Old but new

I am not a seasoned trucker but have driven commercial off and on for 40 years. The gaps have made it difficult as things change so much. Truck stops for one are always different as to what is available and where you can park. I have found this past year getting back into a truck a real challenge. I had to take the 160 hour course to recertify. At 59 this was not easy with some instructors younger than my youngest kid. Starting my first attempt with a MEGA carrier to have to prove myself over was not happening either. THen a local shop with many small problems.

I found a few apps and web sites that did make it easier this round. Trucker Path helps along the road finding parking. Weigh my truck helps finding scales quick unless it is Kansas and I do not think any grain or seed location has a scale within 100 miles. The fuel companies also have their apps which make checking into showers from the truck quicker along with fueling too.

Last night I tried to use my Garmin OTR700 inside planning this weeks routes. Not gunna happen. I could sit out in the snow and cold for satellite coverage but I found something else.

TruckRouter

This site will preplan with great detail. It calculates fuel estimates, IFCA fuel reports (just for checking your own math as odometer must match actual report). It will list all truck stops independent as well as major with what services are available at the location too. You can adjust the map to the route you want and add each stop too. Although this might not be a great tool for the average OTR or Dedicated driver, I find it to be a great learning tool when I have the time. Downfall it does not show scales.

My newest attempt at driving is with a small trailer company driving a long nose Pete without a governor. Every kids dream. It does allow me the extra speed when I need to pass. I still only go the posted speed and back that up with what my Garmin tells me the limit is. My loads are mostly Ag Loads and hang over. Scales are not always my best friend. One local scale will deadline my truck every time I go in and make me call for a second truck to haul out the extra trailers. Not a great thing as I am the only CDL driver besides the manager. They kinda want me to bypass as many scales as I can to avoid this problem. In the 80s this was not so hard. Now it is much harder. To make it easier I have also downloaded the app Drivewyze. This is a prepass scale app that allows some scale bypassing. As a small company I will not get a pass on all scales but if they are only looking at weight I might get a few more passes. $18 a month is worth missing just 2 scales like Joplin with as much as 4 hour delays. I also convinced the owners into letting me add JJ Kellers ELD equipment. After a few scales with them seeing we are ELD compliant it should make things easier. DOT told me the biggest reason for past inspections was paper logs. The glider Pete I drive was more for eliminating DEF and mechanical issues that go with it.

I still enjoy driving more than any job in the past. Finding the right company is a challenge. Even then after a few years many start looking again. If you keep clean and work hard the right truck will come. My experience this round has not been great but this new truck and the people I work with seem much cleaner and nicer. All they want is a driver that is not afraid of miles and will work with over sized Ag Equipment. Yes most every load is hanging off the back 2 to 6 feet. Most every trailer load I have seen is the same. To drop shipping costs they pack the truck heavy in size but it never maxes out the weight or even comes close. Many DOT do not care when it is things like hay trailers, but get upset when it is commercial goods not related to agriculture. Where I go is heavy farming so it seems to be OK for now.

Finally since I know I will get a ticket eventually I joined with the prepaid legal. $150 a year plus $100 to fight the ticket and I never have to go to court. An attorney will do the fighting for me and try to keep the points low. For now this seems to be the risk I need to take. The pay and home time is too good along with one of the nicest trucks I have seen.

For the rest of the new or returning truckers keep up the work. One day the right job will find you and the money will come. I know some makin $75k a year without leasing a truck. Most are making between $50-75k after the 2nd year.

 

Because as I posted the trader loads almost always hang over 2 to 6 feet. Eventually I will find a scale having a bad day or pass a young DOT looking for a new toaster. The $150 ahead of time is so I can just make a call and explain moving on. I do not want to beg for a new contract after I already have the ticket.

 

TripleSix paying in advance does make it quicker. The $150 assures an attorney will cover the ticket with a call. You pay the extra $100 for the attorney to go to the clerk for you. They know what to do to minimize points and costs. Many think you can wait until you get the ticket to get the service but it does not work out. Calling the clerk in many counties will not reduce the charges or change from a moving violation to an equipment violation.

As a cop of 23 years I cannot tell how many times I had this when I went to testify in court. The attorney would ask for a completely different charge in place of what you wrote the cite for. Most judges did not care. The traffic judges that I knew ands worked with knew I would read my statement, facts and walk away not caring what the end result was. If the judge changed it that was his choice. Some cops would fight tooth and nail for the exact charge and all the points. At my age I do not care about CSA points but moving points and fines can be much more than $250. I have seen fines dropped from over $2500 to less than $300.

This is just a suggestion not me forcing my opinion on anyone. If you have a great way of talking down a clerk in a court several hundred miles away great. I would rather not deal with it. If it works great if not all the better for you.