Any states to avoid during DOT week?

After fifteen years in the oilfield, wearing a safety vest at a shipper or receiver is laughable in comparison. I have nothing against the vests, but I only put it on when someone asks if I have one. And don't take any of that the wrong way. 99% of my rate cons mention I'll need to wear PPE, but when I get there, it's just me and some guy on a forklift smoking a cigarette. You can usually gauge whether or not they're "serious" about it. When I first started, I asked if I really needed to put all this stuff on, and the guy said: "#### no. Nobody here gives a ####." And that ended up being the case pretty much everywhere. So I usually bum around in jeans, steel toes, baseball cap, and a Guns n' Roses T-shirt.

As far as the blitz is concerned...well, I'm slightly concerned about it. This whole time, I've felt I'm only 99% legal. Like I'm studying for a test, but only have notes on 99% of the subject matter. I've downloaded the level 1 requirements, and performed a level 1 on myself at home. I'm pretty sure my paperwork and truck book is in order, but I guess we'll see.

 

You're only ever 99% legal. They can find violations on a brand new truck that just rolled off the assembly line more often than not. But I suspect that a fair chunk of the nitpicky violations they come up with are actually moreso a response to driver attitude than anything else.

 

I think if I tell them that I pay their salary, that will intimidate them into submission. Probably going to just lead with that so they know right of the bat who's in charge!!

 

Yup, and when they tell you to step out of the truck, make sure to bring your tire thumper with you. There's a chance that it might distract them from your flip flops.

 

If DOT catches me in my flip flops, I'm asking him how he got past the locked door and through the shower curtain.

 

Usually true, if you don’t take care of the little things then the important bigger things don’t get done most likely.

 

Just follow me through. Since I don’t have a trailer I’m an inspection magnet. They see 2 axles total and start fighting each other on who gets to do the easy inspection.
I had a level 1 in Idaho and the next day since Oregon doesn’t give a #### what Idaho does I was pulled in for another level 1. Until a rock cracked my windshield I was rocking 2 stickers.

 

Bingo!

 

We're taking until at least Thursday off, and doing massive amounts of grilling. So we're not too concerned.

 

Cool with drivers taking off this week rates climbing, 4200 to ca and 6100 back to Des Moines. Hell yeah love it