Getting ready, have questions

[triggerslapper]

Hi everyone,

Newb here, you guessed it, questions for you all.

#1 For all you drivers a year and under what are you averaging in miles per week

#2 Someone explain the anti-idling thingy, way I understand it if you are sleeping or resting and truck is idling then once in awhile it revs for a moment?? To save gas?? Yea, me confused.

#3 Anyone using gps technology to get to where your going other than qualcom watching you Garmin? Or Microsoft Streets and Trips with GPS plugged in to you laptop? If so please give some suggestions.

#4 Paperless logs, likes dislikes, most major companies have them yet?

#5 On days off if the tractor is in your possesion and you store it, does the company pay the storage fee or do you?

#6 On any given block of 70 hours out, what is your average speed per hour, I realize Mr.Murphy is always out there, just asking for a rough average.

#7 When you pick up a trailer, are inspections done on that trailer? By whom? Then if you are pulled over by police and a problem is found who pays ticket?

Anybody able to stay out roughly two weeks and be home four to five days then out again??

Things I have read on this forum....
Do not quit and leave company vehicle in bfe, take it back then quit.
Two or three days into going out again tell dispatch when you want to be home, they are human too, give them notice plus respect and respect will come back.
Do not eat out, get mini fridge and microwave, make meals yourself.
Take showers and don't piss in bottles only to leave them by road side or parking lot.
My point for all this is, this is common sense stuff, it blows me away to read about how a guy just up and leaves his truck somewhere cause he is pissed now he is in big trouble or the trainer said we don't have time for showers cause I am a wimp for not saying yes I am gonna get a shower or I am not making any money in trucking though I eat great and have time for one armed bandits. Get real. Common sense.
The best is when I read how a trainer climbs in sleeper and newb is left alone up front, how come these guys don't speak up and demand the trainer stay up front and do his job??

I am scared to do this but more scared to screw up behind the wheel. Trainers need to be right there saying don't do that or yea thats right. Common sense.

I don't know jack about semi trucks but I do know how to treat people the way I want to be treated.

I really appreciate any and all help, never driven OTR, planning on it. Goal is to spend a year or two OTR then try and get an LTL job here in Boise, Idaho.

Thanks everyone...;') Ok, fire at will....

P.S. all us newbs really need to listen to those who have been out there for a few years, there is so much to learn. Never realized how much time, energy and thought went into driving an eighteen wheeler. Thanks.

[Uturn2001]

PostPosted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 11:05 pm Post subject: Getting ready, have questions
Hi everyone,

Newb here, you guessed it, questions for you all.

#1 For all you drivers a year and under what are you averaging in miles per week

#2 Someone explain the anti-idling thingy, way I understand it if you are sleeping or resting and truck is idling then once in awhile it revs for a moment?? To save gas?? Yea, me confused.

I think you are talking about Opti-Idle. What it does is start and stop the engine based on the cabin temp in 15 min cycles. If the temp is below a certain point the engine will remain running until the cab temp gets above the safety point.

Other than that the only other thing I think you could mean is that most trucks will shut off by themselves when the parking brake is set (ones without opti-idle) if you do not set the cruise control.

#5 On days off if the tractor is in your possesion and you store it, does the company pay the storage fee or do you?

Depends on the company.

#6 On any given block of 70 hours out, what is your average speed per hour, I realize Mr.Murphy is always out there, just asking for a rough average.

45-50 mph east of the Mississippi and 50-55 west of it.

#7 When you pick up a trailer, are inspections done on that trailer? By whom? Then if you are pulled over by police and a problem is found who pays ticket?

Annual inspections are to be done on both trucks and trailers. They may be done by a certified person at your company or done at a truck/trailer service shop by the same. Every day and any time you pick up a new truck or trailer you are suppose to do a complete vehicle inspection and ensure that it meets all DOT requirements including the annual inspections are current. If you choose to drive or pull that equipment and it is found to be faulty in some way you are usually responsible for any fines imposed.

[squirrelbait]

#1 For all you drivers a year and under what are you averaging in miles per week

Depends on the company, most will avg 2000-2500 wk

#4 Paperless logs, likes dislikes, most major companies have them yet?

The only major company I know of that uses paperless is Werner and I've good and bad about it. Never dealt with it myself.

#5 On days off if the tractor is in your possesion and you store it, does the company pay the storage fee or do you?

Storage Fee ??? The one thing that blew me away when I was going to training 3 yrs ago was that the guys did NOT have any idea WHERE to park their trucks. Take a look around BEFORE you go to training, most guys take there trucks home. As someone else said though that depends on the company.

Anybody able to stay out roughly two weeks and be home four to five days then out again ??

Same answer again DOC (Depends on the Co policy)

Do not eat out, get mini fridge and microwave, make meals yourself.

It WILL save you time and $$$ but watch the diet, obesity and high blood pressure are rampant in this industry. Try to stay away from high carbs and sugars, also limit Sodium.

As for the trainer in the sleeper DOC again, the one I used to get my CDL required the trainer to be in the jump seat at all times and OUT of the truck when backing.

I HAVE seen trainers for other companies that were as useless as (insert favorite quote)

#2 Someone explain the anti-idling thingy, way I understand it if you are sleeping or resting and truck is idling then once in awhile it revs for a moment?? To save gas?? Yea, me confused.

Yeah, like a Thermo-King/Carrier reefer unit, the engine automatically starts and stops all night long. Some guys get used to it but I never could. Alot of companies are installing bunk heaters, which are nice but they can run the batteries down if it gets too cold. The best are tri-pak generators, but only a few companies like Wal-Mart install these for their drivers.

#5 On days off if the tractor is in your possesion and you store it, does the company pay the storage fee or do you?

You get to shell out your own hard-earned money.

#6 On any given block of 70 hours out, what is your average speed per hour, I realize Mr.Murphy is always out there, just asking for a rough average.

Yeah what Uturn wrote is pretty accurate and Mr. Murphy is always present and yet....most drivers logbooks say an average of 58-68+. Hmmmm.....

#7 When you pick up a trailer, are inspections done on that trailer? By whom? Then if you are pulled over by police and a problem is found who pays ticket?

Inspections are done by you and you will NOT be paid for them. Nor will you be paid to drop/hook, sweep out the mt, washouts, scale the load, repairs, etc. Depending on the problem, you very well COULD end up paying the ticket.

Anybody able to stay out roughly two weeks and be home four to five days then out again??

Been there, done that. Never again.

I don't know jack about semi trucks but I do know how to treat people the way I want to be treated.

The problem with OTR is that there is ALOT of disrespect directed towards the driver. I never could quite understand why, especially when we're the ones bringing these people thier goods. You'll meet all manner of aholes in grocery warehouses, DC's, docks, factories, offices, etc who depend on you for their jobs and yet...they will treat you like dirt and can CARE LESS about wasting your time. The motoring public doesn't like you because you're always in their way or some other trucker was 2 inches from their rear bumper. The DOT sees you as an ATM machine. Local cops will write tickets for illegal parking on a street even tho you're making or waiting for a a delivery. Even the way some drivers treat each other is despicable.

Goal is to spend a year or two OTR then try and get an LTL job here in Boise, Idaho.

Why not see if any LTL companies are hiring Combo drivers? That way, you can skip the whole OTR ripoff.

But yeah, LTL is definitely the way to go. Linehaul guys where I work make 70-90k. All terminal-to-terminal drop-n-hook. City guys make 44-55k straight day shift and you only work about 8-9 hrs per day plus home everynight and off every weekend. Uniforms. Good bennies and good people.

[triggerslapper]

I was looking at SAIA here in in Boise and they want you to have at least 1 years tractor trailer driving exp. OTR is not where I want to be but a stepping stone to where I would like to be.

Thanks to all the replys.... :D

[Orangetxguy]

Trigger...you have plenty of options for getting your driving experience right close to you.

Check out AGL in Caldwell That is Arlo G. Lott Trucking. Flatbed work.

TCT in Boise will work with you..Trans Continental Transport...flatbedders & lowboy.

Simplot Transportation may work with you. Depends on your attitude when you walk in their door. Confidence works well. They move lot's of grain, fertilizer and seed potatoes.

Over in Idaho Falls is Doug Andrus (Distributing now).www.dougandrus.com...Good people, and they will give you a shot. You could well end up liking them enough to stay. They run just about everything. Doug's brother runs a Dry Van operation out of St. George UT and Mesquite NV. Andrus Transportation.

Want to haul beef? Call LW Miller in Logan UT, see what they have to say...another decent outfit, also can check out Miller Bros. Transportation...the reefer side of beef hauling..

Motors West in Caldwell might take you on as a rookie..don't really know much about them..except that they run Petes and reefers.

Twin Falls...Montana Express...KW's & Reefers....I-15 corridor mainly..as well as OR, WA & MT

Twin Falls..Truscott Trucking. Larry is good people..don't know if he is still involved in day to day stuff in the trucking part of his company. They runn everything..Van..Reefer..Flatbed & Heavy Haul, Brokerage. Last I knew his daughter was taking some of the reins. www.truscotttrucking.com

Sons of Young..Blackfoot...reefer operation....mostly they stick to the 11 western...mainly I-15 corridor.

Stay away from Willis Shaw...

Like I said..plenty of decent opportunities there..and plenty of not so decent as well.