The ramblings of a rookie

BUMBACLADWAR · May 16, 2018

Samarquis said: ↑

Months ago I had posted about my interest in making a career change, and using the CDL that I've had since high school. Most of the posts were centered around which companies to work for (the megas mostly) and life on the road. I thought now would be a good opportunity for an update.

Following some family concerns back home. My wife, daughter, and I all picked up to move from Vermont back to our hometown in central Northern Maine. When this happened, I was all but 100% certain that my yet to begin truck driving career was already at an end, or at least postponed. However, during the moving process, I stumbled across an ad (on facebook no less) for a flatbed driver "experience preferred". Well, I thought, why not. I'll try.

I got the job. I am working for what had once been a small logging company, which has since expanded to flatbed work regionally throughout New England, with plans to go full lower 48 within the next year. They hired me as the "trial run" of a cdl apprentice program they are forming. In 3 weeks I surpassed the 3 month expectation and have been running on my own for the past 2 weeks now (5 weeks in)

At the moment I couldnt be happier that I managed to land a driving job that allows me to be home every weekend right out of the gate. There have been some interesting events in the past few days however.

From day 1 I had been driving the bosses Western Star (2004, smallest sleeper they offer, 18spd, turned up to 800hp) and loving it, waiting for the truck I am supposed to get to be ready. Fast forward to last Friday. As I am returning to the shop, running about 100k gross (triaxle trailer) I get the message from the boss that I have to clean my stuff out of the truck, because another driver will be taking the Western. Cool! must mean I'm getting my truck!

So, not 10 minutes later here comes bambi. A deer jumps out of the woods within feet of the front of the truck. I nail the deer dead center with the front of the truck. No big deal there, we run the big Herd moose bumpers. However, upon sight of the deer entering the road instinct overrode intelligence, and I laid on the brakes. Now I get to call the boss, and explain that, on my 2nd solo week I hit a deer and had a poor reaction causing MY LOAD TO SHIFT! the front tier of lumber i had on was against the back of the cab. ####ing great!

Boss says no big deal, happened in a good spot (near a friendly business with a forklift) so 2 hours later I'm on my way with a slightly wonky looking but thoroughly OVERsecured load. All is happy again.

Get back to the shop, boss says my truck is in fact ready, and since i didnt hurt his I still get to take it. supposedly that was like the 12th deer that truck had claimed anyways.

My truck, which is a 2001 freightliner classic with a 60" bunk, 18spd, signature 600hp cummins, has been out with another more experienced driver to work out the kinks, because it had been slightly abused and then left parked for a while (was a woods truck). Of course, I'm all excited. I've finally got my own truck. No more sleeping in a bunk full of somebody elses stuff!

Leave on her maiden voyage after being officially assigned. 2 hours north, load, 2 hours back. nice easy end to the week (already been a rough day). About an hour from the shop, the boss calls. Says the other driver has noticed its using about a gallon of coolant every day or so, gonna go back into the shop next week for repairs, make sure to bring coolant before i leave state with it. no big deal. Get loaded, turn around, hit the interstate, 12 miles down the road I'm overheating and have a stop engine light. Pull into the Irving fuel stop, open the hood, NO COOLANT VISIBLE! So I run inside, buy coolant, dump 3 gallons into it, still low but not bad. boss says smoke it home. 60 miles later, (3 miles from the yard) same thing. no coolant, overheat, stop engine light, snowing like crazy. Limp her into the yard and park. And thats where she sits awaiting attention.

Now here I sit in Willington, CT. Staying in a hotel, doing overnight runs in a daycab truck plucked directly from the woods. Just had my first experience at a TA diner, and thoroughly enjoyed listening to all the other drivers tell stories (any of you reading this now? lol). Truck stop shower experience last week as well. that was actually pleasantly surprising. To any wannabes out there, dont be nervous about truck stop showers, at least some of them are nice, but bring your own towel and some flip flops or something. my complimentary towel had what I tell myself WASNT a dingleberry on it, but i had my own.

Long winded, and I missed stuff along the way, but this is about as updated as my story gets for now. if there is anything of interest I will continue to update

So far I am loving it, and have volunteered to run long as soon as we start to do so (currently restricted to New England and upstate NY). Best career decision i think I've ever made.

sorry if this is posted in the wrong forum, wasnt sure where it would belong.
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I enjoyed your "ramblings" as you say.Sounds good.Im Just Curious,What State lets you get a CDL in High School?

Samarquis · May 16, 2018

BUMBACLADWAR said: ↑

I enjoyed your "ramblings" as you say.Sounds good.Im Just Curious,What State lets you get a CDL in High School?
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Got my cdl through a vocational program my senior year. In Lincoln, Maine. It was a class offered through the school. All day every other day. I did have to wait for my 18th bday to actually test and receive my cdl

Samarquis · May 17, 2018

Brought the truck home for the first time tonight. I had told my daughter i was out for another night. The look on my daughters face when she saw me roll up was perfect.

Brettj3876 · May 22, 2018

Lepton1 said: ↑

It depends on how the truck was ordered by the original owner. Some folks want fuel efficiency on flat lands and a 12 liter is fine. Others need power for steep hills and/or heavy loads.

I've driven Petebilts with 350 hp 11.7 liter Cats, if you can believe that. Bought by a major oil company that has higher driver turnover than Swift, so they don't dare turn newbies loose on steep dirt roads snapping a drive train.

For those who might someday be interested in owning your own truck, think beyond the brand. Look at the engine specifications for horsepower and torque, then the transmission gear ratios, the rear end ratio, and whether it's set up with only a power divider or if it also has full locking differentials. There's lots of variables on how a truck can be ordered. Buying a used truck you get it "as is" and hope to make no modifications to fit your needs, or spend as little as possible to make it workable for you.
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Schlumberger specs all their Pete's with the isx12 425/1650....4.88 rears on 11R-22.5

1900 rpm @65 LOL but they pull like nobody's business. Pulling a 100k frac pump up snowshoe on I-80 in pa only have to drop 1 gear. Same with Sherman in Wyoming.

Samarquis · May 30, 2018

Just a quick update

Im still here and doing it. Things have been going pretty well. Still adjusting to the new truck... Man i miss my 18spd trucks....

Just wanted to touch base. Dont want to just disappear lol

Samarquis · Jun 11, 2018

Everything is still going smoothly for the most part, which leaves me without much to ramble on lol

Just ran my 14 down to the minute getting to the nh i95 welcome area. Thanks to a slow receiver, slower shipper, and the usual i95 parking lot coming past boston. Getting ready to have some supper

Just picked up my first cooking implement for the truck this weekend in an effort to save money. Got a lunchbox oven. Using it for the first time now as i type. Hopefully it works good and i can enjoy a hot meal that doesnt cost a mortgage and my first born like the service plazas charge lol

New truck is still... Okay. Its still not my thing, but im adjusting. It did just throw a transmission fault and wouldnt go into gear earlier, but i shut it off for 10 minutes and it was fine... For now i guess. Hopefully it doesnt strand me

Just another day... How's everyone else doing?

spindrift · Jun 11, 2018

Thanks for the tip. Just visited Amazon and got me one of those mini ovens.

Samarquis · Jun 11, 2018

spindrift said: ↑

Thanks for the tip. Just visited Amazon and got me one of those mini ovens.
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It seems to work ok. I reheated some home made mac and cheese and cooked a few hot dogs. Everything came out pretty good, but it does cook slow

I got the cheap little foil bread loaf pans from the dollar tree to drop in it to save on cleaning it. They sell ones that are made to fit but they cost more.

Slim51 · Jun 11, 2018

I have a 12v crockpot and 12v sauce pan. I use the sauce pan almost every night for soup or whatever. I really want to get a 12v fry pan too

Samarquis · Jun 11, 2018

I considered getting an $18 butane stove from walmart to actually cook with, but I feel like that should be used outside the cab so i dont accidentally kill myself. Im considering building a small table top to hang from my stake pockets so i can grill at a comfortable height lol

I almost got the sauce pan instead of the oven, but the oven is convenient. The wife made a bunch of small shephards pies and such in those loaf pans, just drop a pan in plug it in and check it in 30 minutes. Maybe longer lol

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