After 5 years...

Been on this site for 5 1/2 years. Driving OTR for 5.
I'm sitting at home. Been here for 16 days. I take two weeks off every three months. Plus two days to travel back and forth to work.
Right now not going in. They brought my truck to the Volvo dealer for work. No word from Volvo when we'll get it back. Thankful to my company. Didn't want to go back, just to sit in a hotel room.
Trucking as usual.
You can look at the thread; It's a beautiful morning. Got quite a few pics there.
I'm on my 8th company. Tolerated the first for one year. Was a fight to stay out of trouble with DOT. Was so bad. In one two week period. I changed 7 tires on trailers when I was supposed to be doing a run. I swore never again.
Went through 5 companies in two years. Ain't putting up with the BS.
Then found a great one I stayed with for two years. Then the owner retired. Sold it. Brought in a guy to run things. The BS returned.
I'm at my 8th company. Made it obvious to them I didn't want to put up with BS. I can put up with all kinds of problems and mistakes. I just ask that they try. As long as they try, I'm happy. It's working out good so far. The warning on the truck I appreciated. I can stay home instead of a stinking hotel room. Showing me consideration.
Been through alot. Biggest thing I've learned is there is too many incompetent people out there trying to destroy you. It's their decision and your responsibility. No thank you.
Latest I found. I had told the safety lady at last company to be on the lookout for this. She didn't have a clue. Had a level one inspection at port of entry in CA. Two DOT officers. He was adamant that this was a clean inspection. He noted two things on there for advise. Make sure the company knew. But said those are not violations! This box must be checked for those to be violations. This box is not checked. This is a clean level one inspection! Idiots put those two remarks as violations and didn't even get one right. Turned it into something about dimensions and size. I don't do oversize anything! I contacted the new guy at the old company. Told him if he contacts Ca. Hwy Patrol. They will have it removed. They did it on one other fmcsa had no business listing as a violation. The officer stood behind the removal. This one this officer will not hesitate to have it removed. Of course... they won't do anything for me. If the company contacts them....then they'll do something.
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This is just typical of what you'll run into out there.
I've had two DOT officers in two states tell me: The fmcsa is nothing but an unwanted brat of a step child.

 

You're welcome to ask me anything. I'd be happy to answer.
In the 5 years. Only state I haven't been to is Maine. Told I ain't missing nothing.
I've delivered such tough places as Downtown Boston, Long Island, and Brooklyn. I've run the GW. That's going over the George Washington bridge into the Bronx and beyond.
I spent the Great Polar Vortex of 2019, in a truck, in Chicago. It was 32 below zero.
I also worked Oil Field for a short time. Not for me. Truck licensed at 105K pounds 26 wheels. If DOT decided to clamp down. Every one of those guys would be busted for overweight.
It's really tough delivering in Miami in January or February. Oh the suffering!

 

I don't live in Ca.
Don't know why it's not on my profile anymore?
I live in the Black Hills, of SD.
That's one demand I make of companies. Don't get me anywhere near here, anywhere near the first two weeks in August.

 

I worked 10 Rally's. 3 in a taxi. 7 in a trash truck. No thanks. Had enough.
Besides... The T shirt police are after me. I've never worn a shirt that said Rally, Sturgis, or Harley Davidson on it.