Central Refrigerated Truck Stop II

Well had an interesting day today. pouring in north Carolina. me and the rest of the traffic on the 77 Is going about45. a guy in a red pickup comes flying up going about 65-70. I see him drift off the road. So right away I knew he was going to over counter steer. come over and hit me. so I slam the brakes. Get on the shoulder. sure enough he cuts across both lanes he hits me on the driver side steer. bounces back and flips on his side on top of the guard rail on the left side.

No one was hurt. unless you count my trainer flying out of the sleeper. Lol. He was cited. the state patrol officer on scene investigated it and agreed it went how I said it did. so obviously its not my fault. but now my trainer said it will go on my record as a non preventable accident. So does anyone know what this means. will it go on DAC? My license? Get CSA points? Hopefully I won't lose my dedicated over this.

 

If youre trainer was in the sleeper he deserved to fly out of it

 

It will be on your dac as a non preventable, but as long as you're not racking those up it shouldn't be a problem. Sounds to me like you might've saved someone's life today with you're quick actions. Good work.

 

thanks. I agree. My trainer was like. I would of just kept going. not even slowed down. I said. no. because if I didn't slow down and did keep going. He would of put himself right under that trailer.

 

I would say it's about normal. I remember my first week out solo. I constantly felt rushed for time, every small delay seemed to be bigger than it really was. Not to mention I locked my keys in my truck at my very first 99, got suckered into paying $150+ to get it unlocked (after being told $50 on the phone) and barely made it to a Walmart to park while on a meat load. Then I remember my first week running on recap, needlessly being concerned when something would hold me up and I'd use more hours than planned.

It's all in the seasoning! And that only comes with experience. Heck I think I've been out here a whole month longer than you, and I still get stressed about things that I'm sure the more seasoned would laugh at.

Does every load have its problems? I wouldn't say that exactly, but in my own experience, if it CAN go wrong, well it probably WILL go wrong. Someone once told me that Murphy hates truckers. Some days I believe that, haha.

It's going to be an haul-###'n weekend for me. Load tomorrow at KAMPDC in GA and then burn on down to the bikini state to a Walmart (going to arrive early and BEG to be unloaded haha). From there I pick up a heavy load and bring her back to Utah. Home time after that. 2200 miles in four days before the cut off? Guess we'll find out on Thursday haha.

unloader

 

Plan on 90 minutes to get a preload from KAMPDC, and don't expect it to be ready on time or even close. Lately the loads are ready about 4-6 hrs after apt time. Walmart wont unload early, and plan your parking in FL well; there's no where near enough parking in FL.

 

I have a central question, I am from Missouri and when I looked at a application with Central it said a Missouri resident would have to be on the Midwest regional and run 8 states is that all I could do as a company driver or would I be able to go over the road all 48? thanks to you all for your time.

 

I'm pretty sure you could do all 48 no problem. Just out of curiosity on my end. what 8 states did it list?

 

If that's the case it's a new policy, but even if it's true I can't believe they'd make that situation permanent for you. Especially if you choose the lease path, since you can't lease and run regional.

I think they are just desperate for Midwest Regional drivers. By the way, I'm from St. Louis and ran regional for a little while.

 

I agree with you. I treat my drivers with respect. Drivers older than me get a Mr. Smith, not a Hey driver. I also send out their loads and ask on the QUALCOMM, please review the load and let me know if you can do it. This company wants us to verbal every load, and I hate talking on the phone, so I have implemented some "Central tactics" for example we do not have a mac 11. So I told all my drivers, "I am happy to answer your call any time you have a concern, however the phone is very inefficient so I won't burden you with calling on every load, just send a freeform saying you got the load info and can deliver on-time, and I will let you do what you do, because you are the professional." Since then I have not had one failed load, and only one late (flat tire).

I also get calls from drivers all the time asking me basic questions about their logs. I am happy to explain them, but it's evidence of the lack of confidence constant micromanagement provides. I ask all my drivers when they are leaving their 01 to give me an ETA and hrs available to drive when they get to their 99 (Most of our loads are 250-300 miles, so it's fairly easy to do) Now all my drivers, assuming they gave at least 1hr notice has a load and is ready to roll as soon as they finish their current load.
When I first started this I had a lot of drivers ask me how many hours they would have. I helped them figure it out, but told them that they are the expert when is comes to their logs, and I think that shocked some of them. One even called my boss and said it made him feel good and wanted to let him know I was a keeper. Not to brag, I'm just amazed how little changes can make such a difference.

I got "coached" on the importance of calling every driver on every load, and how the drivers "need" us and would feel so alone if we did not constantly remind them we are there for them. That same day I had 3 drivers from another drivers fleet call my boss and ask to be switched to my fleet. Hopefully now I can run it as I need to, to keep my drivers rolling and grow my fleet.