New guy advice from a 2.5 year rookie.

Boot to the face or worse now days drivers been shot over stupid crap.

 

for ages i thought i was the only one that was bothered by this, my pet hate is why oh why do they park there trucks in front of the fuel bowzer and not come back for 10 minutes? although 50 % of the problem is Truck stops not policing the area.

 

I remember while I was out with my TE last week we pulled up to the fuel Island to get coffee and hit the head before leaving. Normally we just pull through to the yellow line and are usually in and out in 5 min. However, I stopped in the fuel island because the windows needed cleaning, they were so bad the wipers and fluid wouldn't even touch them.

Anyway, I start cleaning the windows and, even though I knew we wouldn't be there long and there were several other islands open, when I finished I pulled on up before going inside to take care of things before hitting the road. even told the TE that I had pulled up so he didn't start walking out and wonder where the truck went.

Only issue I had was with the design of the fuel island area. The yellow line was so close, and at an angle to the islands, that even if you put your bumper over the line, at the island we were in, you still had your DOT bumper in line with the bollards at the island and it would be tight for a driver to pull in far enough to start fueling.

 

Most people avoid confrontation. If he started swinging his thumper at me, I'd just use mine. Only way he'd have the advantage is to open the door. Big mistake.

 

Also forgot to mention that you couldn't pull past the line otherwise the person to your right couldn't clear your rig without running through the fence across from you.

 

You make some valid points, especially at parking in the fuel island... But I have to ask what you consider trip planning.

You mention it is at the top of the list of things one should learn, and I do agree with that, bit then say you start looking for anplace to park with about 2 hrs left.

That doesn't really sound like planning to me. I consider a trip plan one that gets me from pick up to delivery.

Picked up in LA yesterday, deliver in NY on Monday. I had a tip plan done before I rolled to the shipper. I always do.

Last Night Vegas 465 (after two drops and a pick in LA), tonight Fruita, CO 500 miles, (running recaps) tomorrow Lexington NE 572 miles... Reset there, Saturday Morris IL 636 miles, Sunday Waterloo NY 670 miles, Monday 15miles to delivery and I have 48 - 50 hrs left for a turn and burn Monday pick anx back to Cali.for Friday Delivery.

To me that is a trip plan, as opposed to starting to figure my end of day two hours before me day ends.

So I am curious what you mean by trip plan?

 

Now THAT'S what ya use for a Hickory Shampoo.