Out of the Game since 2015...but getting back in

I thought I replied to this, I must have forgotten to post it. (apologies for late response)

The primary running areas are from Springfield Mo to Kingman Az. This is a team run, once the load is dropped at the yard in Kingman a solo driver completes the delivery in California.
They also run the Southeast (solo out of Edinburgh IN yard).
A lot of Texas, very little if any Northwest.

They do have a run that goes to Massachusetts from Springfield Mo. and a customer in New Jersey. I believe both are team runs only. As a solo Pennsylvania is the "normal" furthest Northeast you'll go.

Loads coming out of Mexico are picked up in Laredo, IWX doesn't go into Mexico.

Loads are non-forced dispatched, if you dont want the load just tell them. As far as "blow back", none that I know of. You may sit for a bit while they locate another load for you. They have a lot of freight that needs moved.

The split sleeper is touched upon in orientation, I didn't go through the "trainee" orientation which is more in depth on how to use it. Personally I try to avoid it.

Personal conveyance is explained and when to use it and when not to. We are all adults, if you abuse the PC they will take it away, but it is a tool to use and stay DOT compliant.

Tanker endorsement is required to haul bulk liquid containers in the trailer (this started years ago) The haz-mat endorsement is required because we haul hazardous materials (if you can't or won't get your hazmat the cpm pay is reduced by 10 cents)

I just got home from my first week out for my refresher. 6,284 miles in 6 days. The first load to Kingman was a SUPER SOLO, meaning I drove and the trainer sat in the jump seat. Once they determined I could drive without being a hazard on the road it became a "team" operation. UGH! New Mexico and Arizona roads are not sleeper friendly to say the least. Just because you're in the bunk doesn't mean you can sleep. It was comparable to trying to sleep on the back of a bucking bronco. Other than a quick shower, fueling or the mandatory 30 minute break the truck never stopped, and many times we arrived with just minutes to spare on the clock.

I'm home for my 34 hour restart, we leave out Thursday morning, as long as I can navigate the qual-com on my own, we will deliver and return to the yard so that I can head out Solo.

Side note: Flash your lights to tell a passing truck they've cleared you safely and say a quick thanks with your marker lights after. AND turn your radio on.

 

Update:

We made it back to Springfield Mo. Saturday Morning 8/5/23. We were asked if we could take a "hot" load, no one else was available and was supposed to be a quick run to Ohio, drop & hook, then reload and back to the terminal. The best plans always fail.
.
We made it to the receiver with 2 minutes remaining before our appointment. Checked in and sat for 4 hours waiting on a door. Then a quick run (131 deadhead miles) to the shipper (drop/hook) and back to the terminal.

IWX wanted me to have a fresh clock and be ready for testing Monday morning. I went home, got to spend Sunday with my wife and dog, loaded the car and headed to Springfield Monday morning for an 11am test. The test consisted of verbal questions about procedures at shippers and receivers, accidents/incidents, police interactions and general trucking questions. Fairly simple.

The part I was nervous about is the backing test.

I've backed around cones, parallel parked, blind sided, site sided, backed around pillars of stone in the caves that made me wonder, if i hit it, would the cave come crashing down. Into black holes where your trailer seems to be swallowed whole as it enters the building and hoping it stays straight. (I learned to put a flashlight on the ground since) Backed between long nose petes into an area so small that i had to "wiggle" my tractor to get my mirrors around theirs without touching. This test was supposed to be more difficult.

Nope, back in by THAT trailer and don't let the nose of the truck go past this imaginary line. Didn't even have to do it. I was told "I hear you know how to back and are good at it." Yep, I can back. Okay, you're good to go!

So, I head out on my own tomorrow morning, 8/8/23. I was hired specifically to run the eastern part of the country. Ohio, Indiana, North Carolina, Georgia, and the Virginias. Surprisingly, I was asked where I like to run, I said "I like to run south" you mean like Texas? Yes, I like Texas. Sounds good! That's where we will try to keep you. Houston, here I come.

I am a little disappointed in my truck assignment. As of last Friday, I was supposed to get a "newer" truck. I ended up with an older truck, new engine (recent in frame) new clutch, inside completely refurbished, dash, new seats, new closets, etc. It has an A/C problem that they are fixing now. I hope it stays fixed! It's going to be hot in Texas.

I am thankful that it doesn't have all the safety features, lane departure, to close alarm to the vehicle in front of you ALARM! (I hate that useless alarm) If I'm going 70mph and the vehicle in front of me is going 75 and my vehicle is 5 seconds behind them, don't beep and tell me I'm to close!

Anyway, in my previous post I reported how many miles we ran the first week. That check hit my account this past Friday.

My Refresher guy Grossed $4,023.00 for team driving 6,284 miles
I Grossed $1,479.00 for those same miles.

I'm sure his rate/cpm is inflated because of the "training" nature of a refresher, and my cpm is less as a "trainee". As a company driver, in my opinion, that's darn good money.

I'll update accordingly after being on my own. C-ya out there.

 

Update:

After being assigned a truck and being asked where I liked to run (which seemed strange to me because I was hired specifically to run the southeast), I replied South, I like to run South.

Okay! I have a load going to Houston and then a reload in Ft Worth coming back to Springfield Mo.

Got the load delivered and moved for the reload. I arrived with 2 hours left on my eleven and 3 on my 14. Head to the shipping window and am told “it’s going to be a minute, we haven’t made the product yet” (yogurt). Ugh! Ok.

12 hours later I get the green light and pull out of the door. (The delay was actually a blessing, that little time on my clock, in the middle of Ft Worth and late evening, parking would have been more than difficult)

I set the brakes, get out to close the doors, the engine starts chugging, hammering, sputtering. Every light on the dash is illuminated, I think the dome light even came on. Shut the truck off, re-start and all is good, except for a solid yellow engine light. Call breakdown and they say “you’re good” head back to the yard.

I arrived back in Springfield without incident, drop the trailer and head to the shop. They check the codes and reveal it’s the high pressure fuel pump and they can’t get to it til Saturday (2 days and then time to repair). I grab an overnight bag and head to the house.

I’m thinking I can see my wife, my dog, drink a couple beers and burn a steak on the grill and life will be better.

Wah-lah! My phone rings, it’s my DM. I’m giving you a new(er) truck. Just keep running hard because this is out of the norm, new guys don’t get new trucks.

So I return to the yard the following morning and am assigned my truck. It’s a BIG RED WFX truck! Awesome . WFX owns IWX, the old timer drivers don’t like the mixture of trucks.

I don’t care! It’s a beautiful truck and rides and drives like a Cadillac. It looks good hooked to a IWX trailer (colors match). I’m VERY HAPPY!

I left the yard and headed to Kenosha WI. Did a drop and hook and found a spot to spend the night. I’m dispatched on a load picking up in Green Bay and heading back to the yard in Springfield.

As it stands for now, when I get to the yard I will have 2,600 miles for the pay period.

I haven’t pulled a reefer in 23 years. Either I’m very old or this is a lot more difficult than I remember. Irregular hours, interrupted sleep takes some getting used to. I didn’t realize how spoiled I was dragging around a dry van.

I will admit, the money is a helluva lot better on the reefer side.

 

Update:

Let’s just say I’m glad last week is over.

It ended when an axle broke on the rear tandem of the trailer. Actually, it didn’t end there, it ended when the duels angled out at a 30degree angle, blew a tire and I had to be rescued by a tow company in Muskogee OK.

I’ve been driving a long time and have never seen, heard or had an axle break. <sigh>

I took the weekend off and considered taking up fishing as a new career.

I climbed back in the truck Monday morning, after a refreshing long sleep the night before only to be told I didn’t have a load leaving until 10pm. Great. I tried to sleep. Fitfully.

So my load didn’t arrive at the yard until 11pm because the team drivers decided to stop and eat. Fantastic! A tight load delivery is now going to be late.

I made it to the receiver 20 minutes late for my appt after driving all night. Exhausted.
I was immediately put in a door and red light on, 20 minutes later red light off, but I can’t have the bills until they inspect the produce. Ugh. 4 hours later and 25 minutes left on my 14, no place to park within 60 miles. I drove as far as I could, went on personal conveyance (not under dispatch) and found a place to lay down.

Things are looking up, I guessed the right direction to head and ended up within an hour of my next shipper. Then back to Springfield for a shower and another dispatch.

I only had 1,600 miles last week after taking the weekend off and sitting a day and half getting the axle repaired.

I’m not liking reefer.