Husband/Wife Team to start with Covenant

...Hi Rocks. It was great meeting you too. It is an inspiration to meet an experienced female driver. I'm just a rookie and have a fantastic team partner (and no he didn't pay me to say that...LOL) Ron and I found it humorous that others thought we were not real drivers. We hit the road after getting of the truck with our trainer the day before Thanksgiving and have been going strong ever since. We did hit a minor bump in the road as I mentioned regarding communication issues. It has improved tremendously. It stemmed from a problem with ONE individual. We addressed the unprofessional behavior and we found resolution through the proper channels.
...Even in a spiritual based company, there will always be a bad apple that slips and falls into the basket. I personally do not believe a company should be judged by the actions of one individual. Each person is responsible for their own behavior. Whether they are held accountable now or later, there will be accountability. II Tim. 3:9 & Gal. 6:7 assures us of that.
...Uh oh, I'm quoting scripture. Better get back to what we are here posting about....Driving! #Ron and I LOVE doing this. Even with the crazy four wheelers and the unpredictable weather, we embrace all the challenges that come with it. We hope that our posts will be encouraging to other new drivers and that we can be helpful in making things better. I found it enheartening that Jim Lyons and Joey Hogan personally took time out to get onboard with a couple of seasoned drivers and see the daily dangers and common frustrations that drivers experience on a daily basis. #It would be good to see this as a regular event.
...We have had good miles this week and we have both made a point to put shining, happy faces in front of our vendors. I personally take a moment to comb my hair, spritz on some fragrance and put on a bit of lip gloss. (let me clarify, this is just me, not Ron. He just combs his hair) Had one dispatcher tell me I was the best smelling truck driver he had that day. Taking a moment to make yourself presentable is good for business and leaves a positive impression. One driver at a time. Another positive! We were pulled in by DOT at a weigh station in Rosebud, Montana while carrying a Hazmat load. He did a FULL inspection, reviewed ALL of our papers and complimented us on being on top of things. We ended up with a Clean Inspection. The officer even gave us some tips for the future. Sure glad I was persistant in getting the missing permit and inspection paperwork for the trailer before we hit the road with hazmat onboard!! Overall, good experience! #Sure glad we take our PTI's seriously!
...Well, got to get back to driving. Until next time...

 

...HAPPY TO POST!...In five days, Ron and I will have driven a few miles short of 4000. And to top it off, we had a nice dinner out on Valentine's Day at a really nice Pizza/Karaoke Diner. The pizza was fantastic and we got to sing (one of our favorite things to do) We met the cutest girl named, Raina who was about 8 years old. She sang a song for us, made a card for us and brought candy to our table. I do believe we made a lifelong friend. She kept asking when we were coming back. Didn't have the heart to tell her it would not be any time soon. Anyhow, it was a really nice Valentine's night out with my handsome Team driver!
...Heading to Colorado right now. This is a first for us. We looked up the weather for our arrival time and it is clear skies, so it appears the weather will be in our favor. We also got a QC message asking if we would like to be a test truck for onboard scanning. Of course, I said YES! I have been reading about Pegasus TransTech introducing Transflo Now Mobile for Android phones. Instead of standing in lines for your turn to scan documents at the truck stops, this app allows the driver to capture and send high-quality images electronically using their Android phone right from the truck. So as soon as that Macro 8 is sent, the fleets would have same-day access to all documents as soon as the load is delivered. Everyone gets paid faster. I like the sound of that! #My next project is getting set up on the truck to RECEIVE faxes. I can scan and send faxes now, but can't receive.
...NOW Humpday and we learned how to hande multiple stops on ONE load with documenting and REsealing in between drops. Didn't quite get it right, but next go round, I think we'll do it right. One thing we did learn from our trainer, Dennis (He made sure this stuck) When signing BOL's, our name is SLC. During training, he would ask us right before we signed anything..."What is your name?" And the answer better be "SLC!!" #Dennis was a bit of a drill sargent, but I will tell you this...we could not have gotten a better trainer. It is nice too, when we have ANY questions, we can call him any time. One of my favorite "Dennisms" is "The white line is your friend" followed by don't be a zipperhead, refering to the zipper line in the middle of the road. #
...And another great surprise! Got a bonus for that CLEAN DOT inspection we had in Montana last week while on a Hazmat load. Always nice when a little extra money comes your way. One of the things we learned that day was about the proper securing of a bulk hazmat load. The DOT officer told me that the driver is responsible to be sure that the load is properly secured with a load lock. In some cases sturdy straps will do. In the even the officer decides to cut the seal (it is his or her prerogative) and it is found that the Hazmat load is not secured properly, then that would be an unclean inspection. This would be a penalty that would fall on the driver. It is the DRIVER's responsibility to see to it the bulk Hazmat load is properly secured with a load lock. And definitely be sure a valid, up to date registration is on the trailer along with an up to date inspection sheet. And we made sure that ALL our permits, truck registration, IFTA license & decals were all up to date. Also, Ron always makes sure that any burned out lights or ripped mudflaps are changed out before we hit the road. So I guess I'll have to share the bonus! LOL!
...OK, I'm down to 52% on my ipad. Got to save that for facebook to keep up with family & friends. Social media is a real life saver for a driver. Couldn't be without it.
...Until next time...

 

CLEAN inspections and the DOT...
I have to say. During school, I had this fear of the DOT. I heard all the stories. But Ron and I have had quite a few opportunities to talk with them lately. We have found when going through the weigh stations that they are very accessible. And if approached in a respectful way, they are more than willing to educate you on your responsibilities as a driver and how certain things can and will have an effect on your CSA. We are taking every opportunity to greet and be prepared with questions at any weigh station or any chance meeting with the DOT.
I meant to mention something in my previous post about the securing of a bulk hazmat load that is AREADY sealed when you arrive at a shipper. The DOT officer told me that YOU as the driver are responsible to be sure that a bulk load is properly secured with a load lock. And by that, he said we are to insist on having the seal broken and see the secured load with our own eyes. A DOT officer can cut the seal and the driver is held responsible. Just today, I had the opportunity to talk with an officer about Colorado regulations. He was most helpful and gave me his card in the event I had any other questions. I found that refreshing.
Time for some needed sleep...until next time...

 

Hey double yellow! Was it someone in payroll that you spoke with concerning the holiday pay. I think I might be going about it the wrong way making it a reality. I was thinking, maybe an authorization code? My birthday is coming about and I was thinking holiday pay would be a nice gift. : )

 

A WILD SIGHT TO SEE!
...At 0300 on the 16th, while heading west on I-70 in at about the 68 mile marker, I noticed a truck about 1/4 to 1/2 mile up ahead that appeared to be in distress. There were two trucks in the right lane, one behind the other. The rear truck kept tapping his breaks, while the truck in front of him kept weaving to the left a bit, then back into the right lane. It looked as if the front truck had his flashers on, but I only saw the left side of the truck when it weaved partially to the left. I surmised that the truck behind the distressed truck would slow down and get over in the left lane or just back off the other truck, so I started slowing since the rear truck was repeatedly tapping his breaks. At this point, another truck came barreling up beside me passing me in the left lane.
...All I could think of is now there are three trucks that could very well have to come to an abrupt stop, so I slowed more. Once I hit 45 miles/hr, I put on my flashers and tapped my breaks several times to signal to anyone behind me that something was definitely UP in front of me. It was about this time when both of the trucks behind the front truck in distress got over to the left. At this the distressed truck abruptly went off the road, down the embankment and managed to stay upright at a fast pace. (could not believe this truck did not roll!!) To my amazement, the distressed truck kept moving at a high rate of speed off road about 40-60 feet as if on a side road. STILL UPRIGHT! And after traveling off the road maybe the length of a football field, just as abruptly as he went off the road, he drove back up the embankment and onto the road pulling across both lanes and straightened out back into the right lane up ahead of us. I could not believe this guy stayed upright and intact!
...With his flashers on, he pulled over off the road probably to calm himself. The other two trucks had already pulled off the road with their flashers, so we kept moving forward knowing that no one had been injured. That was surely an amazing sight to see. We are still trying to deduce what actually happened to cause the driver to do this.