Terms. myths. stories. anything need to learn

Yeah here are a few myths that needs to be squelched.

YOU are not superman, you have limitations and just because cowboy Joe supertrucker can drive 14 hours and sleep for two thinking he is safe, you can't. So take your 10 hours and rest, GET SLEEP. ALSO take time out of the truck by actually getting out of the truck and sitting in a hotel or doing something every month away from the truck.

Myth number two to be squelched, you don't have to kill yourself to make good money. Sorry but that's true. When I was otr with my own truck leased to a company, I never killed myself like running HARD, but made really good money and enjoyed most of the work, really right now I miss OTR work because I am stuck at home. SO learn how to work smarter, not harder and take advice of others with a grain of salt at the same time keeping it in your head.

The last one is learn how to ignore the crying about regulations being the end of the industry, it isn't. we work in a regulated world and we have to put up with these regulations because of the crap drivers we have in it who screw things up for the rest of us. So don't be the problem, be the best driver you can be and don't worry about the regulations.

 

I have been to many, many schools of different types over the years. My advice to you is DO NOT allow yourself to be sucked into ANY drama.

Mind your business and get your work done. It doesn't matter whether it is a week or a month long gathering there will always be someone looking to create drama and get attention. Don't be in the fragmentation zone. Be friendly to everyone, but don't get sucked in.

Pay attention and READ the materials and agreements. This is about you and your life. You need to know what the rules are and what you have to do to get and keep your job. Even if you are going to ignore a stupid rule you need to know that it exists and, better yet, WHY. There will be information in those documents that will help you get out of bad situations and take advantage of opportunities. This is going to be your life for a while, read the #### instructions so you can get the most out of it.

 

Dispatcher "forced" you to run illegal or tired.

Myth. Unless they held your family hostage at gunpoint, you cannot be forced by some one sitting at a desk.

If you were FORCED by a deskjokey to do something dangerous or illegal, you are either braindead or spineless or all of the above and should not be operating anything bigger than a Smartcar.

If you can 'man up', you are not a Man.

EDIT: If you rest when you're supposed to be resting (not playing video games or pocket pool, or watching TV, or on the phone), you shouldn't have aby issues with running the miles you need to do the job that you said you would do. We are all adults and your parents arent on the payroll.

 

There seems to be a myth that if you come upon an open scale house, you should slow to a crawl. The reasoning as far as I can tell is so that other trucks will pass and enter the scale ahead of you, thus filling it up and allowing you to bypass.

Do NOT do this. While there is a tiny miniscule chance it might slightly benefit you for a minute, it really creates a big cluster #### behind you and is just plain stupid dangerous behavior. And it is just based on fear. Fear that the DOT man is sitting in that scale house, waiting to prey on innocent truckers like you. Not true. Just follow the laws, keep your truck clean and legal, and read and follow the signs in the weigh station. Do not panic when you enter the scale. Too many people panic and go way too slow. Again, this creates a big cluster behind you and is very annoying to the few of us who try to do it right. Follow the posted speed and following distance and you will have nothing to worry about.

If you stop on that scale and they tell you to pull around and park, again don't panic. You didn't necessarily do anything wrong, it could just be your turn for a random inspection. This is why it pays to always keep your truck in good (and clean) condition. Just follow their directions, keep your paperwork neat and organized (and know where all your paperwork is, you would be surprised how many people don't even know where their truck registration is), and be courteous and respectful. The DOT man will do his job and send you on your way. There are probably a lot of threads on this issue already so I won't carry on too much here.

There is a lot more I could tell you, but honestly the best way to learn this stuff is experience. Don't go into this feeling like you need to know it all right off the bat. Good luck!

 

A Truck stop Attorneys advice is always free. Just ask yourself this question. If this person has such a fantastic legal mind why are they driving a truck?

 

This should help