From desk to own authority

So since I never worked in an office...........how does this compare to office work?

It's a lot better so far except it's hard to relax now that I'm home for a while. It seems there is always something I can do on the truck so I feel guilty just lounging around. I don't miss the office and so far this has been great. I know I'll work much more than I did in the office.

I went out today to a store that specializes in working gear and bought a winter one piece jump suit and a light weight one to cover my clothes. I've found that anything dealing with tarps gets you absolutely filthy.

I'm hoping to hear back about the Carlsbad load in the morning and I'm pretty sure I'll get it so I should be back in the road on Tuesday.

I checked my engine compartment today and found my blow by pipe just hanging there. Both the clamps that hold it in place are broken so I'll be fixing that in the morning. I already took the bolts off, just need to get some new ones. They look the same as what a plumber would use to hold a galvanized pipe in place.

[geomon]

Great story Steve!

Way to go :!:

[Justruckin]

Way to go Steve!!!

You have BALLS!!!

It is nice to see that there are guys out here that still do!!!!

Going from a desk jockey to a full blown flat bedding truck driver!!!

Only in America! You gotta love it!!

Welcome to the club!

[Rev.Vassago]

Sometimes you will strap lightly over tarp for weird sized freight to help hold the tarp in place. From his pic, that's what it looks like to me. Just my 2 cents.

I was moreso referring to the two straps in the front that are on the outside of the rub rails.

[jdg]

Great job "Driver" ,
Great write up, it took me back to my first few weeks,...when every stinking new noise sent me into a panic.
I envisioned major breakdowns on an hourly basis.

[allan5oh]

Good post! Too bad the pics don't work!

[ssoutlaw]

Sometimes you will strap lightly over tarp for weird sized freight to help hold the tarp in place. From his pic, that's what it looks like to me. Just my 2 cents.

I was moreso referring to the two straps in the front that are on the outside of the rub rails.

You might be right, even with my glasses on I cant tell from the 2 pics...lol
Your eyes are better than mine...lol
So a note to you Steve Booth: always keep the strap inside the rub rail!!
Tip for you also Steve: if you put the strap through the eye on the wench, then roll the strap and fold it between the trailer deck and the strap, your straps will last longer and you wont have to tighten the strap as much. When you roll the strap in the winch, it will loosen easier.

Good post! Too bad the pics don't work!

The pics are there, just takes a little while for them to load. The server I have them on is slow.

[allan5oh]

No such luck. Are you over your allotted bandwidth?

I tried both mozilla and IE. Both latest versions.

No such luck. Are you over your allotted bandwidth?

I tried both mozilla and IE. Both latest versions.

No bandwidth restriction. Not sure why your having the problem. Everyone else can see them. I just went into the server with FTP and hand loaded the picture and it's fine.

You can try this link. The pics are 1 through 17.

http://www.btiserver.com/steve/1.jpg

[-FlyByNight-]

OMG I haven't laughed so hard in ages! I was literally in tears.

Your story reminds me of when I first started driving with Arrow Trucking right out of school a few years ago. It's a lot of hard work doing flatbed and I've got to hand it to you for taking the bull by the horns and going for it. Jumping in with both feet in flatbed as an independent O/O with your own authority and no experience! DAMN that takes a set! I salute you and wish you nothing but continued success.

Based on what you said in your story, you spent the night in my hometown of Rock Springs, WY and yes the Flying J there is a dump at best. Next time I suggest you continue west on I-80 to exit 99 and stay at Cruel Jacks. Good food there and two decent steak houses, Ted's and The Log Inn, bordering the property. :wink:

I'm not sure, but it looks like you have a pic of the Flaming Gorge Dam and a few of the reservoir . Gotta love that road to Vernal in a BIG truck eh?

I've always wanted to try my hand at being an O/O and have been considering buying a truck and leasing it on with Crete, but keep chickening out. Reading your story makes me want to just go for it like you did. No balls, no blue chips!

Thanks for the story. It was full of laughs and smiles as I read it. Hell, I'm still grinning and chuckling.

Yes, it was Rock Springs Flying J, I just went through my receipts. You are also correct on Flaming Gorge Dam. I stopped there for an hour or so because it was soooooo nice. That road to Vernal made my whole trip worth it. It was great scenery, wild horses and the views were awesome. It was also probably the best first experience for using my Jake's. It was a 9% grade but most of the time it was straight down and a good road so I got my chance before I hit all those switchbacks later on down the road.

[-FlyByNight-]

I just noticed your reply and was thinking about your comments on chaining and wanted to give you a tip that will help you with chaining. Carry a couple one to two foot long 4X4's on your truck with you. When you need to chain up, place them behind the inside drive tires and back onto them. This will raise your outside tires up off the ground and you will be able to simply drape your chains over the tires and connect them. :wink:

That's interesting. I do in fact carry 8 4x4x8 beams but my chains are the double ones that go around 2 tires at once.

[Sonny Pruitt]

definately got balls

nice job

good luck to you

[Bigmon]

Good job. I was hoping you'd be posting about your trip. Cool pics.

[Ian Williams]

Hmm... running chains at 40 mph? I thought the max was 30 or 25? Using the Jake at full power down a snowed over road - I thought you weren't supposed to use the Jake at all (or maybe on low if you're brave) when the road is slippery? Anyways great story - keep 'em coming. I have a similar background to you and have been driving for a couple years now as a company driver mostly local in New England. Good Luck!

A lot depends on the quality of your chains and if they are on tight.

I was told that you can do 35-40mph with quality chains by one of the veteran drivers at my terminal here in Reno.

Part of my bid is to maintain the chain inventory for our shop. Some of our good chains have lasted 15+ years (they say"Made in W. Germany")

You can use the Jake in winter at lower speeds you just have to be VERY aware that it can make you jackknife, especially when you have doubles.

[rank]

Hey Steve,

I assume you never dealt with any of those brokers before and they made your insurance company provide proof of liability and cargo before you could take the load. How did you get your ins. co to do that so quick? Markell always makes me wait a couple of days at least. I think they are ready to cancel my policy because I've signed up with so many brokers.

Thanks all for the well wishes.

I was in hard packed snow with probably 3 or 4 inches on the ground and going up hill when I was doing my fastest. I was keeping pace with either a FedEx or UPS truck at the time. Boy, does it feel good having those chains on!!! I wish I had them going up that wicked mountain I talked about before.

My insurance company faxes out my insurance on the spot when I call. The only problem is they don't work on the weekends but the brokers have taken a faxed copy of my insurance that I sent them and give me the load but still want to be named as insured when my agent comes in on Monday. When I had Progressive they fax on the spot with there computer the instant you give them a phone number.

Using the Jake when it was slippery out I had my finger on the button the whole time. When I was carrying a light load I didn't use it at all.

I just got the word and leave from New Hampshire to Carlsbad CA on Wed for a 3,000 mile trip at $1.60 per mile. 20,000 pounds. I'll probably stop at that Iowa 80 truck stop again. It has to be the biggest truck store in the world and pretty nice too. I'll get my truck washed there, they do a great job.

[Kintama]

I really hope you're trying to negotiate rates. I would try to get in the $2.00 a mile range for a trip like that. Frieght in California isn't that great half the time, coupled with fuel out west, and you're going to need a little more to make up the difference. Are you asking for a fuel surcharge, or are they saying it's included in the rate?