Rug_Trucker Goes OTR What I Am Learning

I got a brand new mattress when I got my truck. It was a little too thin. It was bothering my hip. I got a cheapo air mattress from Walmart. I have it on top of the other. Comfy! I do need to cover it with something as it seams to make me sweat.

I have not neaded to run the A/C at night so far. I have had to sleep in the daytime and had to run it. Friday last I started my 10 hour break and faced the windshield to the North and cracked the windows. I put my free company supplied fan in the sleeper vent and it worked for a couple of hours. Eventually I had to start the truck.

I have had 2 messages saying my idle times are among the lowest in the company.

If I have the money I am going to buy another fan today before I head out again.

 

I did get pulled in for a random drug test in OKC. I had walked up to a couple of drivers at a truck stop, one was a Swift driver. I jokingly asked "where's the beer?" I wonder if that had a factor in the next day test. My dad had met me that night and took me out to dinner. I didn't drink.

I ran into a guy that I was in orientation with. He was telling me he was on dedicated and making $700-850 a week. Home a couple of nights too. Yet he was complaining. I have not been making that! He was talking about going local doing a route job for a beverage company. Not for me!

I need to go out and update my stats and gather my logs and bills take them to the Pilot to scan. My PTA was set for midnight tonight. I am going to change that to 0500 tomorrow. I don't want to be on the night shift because sleeping in the day in many areas right now would require idling.

I did send a message to my DM last week when I was in Louisiana that it was 99* at the shipper. I had arrived at 16:00 and didn't get loaded until 20:00. I was on my 10hr break. I picked up a loaded trailer, pulled outside the gate opened the vents and racked out. I woke up an found several other drivers had done the same.

 

Well things are different terminal to terminal. I have never read a lot of "rules." No driver hand book that I have seen.

 

I got a messgae a few days ago saying I was in the lowest % of idle in the comapny. Tonight I got one saying I was in the highest.

I sent a message to my DM last Wednesday (Port Allen, LA) it was 99* outside and I was going to turn on the A/C and sleep. I slept for 4 hours. When I got a call to pick up my loaded trailer I hooked and pulled it outside the gate and went back to sleep. I turned on the free fan they gave us. The next day I had delivered my load and went to the truck stop. 2PM Dothan GA. 93* outside. I went into the Flying J and started watching TV. Got a preplan. Accepted it and turned on the A/C and went to sleep. I woke up a little after dusk. Turned off the truck and opened the vents. Went back to sleep. Got up at midnight and drove 5 hours and picked up my next load. Drove to the Pilot in Tuscaloosa, fueled, scaled the load and went to sleep with the fan on about 10am. Slept 2 hours woke up with a nasty headache and sweating pretty heavy. Closed the windows and turned on the A/C.

I am going to start messaging my DM everytime I do this.

I did buy another fan (before I received the bad message) to supplement the freebie.

 

Really had a lot to put on here. No time Been home for 3 days. Going to to PU in springfield TN and go to Sears DC in Goldsboro PA. I added another state to my list. SC. 32 staes and DC since February!

Hate getting anything done in Decatur GA. 4 1/2 hours to get a steer tire changed while under a load. 8 hour wait for a B service.

Had a few problems getting resposnses from a CSR on a load that was late before I picke it up. Dan behind the window there was awsome. He took care of a big mess and got me rolling.

I had a preventable. I hit a "gator tail" on I-285. Tore off my passenger side fuel line. Should have swerved right instead of left. Dumped a bunch of fuel on the side of the road. Had traffic tied up for 3+hours. No ticket.

Was going to take my sweetie out this week. Her mom had a massive heart attack a two weeks ago. I messaged Memphis told them I needed home or something towards Tupelo where my GF was at the hospital. They got with Decatur and they got me a load 20 miles away to New Albany. The gator tail cancelled that. That was Saturday. They didn't fix the fuel line until Monday.

My GF just went back to help her mom and dad. I am going to be home in 2 weeks and pick her up for a 3 week ride.

Gotta go!

Drive fast and take chances!