Class starting 25 Oct 11

Most of US are newer drivers.

 

Sitting here at the 01 in Cali thinking about the past two months of driving. At this point in teaming, I can tell you that a 34 is a good idea once in a while. We have been balls to the wall for two weeks now and the fatigue is starting to show just a bit. I have employed my stress management techniques to combat this fatigue, but the fact that I am going through this kinda validates to me the need for the 34hr rule.
Some basic stress management things:
Eat regular meals. Your body needs nourishment and that twinkie is not.

Make sure you SLEEP. get your 8 hours as much as possible.

Regular Stops. I know some will disgree and want to drive 8hrs straight, but your body really does not function well in that situation, let alone day after day.

Drink water, at least a couple cups a day. Walk around the rest stop/truck stop to get that blood flowing again. You have no idea how much stress is on your heart and cardiovascular system when you sit for soooooo long.

Personal Hygiene. brush your teeth in the morning, take showers at least every other day, and change your underwear and socks daily. Use some baby wipes to clean those "areas" in between showers. (you know who you are ! ! !)

Trip planning. For those of you in TNT, you should have started learning this at about 15k miles. You need to learn how to plan your stops, manage your clocks, and get to the 90 on time. No sense in trying to figure this out when you upgrade to the A seat, cause you won't be sitting in it for long!
Choosing routes. If you havn't managed the routes you are taking, or if you are just following the route the trainer punched into the GPS (swear word) then you are not doing your J.O.B. as a trucker. Break out the Atlas, get on the qualcom, go through the route from front to back and write up your directions. You would be surprised how easy it is to miss the MANDATORY I210 around lake charles, LA because you didn't walk the route through during planning.
LEARN how to chain up. If you have never installed tire chains, take some time and have the instructor show you how. If all else fails, PM me and when we run into each other at Springmo, I will help you out. #### fine time to realize you don't know is along I40/70/80/90 that you don't know how to do this!
If you havn't done a few multi stops, you are missing some very important experience. If you havn't managed your clock down to the last 10 hours/getting 9:38 back at midnight to keep going, you are missing out.
Good habits on the Qualcom: If you are at 20K and are constantly going back to your log to fix your "on duty" time, or you get that message reminding you of your post trip, you are not taking your job seriously. one stop by DOT and you are SCREWED, even for the post trip. It takes about 30 days to develop a habit if you are working to make it a habit. Lots of habits to develop in that 30K to become a successful driver. Start with the ones that will get you in trouble with DOT and go on to the ones that will make you a successful and SAFE driver.
If you don't have all of your truck stop cards yet, GET THEM! Once you are on your own, using that T/A paper slip will be embarrassing.

I know I have not given a day by day rundown here, but I do hope that what I have posted helps everyone out. I will continue to post my upgrade experience next week and let everyone know the process that I go through.

 

Back in Springfield for the Ace 1 class and the lease classes this week. On Monday we went through the Smith Systems class and the simulator test. If you have not gone through Smith Systems, I recommend it strongly. If you are in TnT right now, it might be a good idea to take the class if you have a day in SpringMo. We have classes through Wednesday, and Thursday will be the truck day with Success Leasing. Not many trucks out there, and the older trucks with an APU all smell horribly of smokers smoke in the cab. A new truck will not have the APU and the next APPT is March 9........ not good.

A lease is not for everyone, and if you have no sense how a business runs, might not be for you yet. There are people out there with amazing business knowledge that might be able to help with that side of the industry.

Last, but not least is the test. Yes, you have to take a take home test to get the lease. It is not hard, but it is a good reinforcement tool for lease and operators knowledge.

More to follow after the classes tomorrow on the business.......

 

The classes were very informative and helpful. I am becoming confident that I am going in the right direction. Of course, there are two guys in the class that "know it all" and seem to speek up way too much.

One thing, and I am not sure about this... Success Leasing guy comes in and makes it sound lik we have to settle for a used truck because they have too many used trucks to lease. I think he wanted people to consider taking a used truck for 3 months and then come back for a new one, but he made it sound like they were only going to make used ones available for lease. My FM wants me to take a new (or newer) truck because he has had alot of breakdowns the last 2 months with 09 and 10 models (both kinds). We will see where this swings

 

I now understand why it takes a few days for new drivers to post a picture of their truck. Yesterday was a very hectic day. I got to go look at trucks, and the one I had looked at Monday was available, with this crazy repeating number 620620. Brand spanking new with 43 miles on it and the new car smell as well. I took it. Found out a few things during my adventure:
1. APU's take a while to get put on. They are backlogged. Got to figure out how to live without idling. No problem, lots of blankets.
2. You can get the inverter installed, just pick it up at the parts window and get Detail shop to install it if you can get an appointment. Parts guy says it will cost you $130 for the inverter. It comes with the APU, so why am I being charged. Frank Ege tells me that I will be charged and then reimbursed. Not sure when, but hopefully when the APU is installed. Good to go.... The detail shop is the bomb!!!!
3. Repairs take lots of time. I had a couple sticky buttons and the guy says "I'll have it done by morning"... hehe... Once again, DETAIL SHOP is the bomb. they cleaned up the buttons for me and got me rolling.
4. License plate.... not installed. I can't see the holes in the bumper and have no screws (in more than one way by now) but the DETAIL SHOP guy hooks me up in about 2 minutes.
5. Signing the lease. Lots of signatures, for you AND your FM!!!!
6. Getting all of that crap you need on the truck.......
ATLAS - ABLOY LOCKS - AIR CUFF LOCK - LOAD LOCKS - TIRE CHAINS - TIRE CABLES - COMDATA CHECKS - SPARE SEALS - FUEL BOOK - PERMITS BOOK - INSTALL PREPASS AND EZPASS - FORGOT THE BRIGHT YELLOW VEST - TIRE PRESSURE GAUGE - THERMOMETER - GPS (HEHE) - TRIP SHEETS - LOG BOOK - AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND ON.

By this time I am spent, I get a load to Auburn Indiana WMDC that delivers SATURDAY..... 595 miles and 2.5 days to get there! Home is on the way and I stop and spend the day with the wife buying even more stuff.... MICROWAVE - COOLER - FOOD - SPARE LIGHT BULBS - SPARE FUSES and the list goes on and on and on. Picked up a small assortment of tools and a tool bag from the garage.... and forgot the push broom handle. Got the broom, but no handle oh well. The truck rolls, the rain starts and now I am sitting for my 10 in east ST louis with 385 miles left for a 1630 appt tomorrow Flying J Pizza ! ! ! ! !

 

Barely 100 miles under the tires and there is a crack in the windshield

Not a rock strike, and I hope they warranty it out. Hate to buy a new windshield to replace a new windshield