Things I wish I would have known before I got started...

Discussion in 'LTL and Local Delivery Trucking Forum' started by road_runner, Dec 3, 2013.

  1. road_runner

    road_runner Road Train Member

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    I am starting this thread with an open invitation to all of our other LTL guys to share their input as well.

    Those that followed my threads know my background a bit. For those that don't, here is a bit about myself before I get started:

    I am just your average Joe. Relative good shape and no criminal/accident/medical problems. I signed on with the military when I was 20 and did eight years as a vehicle operator. I learned how to drive trucks there, did a combat tour in Iraq and got my CDL through a private school just before I got out. I was making $45k a year as a Staff Sgt so getting back into the civilian sector was scary as hell for me. I did not know what to expect. I pretty much relied on my prior experience to find a job. I knew how to drive a stick shift and I was pretty darn good at backing (so I thought). Man, I woke up to a very rude awakening as soon as I got hired on as a civilian.

    I got hired on with an LTL carrier to run linehaul. For those that don't know what that is, I opened a thread on this a few months back.

    Despite a bit of a pay increase (now making $53K a year) I was struggling like hell to keep up with everyone else. Aside from knowing how to drive as truck, I knew nothing about the LTL field or how to pull doubles/triples.

    Things I wish I knew then based on what I know now:

    1. Ask many many many questions to as many people as you can. Not gonna lie, my terminal supervisor is not someone that volunteers information unless you ask him specifically. I spent many hours sitting there, waiting on trailers without realizing that our carrier actually PAYS detention time. I probably lost about $800 in wait time I failed to mention on my pay sheet. After about three months of working there, another linedriver told me about this wait time we actually get paid for.

    2. If you have "wait time" to kill, practice your backing! Straightline backing is pretty basic... jacknife backing is something I should have focused on more. I spent an excessive amount of time hooking sets in smaller yards simply because I lacked the advance backing skills/experience to accomplish this faster.

    3. Come prepared... and this is a BIG one. My carrier is super cheap and will not give us the basic tools... rather we bring along our own. No matter how broke you are, you MUST bring these as a bare minimum:
    A. Three pens (bring them from home or tactically acquire them from your local restaurants/terminals). Keep one in your cab, one in your document binder, one ON-PERSON
    B. Small notepad to fit in one of your arse pockets ($.50 to $2.00),
    C. Leather gloves ($12 at most TS). The most important investment you can make. Hooking airlines, raising/lowering landing gears, using a rusty fifth-wheel puller... the list goes on and on. You must have gloves to protect your hands! The first time I forgot mine at home was the last time I made that mistake.
    D. A small hammer for unlocking brakes in the winter time ($6),
    E. A headlamp for chaining up ($15-$30 at local sporting good stores or some TS),
    F. A pocket flashlight/multi-tool combo ($10 at most TS). A small pocket flashlight should ALWAYS stay on your person so you can verify all your fifth wheels are actually locked, you can see your trailer numbers easier, and you can verify that your trailer is EMPTY when you are asked to pull empty trailers!

    4. A fuel rewards card for all the TS you fuel at the most. Pilot/FJ yields one penny per gallon. Doesn't sound like much, but I receive about $200 a year in TS store credit to buy all of the above!

    5. Not used to chaining up? Start practicing in your yard when the weather is nice. This is a big one. I know how to put on chains, but the military refused to let us roll out when it was snowing. My first time hands-on experience was when I was spun out on the side of the road on a major mountain pass. It took me way longer to get my chains on cause I lacked the practice!

    6. A roll of toilet paper needs to be in your cab at all times.

    7. Didn't get enough practice hooking doubles or forgot a step? Check out my guides I wrote up: Basics to Converter Dollies & Hooking Doubles

    8. A smartphone with some form of dataplan is essential! I use Google Maps to give me directions to new terminals that I may not be familiar with! Study your routes well in advance. What I do is I hook my mobile up to my aux port on my AM/FM stereo system so I get turn-by-turn directions to my terminal. I once got lost pulling triples... believe me, I had a really really really bad time trying to find a place to turn around!

    9. A car charger for your smartphone is a MUST. Stay away from the DuraCell brand and the other cheap chargers. After going through six different chargers in one year, the ToughTested charger is by far the best.

    10. Again, if you are new, ask many questions. Review your pay/entitlement sheet... or better yet, bring a copy with you!

    I would like to open up this thread to any further comments, questions, and suggestions. Senior members: Please share your wisdom!
     
    Mikey60919, 91B20H8, TAC12 and 9 others Thank this.
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  3. Mark Kling

    Mark Kling Technology Contributor

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  4. HotH2o

    HotH2o Road Train Member

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    What's wrong with Duracell?
     
  5. road_runner

    road_runner Road Train Member

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    Had two of their chargers. The fluctuation of currency in my 2005 truck burnt out both of them in a matter of two weeks each.
     
  6. HotH2o

    HotH2o Road Train Member

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    Thanks for the heads up. I got one in my pickup. Don't hardly use it but I'll be tossing it out today!
     
  7. road_runner

    road_runner Road Train Member

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    You may fare better in your personal pick-up if you don't have a constant power fluctuation... as for actually owning one to rely on when you are out on the road, I would highly advise AGAINST that brand. It may be a good back-up though.
     
  8. road_runner

    road_runner Road Train Member

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    I use hand sanitizer and paper towels.
     
  9. chalupa

    chalupa Road Train Member

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    No joke, baby wipes, pepto chewables too. You eat some bad stuff it will glue you together and i always kept a set of coveralls rolled up in a bag behind the seat. In the winter I rolled up a blanket, coveralls and 2 bottles of water and bagged it.

    tks...jmo
     
    road_runner and TAC12 Thank this.
  10. coastie

    coastie Road Train Member

    Along with baby wipes a grease hand cleaner. Yes you will get greasy hands time to time.

    I also kept food, drinks, Toilet paper along with extra trash bags for emergencies.

    I also kept a Tums, BC Powder (only thing that worked on my headaches) and extra meds.

    FOr the truck I would keep extra motor Oil, Antifreeze, Spare headlights, trailer lights, Rubber gaskets for gladhands, Spare Airlines, fuses, and even when pulling Vans Bungee cords and small straps. Crow Bars,
     
  11. ACH1130

    ACH1130 Road Train Member

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    dude all carriers are cheap like you said... none give you the tools you need... trust me on that one
     
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