely will not even look at you if there is a giant clump of frozen poo on the drive-shaft.

Off topic but I have a question for you WreckerChad. Why is it that every tow truck I see out here whether a wrecker or flat-deck keeps their beacons on driving around under load? I drove a wrecker out west and we'd get a 300$ ticket if we got caught forgetting them on. It desensitizes people to the beacons and then the operators complain that people are ripping by them on the highway. IMO it serves you guys right, shut the #### things off once you're loaded and on your way, reserve their use for when you actually need people to notice you... not to say "hey look at me, I have a car on my truck!"

Sorry for the rant but I was proud to be a wrecker operator out there but since I've moved back to Ontario I'll hardly ever tell anyone that I used to do that. I'm ashamed of the "hey look at me" beacon use going on out here and I don't want to be associated with that. This is nothing personal towards you man so don't take it that way, it's just an observation from a fellow happy hooker that's gotten to see the different ways of operating across this great country.

 

I think some people have been spending a lot of time at the truckstop listening to truck driver stories.

 

You're only a "Real Trucker" if you parked and left your car in the fuel island at the local 7/11, and went home to type all of this. Also, make sure said 7/11 only has 2 pumps and it's in a busy area.

Then, when you're ready (After several hours have passed) come back with this "Gee, what's wrong with yall?" look on your face.....:smt003

 

Lucky07 I agree with you 100% You know that law in Ontario that states if you see an police car/fire truck/ambulance on the side of the road with the hazards on, you have to slow RIGHT down and/or move over or you'll get chased down and fined? Well My boss is pretty high up id not president in some trucking/towing groups and is trying to get that law passed for tow trucks as well. I work for one of the largest towing companies in North America (Abrams Towing) We have over 150 trucks, 14 in with are heavy's. I HATE to say it, but theres a HUGE different between talking to a Heavy Operator and a Light Duty. Heavy Operators have a sense of professionalism, and the light duty guys are the ones driving around with their beacons on all the time. Ive sat through meetings where the boss explained it to everyone, but i guess they arent listening or their english isnt the best. Another problem and Im sure you read my previous post about the (Get ur church to buy you a truck) is that A LOT of Heavy's are popping up out of know where because they THINK they can make the money and grow as big as we can. Problem is they are lacking the know-how (VERY DANGEROUS THINGS THEY DO) and Professionalism and always have the beacons on themselves.. So i understand what your saying, I get it, and see it, and to be HONEST, Im in the process of getting OUT OF TOWING myself, and within a week should be jumping in the cab of a nice Pete 387 at a well reputated company doing regional/dedicated.
Keep up the good work everyone and remember, "People see what your doing out there, your a PROFESSIONAL trucker, try to act like one."