Instant O/O and Load boards

It's 30 over, not 15 in Cali before it becomes a misdemeanor.

Something like 80% of all the small businesses started in the U.S. fail in less than 5 years. I'm sure the percentage is higher in the trucking industry. I've been watching people come and go for over 40 years now. The level of delusion on this board is no greater than in the industry as a whole.

 

I'd like to pick up on something someone said a few posts back.

Just a couple of quick points of reference from my other life -

People who have insecurities, or are bitter, or have a ego or powertrip thing going on, or were abused children - who knows WHAT the problem is, they just always seem to have a problem with somebody. The one common thread among people with a problem is they always try to make you (or someone other than themself) look bad, so they look good - or at least better than they normally would.

Most of the time, people see right through that crap. Sometimes not, but almost always the truth comes out in the end.

Now, a reference from my previous line of work. In the world of the fighter pilot, attitude is everything. Some folks are simply born fighter pilots - guys like Col. John Boyd (if you want an interesting read, check on the biography on this guy). Other folks - most, actually - have to be taught HOW to be a fighter pilot. The one common thread amongst either type is ATTITUDE. If a stud (student pilot) has a negative attitude, he or she has already lost. With a positive attitude, IPs (instructor pilots) are willing to go the extra mile, help the stud overcome a learning plateau or busted ride, and eventually produce another top-notch fighter pilot who is most likely achieving a life-long dream.

Becoming a fighter pilot isn't easy, but then again, most things in life that are worth doing aren't easy, either. Each pursuit in life has its own unique challenges, but one thing remains constant...

Attitude is EVERYTHING. It separates the 'cans' from the 'can not's. With a positive attitude, what seem to be unsurmountable obstacles are tackled and overcome. With a negative attitude, very little is possible, because those types of people have already beaten themselves. Now, they are just looking to drag someone else into their misery.

You can tell a person with a positive attitude in about 15 seconds. He or she usually wears a smile on their face. They are pleasant to be around, and often upbeat even when the chips are down. They have that 'can-do' attitude - they don't make excuses, and are ready to help out or jump in at a moment's notice. Often, you don't have to ask them to help - they're already there, offering their help to you. They are eager to learn. When something doesn't work out, they don't give up - they, too, know when to ask others for help. They don't completely rely on others, but if they don't know how to do something, they ask an experienced individual to show them how to do it. Then, they know how to do it in the future, and have become more self-reliant.

The person with a positive attitude is confident. NOT ####y, but confident. He or she knows that life is going to throw some curveballs, and they are looking out for them and trying to learn as much as they can so they can sidestep those curveballs. If they are hit by one, they pick themselves up, analyze the situation, take appropriate action, and move on. People with a positive attitude are not quitters, and they are not whiners.

Sometimes people with positive attitudes can come off as a bit aggressive. They have a thirst for knowledge and zeal - a passion - for what it is they are pursuing. They know what they want, and they are aggressive in going after it. Sometimes that aggression does need to be tempered by someone with more experience in whatever it is the person with the postive attitude is going after. All the same, it is that positive attitude that will help a person achieve his or her goals.

Lastly, the person with a positive attitude is usually more successful in life. How can they not be? Look at it from the reverse perspective - if you have a negative attitude and have already beaten yourself, the world will only serve to be a harbinger of all bad things to come your way. Conversely, if you have a positive attitude, you are more ready to 'roll with the punches'. You probably have also surrounded yourself with other folks who have positive attitudes as well, and those people will be willing to help when you are at your lowest point.

People with positive attitudes and who are successful also are usually the first ones who are willing to give back to others. The world is always a better place when this happens.

I am sorry for taking this thread slightly off course, but I think it appropriate to bring up how imperative it is for anyone such as Pharm who endeavors to be successful in life. I know I'm preaching to the choir to many of the folks on here - and it is very obvious to me that Pharm has a GREAT positive attitude - but again, I thought it worth mentioning to those who haven't given their view on life much thought recently.

An attitude adjustment is always a step in the right direction, and it's never too late to try!

Keep on truckin', Pharm -

W2W

 

Good luck on the a/c Pharm. If you don't want to spend money on a room and have a 3 blade fan (one of the clip on kind), buy a mesh/net style laundry bag, fill it up with ice and hang it somwhere in your truck. Put a bucket under the bag and prop your fan up on the other side of it, pointed at you. It works pretty good. You'll have to fill your bag up every 3 or 4 hours depending on the size of it. I did a little time in jail where there was an ice machine on the pod. I would do this and put a rolled up towel at the bottom of my cell door to trap all the cold air in. I hung the laundry bag of ice over my sink and put the fan on the other side of it, sitting on an upside down trash can. It'll freeze you out in close quarters. Just a thought if you don't wanna spend the money on motels and are going to be holed up at a truck stop over the weekend or something. Larry

 

Pharm, how's that 387 treating you, as for mpg. Thinking about purchasing one myself. Definetly get that a/c checked, it been hot here the last few day's.

 

Does anyone know how much fuel expense is saved over about 1200 miles when your load is 40,000 lbs. instead of 50,000 lbs. ??? I mean, is there a way to measure the mpg difference?

 

You would have to just run the numbers and keep a tally of loads vs milage chart. No real way to say if 40k=6.3 or 50k =5.8 there's to many variables unless your running a dedicated route. Even then temp, wind and traffic would cause variables. It would never be an exact science just an educated guess.

 

No, this isn't exactly true. Progressive will require high cost insured to stay within 500 miles, but there are other companies that will take on inexperience drivers 48 state for a price. If the driver's personal driving record is good and deep, there's really no reason to provide coverage for an inexperienced truck driver at some level of cost. Afterall, the large fleets specialize in picking up inexperienced drivers.

Try www.royaltyfinancial.com and see what happens. Your thorough internet search will help...

 

When I am deadheading I am at about 30,000 lbs. and its 8.6 MPH, when I am loaded at 78900 it is about 5.6 mpg , but my Cat has 946,000 miles on it so that may have an effect as well.

I love going up a 6% grade at 79000 lbs. and its says is 1.45 mpg!