CDL in hand... Now What ? Decision time, that's what...

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Perpetual, Feb 14, 2012.

  1. Treefork

    Treefork Road Train Member

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    Enjoy the ride up US-41. :)
     
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  2. windsmith

    windsmith Road Train Member

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    There is THIS or [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Travel-John-Portable-Bathroom-pack/dp/B000QCN298"]THIS[/ame]
     
  3. lelou

    lelou Light Load Member

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    Thank you Perpetual, especially about the seat. I was a bit worried about that after sitting in that old truck at the school, although I knew it HAD to be defective.

    I will most definitely go visit some dealers next time I'm near a city, good idea.

    Happy driving this week, and wish you lots of mile!!!

    Louise
     
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  4. Perpetual

    Perpetual Medium Load Member

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    There are more threads about flatbedding in the Roehl section of the forum. Look for one by TheTank called something like 'Adventures of a flatbedder at Roehl"

    Good luck to you :)
     
  5. Perpetual

    Perpetual Medium Load Member

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    I have no personal experience with either company. However, I think another driver on this forum, skyviper73, went through CR England training a few years ago and had a positive experience.
     
  6. Perpetual

    Perpetual Medium Load Member

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    Back in Gary, IN at the terminal. Delivered two large aluminum coils to Chicago today. Difficult to get in there for sure. Drove nearly 500 miles, straight shot from the shipper in Russellville, KY. The consignee unloaded the coils and put them into a metal shipping containers that seemed to be going perhaps by rail to California. My first peek into intermodal operations.

    I was concerned about getting out of the city before running out of hours, but they unloaded me fairly quickly and I got a preplan before sending the empty call. So with 2 hours left on my clock I fought Friday afternoon Chicago traffic and made it to the terminal with 30 minutes to spare.

    Tomorrow morning at 10:00 I pick up a different coil in East Chicago, IN and deliver it to a car manufacturer in Kentucky by Monday morning first thing.

    Truck and trailer are washed, tarp boxes are reorganized. Shower and laundry also completed. Things are working out nicely; I should have a easy run this weekend.


    Here are some steel coils destined to become car bodies:

    [​IMG]


    And here are the two "eyes to the sky" aluminum coils under wraps in the early morning light at a rest area in Kentucky. I am pretty happy with this tarp job.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Apr 13, 2012
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  7. jdimes

    jdimes Medium Load Member

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    Nice job, your thread gives others an insight into the trucking world.
     
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  8. Wedge

    Wedge Road Train Member

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    Keep up the good work, Perpetual. :biggrin_255:
     
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  9. Perpetual

    Perpetual Medium Load Member

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    Arrived this evening at the smaller of the two Pilot truck stops off I-75 in Georgetown, KY, which is very close to the consignee. Being 1.5 days early, I might as well take a 34 hour reset right here to refresh my 70 hours. The truck is already well-organized but surely there is always room for improvement.

    Here is the ~38000 pound steel coil I picked up this morning in East Chicago, IN:

    [​IMG]

    The material is 2mm thick and rolled into a big coil. For transport, the coil is sitting on thick rubber pads, which are in turn sitting on hardwood dunnage which is in turn being held toward the center with coil racks. The coil is secured with 4 chains and 4 straps... again, more than the minimum requirement... it certainly wasn't going anywhere without the trailer ;)
     
    Last edited: Apr 14, 2012
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  10. Treefork

    Treefork Road Train Member

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    Kudos for 4 chains. I get relays all the time in Gary with straps but only two chains. I always put 4, especially on those big master coils.
     
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