Going to FFE

I'm supposed to be in a 2020. Its at the yard but they keep telling me the mechanic hasnt released it or something.

Ive been lucky with trucks so far. Minimal mechanical difficulty. Blew out a steer tire once though. About crapped my pants when it happened. It wasnt fun.

Otherwise my truck pretty reliably just goes where I tell it.

The mechanic shop is pretty good about getting issues fixed while I am on hometime so its ready to go when I get back for the most part.

I get hung up sometimes when I get a new trailer and the previous driver didnt write up leaks before they leave. They just dumped the trailer and bailed. *sigh*

 

That doesnt sound like a bad deal at all. If you take the local/regional work I bed you can make some pretty good money. You get hourly doing the local stuff.

If I was solo I would everything they gave me until my load is ready.

 

It takes about a month for them to release it. We didn't know we were getting ours. We were home for a Dentist appointment (1 day home time) and they called for us to get back to the yard to trade out trucks.

Yes, the maintenance yard is pretty good. My 1st freightliner was a yard truck from Portland (short on trucks when I was finished training) Was in the shop every week. Final straw was when the gearbox went out at the TA in Christiana, Tn. Towed back to Nashville dealership. Two weeks before they could look at it. Told to leave the truck. FFE arranged for a rental car to head back to Dallas. Was paid travel, hotel, breakdown, and layover pay. It was a nice check I have never had a breakdown on the side of the road (was always able to make it to a truck stop) and haven't had a flat yet. My volvo was great. Only went to the dealership once for a 7th injector in Nebraska. Was put in a comfort suites for a week.

When at a terminal waiting for a load, we take advantage of the runs available. We make a pretty good bank doing it. Plus the local dispatchers get to know you and they give you the better perks more you help out.

 

Make sure during orientation you ask for a off duty card. Which makes the company assume responsibility and relieve you of all concern for that 18 wheeler when you are properly parked, logging off duty such as home time etc.

I would like for you to go straight back to that person and clarify in very clearly what is meant by responsible for tractor and trailer. Suppose you are in NYC on time off and urchins spray paint grafitti and gang signs all over the rig. YOU get to buy a new repaint? I don't think so. You don't make enough money for that. You follow?

Buy through your Insurance agent a One Million Dollar Civil Liability Policy, it should only cost a couple dollars a month. So if something bad happens for example I get drunk and burned down the building, the Judgement against me with that insurance can buy them a new building. Minus any excessive awarding over and beyond 1 million.

Ive been sued three times in my life, twice directly related to trucking so that kind of insurance policy is helpful.

Also buy USCCA Policy which is a personal policy that provides bail should someone get violent and attack you in the truckstop for whatever reason. Law hauls both of you to jail and that policy will provide a range of benefits to you and bail out that day which is one example for what's possible.

Find a retain a lawyer. Usually at home. So if something happens to you... Also explore common industry lawyer pools where you can find one anywhere any time in 48 states, canada etc.

Get a passport if you havent already. Also upgrade your CDL to the 2020 Real ID Act compliant. After October 19th 2020, you WILL NOT have access to any federal installations, you will be banned from domestic flying and so on. The flip side its good for 8 years and a fast card gets you in and out of Canada without too much trouble along with your pass port.

Just a few thoughts. The more you train, the less you bleed in battle.

 

???? During home time why would you have a trailer? After your finished with your load you are no longer are assigned to that trailer. When I do home time my tractor is parked at the yard. Doesn't matter what yard either. I have taken home time and 34 resets in these FFE yards: Dallas, NJ, Lemont (Chicago), Portland, Fl, Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Xenia (Ohio) Never had a problem. You are allowed to do personal conveyance but it is limited to 1 hr 30 minutes. (FFE policy)

 

Hmmm, I would check with your DM about that. If they allow it, if it was myself I would park it at a truck stop. Trailer and tractor.

 

I team with my husband. We stay out for 6-8 weeks at a time and go home for 4 days. If I remember correctly for OTR it is 1 day out for every week.

FFE does get us home when we request it. We let them know at least 2 weeks in advance.

Now we have requested and been approved with no problems of being home for 9 days in a row. (MIL had surgery)

Just remember if you are home all the time you are not making money. As in you won't get the longer routes (more mikes)

Also as a newbie you won't get the best loads. After 6 months if you have been making your loads on time and showing them you want to work you will get more loads.

They are big on safety. If you don't feel safe driving they won't force you. For example last year in Indiana when we got the major snow and Ice storms. The wind was really bad. My husband and I agreed we were going to pullover at the next truckstop. A mile down the road. In that mile we watch 3 semi's jackknifed. We called them and said winds are to bad and expecting to last. This was at 2pm at 5pm they were still bad. Called back and told them call you in the morning. Delivered the next morning.