Started my local routes

When I was a mover, I had to go anyway. I pulled a lot of those down. I was pretty hated by anyone who needed their phone or cable

 

LA is a different beast like all metro cities, watch your tandems, there are two bridges that are below 13'6 that I know of, one by the men's jail and the other by the sears tower. Google map everything, lots of blindsight backings on super narrow streets where cars are parked all around you, GOAL, cars will honk and cut you off and cuss you out, just breathe

 

All of this is true.. Local driving is much tougher driving than OTR.. I won't say the JOB is tougher, just different- but the driving is definitely tougher..

You have different challenges between OTR and local.. I don't really think you can say one is tougher than the other (as far as the job goes), just different.. JUst be prepared for the driving challenges you'll face locally

 

Just some advice, when you set up to back, it's a good idea to take up the whole street. If there's room that the cars can get past you in either direction, THEY WILL, and you'll end up stuck straddling the middle of the street in your huge ### truck while not one person is smart enough to stop and let you back... And if you start moving and hit someone, your fault. So, if you don't have spotters, block the street if you have to.

 

Ha, ya Ive pulled excavators and backhoes around most of my days..
I once pulled up a cable line up while digging at a golf resort..John Denver came out of a luxury rental condo to yell at me...Must of been watching Oprah or something...It was funny, he was so small compared to me
Never hit any overhead lines yet...

 

You do that and your NEVER drive again if you're smoking while driving a CMV. Any marijuana is illegal to use since we are controlled by the federal laws.

 

To the new gasoline hauler. Relax, stay to your own routine and ignore the customers. You'll need to watch them very carefully but don't waste your time with them. Remember the manager of the store is responsible to clear your path. We gave them 15 minutes and then we drove off. You have it different because you're a common carrier. But still let the station take care of your problems. You're going to have so many stories to tell you could write a book. I've had kids throw firecrackers at me on the 4th. I was right next to a pick-up unloading when I heard this clicking noise sound and looked over and saw right next to the pick-up fill this kid was showing off his stun gun to his pal. The only thing I can tell you why we didn't blow up that night was there was a slight wind and that must have blown the vapors away. We even had a store manager get burned bad when he check the stick readings with his lighter. So you're going to see things you never thought was possible. Just stay relaxed and do your routine the same every day. Good luck and welcome to the world of fuel hauling.

 

Sent you a PM. I started driving right when I turned 25 just over two years ago and had only little training. Did mostly 48' flatbed locally through downtown LA and surrounding areas and that included wide loads and 12' overhang. Also have some 53' van experience. Biggest thing is ALWAYS be looking ahead and planning your next move ASAP. LA has a lot of weird streets so expect the unexpected and just keep cool. Eventually you'll learn which roads are more truck-friendly to save you some hassle but it's not always easy to remember all of them. In the Vernon area Bandini is a nice street to use and you'll probably notice a lot of your deliveries and such may be around that street.

 

I was raised in Whittier CA and those who do not know that's about 20 miles south of L.A on the edge of L.A. County. I'm very proud of the road systems there and there's some proof on how well they are set. Remember the big earth quakes and they shut down the freeways. I called a couple of friends there and asked them if there were any changes. These ARCO drivers told me that hardly any changes were made, they still got 6 loads a shift and they carried on using nothing but the service streets.. Sure they may have been BS'ing but I was looking at some records and it there were no real changes. So to use the streets like they did I'm very proud of the way the streets are laid out. I say this because being in the military I've been on some city streets that were just outrageous. Can you imagine trying to get 6 loads done in a shift and you're in Washington D.C.. Or most city streets back east. The older the city the worse the roads are.