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The journey begins - purchased a truck.

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by blairandgretchen, Dec 10, 2014.

Page 241 of 622
  1. Jan 11, 2018 #2401
    dngrous_dime

    dngrous_dime Road Train Member

    3,150
    5,765
    Jan 28, 2014
    Lansing area, MI
    0
    Do you mean to imply that truckers are less than completely honest and upstanding???? Why, I never.
     
    dngrous_dime, Jan 11, 2018
    dngrous_dime, Jan 11, 2018
    #2401
    Lepton1, Tug Toy, Feedman and 4 others Thank this.
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  3. Jan 11, 2018 #2402
    Old Man

    Old Man Road Train Member

    4,597
    13,471
    Apr 3, 2009
    Oklahoma City, OK
    0
    Blair's experience is true, his numbers are true and and he has turned into a specialized trucker.
    He went from a door slammer line haul driver to a real trucker and put in some real hard work to get there.
    He has also proved you can actually do good leased to a company.
     
    Old Man, Jan 11, 2018
    Old Man, Jan 11, 2018
    #2402
    ShooterK2, Lepton1, haycarter and 5 others Thank this.
  4. Jan 11, 2018 #2403
    spyder7723

    spyder7723 Road Train Member

    15,471
    25,077
    Mar 31, 2013
    sarasota, fl
    0
    I did not think that prior comment was directed at blair.
     
    spyder7723, Jan 11, 2018
    spyder7723, Jan 11, 2018
    #2403
    blairandgretchen Thanks this.
  5. Jan 11, 2018 #2404
    blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

    13,680
    74,424
    Dec 9, 2011
    South west Missouri
    0
    1252 miles in - 1010 to go

    So - I turn up to load, and 14'8" is 14'10" under my tape measure, as 80'3" is 80' 8".

    73' spread (previously confirmed), is now 80' spread to support the 'supports'.

    Furiously set about re-ordering permits. Original $310 cost and then add $380. 2nd escort required (but I knew that, shhhhh. don't tell the customer)

    OK arrives as I'm securing, same route. WA is the only one that doesn't care about the axle spacing change, all others re-order.)

    Piece is totally shrink wrapped. "So how do you want this secured?"

    'Well - you can't cut the plastic"

    19 page securement document arrives from customer - engineers have too much time on their hands. 3 pages are the pictures I sent them of my securement WLL - go figure. After a little while, I'm informed that I am now the securement engineer. Great.

    OK ALT 412, OK 88, OK20, OK11 . . . anybody familiar with these routes? We were literally shoving folks off the road and messing up traffic in towns, taking all the available real estate to follow Oklahoma's great routing ideas.

    I was wound up and stressed by the time I was tied down and ready to roll. Even getting out of the shipping yard seemed like a stretch to me. I lined it up, backed it up, cut it around, looked in my passenger spot to see the trailer with plenty of clearance - and stopped, and set the brakes.

    And then I said out loud - " Hey dummy, you got this. You've done it before. Shut up. You've been this long before, but not this wide. You've been close to this wide before, but not long. Just do it"

    And - so far, so good.
     
    blairandgretchen, Jan 11, 2018
    blairandgretchen, Jan 11, 2018
    #2404
    stwik, double yellow, ShooterK2 and 15 others Thank this.
  7. Jan 12, 2018 #2405
    Old Man

    Old Man Road Train Member

    4,597
    13,471
    Apr 3, 2009
    Oklahoma City, OK
    0
    Your doing good job, did I mention alt 412 is made for horse and buggy.
     
    Old Man, Jan 12, 2018
    Old Man, Jan 12, 2018
    #2405
    Itsbrokeagain, stwik, ShooterK2 and 5 others Thank this.
  8. Jan 12, 2018 #2406
    blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

    13,680
    74,424
    Dec 9, 2011
    South west Missouri
    0
    Sure is - and Johnny sends his regards. Unfortunately, he's told me lots of stories to rag you about.

    Thanks again - the advice has been invaluable.
     
    blairandgretchen, Jan 12, 2018
    blairandgretchen, Jan 12, 2018
    #2406
    Big_D409, Terry270 and Oxbow Thank this.
  9. Jan 12, 2018 #2407
    Elroythekid

    Elroythekid Road Train Member

    2,613
    5,671
    Sep 9, 2010
    Halifax Nova Scotia
    0
    OK. All I have is wow... good luck driva....love this thread.
     
    Elroythekid, Jan 12, 2018
    Elroythekid, Jan 12, 2018
    #2407
    blairandgretchen Thanks this.
  10. Jan 12, 2018 #2408
    ben5398

    ben5398 Bobtail Member

    23
    28
    Jan 18, 2017
    0
    It is pretty obvious when someone is trying to be honest vs stretching the truth on purpose vs flat out lying. That is what draws me to this thread, it was easy to see honesty within.

    I have talked with a neighbor who farms and trucks and his experience sounds much like Blairs although he is under his own authority. Not sure how LS would work with someone like myself. Like I said my goal is to leave my current position in 4 years, I will be 42 at that time which will allow me to collect a limited pension at 58 based on my 20 years teaching. I want to take over our farm at that point and truck the 9-10 months that I am not in the field. Not sure how a company like LS views someone who would be hauling for themselves in the fall and some throughout the year. I am pushing us to convert over to a tractor trailer for the next fall so I can gain experience and get to know the truck and work out problems before starting over the road; however, I am not the decision maker. In the mean time I may also do some temp work during my summer vacations.

    Again Blair thank you for your thread it has been a great read.
     
    ben5398, Jan 12, 2018
    ben5398, Jan 12, 2018
    #2408
    blairandgretchen Thanks this.
  11. Jan 12, 2018 #2409
    Old Man

    Old Man Road Train Member

    4,597
    13,471
    Apr 3, 2009
    Oklahoma City, OK
    0
    Tell Johnny lunch is on me at The Chop House.
    He will probably cry.
     
    Old Man, Jan 12, 2018
    Old Man, Jan 12, 2018
    #2409
    blairandgretchen Thanks this.
  12. Jan 12, 2018 #2410
    blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

    13,680
    74,424
    Dec 9, 2011
    South west Missouri
    0

    Thanks to you both. You're both a part of the reasons this thread still runs.

    The only frustration I encounter with this forum is folks that want to go from zero to 100%, without bothering to read a paragraph, or listen (without butting in) - to anyone. It cheers me to know that people want to learn.

    All the information for success is available - just needs to be applied.
     
    blairandgretchen, Jan 12, 2018
    blairandgretchen, Jan 12, 2018
    #2410
    stwik, double yellow, fordconvert and 10 others Thank this.
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