Where Are You Continues, Again.....

Yup.

A log truck just pulled up. He asked if I’ve been calling in Chanel 2. That’s a 10/4. The mill is as quiet as a mouse. I googled their number (besides the one in my load assignment) no answer on any of those.

So the log truck called me and said another log company says they’re closed to till mañana.

Well schucks. Layover pay for the last two days and the load planer is going to find me a new load. That’s truckin’

 

You should have said 530. As it takes an hour to wake up, have breakfast, fuel the truck (WE still tellin ya to only fill it halfway?), do the pretrip. Then it will be 630 and he can start his onduty driving.

So what happened to finding out about cab #4835?
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Well the company wont hire me. The husband says yes, the wife says no. I tried to cheer the wife up by saying while not getting hired. It makes it that much easier to mow lawns this summer.

Confidentially she said it was because their workers need to unload 200 (40 pound each) lobster crates. I have no problem if they are on pallets and there is a pallet jack. She thanked me for that and said they would keep me on reserve for if some one lost their license.

 

Training update: it’s a long one.

I seriously understand how new drivers end up in fields. Turn the key and stomp on the big pedal on the floor. That’s it, that’s the trip plan.

It’s all a test @lovesthedrive.

I say we need to be at the shipper at 0630. They need to figure it out. He’s had two weeks with me. In that two weeks I literally narrate the entire process for every trip. When I get up. Get coffee bathroom etc. Log on duty PTI. Do the PTI. Verify my directions. Use company Nav, RM book is there, Use google map and zoom in to confirm and then leave early so I’m at least 30 minutes early...

Today the trainee was supposed to act like he was a solo driver. Dang...I had to YELL for him to stop as he made a wrong turn off the truck route, and as he tried to let google navigate him back he was about to cross a bridge with a 15 ton max sign on it. We’re like 38 tons right now. I almost #### my pants. I say it over and over and over, don’t move the truck till you know where you’re going. If you get off route stop in a safe place and don’t move the truck till you know where you’re going.

####. It’s like some of them need to have the #### scared out of them to learn.

I figure by introducing them in a controlled way what it’s like to be solo, and (almost) without the comfort of someone’s who has been to that shipper 20 times to save their ### they’ve got a better chance at not ending up on something like the Swift best in crash Instagram page.

I made him get out and look at the bridge and figure out how to get out of where he was. He did the classic both hands on his head “I ####ed up” move. @scottied67 would've been proud of the move. Wish I could’ve filmed it.

So there I am in the street with my Hi-vis vest on in a little rural Oregon town getting the trainee to back up 10 feet so he could turn left into a gravel parking lot so he could go back out and make a simple turn back on to the truck route. I feel like an idiot, but I’d feel like a bigger idiot if i was asleep and we crashed through a bridge.

We made it safely to our fuel solution.

Usually about 20-30 minutes later the trainees always try to redirect the conversation on how it’s “sort of” my fault. I absolutely love shutting that conversation down. I let them finish whatever they’re saying...and then say:

You hold a professional license. Your first mistake was your trip plan that you only partially completed. Your second mistake was not stopping after you got off the truck route and got turned around. Your third mistake was thinking that I’m your Mom and I’m here to save your ###. Your forth mistake is thinking about how, you, as a professional driver were going to deflect blame for your mistakes, and ####ty planning to someone else. Your 5th mistake is going to be feeling sorry for yourself. Learn from this. You got lucky. Never forget you are not in a car and you have the opportunity to learn from this. It’s a good day for you. You didn’t crash and you can learn without the cops or losing your job.

Let see how he reacts in his remaining time on my truck.

@Zoltan1a are you listening?

 

Holy #### man , idk how u mentors do it... I wouldve thrown that guy off the bridge along with all his #### and backed up down the street we came down as a new solo driver.... Credit to u my friend for having the patience and balls to teach some of these guys

 

Most of these drivers I work with are good people. They just have some bad wiring in their head from driving cars that they’ve got to fix. I’m far from perfect...and I try to remember that every trainer that helps form a good driver is good for all of us.

 

I forgot to add the first part of your above post had me laughing. “New solo driver” hahahahaha! Trust me it’s a thought sometimes...it passes quickly. I find it encouraging how badly these drivers want to learn. All they need is someone willing to listen and teach what they do know.

 

Hmmm just to antognize Otter. Maybe I should see if WE will rehire me and get Otter to train me

 

Landed at the north 40. I be tard, 6 stops on a Monday sucks. Was going to stop by @otterinthewater employer and have a word with them, but didn’t have time.

 

Muahahahahahaaaaa!

That would be fun! It sure would make this thread a bit weird. It’s going to get good once or if I get to train @Zoltan1a as well.