Newbie looking for honest opinions

1. I know nothing at all about idleair. I've never used it.

2. Why would you not be able to idle up? It's just a matter of turning the cruise on and using the 'accel' switch until you get your desired rpms. As for keeping the fuel from gelling, you can buy some treatment to put in (reimbursable if the company is any good), and in some of the really 'cold' states, the better fueling stops will have treatment in their fuel already.

3. Pilot and Flying J each will give you a rewards card that you'll swipe when you get fuel (you'll have to ask for one). I don't remember about Petro or T/A, haven't used them in a long time. Anyway, with this rewards card you can earn 'points' toward getting yourself a free meal, and you'll earn a free shower when you purchase 50 gallons (I think it's 50). Other than that, your eats will depend on you. Whether you'd rather pack lunch meat and a loaf of bread, stop in and buy a Wendy's value meal (same price as Wendy's at home) or go into a sit down restaurant like the Country Kitchen or Iron Skillet (can run $15 or more). If you don't have a free shower, you can buy one for $5-$7. At least that's what it was back in 04. With my last job I was home every night, so I didn't need to use t/s showers.

4. That depends on the driver. I didn't mind Illinois. I cut my teeth in Chicago, ran it two or three times a week every week for my first year driving. I can run Chicago with my eyes shut. The only thing about Chicago is watching low clearances- you don't want to make that rig a convertible. I personally didn't like Texas, most drivers I know loved it. Most drivers hate New Jersey, I don't as long as I'm not running the Jersey turnpike and paying tolls every few miles. Every driver I ever talked to dislikes double nickel speed limit states. My last job I only ran Kentucky (70mph) and Indiana (65mph but will give you 67). When I was running 48 states- Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and California were the 55 mph Nazis. Nobody likes it because it costs you money to run them (as much as 15 mph slower over 3 or 4 hours- if you make 40cpm, you lose $6/hour in a 55 mph state versus a 70 mph state). The states you'll dislike running will depend on you, and you'll learn them as you go.

 

hey all first let me give you a little backround about my self because what i have to say is probably going to make a bunch off you mad but im to old to worry about that first of all i started trucking back befor most of you were even thout about i been there done that as the old saying goes true theres good companys and bad but most of the time its what you make of it ive driven for some the worst and some of the best in my opinion most of you claim to be old experianced hands but i dont remember seeing any one on here that has had more than a few years in the industry you all claim to be experts but befor you think that you are qualfied to give advice to 0thers stop and think have i learned everthing theres to know about tuching i can honestly answer that question fo myself that answer is no there isnt any day that that i dont learn something new if im asked a question about something i try to give answer that has worked for me but with the warning that it mite not work for some one else that is for them to decide if they want to try it most of you seem to think that you know everthing there is to know about trucking but hopefully as you have spent as many years on the road that i have you will change that way of thinking i know ihave probabley steped on some toes with this post but so be it ok im going to get off my soap box now i hope that i have made some of you rethink what you have to tell most of these people befor you start givin out advice

 

This is hard to read. Some punctuation and paragraphs would be very helpful.

So, by your assessment, I'm unqualified to give advice to someone new to the industry because I haven't learned everything there is to know about "tuching" (I assume you mean trucking)? If that's the case then no one would ever be qualified to say anything about anything.

I believe it's a given when you ask for opinions such as the original poster did, you understand you get opinions and not absolutes. Of course it's up to them to decide what they think of the opinions they get, but they're asking for them because they'd like an idea of what to expect.

Trying to help someone out in an area you have experience in that they don't isn't thinking you know everything. That's part of the point of this website. If you don't want to help new drivers or give them your opinion/advice, that's fine...but why criticize people who do?