My life at Millis

Steelersjunkie, I hope you can keep up your enthusiasm for the job for many years to come. I see so many of these post that guys start out like you do and quickly change their attitude, to no fault of their own. I think your doing a great job keepin people informed and I hope your attitude can stay positive, thanks for the interesting read. There's nothing more important then doing what you love,

Be safe driver

 

Some people would biotch if ya hung em with a brand new rope................

 

I agree. It is all about what you make of a situation. There is a lot you can complain about this line of work. As Mack E-6 said.

It is different than when I started in 2003. The DOT/FMCSA started changing rules around 2005 (If I am not mistaken). The rules previously had for the most part been unchanged for 60+ years. There were some changes back in the late 70's and into the 80's. Between 2005 and 2010 a lot changes happened. You want to talk about complaining! LoL

I might forget some because it is has been to long and to many. It is use to be 14 hour day. You could extend it by being in the sleeper or off duty on your logs. You could drive 10 hours with an 8 hour break. You could reset your 70 by being off duty for 7 days. Every one was on paper with the exception of Werner Enterprises. They were one if not the first to use e-logs. This like I said between 2005 and 2007 the FMCSA changed quite a bit. They extended the sleeper berth to 10 hours. Driving time was extended to 11 hours. I think in '07 they made the 14 hour rule non extendable. In that same year they added the 34 hour reset. The FMCSA also changed many of the fines for compliance. They made it so both the driver and the company were responsible. They sort of followed the insurance industry. Where a points system was created. That would remain with you for 3 years. I think it was long for companies but I can't remember. That also included the addition of the employment verification. I think the official name is Driver Pre-screening. It use to be. All you did was fill out the application with your 10 years of history. Along with your address and etc. All the companies would do is check your MVR. Some would check your DAC report. As long as your MVR was clean. You were hired. Some times in the same day. I can remember calling a company on Friday. On Tuesday or Wednesday I would already be going down the road with their truck. All depended on when they got the drug screen results.
Then the fair majority of the 'big' carriers switched over to E-Logs. That was a baptismal of compliance right there. Many dispatch and planning departments finally realized. How long some of these load REALLY took to deliver. I can remember explaining to my fleet manager. That a 65 mph truck can not travel 1,000 miles in 11 hours.

You want to talk about complaining!!! Between those years. You couldn't sit down in the CDL area of the truck stop restaurant and not hear hundreds of complaints. LoL My favorite complaint I heard during that time was. "Ten hour break????? I can't sleep 10 hours!" I would just think to my self. It doesn't say you have sleep for 10 hours. Just don't drive the truck for 10 hours.

I would say around 2008-2009 during the economic down hill. The industry saw an intake of office/blue collar people. That led to a whole new round of complaining. Which is why I love MACK E-6's quote about doing the job is part of the job. I think a fair majority of them didn't know what they were in for. That was partially the fault of improper training.

@Steelersjunkie you have a great attitude about the job. Keep it up. If you can get over the weeks away from home. The rest of the job is just a very long commute to work. After almost 14 years. I have remained mostly positive about it. If there is something I don't like. I will either find the silver lining or make a change for the better.