Questions for experienced drivers

Well, I'm one of those people that can watch someone do something, and learn from just standing back and watching. I started driving on the interstates at age 12 because my mom is the worst driver I've ever seen.

"Ummm, Mom pull over. I will drive."

"You're going to get all of us killed. You're running 40 mph up interstate 75 and stopping at every bridge."

Mechanics used to take mom to the cleaners and it seemed as if we always had junky cars. Bought some tools at the flea market and started fixing the car. At 16, I used to work 3rd shift in highschool at a grocery store, but I bought mom a car and bought me a big 4x4 truck. Soon, she was lifted and was running 44" tyres. At 18, I was a chauffeur for a guy that ran 8 hotels around the country.

What I'd really wanted to do was be a firefighter. Couldn't get on (politics...all politics), no matter how many times I tried out. Joined the volunteer rescue and used to work the jaws of life for the county. The police dept offered me a shot and I took it. Went through the EVOC training again. The police dept was a lot like our industry in that we had to continually qualify at everything. Well, take that back. We used to have to do a physical agility test, but they waved that because so many of the guys were in such bad shape. Pathetic, if you ask me. Got tired of all the dirt in the PD so I went to the DMV, picked up a CDL handbook, read up on driving, went and took the test, passed the test, took my class A permit and went beating the bushes to find a job.

Got a job at a local company running team in a reefer in an old International cab over with spring ride. I'd never felt so beaten up in my life. Innards hurt and you'd piss blood. After a month, the boss put me in a 2 stick Mack and told me to go load. So I'm driving down the road trying to figure out the gears on this thing. Made it in and got loaded and hit the bigroad. By the time I got to my destination, I had the gears down to a science.

ive never been able to understand that whole lumper thing. So all the grocery warehouses and I banged heads. Had the law called in on me at that Food Lion warehouse in Lakeland,Fl, got kicked out of Publix in Jacksonville,Fl and the Albertsons in Katy Tx." I don't agree with it. I'm not going to have anything to do with paying a lumper. If you want to pay a lumper, you pay him...I won't even fill out an EFS check for him." Obviously, my days in a reefer were numbered.

Got a job offer with a flatbed outfit in the early 90s, and that's where I decided to stay. Retired from the road in 2000, but came back out in 07...couldn't even get my foot in the door with any heavyhaul outfit. Took a job with Swift to get back to flatbedding, and used them to get back into pulling the bigger loads. Got another year in me, and I'm going to slow wayyyyyyy down. Want to get back into the gym just to see if I still have the discipline that I used to.

 

He did a trip check. 2200 lbs NO2. Oil is right, 3 Gal. in the side box. kitty's like oil. 6000 watt stereo, 2 Scanners, Magnum 10 meter pushed to cb range. Tires are @95 lbs. Stacks are brilliant. Chrome is perfect.
5th wheel has the correct amount of grease. One last stop at the pickle park. Drain the little buddy.

She was dirty & bleeding. Can't have that. Put the .44 Mag into the shoulder holster. Get back in the car #####, he heard. I can fix this. You got to be ####### me. Your the big dog? I'm trying to kill you, but your so pathetic I can't keep from laughing. She was 24, we never had sex. She is in a new place. Mr. Big time, don't know, But Drivers, I can't keep from laughing. Sometimes we are above the norm. At least I hope so.

 

He fell down a lot before some Star Fish got there. I just did my civic duty.

 

i really had no clue if trucking was a good idea for me before i started. i got into it because i like to go places, but don't really want to stick around once i get there. Took awhile before i really liked the lifestyle.... long while

 

I left a job at a bar, and a bottle store, burnt out and hungover.
This condition qualified me for training.
Transportation? Sure. I like to drive.
I was the only 1 out of a class of 20 professional "training course takers" that went and got a job. They're probably still in training now.

Puppy trucks, jap trucks, old Ford's . . . flatbed to Wairoa - refrigerated . . . . Click on link - truckers for USA.

Was only supposed to stay 9 months. Citizen now.

I don't think I could work a normal job now. With all their devices, I still feel alone out here. If I don't like your town I can always come back later when my attitude has changed.

That's why.

 

I worked inside for 30+ years and vowed that when I retired I'd do something outside. A friend asked me along on one of his dedicated day trips after I told him I was trying to decide what to do if/when I retired. One hour down the road with him my mind was made up to retire and do this. I was otr four years before starting my own small company and going on my own. I now have a ten year business plan that should take me to the end of my working life or beyond if I keep working.

An important footnote would would be that all four of my kids were grown and out of the house when I went otr. I also have a pension from my first career so I was never worried or motivated by money. This freedom to take things slow and easy has really helped me start the new business the right way. I didn't need to be in the black the first year but was out of the red in three months.


The the key to starting a successful business may not be doing something you know, rather it's finding an under supplied need, letting customers know you are there and filling said need.

Ten years ago I knew nothing about trucking and I still have a lot to learn. Today I own a trucking business and it's making money in these hard obama economy times. I can do this because I started at the bottom, assumed I knew nothing in the beginning and learned all I could about every aspect of the business.

My advice to new drivers is "if you come into trucking with a know everything attitude you're going to fail!" Learn all you can, where ever you can. Learn from your mistakes. I made lots of them enroute to where I am. Learn from Accountants, dispatchers, planners, managers, good drivers and bad drivers. All have something to add to your learning experience. Yes, I said bad drivers! They can teach you what NOT to do.

Knowing what NOT to do is just as important as knowing what action to take!

OBTW-Be wary of drivers who are the hero of every story they tell. They are leaving something out or are outright lying! You'll recognize these drivers right away. They can't stop talking.

 

I just spent 30 minutes writing my life story and posting it here. I then re read it for spelling and grammar errors. I got so sad that I cancelled the post.

 

Your break was over anyway.