Beginning the Long Awaited CDL Process

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Here you go, Chompi. It's the only one I have at the moment. You can click on the image and make it bigger.

I'll give you a heads up next time I know I'm going to be in your neighborhood.

 

Hey Wulfman, long time no talk to.

Never made it up there. Once a preplan comes in and you accept it, you have to send in a load acceptance macro as soon as possible. It's technically still anyones' load. In that case, there was another truck ready to go so they got the load. I ended up going in the other direction.

So hows life with Crete? My guess is you're finished training.

Fill us in......

 

Hello Everyone.

I know it's been a while since I've posted but I've been pretty busy, and still haven't resolved my re-charging issue with my laptop, but hopefully that will be taken care of when I'm on home time.

So far I still can't complain about USX. I get good loads. Some short, and some pretty long runs. I have found that if I help out my FM, by taking a short distance load, she gets me a preplan after that for pretty long run (800-1000 mi). That suits me just fine. I'm still learning everyday, so getting a mixture of loads with varying miles is fine. In each case there's a new challenge for me.

For example, yesterday I delivered in Cranberry, NJ. Tight docks, and no room to set up for an easy back, and only one available dock, right between two trailers. I had the street blocked while I backed up to the dock, and of course, I had an audiance......again. I surprised myself by getting the box in the hole on the first try. Just a minor pull-up needed to square it to the dock, move the tandems back, and got to relax while the receiver unloaded.

Of course the next load I get takes me deeper into the concrete jungle as I made my way to a shipper in Linden, NJ with a load heading to Brockton, MA. So I get to drive through NY rush hour traffic heading to MA on I 95.

So tonight I sit at a TS off 495 in MA waiting to deliver on Monday morning. I'm not too crazy about sitting for a day and half, but I get to do something that I normally can't do.

First, on my way through CT today, I had time to visit with my brother and his family. They came to the TS where I re-fueled, and we had lunch together. We haven't seen each other since I moved to GA.

Second, both of my daughters live up in this area. So tomorrow we'll be having lunch and dinner together.

So my first journey into New England has it's silver lining to be sure.

But is there any negatives? Well, if you're dispatched to the Northeast, make sure you plan your trip well. Truck stops are here, but you need to plan where your stopping for the night. You won't have the options of searching for another place to park so make sure you plan your trip well. I had no problem finding a TS, but it's not a Pilot or Flying J.

And my truck........I'm lovin' it. And I don't mind shifting one bit.

I sure had plenty of practice in NJ, NY, and CT.

Well, I'm jumping off for now. Have to conserve the battery power.



Thanks for reading.

-Wedge