Advice about Trucking without the Sugar Coating

Will do Doc. Thank you sir!

 

thanks for the post im a student driver happy i found all the info THANKS to you and your wife for the time you spent on the post. stay away from pimps got it.

 

DocHoliday....I am a truckers wife, not a trucker...although he says I think I am at times....LOL. My husband drives for P.A.M. and got his CDL through Drivers Solutions. He has been a solo driver for almost 17 months and has no warnings, tickets or bad DOT inspections. He is a very cautious driver and I am proud of him. One month after he went solo, we gave up our home, one of our vehicles, my job and I went on the road with him. We have 4 grown daughters between us, 1 grown grandson, 2 younger grandsons and a great grandaughter. We try to get home for 4 days every 4-6 weeks and hubbys dispatcher usually gets him there around our requested date. What you said about relationships is right on the money. My ex drove OTR and I raised our 3 daughters alone. He was home for 1 day each month and was unresponsive to my female needs. I remained loyal to him and when I was looking 40 years old in the eye, I decided I did not want to spend the rest of my life like that. So, we divorced...of course he did not understand why because after all, he was the provider, a good dad, etc....NOT! Anyway, everything you have said has been right on the money. My hubby and I have read every word you wrote and appreciate the time you have spent to help other drivers out. We will continue to read what you write and learn from your mistakes and your knowledge. God bless you and your wife.

 

I will hop on over to the Newbies section to see what is going on there. Who knows, just maybe we will cross paths. Just look for the P.A.M truck with a male and female, not too many of us out here right now. Be safe and God bless.

 

Docholiday,
Once again I would like to be one of the hopefully many newbies and drivers who read your posts and take a little pride in thier profession. The way a person takes care of themselves and equipment is a direct reflection of themselves and the company they represent. I have not even started school yet, but already know that this is a serious lifestyle change. I too was taught if you do a job do it right! Half asg means you have to do a half asg job again to accomplish something that could have been done right the first time.
I will admit the one thing I really look at with a company is the home time. I know it may only be a day or so but most of the flatbed companies offer weekends home. I would be willing to give up that little money to see family weekly. The job I have now doesn't pay that good so if I can average 2000 miles a week will be just under double what I make now only about $775 every two weeks. I would love to see if you have any recomendations for flatbed companies. I have been prehired at TMC but interested in Maverick as well. Mcelroy is not hiring right now.
I really took my time to try and soak in all the info you have taken the time to write. I really hope others will read as carefully and learn. I have always believed in treating others like you would like to be treated. I think I would be the one to help others for I have helped a few truckers that were lost here locally. I too ride however due to financial reasons sold my bike last year. Really hoping this new carrier will allow me to get a new bike. Would love to get a goldwing for longer rides with my wife. I have been to Myrtle bike week past 4 years sometimes both spring and fall. Maybe I could meet yall there sometime.
If you don't mind I might look that number up to call if you don't mind. Thank you again. I feel that as long as I do my best and use my head I will be very succesul in this industry.

 

OK Doc, I finally read your thread after our emails today and find it refreshing that some wanna be didn't come in here with the Billy Big Rigger attitude I get after some of my pots or threads!

Some of you who have read some of my "harder" posts know that I don't "sugar coat' either! I come out with both barrels blazing and you Doc have done the same thing and put it pretty well that others will or can figure it out! I think the "father" in me comes out and i bite a little to hard for some of these panty waists that call themselves truckers these days! I keep forgetting there was "an old school" for some stupid reason! LOL

Even though a lot of my posts have to do with mechanical advice Spelled PTI and packing and keeping paperwork to CYA and how to CYA when you get your new truck, or CYA when you attempt to quit and my views on alcohol and other fun things and of anyone wants to check them out just click on my screen name and follow the path to read posts by me! And do the same to see Doc's other posts!

Granted there are those out there that think advice or knowledge handed down isn't worth the time to look at it and think they got all they needed from school and a trainer I will tell you that you missed out on a lot!
I'm an ex instructor and trainer. I know that, that school that you paid stupid money to did NOT teach you 1/3 of what you need to know. And that trainer unless he had you out of the truck and under the thing every day didn't teach you anything at all! 80% of trucking has to do with the truck, not steering it down the road or company policy and paperwork!

Doc and I just hashed out "tools" and brake adjustments as not to many of you for the last 10 years needs or want to know anything about them except that they stop you when you put your foot on a pedal! Cases in point: Many years ago at the old TA in Hagerstown,MD I had a driver come up to me as I crawled out from under the trailer and offer to pay me $20 to adjust his brakes. For that kind of money about 20 years ago I couldn't get under his trailer fast enough! Oh heck yes I'll take his money for that! Now, if he had asked me to show him how to do it I'd have him wrench in hand doing his own! It last happened when I was in CA on my last run and a driver asked me why his brakes didn't seem to work! Yep, self adjusting brakes his BFI company had not greased in it looked like when God made the trailer! I had to show him how to adjust them! He learned something! He's safer now for the rest of us!

Advice is given freely, what you do with it is up to you. Just remember that what you read could be a load of BS but everyone of us knows how to check out information and should! The more you look the better you see!
Thanks DOC! keep the posts coming!

Good Luck
Rollover

 

How many top notch instructors are there anyway? I've had school owners discourage me from teaching "Too Much".

Those schools went under years ago. It seems like the CDL Mill has a better chance of staying in business. You notice I'm not doing it anymore.