HOS

We'll have to agree to disagree, the statement as written is dangerous to these new guys. I do agree you need to develop your skills, and more people need a spine, but the wording of "be comfortable being uncomfortable" is not a statement I'd EVER give a rookie.

 

I get what you are saying but being uncomfortable is part of learning.

Oversimplified, there are 3 zones in concentric circles - comfort, learning, and danger. The key to effective teaching/learning is bouncing between the edge of comfort and the center of the learning zone while only occasionally straying near the border of the danger zone.

If I waited until my guys were comfortable, they would never drive in downtown Chicago, they would never drive in the mountains, and as soon as the wipers come on they would park it. I push them while I have them with me so they get a sense of where the envelope is and how to handle the stress of the moment - take it slow and easy, give yourself space and time.

We had a "experienced " hire use an address in the gps instead of the customer code. The address fronts on a street that becomes little better than a dirt road, there is no lot to turnaround in. It is possible to make a sight side back into a side road, it is also possible to follow the dirt road around to the truck entrance. I wouldn't do the later in spring or after a hard rain, but in dry conditions it is passable.

The "driver" in question freaked the f out, called into dispatch who called me asking what I thought the best option was. After talking to the "driver", we ended up calling the cops to block traffic so he could straight back across the main road. Dude was so worked up he just drove the load back to the plant.

He wasn't comfortable being uncomfortable so when he got into a jam, he freaked the f out and made things worse. We've all been there - either thru our own stupidity or someone else's. The question is are you going to be ready to cope or fall to pieces?

 

"Chairborne Brigade" ..Awesome term. Never heard it before.

 

In that case I made it up myself and certainly never heard my Team friends who is dumber - the Airborne or the Chairborne?

 

I would park at the shipper, somewhere out of the way, and only leave if they commanded me to.

If they commanded me to leave then I would "forced to leave" or "personal conveyance" to the nearest location that looked promising depending on the hour of the day. Whether it's a truck stop or a Walmart. It sucks but it's not THAT hard, get on your phone and do a bit of research. Get on satellite view and scan around. I haven't gotten a ticket yet, just use a bit of common sense when parking.

Try to park out of the way, don't block other trucks or garbage haulers, don't be an eye sore, don't littler and if you have a reefer, don't park close to residential areas. Just make your best effort. Putting cones out on an interstate road or highway isn't best effort.

Over the last couple of years, I have learned of a few places in most larger cities I can park at and be left alone. From my terminal, if I have to leave a certain direction and I know I haven't slept much, say Dallas to Abilene, I know where I can park in Abilene. There's a Walmart there that doesn't care about trucks. If I have to leave east I know of a few casinos in LA that always has parking. You just gotta get off the road and out of your comfort zone a little bit and look for them.

 

Motor carriers are required to comply with the new HOS regulations starting on September 29, 2020, not before.

 

You know what pisses me off? People too stupid to look at a computer screen that is totally blaring at them how much time they have left on their day. This type of retardation is why we have these #### things now. Check what time you started your day. Make a note when it will end. Easy peasy, Japanesy. God ####.

 

My job I have to do pick ups, not drops, multiple times a day. It's close to being on a dollar account. So I know a few things about ad-hoc parking.

You are correct, I am not trying to insult you in anyway. I understand we all drive in different ways which is why I gave you all the details I have learned so far.

In my opinion, don't just drive off some random exit off the interstate, but do some research and if an exit looks promising, do take it and look for a reasonable space where you can spend some hours sleeping and not be bothered. Not all, but MOST people will leave you alone if you reasonably park and not leave trash every where.

There has been a couple of times I got up off my butt and picked a few pieces of trash and thrown it away because I noticed people were eye-balling me. Never had a problem.