Diary of a New Tanker Driver - Comcar CTL

just see if it can be put back a day and run daytime hours.
Your the new guy the vets dont want this run

 

I bet that is exactly what is happening.

 

I have been OTR for 1 year and was not trained by an OTR driver. Luckily, I figured things out pretty quick.

First off, try to get your clean tank and hoses before you start your clock (if possible). It can sometimes take up to an hour to pre-trip, find hoses, make sure the tank is dry, etc. So let's say you leave at 1400, then you can drive 400 miles (about 6.5 to 7 hours). Since you are hitting up the tank wash around 1000, you should have no problem being shut down by say 2200. Leave the next day at 0800 and drive the remaining 500ish miles (8-10 hours). You'll have to shut down by 2200, which is plenty of time. You'll likely be shut down by 2000, and then you can leave the next morning by 0600, giving you 2 additional hours to get to your delivery.

Now, I'm not saying that is the best schedule to run, only that you have ample time to make your delivery. You'll have to adjust your starting and stopping times to avoid traffic in major cities. This comes with experience. You will learn with experience where all the truck stops are, how to save time on your e-logs, how to get layover, etc.

I usually call and ask if there is parking at the delivery plant. If so, you can sleep there and you won't have to start your clock right away. If there is no parking, use Google, the truck master fuel finder web site, or an app to find the nearest truck stop. I can usually find a Pilot, Flying J, or Love's within 50 miles of my deliveries. You get free showers (among other things) with your rewards card. Since I get dirty during the day, I like to take my shower during my 10 hour break, then go to sleep clean. By the way, parking seems to be best between 0800 and 1800. At about 7pm, parking gets pretty full especially with all the unused reserved parking crap. I've noticed that many drivers do leave around 0100-0400.

P.S. Sucks that you have no EZ Pass. I would not want work there. Hopefully your terminal just forgot to give you one.

 

No wonder why they are always hiring in Houston... Smh

 

Yeah I was going to at least check out CTL when I finished school but don't think so now. Sounds like he is being set up for failure. Smh.

 

He is going to need crystal clear directions for Keasby. Everyone seems to get lost the first time. GolfPro if you stop there you turn under a bridge, I mean literally under a massive bridge, your truck will be heading toward the water but there is a huge tankwash down there.

Also remember the roads in NJ aren't like anywhere else. You can't make lefts you have to go to the turnarounds which may or may not be marked.

 

Really need to listen to this, a daytime run over the GW can be epic.