Getting Ready to Hit the Road with Magnum

Sorry if I was repetitive, mostly skimmed posts. 36 pages is a lot of reading. Lol. I sure hope things get better around here and maybe see a lot of new equipment in a few years and bigger raises to bring us back up to the loss someday. I know its been tough all around with the layoffs, any job is better than no job I imagine. A lotta honest guys at case and bobcat not knowing what to do now. We hauled a good chunk of that freight at one time. I figure they are just doing what they gotta do. I don't know what else I would do if I ran that show. I like most our freight lines, I been bouncing around south the last 3 weeks, been some good miles. I have been stacked with trips the last few weeks. That led to a few complications with e-log, but I was able to plan it out well enough to give plenty of notice on a no-go. Then was stacked right back up on more trips, most times when they get me home they won't bother me right away so I can get a home cooked meal or a extra day. Not a ton of stress. Everyone gets a stressful load once in a while, no matter who your driving for really. Optimism goes a long way I imagine

 

Hi there Ground_pounder, the trainer here. yes a lot of pages to review. scooter has been a busy trucker since I cut him loose waaaaaay back when LOL!!! I notice your in 655 is that current? I'm in 1006 Welcome to "The Scooter pages" the trainer

 

Ya got one of the pretty new ones, I'm jealous because they have some pretty nice bells n whistles. I probally seen ya out here, or around the shop, and I have the 4 door 57 chev driver parked in the yard. just not too good with names myself. I am still cruising 655, for my first truck and being in it as long as I have it is suprisingly still in one piece n not at the bottom of fancy gap. Haha. You know time flies when your having fun or going downhill. At least I've been keeping it steady, because you gotta keep them points up to make the good time. I rarely ever get my speed cut down in it so I must be doing something right. 655 has been pretty good to me and like home, not so much the proheat, its possessed, I swear the rhythm of the exhaust n motor chants "I hate you, I'm going to kill you in your sleep, blaaa I'm going to die now and let you freeze to death blaaaa..". Hahahaha

 

Duplicate. Now my blackberrys possessed. Haha

 

Hey Bud,

Great picture of you and your dad in the truck.

This may prove how long I've been out of a truck... There's a blue sticker that says something about 'Driver using electronic logs' on the side of your truck. What's that for? I mean, I know you're on electronic logs, but is it for the shack jackers or what?

Also, glad to hear you got your $500 back. I was kind of figuring that you wouldn't, but I'm a pessimist.

 

Yeah, and it works. I have pulled up along them twice now when they were checking logs, and both saw the sticker and waved me through.

Glad to get the money back too. Thought I was going to have to come up there and grab you and two baseball bats and go pay him a visit. Happy it didnt have to come to that. But I would have bought you lunch hehehehehe

Also, didnt know if you saw, but the book is done. "How to Survive Becoming a Truck Driver". Ya'll can PM me if you want a copy

 

I didnt have time to look through the 37 pages of posts, but wow. Are you still with Magnum? Who was your trainer? I started out there from school and loved the company. Would still be working for them if I had not moved to Florida. Matt tried to get me something down here but no good. Anyway, glad you have seemed to like Magnum they were a great company, and still are I guess. I still have a couple of friends working there, one being my trainer, and the other one that I trained. Take care.

 

Yup, still there. Had some bad moments, but the good far outweighed it. Ya know, the thing I like about the company is that for the most part, I can reach out and touch someone if I need to. That means alot. And when I call, they KNOW who they are talking to.

Duke was my trainer and although he has been my only one, I can't think of a better person to be a trainer. I definately feel like I lucked out in that aspect.

Been running quite hard this week so far. Left Rocky Mount, NC at noon on Tuesday, delivered today (Thursday) in Grand Island, Nebraska at 10 am, turned around, drove to Omaha, picked up a load that delivers tomorrow in Bismarck, ND. Then I run to Park Rapids Sat at 9am picking up a load that delivers in Springfield, OH Monday morning. So in 6 days, I will have run about 3300 miles (give or take). And when you use electronic logs, the only way to do it is drive 11 / sleep 10 / drive 11.

And I am sure that I will be back out there as soon as I drop that load.

So yes, things are good all in all.

Nice talking to ya!

ARF

 

when i drove one of my wife's uncle's trucks in the winter time, he allowed me to shut off the reefer unit when i took my 8 hs. mind you this was back in '80. we had the old style ones when you had to preheat before starting.

 

also it sounds like you do a lot of drops, how do you like that? i'm glad you like your job at magnum, maybe i'll give them a call when i get my cdl in oct.