Questions for newbie

I am 30 miles West of Asheville, NC. Beleive you me, I am not a slow driver. I think that Charlotte is like 2 hours from me.

 

Theres a TransTech in Hickory or Conover, NC.....But I know that Watkins Shepard Doesnt hire from there though...if that was one of the companies you were looking into...




American Trucker

 

I understand being held up at loading and or unloading, but how does that figure into the down time that you have to have?? How does that time effect the time you are allowed to be driving??

Cant you make up the time you loose at the dock when you are back in the seat to drive??

 

Thank you for the info, inverter I understand, but what is an APU?

thanks again

 

Once you start your day you have 14 hours and then your done for at least 10 hours, so if you get up pre trip 15 mintutes then drive 30 min and spend 10 hours unloading, then you only have 3 hours and 15 minute before you have to take a 10 hour break....same if that 10 hours was spent waiting for a load..

APU is a Auxillary Power Unit (a generator), it provides Heat/AC and Electricty while the truck is shut off.






American Trucker

 

AT I have only looked a little bit at companies so far. Just trying to learn a little here and there on how you folks do stuff. I know of one driving school in Hickory that is part of the community college right behind Harbor Freight on 70, but I have not looked at that school yet.

AT - it sounds like you are driving with a pretty good company and get pretty good miles too? Can I ask how long you have been driving OTR?

thank you

 

That makes more sense on how and when you can drive.

I did not know you guys used a generator in/on the truck?

 

Ya my miles are between 2600 and 3500 miles a week. I
ve been OTR for 88 Days almost 3 whole months! My 90 days is up on the 7th...

Some companies have them so you dont have to idle the truck, there diesel generators. My company has them on like half of our trucks....I dont have one though lol


Some companies have them on all of there trucks, some dont have them at all. There nice to have especialy if you work for a company with NAZI idleing rules! My company doesnt have an "idle policy" they appreicate it if we keep our idleing to a minimum but they dont say anything if and when you do idle.

Like last night I Idled for 10 hours because it was so cold if I had shut the truck off and went to sleep it wouldnt have turned over in the morning, I have a Wabasto Bunk heater (diesel Burning heater) so I dont need to idle to keep warm but when its that cold I have to idle to keep the engine warm lol






American Trucker

 

AT - thank you for taking the time to give me so much info here. Ideling rules I have not heard of at all. What is the average fuel range on say the truck you drive?? You have been talking about long hauls, can you share where your running? Like from Florida to NC or ??

 

I'm sorry HD I was looking at Smithville on the map, not Smithfield. I'm sorry for the confusion.