A Typical OTR Day

well you spend your hour or so throwing a tarp and straps in -30
i dont mind sleeping at a dc and getting paid for it---true i gotta peak and watch for the green light and then go get my papers--but i dont mind it
have fun rolling that tarp up when its covered with ice and weighs 300 lbs---i will just close my doors when mt
but i am thankful for people who do the flat bedding---takes a good person to do it---just not me--been there---done that ---got the shirt to prove it

 

I am spoiled, I haul pre-formed concrete to construction sites, the load is a straight hook, chained and strapped already and the drop is timed with the crane operators, the building goes up by numbers, in and out. But if you are late you have a few pissed off construction workers and fellow drivers waiting.

 

for your viewing pleasure all in good fun


0300: Wake up to the sound of some jackhole lighting off his jakes in the middle of the truckstop. Try to go back to sleep. End up tossing and turning until

03:15- Driver Manager calls ring ring ring
DM- hey where are you ?
Driver - I was sleeping you idiot
DM- oh im sorry I didnt realize that since i woke you up, can i get a ETA to your next stop ?
Driver - Hangup

0400: The alarm goes off. Groan. Throw on least-nasty clothing, grab coffee cup and get a fill-up. Pre-trip the truck, making sure no one stole your chains, pulled your 5th wheel or siphoned your tanks during your five hours of sleep.

0420: Re-check directions to shipper and get rolling. Hope against all hope that you've balanced the distance-to-traffic ratio correctly to make your 0700 appointment.

04:30 Driver Manager calls Ring Ring Ring
Driver- yes you again what is it now ?
DM - oh hi there i see you have woke up and moving
Driver - oh gee how nice of you to call again
DM - did you do a pre trip ?
Driver - hangup

0600: Arrive at shipper. Gate guard(in that tone of voice that lets you know you're just a little bit lower than something he scraped off the bottom of his shoe)tells you to get in line, turn your CB to Channel 8 and wait to be called. If you miss your call, you go to the back of the line. No, there's nowhere around to eat, and no, you can't use their bathroom.


06:30 am Driver Manager calls Ring Ring Ring
Driver - oh so what do i have the pleasure this time ?
DM- Hi this is your friendly Driver Manager, are you at the shipper ?
Driver- yes i am do you not read my messages ?
DM- Are you Hungry ?
Driver - Hangup


0940: You get called on the CB to report to Dock 1087.

0950: You finally get to Dock 1087 only to find that the trucks in the adjoining docks have left you with, maybe, if you're really lucky, one half-inch of clearance on either side to back in.

1010: You manage to back in without hitting anything.

1011: You pull forward and open the trailer doors.

1015: You get backed in again.

1017: The Dock Supervisor(with the requisite snotty attitude)tells you that you have to count the freight and it's your responsibility to make sure it's correct. You nod and smile, using every micron of your self-control to avoid punching his teeth down his smarmy throat.

10:30 am Driver Manager Ring Ring Ring
Driver- oh dear lord what is it now ?
DM- Good morning are you still at the shipper? is their a problem ?
Driver- you serious ? of course theres a problem this shipper is giving me all types of crap over this load
DM- are you hungry ? do you need to use the bathroom ? when will you be leaving ?
Driver - click



1230: The trailer is finally loaded, the freight count agreed upon, and the bills in your hand. You pull out, close the doors and head for the gate.

1258: After the guard treats you like you're attempting to make off with a nuclear warhead, you're finally allowed to leave. Doors closed, locked and sealed. OK, let's find somewhere to pull over and catch the logbook up.

1302: Get honked at and told to move.

1307: Get cussed out and told to move.

1316: Get honked at, cussed out, threatened with arrest and told to move.

1325: Finally get the opportunity to catch the logbook up. Make it look legal and hope. Satellite Dispatch and tell them you're finally rolling.

1330: Receive reply from Dispatch demanding to know why you're leaving so long after your appointment time, and informing you that you'd better not be late on the other end. Request for delay pay met with satellite equivalent of evil laughter.

1610: Finally get out of the traffic and out on the highway. Put it to the floor and drive, stopping only briefly, when bodily functions make it imperative.

2345: Pull in to the closest truckstop to the receiver. Wait 16 minutes so you can log your fuelling 'legally.' Fill up, make sure nothing fell off or is on fire. Find whatever space you can squeeze into, and drift off to sleep with the lovely aroma of piss and diesel wafting through the vents.

0300: Wake up to the sound of some jackhole lighting off his jakes in the middle of the truckstop. Try to go back to sleep. End up tossing and turning until...

03:15 am Driver Manager calling Ring Ring Ring
Driver- what the hell do you want ?
DM - Good Morning Sunshine Your Friendly Dm here was you asleep ? How are you ?
Driver- I was trying to sleep
DM- oh well now that your awake, can you make sure you get a good pre trip in and can you get rollin right away ?
Driver click

 

I know how to fix that problem....Turn your phone off when you want to sleep

 

Qualcom - Driver Manager calling BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
Driver - I was sleeping thank you for waking me up
DM - was you asleep ? well now that your awake can you give me a good ETA to your next stop ?
Driver - You know I know where you work and where you are now
DM- Beep Beep Beep
Driver - qualcom off

 

You forgot the following:

• Shake your head because you don't understand exactly what the dispatcher is trying to say.
• Argue with dispatcher because they cannot perform simple math to figure out that for you to take that load and deliver on time, you would have to be driving for 12 hours non-stop, after you've already used 6 hours of your drive time, and no snow or traffic an exist en route.
• Wake up in the middle of the night to tell a lot lizard to **** off.
• Try to find something edible at the "truck stop" you are at because you ran out of supplies.
• Wait for the shop to call you back about that blown trailer tire that has to be replaced.
• Laugh at the dispatcher who tells you to just run with the flat tire anyway and get the tire fixed later.
• Drive
• Try to avoid the moron in the Toyota who passed you and pulled in right in front of you only to slow down..... then stop and change your underwear.
• Wait to be loaded or unloaded.
• Scaling loads (or trying to wake up an inconsiderate driver who parks in front of the scale).

 

This guy put up some good videos. It will give you an idea of what it's like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTLlDbmJ9Uk&feature=related

 

and he just had to be the sterotypical TD living in a trailer park

 

First of all Vince is NOT your sterotypical driver

Second you will NOT find a YouTube trucker that is "your sterotypical driver"

Third he's a single OTR driver, why pay for a house when you can have a cheap place to see once a month?




American Trucker

 

It sucks Vince no longer makes YT videos....



American Trucker