My RBX journey Strafford MO

I am happy. and thanks for the anniversary wishes. You'll walk past Kristi's desk to go into Robs office. Can't miss her. I have talked to a few drivers about recap hours and there is some that don't understand it and some that run as hard as they can, then sit for 34 hours to get a restart. Not from RBX. Others out on the road. I would prefer to run 9 to 10 hours a day in order to regain my hours the following week. If I'm going to do a 34 hour restart I'd rather do it at home, that's just me. I arrived at the receiver around 14:00. Parking on site so I figured I could clean up my condo and relax until tomorrow morning. I don't see the point in spending time in truck stops when I have everything I need in the truck. Pointless to me.

HOS will be easy to understand after you have went out with an Instructor for a couple of weeks. Once you go on duty, 14 hours later your not allowed to drive any more.


Your allowed to drive up to 11 hours a day within the 14 hours.

You are required to take a 30 minute break before the end of your first 8 hours out of the 11.

I drive for a minimum of 3 hours before I take my 30 minute break. I usually break around my 7th hour.

Lets say you take a 30 minute break after driving for 1 hour. When you start driving again the e-logs will tell announce you have 8 hours of drive time remaining. Sounds good right, well you will still have 2 hours left on your drive time but, you will have to take another 30 minute break. This can mess up your schedule if your trying to get 600 miles down the road before your time runs out. I did this twice by mistake. That's why my fuel mileage went from 7.5 to 6.0 the first two days. Didn't make my appt time. It ended up being a warehouse that excepted loads 24/7. either way I still should have been there at the time stated.

I run paper logs 10 years ago and I would not want to go back to paper again. E-logs are simple and easy to use, at least with RBX.


Trip planning, funny you should ask. I bought the Rand McNally 7 inch when I was out with my Instructor just to play around with. Its has its moments.

The following is what I do for trip planning:

1. Except assignment, write down shipper and receiver full address.
2. Look up the two towns in my atlas.
3. Write down the simplified directions to each on a single sheet of paper that I can easily read at night with a red light.
4. Send order (its a message) and receive the fuel route.
5. Send costumer info request, that's for local directions. I write that down as well.
6. Match the fuel route to my directions and make sure my fuel point exit is on my route.
7. If I have the time I look up the shipper and receiver on Google maps on my laptop, If I feel I'm pressed for time I'll just use Google maps on my phone. This gives me an overhead view so I know the most likely place I would need to turn into. Some don't have any signs outside their buildings. Plus I can access if they might have overnight parking in the area.
8. Last I plug in the address into my GPS and a-way I go.

Know the GPS is a great tool to use. I manly use it to fine a rest areas, parking areas and truck stops along my route for my breaks. that's all.

I updated my GPS maps after I bought it. US 24, it was ether Ohio or maybe Indiana will show you driving through a corn field. That road has been built for a couple of years know. This morning coming from MS to OH I took US 385 to I 269 on the east side of Memphis. GPS showed my driving through fields again. I 269 by the looks of it has been in use for at least 2 or more years. Plus the GPS will give you the fastest route to take according to Rand McNally. So lets say I'm going down the interstate and I'm getting off at exit 50 for example and driving north 30 miles to a receiver. Well the GPS a lot of times will have you take exit 10 and do a zigzag side roads to your receiver. It may only be 5 miles shorter but it would take an additional 30 minutes to get there with a stop sign at every corner, not to mention horse and buggies. However it will work itself out with the correct directions as soon as I take exit 50. At that time its good to follow. (only 30 miles to go). LOL.


I do like it a lot. You can find the nearest scale, shopping, hotels, Walmart, etc. To me it was worth the money I spent.

Well I'm going to watch some Netflix know. take care, and I know you will find the right outfit to suit you and your families needs.

 

View attachment 65242

My condominium on wheels.

 

I'm sure she will like the I-pad 2. I don't know what to get my woman for our anniversary. When I came home I told her there was nothing material that could be given to express 29 years of marriage. So I'm buying her an little necklace (purple) her color. I told her to just buy me  a pack of T-shirts. That would be fine.

Well I went about 10 miles down the road in Cincinnati for a drop and hook. Took that load to north of Dallas. When I arrived I went up to the door and it was locked. I another driver (local) told me they were gone for the day. There were 4 doors to choose from and I picked door number 4, backed in and went to sleep. 0500 I went up to the door and went inside. Box's sitting in front of door 4. Asked which dock would you like me in. I'm currently in door 4. Door 3 he said. Put it in door 3 and about 20 minutes later I was handed my paper work and away I went. I went down into Dallas to pick up a load going to a Walmart DC in Missouri. Looking at the map it seemed as if I was going down town Dallas. Even thought it was in the area it wasn't to bad. (Construction is a nightmare. I think the Engineers must have been drunk when they designed their road system). I could tell Murphy's Law was beginning to set in when I pulled up and seen how little room there was, plus I was facing east and that was going to be a blind side attempt. I waited for the lot to clear across the street and pulled in and turned around facing the shipper. After going inside I was giving door 6 to back into. I had an Appt for this load which made it easy. I pulled out of the lot to my right, lined up and did a site side back right into the door. Pulled forward some, slide tandems, opened the doors and finished backing her in. Disconnected and bob-tailed across the street and waited for them to call. After I was loaded I went and connected to my trailer. Murphy was messing with my today. After I connected I attempted to raise the landing gear and it wouldn't raise. I could put my hands on the handle and raise my entire body off the ground. Well I'm not that big of a guy so I gave it all I had and slowly cranked up the landing gear. After what seemed like an hour (10 minutes) I had it raised. Here's were I went wrong. At the bottom of the dock the ground was level for the first 10 feet, then the approach inclined up to the front of the drive's then leveled off. What I should have done before disconnecting was to dump the air in the truck. That way when I backed up under the trailer It would have taken some of the pressure off of the gear. Live and learn. NOTE: I don't normally dump the air to connect and disconnect. I guess a lot of drivers do, I don't know. I do know that every time I back up to a trailer I stop and get out and look at the King-pin and the 5th-wheel plate to insure their lined up. I've seen others years ago back under a trailer and their 5th-wheel was tilted forward. I've seen a King-pin sitting on top of a 5th-wheel once and when I was an Instructor a knuckle-headed Instructor backed under a trailer and we herd it hit. He connected his lines and raised the landing gear and took off only to drop the trailer on the ground. The 5th-wheellock had slid across but did not fully seat. This is why I always get out and look at the lock and king-pin, it only takes 2 seconds and prevents Murphy from making you look like a ****. On with my week. I was headed up the a Walmart DC in Missouri and the way my day was going I know I would run out of hours by the time I arrived. I called the night dispatch (Wayne) and told him what was going on and gave him my current location and he looked at my remaining hours and told my I could do and 8 and 2 split. I arrived on time, unloaded, finished my 2 hour break and went up to Kansas City for a drop and hook. BOL read over 44,000 lbs so I had to scale this load. Crazy week. I was over a couple thousand on my tandems and after a total of 3 scales I was good to go. I used it as a learning process. I did the math for this brand of trailer and determined the amount of weight each pin will shift the weight. Took this load to Springfield for a drop and couldn't find an empty so I went to the yard. Took my truck into the shop and filled up with DEF. The mechanic and I raised the hood and we checked all the fluids and everything. I asked him for a mud flap that I could keep on my truck. Again Murphy's Law was dictating how my week was going and I just had that feeling. I then went inside to see if there was any loads headed out. Given a choice of loads I took a load going to ST Louis. Then headed up to Illinois for another drop and hook that had to be back in Springfield by the 5th. My dispatcher called me, asked if I wanted to keep running or stop by the house. My choice so I figured I would go home for the weekend. I drove a total of 2500 miles from Sunday to this past Friday afternoon. If I would have finished out Friday and Saturday I'm sure I would have ended up with close to 3000 miles for the week. In the morning I'll drive on down to Springfield for another drop and hook. So everything being said I enjoyed my week. Even with all the mishaps involved. It was a learning experance as my cup is always 1/2 full with a positive charge.

Everyone be safe and enjoy your week.

 

First, Shovelhead, sorry I missed you. I arrived in the yard at 06:30. Left out just before you arrived and when I returned you had completed your mission. You meet some good people. If you do go with RBX I'm sure we'll meet at some point. Anyway good luck in your search.

Update: I dropped the load at the receiver in Springfield. No MT trailers so I went to the yard and picked up a short load that was headed to Ozark, MO. Only 10,000 lbs and it was a quick unload. Took that trailer back to the yard and received an assignment going to Washington, MO. The alignment said Springfield Underground. I thought Oh CRAP. So I went into the cave and it was awesome. Everything was going great. Went inside and the lady told me my trailer was in door 2-C, got it. Went out hooked up, Pre-trip, departed. Heavy load so I had to scale it. I no sooner pulled off the scale and the night Dispatcher called me. Asked what trailer I had. Well I had to return to the cave and put it back up against the dock, I had taken the wrong trailer. When I arrived an RBX driver was there. I had to do a blind side back, it wasn't all that hard. He stayed there to spot me as a just-in-case. After I was in he left. I spoke with him the next day as well as my Trainer, Chad. The gentleman that spotted me ended being RBX's Driver of the Year. Very nice fellow. Anyway, lesion learned, Take your time and read the bill's carefully. I new better so I tried to kick myself in the *** but I kept spinning in circles every time I attempted it. Well it all worked out. The correct load was only 5,000 lbs. It was a live unload up in Washington, MO. When they were about done I asked the Manager what was this place exactly. He told me they control all the MLB uniforms, gloves, hats, ect. The load I delivered was not for baseball. It was new helmet liners that the NFL will be testing for the 2014 season. I thought that was cool. From there I drove MT up to Lincoln, IL for a drop and hook going back to Springfield, MO. Dropped that trailer and came back to the yard for my 30 day evaluation.
My Evaluation went really well. I had to speak with Safety, Logs, Payroll, Billing as well as Fueling. Everyone was satisfied and told me everything was going great and to keep up the good work. Ms. Lisa the fuel lady spoke with me about my fuel mileage, rpm range, terrain and covered the fuel bonus which is paid on every mile you drive. I'm slowly getting it up were I want it. Student at .38 cpm plus .04 to .06 cpm added to my base pay. I personally think that's great. If you read my other post, I spent 6 months researching companies. No one can even come close to RBX pay that I'm aware of. After my Evaluation, Arron my training dispatcher introduced my to me permanent Dispatcher/Fleet Manager, Jesse. After Jesse and I spoke I could tell he was there for the drivers. He has over 20 years experience as a driver and their should not be a problem I run into that can't be fixed with a message and a phone call. He already had a load for me sitting in the yard going to Kansas. I was glad to go. Picked up trailer, 10,000 lbs, and took off. I'm sitting at the Stockyard Truck Center in Kansas and less then an hour I had a pre-assignment for tomorrow already. Its going back to Springfield, MO. Then I'm going home for the weekend and taking my woman to Red Lobster for our 29th anniversary and get fat. I always get two Maine Lobsters and a platter of 40 battered shrimp. (Once a year). I usually walk out of there swaying from left to right as if I was as big as Santa but in reality I probably look like Don Knots (a toothpick with a gut).

All in all I had a great week. I'm enjoying myself and look forward to going back out on Monday.

On a sad note, On I-55/I-70 both east and west bound were two different accidents. Police were present, paramedics were in route. Seen a tractor trailer laying on its side around 04:00 this morning. I slowed down. The driver could have went off the road and no one seen it. I called HP and they already covered that accident. I think they should have taped it off for the follow motorist to see, and know the scene had already been worked. And south of Springfield this afternoon was a V-bottom boat laying on the shoulder and the trailer was about 100 yards away. So everyone be safe, take your time and give others room, Enjoy your weekend.

 

ST Louis Blind Side


Cover test for my wife when she joins me this summer.

 

Shovelhead, I think I was pulling out as you were pulling in if you were in a blue car. I know you will find the right outfit to go with. I'm not sure what you meant by tuition reimbursement. If at all possible, from my experience and others I've talked to. Try to stay away from large companies and seek out the smaller ones. You and your wife will be treated much better. Most satisfied Operators I've spoken to since last November have all said to go with a small outfit.

I could have went with Crete, Conway, Maverick and many others. I'm qualified for a monthly benefit from the VA for up to a year. The extra money would have been nice. My wife always says to me, (as long as your happy I'm happy). She has stood beside me through many deployments and broke times. My happiness is not about money. Its about enjoying what I do each day. Most of everyone's waking life is spent at work. I personally will not wake up and go to a job that I hate. This is only my 4th job since I was 17. Military, Schneider, Dept. of Defense and RBX. After I spent 20 years in the military I would have enlisted and did another 20 years but DOD regulation stated that I couldn't. LOL. Well, I know you will find the right outfit. Its best to ensure the outfit fits both you and your wife. Family is always number one. Best of luck to the both of you.