April 9th orientation in marshfield

Welcome back, Mike, and congrats on getting your truck!!

 

Thanks, K. Nothing like getting in your own after being in someone elses for over a week. The chaperoning got a little irritating but now it's gravy. Hope to see ya out there.

 

Wow ti you so much to. T Lady for her insight.... I am still on the fence with when I'm going to apply ... I have a few family tie ups that can't be missed middle of sept to middle of oct I am more worried about backing than anything. It was nice to see they have the 'women's class' to give a little heads up that way! I know I have been pouring over all of the forums so I am a little more mentally prepared but once I go I just want to drive. So looking forward to being able to put the application in and get set up!

 

I have been running alone since May 10 when I was issued my truck. Miles are decent, usually, but I know I shoot myself in the foot sometimes with poor trip planning, which is to be expected when first starting out. I have had to wait several hours at shippers and consignees, again expected occasionally. The one that bugs me is when I have a preplan waiting for me, I send a confirmation and sit and wait...and wait...this is after Ive sent an MT in. I had a trailer swap the other day. Drop the old MT, pick up a brand new replacement. I sent a msg saying I needed the last 6 of new trlr VIN. Then waited...I finally called my FM, and was told the person I talked to prob went on lunch. REALLY??? I was supposed to run from there to get another load the same day, but ran out of hours due to slow response. Which put me off duty all yesterday, as the shipper was closed. So this morning I finally get the load, drop it 300 or so miles away, then see if I get home yet today.
Im not ready to walk, just irritated that slow people are costing me as much time and pay as I cost myself. I have had days Ive run almost 600 miles...I can run hard, given the hours. These 0 mile days kill me.

 

Ahmen. I sat for 6 hrs yesterday at Kroger in Roanoke va for a drop and hook but no empty trailers. Had to wait for them to unload. (I could have taken piece by piece faster...lol) Left this am for Sc to pick up a load to Mn and the oad is not ready. Got here at noon and they say may be 1900 before ready. Not me or roehl fault. Hang in there and I'll buy you a cup of your favorite hot drink.

 

There's a learning curve when you first start out and you'll continue to learn more and more as you progress in trucking. Speaking for experience of course I've been 8 months in and continue to learn more and the mistakes I've made helped me not to make them again, and time management is a big key to conserve hours too. Shippers and cons that take forever sucks, Roehl making mistakes on loads that set u back sucks as well. Back roads and traffic jams up the wazoo are horrible. Just have to push through it for the better. I hope for good days on the road and try to stay positive for a better out come. Some weeks blow by with good long loads, drop hooks and easy work. Other times are short loads, live loads, vehicle maintenance and massive big city traffics jams. Get in and get out get the miles do the best you can safely. Short falls happen to everybody in the industry. Don't let it break you and you'll be good to go.

 

Communication system has been down most of the afternoon. Of course, it happens on my first day back out. It wouldnt be a problem, but they shot me a quick load and drop relay, then an almost 1200 mile relay pickup...and the system wouldnt give me routing and fuel instruction. The gps says quickest route runs thru Canada...FM thought so too, but the route he managed to get from the system doesnt send me that way. Oh well...I had myself psyched up to cross the border, maybe on the way back...