Another new guy's story.....

best of luck getting a trainer soon. hopefully i'll get a load out soon.

 

a lil update, still waiting on a co-driver. hopefully friday.

 

well got a load to cali, leaving out at 9 in the am. every1 wish me luck.

 

(Friday) Well guys I’m finally off. Did my pti, did a little brush up on my logs, and we’re off. Since I don’t have an air card, I’m typing this into a note and will post as soon as I get wifi. My codriver is great. He told me to ask all the questions I wanted, and is really helping me out.

Well we're at the pickup. Gettin a load of chickens. Got to see how we do paperwork, BOL,all kinds of new stff. I think I'm gonna love this job. Still have to learn the reefer unit, and the QComm is down, so will have to learn that later, but all in all this is definitely a learning experience. California, here I come!

Well first day down. Only got to drive 386 today, but with a 4..5 hour load time, a 45 minute traffic jam, and only getting 10 hours (codriver wanted to drive) I say I did pretty good. Learned how to shift on a hill (traffic jam), so I feel I accomplished something. Hopefully when I wake up, we'll be in Texas.

(Saturday) Well we weren't quite in Texas when I woke up. But we were only an hour away. I drove from the LA-TX line. I drove 8.5 hours with one 10 minute break, and managed 518 miles. Learning more and more everyday. Got to drive thru Dallas. Now THAT was a learning experience.well, a lil me time and I'm down for the count.

(Saturday Night) Well we stopped for the night. Codriver is trying to time it so that I don't have to try to find this place in L.A. on my first trip. So I'll probably drive to the CA line, and then he'll take over. I love this job so much. Only problem so far is my stomach wants to get upset at night. Ain't sure why, but oh well. Nothing a lil Pepto can't fix.

(Sunday) Got up this morning, got a shower, and then ate my first meal out of the truck. Got running good, making easy miles, then guess what? DOT man stops and puts me out of service because of a bad trailer tire. Tires were all good this morning when I checked them, and I didn't hear it blow, so I have no clue when it went. Crap happens i guess. Anyway, now we're waiting on a tire man, then it's off again.

So the tire man showed up after an hour, got us fixed, so we ran for all it was worth. Got to the dock and they were all full. So we parked it for tonight, and now I'm sitting here typing. Since I have some time now, a few thoughts. This is a stressful proffession. You really do have to make 100 decisions a minute. Fourwheelers for the most part have no idea how to drive around big trucks. They also have no idea what it takes to drive an 80000 pound beast. Logs are not as confusing as they first seem. Pepto Bismol is worth it's weight in gold when you're in a truck for the first time. Living in a truck can be expensive, more expensive than when you're at home. And lastly, for now, with CB radios, you really do get what you pay for.

(Monday Morning) Waiting on a dock to open so we can unload. Hopefully it won't be too much longer. We have 2 pickups a lil farther north, then it's off to Landover, Maryland for the 3am drop. Then a (hopefully) six hour drive to the yard, then home. With luck I'll be home by noon on Thursday. Well, that's all for now.

(Monday Evening) Got unloaded and had to ride to central CA to the first pickup. They stopped receiving trucks at 430 pm and we got there at 427. We didn't like being that close, but at least we made it. The second place was open until 9pm, and was only 40 miles away, so we made it in plenty of time. Got loaded, then it was my turn to drive. Drove 489 miles before i stopped. Then My codriver tells me they try to run at least 600 a turn, once you've learned the ropes. This sounds to me like a personal challenge.

(Tuesday Evening) So, things have timed out where I'm driving at night. Sounds good to me. I drove all night with only one stop. 609 miles for the day.

(Thursday Morning) Well yesterday morning dispatch called and told us he got our time changed. We don't have to be there until midnight friday morning. Thankfully. We don't have to kill ourselves now. Should be in Virginia in a few.

(Later Thursday Morning) Well, we're almost there. I drove from 30 miles or so west of Atlanta, to 30 miles north of Richmond, 614 miles. Now for a shower and some breakfast, then some sleep.

(Thursday Night) We're finally here! Now to wait a few hours til unload time, then we're off to the yard. I love this job, but I can't wait to see my wife and lil girl. Talked to dispatch today. Going back out Sunday at 6am. Turn and burn baby.

(Friday Morning) Got back at 815 am this morning. Them last few miles almost killed me. But I'm Back!