Trucker Lifestyle Questions

Ohio is an excellent state for most any type trucking you want.
If you want real comfort on the road, got for a company that has all the driver amenities for comfort. Some companies have APU which is Auxillary Power Unit. When the truck engine is shut off,you turn on the APU and this gives you power for your computer, television, heat, air conditioning, cooking, refrigerator, etc. You won't need this though if you go for a local job, but it sure is nice if you're running long haul because most companies don't want the truck engine to idle and many cities have strict idle policies.

 

Ok some more headset is for cell phone an BIG inverter for any 120 stuff
company policy Dependant.`If they think the free crap in driving bites try IT(don't ask). Like any job some stuff REALLY bites and some just nibbles.
Stress is the enemy in this racket so anyway atall is good just ask my wife when she called I'd tell what was going on outside and about the cracker heads etc. If you can't laugh Get out before it kills you! Yes the extra work is a bear at times but so what? Company drivers should keep a log book
for sure and for the whole year store about three used with you the rest at home. If as I do you a use a loose leaf log all of your reports are right in front of you and a scratch pad on the dash for in and out miles till your next log entry then put that in the right column and if you use a GPS make sure it is NOT saving your trips those things are about as accurate as a f###t in a wind tunnel. When stopped by any bear get your license and trip papers on dash stay buckled up and ONLY answer what you are asked DO NOT volunteer anything Trust me on this you would rather talk about your sister's sex life than say the wrong thing now days with video everywhere. Been at this 30 plus and it gets funner every day. kittypower

 

The day I told my father I was going to follow him and become an over the road driver he told me we would talk in a year about it, till then there really was nothing to discuss. I feel the same way now about greenhorns. I rather let you bust your teeth a few times for those first few years then you will come closer to listening to my advice. Till then have fun stay off the wacky backy, keep the pedal OFF the metal and the rig between the ditchs!

 

Think about it there you are 1500 miles from depot and cracker head says where are you while Qualcom says mile marker 185 east bound on I 75 south so when you stop and see entry on Qualcom they ain't voice you tell it that you're off duty at the flying fishhook in Santa Fe and forget to add Florida!!!!!! that gets EVERY time. Also turn the volume down and stuff it under the buddy seat until you sign in again. Ain't nothing like a fleet alert for everybody in BF Egypt and you're in Texas. and it's 3 am. There's other tricks but might make em mad.

 

If you want trucking company school, look at these:
Jim Palmer Trucking - refrigerated, run 48 states long haul coast to coast, trucks have APU etc. Provides transportation from Columbus to either Springfield,MO or Missoula,MT plus provides meals and lodging during cdl school. Pictures of trucks on the website.
Wil-Trans - runs Eastern half of USA, trucks have APU etc. This company owns Jim Palmer Trucking. Also provides transportation, meals & lodging. School in Springfield,MO
Millis Transfer - runs Eastern half of USA, I think trucks have APU because a driver recently posted they have APU, school in Trenton,OH. Provides meals & lodging. Need $500.00 for school.
Schneider Bulk -If you want tankers, talk to Schneider about Schneider Bulk which is their tanker division. Hair follicle drug test. They pay for cdl school; might be a private school or their own school in Gary,IN

All the above you can drive alone after the training period.

 

If you are fine with the isolation, fine with sitting at shippers/receivers for hours, fine with not having a life and being tied to the truck,,,,go for it. It IS a hard life. Forget about running down to the store for a 6 pack, forget about lounging around in your lay z boy watching tv. If you enjoy talking to people, other than truck drivers, forget about it. Sure, the sights are good, but stopping 70' of truck and trailer to visit them are pretty much impossible. About the only thing I was able to do was stop at different Harley dealerships and get a shirt and stretch my legs.

 

Like I said KITYPOWER

 

How do you spell _________Power?....lol