Diary of a New Tanker Driver - Comcar CTL

Okay, thanks for the help!

But here is my situation: I am leaving for the tank wash about 1000 to get my hoses washed and pick up the tank. I have a 1200 loading appointment. According to Rand McNally, my trip is about 974 miles. So if I can move at a consistent 60 mph (I'm governed at 65 and am including fuel stops, time to get off the interstate for breaks, etc.), that comes out to 16 hours to get there. Add another 1 hour for other stuff and now we have 17.

If I leave at 1300, that means I can drive probably 10 hours on Monday until midnight. So I figure I want to start out at 0700 on Wednesday for my unloading appointment at 0800, which means on Tuesday, I can start driving at 1000 and drive until 0900. That's another 9 hours, giving me 19 hours total. So that should be plenty of time to get there.

I'm worried about driving until midnight and trying to find a place to park on Monday night. I'll have my laptop and a mobile hotspot with me so I have Internet access. I figure I'll be around Washington DC or maybe Baltimore.

How is it to park around there at midnight? Should I stop a couple hours earlier?

I don't have a lot of confidence I'll do this without a lot of trouble, as you can see!

 

I think there saying leave Monday night Round 8pm Tuesday morning round 8 am you shut down. Tuscany night 6 pm you roll out if the receiver will let you crash there, or just leave Tuesday night with enough time plus 2 hours to spare to make your delivery

 

But your start time tomorrow will screw up my thoughts. Somebody will be by with suggestions

 

You could shut down at 1pm on Monday. Roll out at 11pm, run till noon on Tuesday. Break till 10 pm, roll out and have till noon on Wed, to use up your 11.

 

You need to answer if you can stay at or near the shipper. Someplace you can park without tripping your logs. Trying to park on 95 at midnight will be very difficult.

 

If I did that, I would most assuredly fall asleep at the wheel. If that's the kind of things drivers have to do, I won't be long in this industry.

 

In thinking about this more I have a hard time understanding CTI here. No offense but they are putting you in a position to fail. That and the no EZ pass ( for which there is no valid excuse ) and I believe I would quit. You have no OTR training, no concept of the challenges of the northeast and very little driving experience. This is a load I or one of the other experienced guys should do. I don't think I've ever said this before to anyone on the forum but quit. I think you should quit. There is simply no excuse for this.

You can do it I'm not saying you can't but the risk shouldn't be taken and the sheer lack of training is ridiculous. At the very least the appointment should be moved back a day. Ridiculous load for the first time running OTR.

 

Also, your lack of preparedness is not your fault. You did nothing wrong here. Look, do your best and if the load is late then just call and explain. Don't push yourself too hard.

 

Does seem tight when you run the numbers

 

I can make that run with no problems but I'm a 10 year vet. Putting a rookie on this is stupid. You can't expect him to perform like me or you or Rob. How could he? They didn't even take him over the road for God's sake! And now they want him to run a tight load in the the Northeast, through NYC with no EZ pass and no experience! The more I think the more it ticks me off. @wsyrob, what say you?