Mr. City Driver

Discussion in 'LTL and Local Delivery Trucking Forum' started by Woodys, Sep 6, 2013.

  1. Woodys

    Woodys Heavy Load Member

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    Mar 16, 2010
    Tampa, FL
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    I have trouble driving through the night, not really into or out of. Once traffic diminishes my brain just can't find anything to keep itself focused and shuts off ... which is weird cause I've worked nights since I was in high school. But that's also doing nothing but driving interstate. I'm pretty sure all the extra work of LTL and driving highways/cities would keep me alert even in the dead of night.

    What's an average amount of miles between deliveries?
     
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  3. Glp

    Glp Medium Load Member

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    Dec 23, 2012
    Oakland, CA
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    I work about 10 to 12 hours a day but my routes area is about 70 miles from my terminal , i sure do like being home every single night tho, also most of my stops are within 2 to 5 miles apart but some can be over 25 miles apart. Ive had many days when i had 3 stops on the same street but they were loaded in the nose, center of the trailer and the tail
     
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  4. TheDude1969

    TheDude1969 Heavy Load Member

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    Jun 10, 2013
    Joliet, Il
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    I was about to answer, but wait... whats your avatar for? <--you love him so much get a job in Cuba!

    For everyone else wondering what that is about, look up Che Guevara, and not using Wiki, they've tamed his story there. That is all I have to say without going all political, I will not be responding to this thread.
    :biggrin_2556:
    [​IMG]
    [TABLE="class: infobox biography vcard, width: 22"]
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    [TH="colspan: 2, align: center"]Che Guevara[/TH]
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    GOD bless America.
     
    Last edited: Sep 7, 2013
  5. Marksteven

    Marksteven Road Train Member

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    I have been doing Local P&D for about 18 years, 15 1/2 years in the same city. VERY RARELY do i work over 9 hours a day. Yesterday a dock foreman joked with me "your late" I got back to the terminal at 4:30 instead of 4pm. If you need a job where you need to be home at specific times, like routine work and like to Socialize and B.S. with everyone you meet every day then this is the Ticket! However, i think your backing skills need to be in the top 1%. LTL ers that need pullups to get in a dock look out of place. By the way , 95% of our local drivers start between 6-8am and are on their way home by 5pm. 2nd shifters.... thats another story.
     
  6. Glp

    Glp Medium Load Member

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    Oakland, CA
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    Its embarasing to have to pull up when your backing in off the street in front of a hundred cars waiting for you
     
  7. Radman

    Radman Road Train Member

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    Our JR guys start at around 10-11am get done around when I start at 1030pm. When Saia was gonna hire me for P&D it was 11am til 8pm. Most likely you'll be starting out late as a bottom guy at most LTL's getting done at night. Can't just jump right in a get a perfect shift. If you can deal with that then you'll be alright. P&D usaully is daylight specific cause your going to shippers and customers that are open during their business hours. Our guys work M-F home everyday. P&D is far from kick back its a go go go atmosphere. Bumping docks and pallet jacking all day. But since you have a night driving issue P&D can work for you. I know a driver who wants to do line but he has the same issue. You only need a year at most P&D jobs. If you can hack a 2am-3am start time and don't mind hand unloading might try foodservice US Foods, Sysco. Home daily too off by 12pm-5pm usually. Nights there are easier cause your doing less driving and more unloading moving around at those type of places. Hard work but pays well and also home everyday.
     
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  8. Marksteven

    Marksteven Road Train Member

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    LOL, and annoying :biggrin_2559:
     
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  9. Woodys

    Woodys Heavy Load Member

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    Mar 16, 2010
    Tampa, FL
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    Alright first, let me apologize to a few people. I know pretty much any driving gig has SOME type of night driving. And when I said day specific jobs, I don't mean 9-5. I was referring to beverage distributors, food service, and other gigs that run days.

    I think I mis-explained or didn't explain my night driving issue. I have no problem driving into the night, and no problem driving early early morning into daylight. My issue comes with driving a 600 mile shift in a 62mph truck consisting 99% of interstate driving. Its not a visual issue, but an awareness one. My brain has no stimulation and so I get drowsy within 200-300 miles to a point where I deem it unsafe to drive. I understand 100% that even day gigs will run into the night or start early morning ... that's not an issue. Its running say 8:30PM-8:30AM that's an issue which is why I stopped looking into linehaul. Even if P&D was a graveyard shift It would still be completely different due to the amount of other things id be doing. Its sitting motionless with no traffic, the same music I've heard a million times, and nothing but white stripes flying past me for hours on end that knocks me out.


    I'm no stranger to work. Before my CDL I worked in a beer distributor for Tampa, FL which has a huge college and sport community aka beerfest city. Working 12-14h days constantly moving 50lbs Malt cases and moving around 100lbs+ beer kegs were very common. In fact that's one of the things that's attracting me as I'm starting to hate being trapped in a seat 10h a day.

    Do you ever HAVE to use a customer's unloading service. I could unload a trailer with a hydraulic lift faster than I see some of these people unload with a forklift. But I've heard some customers force you to use their unloading service. What happens if they take the wrong product? Do you supervise them?

    Definitely not THE BEST at backing yet. But I think for my experience that is one of the areas I shine at. If I have to though, I give no ##### making people wait on me so I don't hit anything haha. Ill definitely start tackling that area harder. Thx.

    Good one, way to bring politics into a place where no one cares. Lets just say I like his hairstyle and be done with it. I'm so empty inside now that you didn't post something constructive in my thread. If you people have an issue with my avatar, how bout PM me about it instead of acting like immature high school kids. Thx.


    Back on topic, someone stated earlier they might throw me in a straight truck due to being the "newbie". Is that true? Would my pay drop for the days I use a straight truck?

    Again thanks for all the replies.
     
  10. TheDude1969

    TheDude1969 Heavy Load Member

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    Jun 10, 2013
    Joliet, Il
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    I believe everyone cares, you don't?
    Its just a hair style to you?
    It is much more than a High school thing to me, and is why I call you out in public... rather than some cowardly act behind scenes where no one hears the truth, but gets to see your che glorified in a avatar.
    I'm not being political, truth only <--and that has NO agenda.

    Search him and see for yourself


    GOD bless America
     
    Last edited: Sep 7, 2013
  11. Oi!

    Oi! Road Train Member

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    Jun 20, 2011
    Florida
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    I've worked at three different yards and two different LTL companies. In all of them P&D drivers start showing up at around 7 pm and usually their day ends at around 6 or 7. Of course they got guys that start earlier than that to help on the dock or guys that start later than that to take the late trailers. All in all you will barely get any night driving.

    Linehaul isn't that hard. Yeah, night shift kind of sucks, but it's easy, no traffic, easy terminal to terminal loads, no dealing with customers, no having to back in tight spots, good money.

    P&D also has its very positive side, some guys that have a set run always hit the same docks, know the area pretty well, know the people they deal with on a regular basis, it's extremely easy if it's that way.
     
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