Stacking the deck in your favor Pt 2: Getting started on the right foot.

You're lonely. Quit being sad about it and do your job. Focus on the job.

I'm 33. I don't experience loneliness like the masses anymore. I'm entirely capable of entertaining myself. I work alone for a particular reason... Yourself?

 

Where you at, Dragon?!?
Lol.

 

My weakness is Patience TripleSix... Been a weakness my whole life and ADHD does not help but I have worked on it over the years, even prayed about it and I can say with all honesty, I am better today....lol

The shoulder weakness you point out, I had the same problem but not with the weights you speak up of brother... You remind me of a brother who came to me once while we were in Iraq. He asked me how he could get stronger on his bench press. I asked him where he was now and he explained that he does 4 sets, 10 reps of 375lbs. I asked him just how strong does he want to get! Sheesh! I than explained that his rep/set routine was wrong for gaining strength. I told him to start with finding out what his 1 rep max was first...lol

 

Here is a Myth perpetrated by Mega driving, coffee counter sitting, blowhards.

We as the Owner Operator Drivers who do not have a "peopleNet, governed at 60mph, lane alert system" Truck.

Do not drive everywhere at 80+ MPH contrary to what you see us do if we pass you or climb a hill faster. Our average speed is most likely 65 to 70mph. Yes going faster consumes diesel, we have to pay for that diesel. That takes money and we as drivers dont like wasting money.

I am going to speak for myself, as proof of what and how i do what i do.

I Dont have a governed truck, my reason for this is. One if i am in winter weather and going down a hill. I want the ability to control my truck. Not have the truck control me. If i need power it is available to me, when i need it. If i come to a grade up hill i will move my truck up this hill, not sit on this hill drinking coffee for three days while the rabbit next to the truck runs faster than the truck. I average 68mph i have found that to be my best mpg speed. On the other hand yes i have done the speed limit in Texas and Utah.

This is not designed to pick on governed trucks.

A company will buy a truck with the basics, they dont want or need for extras. they need it to move product as cheap as possible. thus freightliner with detroit and 10sp or auto. no inverter, no tv no refrigerator. its a business choice.

When you see a Truck pass you, that is not a company Ride. Dont be jealous, strive to be better be that above average driver @TripleSix talked about. Alot of use had to start someplace. You are the only limit on what you can become. Keep up the Image, keep the standards high and dont just drive to get by. Trucking is a culture, not just a job. You dont see office shows,. or who flipped the best burger on weekends. you see men and women proud of the truck they own. Keep on Truckin'

 

Don't job hop. Sure you can put in your three or six months at a mega and move to another company, but chances are that will be a sideways move. You want to put in a year or two before making a move.

This is because the better companies are looking for someone that isn't a Negative Nancy, looking for reasons to quit. Even if you come in with years of experience there is a cost associated with hiring a new driver, even an owner operator.

I did two years at Swift, then was recruited by the company I have worked for since then. I came aboard with no flatbed experience, made some mistakes, watched, listened, and learned. Last year I bought my own truck.

Not long ago a very well qualified driver bought a truck and applied to lease on with my company. They turned him down because he had too many different jobs in the last three years.

Prove yourself the kind of driver that makes commitments.

 

My job hopping brought me a lot of skills though. I'm 26 and I can pull a van, car carrier, flat deck, stepdeck, double drop, lowbed up to 11 axles, tanker, winch truck and scissorneck trailer, operate multiple peices of equipment, vac truck. I think the job hopping was worth getting all that experience...

 

Job hopping is only worth it if you're moving forward in either skills or money. Job hopping for the sake of job hopping is pointless IMO.

 

I ended up being a job hopper without even trying...lol I hate job hopping and never in my life have I job hopped so dang much. I started with SNI in 08, did 3 years with them and have no complaints. Decided I wanted to play with the big boys and pull a skate board but I was in the Military at the time and when I hurt my back during some training exercises, TMC let me go. During my time on the couch, I was able to talk my wife into getting her CDL and we than focused on our future as a Husband/Wife team. Started with USXpress, than found what we thought was a great opportunity with a FedEx contractor...laugh, not a great opportunity after all... Went from that to a great gig pulling automotive freight. Than life happens and wife had to get out of the truck. So, I move again to a mom & pop outfit that will sell me a truck and trailer. Worked out ok until they closed their doors. Lost the truck/trlr and that left me reconsidering my future in trucking. Ended up driving a garbage truck but that did not work out for me either, so back to the drawing board. Got on with an outfit that pulls containers, did that for a year and now I drive my own paid for rig that is going to nickel and dime me out of trucking, probably. I never planned to be a job hopper but it sure looks like I did... Plans are just plans