Working for a O/O: From a students point of view

King, I've got a couple of questions here on what you are saying about fuel mileage.

First one is "turn off everything electrical" or however you put it. Can you explain how turning off the radio, is going to save you any fuel mileage?

Second one is something about turning off the A/C and running with windows open. I have been given to understand that In modern trucks, you actually get better fuel mileage with the windows shut, even if you have to run the A/C. This was supposedly due to "aerodynamics."

I am NOT trying to start a pissing contest here! I actually am asking for information about something that I'm confused about.

FWIW, I find your posts interesting. Let us keep hearing from you.

 

KH,

I'm very glad that you found this excellent way to do your training, definitely this could be 200% better than get screwed without grease. After complete my Roadmaster school in Jan/09, I had the same problem that you had, just nobody was hiring....I finally got a pre-hire with Werner Enterprises where i worked for 7 months, almost 3 months, 700 hrs with my trainner, acctually was a great trainner ( a nice young guy from Clearwater FL), tough me all about backing, chain-up, controlling vehicle in windy cond's and we did hit some blizzards, lotd of ice and nasty hills in CO as well. Having a great trainning is a half way to succeed as a driver in my modest opinion. My nightmare with werner is long and won't fit here in your thread.

After 7 months getting screwed with Werner, i was ready enough to jump out and found a job with Knight Refrigerated where i stayed for another 7 months; now after 8 months burning my calculator in my sacred wish to be O/Op i quit Knight... I'm back to my sweet home Central FL and ready to buy my tractor and dive in to sweet-sour-dream. Yesterday i just opened my LLC here in Orlando and i'm just searching for my tractor...had contacted a few dealers, specific i Tampa area...i'm looking for a shaker, Columbia/Century year 04/05/06, DET engine, if possible, a 13sp trans (xpensive) and less than 500k to start up.

I'm approved to be leased to a small carrier, and will need also a trailer, my wish is a refer, but my money will end up with an drybox until i have some money to...
Well, i'm telling all these to just say that you are in the right way, and i'm sure that i will be seeing you down I-90 with your own customized Pete soon...
Trust me, you are in a solid trail, you are smart and an over-informed guy that spent days, weeks, months studying this world and you will know the right thing to to do in the right moment. Just enjoy as much as you can this moment, you will remember all those practical lessons...
And i'm pretty sure that Werner, USX, Swift (if u can avoid, if u can't amem), C.R., JB, SHNDr, all those driver mills don't deserve a guy so dedicated and interested in this business like you are, you are not just an average "student" to be screwed to get tax break from government and jack him/her off when out of tranning or keeping him/her after train at miserable wages/working conditions...

You will find a better way to get the experience, mat fact you already found it, just try to don't get in the hands of those moth$#)%# ###$##s that just want your skin to fry in a pan...

Peace out there, be safe and enjoy...

BY the way, do you have any recomendation about a dealer here in Central FL that you know works fine? (i mean, honest, if is possible)

Thanks

Braaa.

 

braazoka, will you start a thread please on your o/o experience and searching for a truck and everything please. thanks. (if you have one started, send me a pm with the link please!) sorry to side track this thread king. hope all is well bud.

 

I will, soon..i will let you know in first hands. Thanks

 

KH,

First of all, thanks for the indications, i checked it out they have great Paccar trucks, but I plan to start in a modest proposal..looking for a simple freightshaker century or columbia but thanks for the advice...
Tomorrow will be heading to Jcks area to see some of them...

Second I feel sorry about this broker mess.. I totally understand the rush and i tell you what, i was doing for 7 months a team dedicated lane for Albertsons DC in Phoenix and delivering in Colorado... Some loads had like 6/7 stops which almost drove me crazy (lack of sleep). NOBODY can have apropriat rest while teammate is bumping docks, unloading driving in the city...
I understand you..TEAM driving is a totally diferent sport...And they (brokers) love to do this things: add stops ( since a solo can't make legally all driving and stops, so screw up the team...thats is new "team" freight...They just want somebody with unlimited hours of service to be used to serve as a robot to the brokers/shippers interest...).
This makes the team life ... and broken$$$$...Nothing is perfect, right? That's why i'm trying to jump on my own...at least they will pay me full price for each stop (not like the companys around that keep the money and pays u a bit of it while u are killing your 70hr...)
Whatever...
Thanks Man. Be safe out there....

Braa.

 

Just got a phone call from KH and he wants to be kept in ya'lls prayers.

 

he is every day!

 

**this is all my opinion! you dont have to agree....**

i know i dont know your whole story and 100% what happened. from what i can tell, you should have gotten off that truck. i wish i could have helped ya... if you were in salt lake or minneapolis, i would have gladly taken you in and gotten you a place to stay. i assume you made it back home to florida safe! be safe in your future endeavors whatever path they may take you down. you will always be in my prayers. god bless.