Millis update

Okay but the question was do they have air dump, or is that the same thing?

 

Yes, you can dump the air.
You can also release the kingpin from the cab, however Bill in Ohio has them disabled (The kingpin releases) in the student trucks.

 

First of all, I want to say thank you to the trainer that spoke up about the previous postings regarding logging. I for one have not driven since 2002, but I have recently applied to Millis. After a long dry journey away from the career I loved, for good reason, I wanted to see my children grow up. They have done just that and now I want to get back out there and do what my family (Father, Brother, Uncle and both grandfathers) have done since 1953, Drive a truck and bring peoples commodities to the store they purchase them from. Bring the beer we enjoy in the evenings while watching "Pearl Harbor" to the stores for them.

This profession is noble no matter how some try to defile it.

I would like to give you a taste of just how bold and uneducated some people are about this profession, even the police officers that protect us.

While approaching the end of a long day on a dark interstate in Virginia in 1999 I was growing very tired and had a decision to make. If I parked it right now I would not have enough hours to get to my destination within the 24 hour period following my break. But, I was tired and it was approaching 2am. I decided that I would not risk any life or accident and pulled into a crowded rest area just 5 miles down the road. The rest area spots were all taken and I had to park on the entrance ramp. I did so behind at least 9 or 10 other trucks. I drew the line on my log book as I was supposed to and went to bed.

2 hours later someone was knocking on my door. As I raised up to look out the window I see that it is a Virginia state trooper. He was making his way up the ramp telling all of the truckers that someone had complained that we were parked on the entrance ramp to the rest area and that it was dangerous. He was instructing us to leave and find somewhere else to park for the night. I told him that the nearest truck stop was about 75 or 80 miles up the road and that I was out of hours and was required by Federal Law to take an 8 hour break. Also, that if I drew a line and left that My log book would be in violation. If I did not draw a line that I would be operating illegally. He did not care and told me to leave anyway. I asked him what would happen to me if I was in an accident before I got to the truck stop and someone got killed. He did not replie. I simply asked him for his Badge number and asked him to initial my log book where I drew the line and wrote a comment that he had forced me to leave.

20 Miles down the road one of the drivers who was parked at the rest area had not allowed himself enough time to get fully awake and drove his truck across the median into the woods on the other side of the interstate.

People listen, This job can be done legally if managed properly and still be money to be made that will provide a very nice living for you and your family.

To the trainer that responded, I hope that Millis will give me the opportunity to redeem the career I love and offer me a position. I will have to attend the school as my driving career was from 1993 to 2002. Millis is my first choice and after reading your response I can see that I have made the right decision. Lets hope that Millis give me this opportunity.

JohnK
Galion, Ohio

 

really!?!?! ...he initialed your log book
so in the midst of being a prick and waking everyone up he was willing to give you his signature
im sure that would have help up in court
so when you finally got back to the sleeper did you restart your 10 hours in there considering sleeper time needs to be uninterupted?
have no fear about me ...illl never run more then my allowed time ever again
in fact i am in the middle of my 34 hour restart as we speak
unfortunately i ran out of hours in the middle of georgia without any services near by but ill be ###### if i was gonna drive any further
thanks to all of you that helped me see the light
i honestly didnt realize how things changed out here since the 80's
in the 80's when i was working for the grateful dead moving there equipment all over the united states it seemed like 9 months out of year we didnt get any sleep
back then we had a saying that there was no such thing as running out of hours and the show must go on
i now realize that it is no longer the 80's, i no longer work for the dead and how serious any sort of violation could be
thanks to all of you that helped me see the light
hey students that just went out with trainers...you guys have been quiet these days...how are things going?
stay safe!

 

Yes he did sign my log book. And I did write his badge number on the drop down line with a comment... "Officer asked me to leave rest area". I think he understood that there was no other choice for him. He knew I wouldnt leave without it and he would have to arrest me and tell his lame ### story to a judge very early the next morning and try to explain why he made an out of service driver commit an illegal act. Anyway, The post was only to help the new drivers reading it to understand that there are consequences to your decisions. Decisions, like judgment, gets more cloudy as you grow more fatigued. But, this is just me. My father trained me back in 1993 when I got into the industry and at that time he had logged over 2.5 million miles without one preventable accident. I trusted him and he did it right. The man drew a line everytime the air brakes went on lol.

However, his left door stayed shut and the wheels were turning anytime it was humanly and legally possible.

To put it another way, he was a very disciplined driver.

JohnK

 

Im sorry I forgot to answer your other question. Yes, when I got to the truck stop I began my break over again. At that time it was only 8 hours mandatory break after 10 hours driving (1/2 hr off duty not driving after 6 consecutive hours behind the wheel), or the combination of line four and line three equaling 14 hours.

JohnK

 

Well this will be my first real 'update' since finishing class and orientation.

We finished class 04-01, and many of the others (gonnabe, truckerjeff, and some others) already had there trainers lined up. I ended up waiting a week and a day before meeting a trainer. (Which was fine. A little longer than I'd have liked but ok). We were out for 3 days (Easter wknd) then we had a load that ended us back in Trenton, OH Sunday night. The trainer had some personal problems come up at home which has kept him unavailable for, another week and one day so far.(Still counting - supposed to go back out tomorrow). So my time with the trainer has been severely limited but the 3 days I was with him were pretty good. I like his personality, and the way he handles things so I have not been inclined to call and complain/request a new trainer as some others had suggested. I prefer to keep this trainer, and deal with the delay. At least I live within driving distance of the terminal (Which coincidentally is where I met him, so my car was accessible).

Other than that, things are good and I think once this delay is over with things will progress smoothly. I have no complaints about the school, the instructor(s) or the trainer. The other students (gonnabe and truckerjeff) seem to be packing in the miles with their trainers and moving right along.

So hopefully, we'll get the ball rolling again tomorrow and move along with this process.

 

good luck bluefreeze i hope u have fun and stay safe out there

 

Got back with trainer on Tuesday as planned.
We've gone non-stop since. Been busier than a 3 legged cat trying to bury a turd on a frozen lake. I guess everyone's been the same.

Good thing I brought the right ink pen.

Good luck to you to, hope you don't have to wait long for your trainer.

I'll be there today (Sat) for a few hours if you decide to stop by, don't know if you went home for the wknd or not. Keep us posted on your progress with your trainer.

 

wild ride aint it?!
i am in my own truck now after 5 weeks with trainer
had a great time with my trainer and admit i was making mistakes till the very end and learned new things each and every day
anyone that says they cant wait to get in their own truck doesnt realize yet all the things that could mess you up out there
its nice to have the trainer there when the mess ups occur
driving the highway is 95% job...its the 5% when you get off the highway that can totally f... you up
hope all is well out there for you guys and enjoy the ride......
peace