Millis OTR journal

Steelersjunkie · Feb 22, 2019

Gremlin304 said: ↑

Another little rant too: Why do so many companies NOT tell their drivers what they need when they go to these shippers? I can't tell you the times already I've run into a driver at one of these breweries that's desperately looking for straps or load locks so that the brewery will let them load. I know that we receive specific training and instruction for beer loads simply because we haul so much of it, but I don't understand why it's not more common knowledge what's needed for them. It's not like it's a rare, exotic load.

Part of my hold up yesterday at Budweiser was one of these guys.
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Sorry you were held up but this kind of crap cracks me up. I'm with you. How do you not have basic equipment on your truck? I've got about 15 straps, and 3 load bars. The load I'm picking up this morning had specific instructions that 8 straps were required, more would be appreciated. Sounds like the driver you waited on either had a garbage dispatcher, or he was just ignorant.

Gremlin304 · Feb 22, 2019

Steelersjunkie said: ↑

Sorry you were held up but this kind of crap cracks me up. I'm with you. How do you not have basic equipment on your truck? I've got about 15 straps, and 3 load bars. The load I'm picking up this morning had specific instructions that 8 straps were required, more would be appreciated. Sounds like the driver you waited on either had a garbage dispatcher, or he was just ignorant.
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I don't know how long it's been since you've been to Miller in Trenton but you can actually buy straps and load locks at the trailer inspection dock there, now. I guess it became a big enough problem there that somebody came up with that idea.

Steelersjunkie · Feb 22, 2019

Gremlin304 said: ↑

I don't know how long it's been since you've been to Miller in Trenton but you can actually buy straps and load locks at the trailer inspection dock there, now. I guess it became a big enough problem there that somebody came up with that idea.
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That doesn't surprise me at all, makes sense. Great opportunity to make a little cash. How bad are they raping people on cost? And it's been pretty close to a year.

Steelersjunkie · Feb 22, 2019

I will be making a very along awaited return to the J in Lebanon Indiana tonight if anyone will be around. Man I miss that place. Holler at me if it fits your schedule, happy to buy you a barley pop.

MIT · Feb 22, 2019

How do you guys log your fueling and drop and hooks? Do you go on duty for entire time a portion of time or 3 minutes after all is said and done. Want to do this right.

ImTakinHalf · Feb 22, 2019

Steelersjunkie said: ↑

This is one aspect of training I'll never understand. If you are going to be a trainer, you need to be able to put yourself in the mindset of a brand new driver. You need to be able to remember your first days in the truck. Here's the honest truth... you will absolutely become more aggressive as you gain experience. But if you can't mentally shut that off for the benefit of a student, you aren't correctly executing your position. I remember being pushed in the mountains to go faster. Are you kidding me??? C'mon man, you can do that to a student. My car weighs a couple thousand pounds, and I've been driving cars since I was 13. A semi pulling a trailer full of beer is not the same animal. Do i drive fast through the mountains now? Yup. But at my comfort level. I still get passed by plenty of super truckers. But I'm also passing plenty of cautious drivers. It's all about comfort and knowledge of your vehicle. I played with my steer stops, so my truck turns a little sharper. Therefore I gotta watch turns on downgrades because I have a higher rollover risk. It's all about common sense and knowing your truck and your skill level. He should know better than to push you right now. That ain't cool at all.
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Yeah I talked to one of the other guys from my class yesterday, and he says his trainer is the same way - hammer down and pass everyone you see... Lol. Oh well, guess I'll just deal. It's looking like they're all the same

keen98 · Feb 22, 2019

MIT said: ↑

How do you guys log your fueling and drop and hooks? Do you go on duty for entire time a portion of time or 3 minutes after all is said and done. Want to do this right.
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Fueling I log it as i do it. Unless I'm pressed on time then after 5mins or so I'll jump back in and kick myself off duty. Drop and hooks and loading unloading I put myself on duty go check inand immediately put my self off duty as long as its been 3+ mins. Again if I'm pressed for time or needing a 30min break I'll vary it a lil. The main thing that will get Diane on your ### is if you log 3mins for every single thing you do. Just vary it a lil here and there to fit your schedule best and she wont say a word..

keen98 · Feb 22, 2019

Steelersjunkie said: ↑

This is one aspect of training I'll never understand. If you are going to be a trainer, you need to be able to put yourself in the mindset of a brand new driver. You need to be able to remember your first days in the truck. Here's the honest truth... you will absolutely become more aggressive as you gain experience. But if you can't mentally shut that off for the benefit of a student, you aren't correctly executing your position. I remember being pushed in the mountains to go faster. Are you kidding me??? C'mon man, you can do that to a student. My car weighs a couple thousand pounds, and I've been driving cars since I was 13. A semi pulling a trailer full of beer is not the same animal. Do i drive fast through the mountains now? Yup. But at my comfort level. I still get passed by plenty of super truckers. But I'm also passing plenty of cautious drivers. It's all about comfort and knowledge of your vehicle. I played with my steer stops, so my truck turns a little sharper. Therefore I gotta watch turns on downgrades because I have a higher rollover risk. It's all about common sense and knowing your truck and your skill level. He should know better than to push you right now. That ain't cool at all.
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While mostly true 1 thing students don't understand when 1st getting in the truck is what exactly my truck can do and handle. So they need told to be a lil more aggressive because its perfectly safe to take this corner at 50mph instead of slowing down to 30mph and causing issues behind us. So am I being a bad trainer cuz I'm pushing him outside his comfort level? Noone knows my truck better than me. If i dont push them and tell them "you can go faster" or " no reason to slow down so much on that curve" they are going to continue to do it. Part of overcoming fears(and lets be honest everyone of us was scared starting out) is being pushed outside your comfort zone and seeing that "oh guess that wasnt to bad". And when is there a better time to be pushed outside your comfort zone than when you have someone who's done it right beside you?

Im pretty sure the majority of trainers here like LIVING and arent going to have their students do something that is dangerous. Student may THINK its dangerous, but guess what it probably isn't hes just scared and nervous cuz hes never done it.

Steelersjunkie · Feb 22, 2019

keen98 said: ↑

While mostly true 1 thing students don't understand when 1st getting in the truck is what exactly my truck can do and handle. So they need told to be a lil more aggressive because its perfectly safe to take this corner at 50mph instead of slowing down to 30mph and causing issues behind us. So am I being a bad trainer cuz I'm pushing him outside his comfort level? Noone knows my truck better than me. If i dont push them and tell them "you can go faster" or " no reason to slow down so much on that curve" they are going to continue to do it. Part of overcoming fears(and lets be honest everyone of us was scared starting out) is being pushed outside your comfort zone and seeing that "oh guess that wasnt to bad". And when is there a better time to be pushed outside your comfort zone than when you have someone who's done it right beside you?

Im pretty sure the majority of trainers here like LIVING and arent going to have their students do something that is dangerous. Student may THINK its dangerous, but guess what it probably isn't hes just scared and nervous cuz hes never done it.
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Fair enough.

ImTakinHalf · Feb 22, 2019

keen98 said: ↑

While mostly true 1 thing students don't understand when 1st getting in the truck is what exactly my truck can do and handle. So they need told to be a lil more aggressive because its perfectly safe to take this corner at 50mph instead of slowing down to 30mph and causing issues behind us. So am I being a bad trainer cuz I'm pushing him outside his comfort level? Noone knows my truck better than me. If i dont push them and tell them "you can go faster" or " no reason to slow down so much on that curve" they are going to continue to do it. Part of overcoming fears(and lets be honest everyone of us was scared starting out) is being pushed outside your comfort zone and seeing that "oh guess that wasnt to bad". And when is there a better time to be pushed outside your comfort zone than when you have someone who's done it right beside you?

Im pretty sure the majority of trainers here like LIVING and arent going to have their students do something that is dangerous. Student may THINK its dangerous, but guess what it probably isn't hes just scared and nervous cuz hes never done it.
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I've just been going by the signs posted on the curves.

I guess this is where the "getting it there" thing comes from. . Lol

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