Help get me up and going.
 

First of all, this is my first post on this forum, I just found it last night and I think it's a great resource.

I need some help. I got my CDL through Prime a few years ago (maybe 4). I think I set myself up to fail and only made it for 6 months before I quit. From there I went on to work at a few different local jobs. I ended up driving a straight truck for the last year and a half or so.

Well now I'm ready to give it another try. I've applied to Schneider and I want to get prepared to make it work this time.

Before I didn't even have a cell phone, no internet, no gps. It was just me, my qualcomm, cb, and atlast book. I could only call for directions if I stopped at a payphone.

This time I have my girlfriend going with me, I have my cell phone, I'm getting a GPS system, xm radio, and a wireless internet card for my laptop. I really believe that being pretty much cut off from the rest of the world my first time around made me so miserable that I just couldn't take it.

So can you help me out with what I should buy...
I have sprint service for my cell phone. So, should I go with their wireless internet?

What GPS system would you recommend? I read the 5 page long discussion on this topic but never really came up with a final conclusion except that I shouldn't totally rely on it for trip planning, but use it as a tool. I don't want to spend a fortune on this, but I'm not looking for the cheapest. I just want to know which one is good for what I need. This is very important to me because I believe another reason I didn't make it before is because I was scared to death of getting lost in that big truck.

And if there's anything else you'd recommend to go ahead and get before I take the plunge, let me know. I have some money to play with and I want to give myself the best chance to succeed. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Yeah, get SIRIUS instead of XM.
Other than that, did SNI accept you?

Not yet, I'm just assuming (hoping) they will. I have 6 months of OTR experience, 9 more months of local tractor/trailer, and a year and a half of straight truck. Are they strict on hiring new people?

well if you have a ticket for an accident they wont hire you for 3 years.

+1 on sirus radio.

also, i would recommend the sprint laptop card, i like it.

2 speeding tickets within the last 3 years, but no accidents.

OUCH! one thing you need to learn. If you have a CDL, DONT GET TICKETS.
it will ruin you chances to make some good money with good carriers.
do the math on how much sooner you got to your destination as opposed to how much that ticket cost you in fines, and great jobs...BOL

Well 2 isn't exactly a deal killer. But, what were the speeds that you were cited for? That can make a BIG difference.

one on the interstate - 69 in 55
one on a back road - 39 in 55

I had went years without having any tickets, then I got two pretty close together. I really never thought I'd be driving for a living again... but here I am now trying to do it.

And I appreciate everybody helping out with that aspect of it, but my original questions never really got addressed. This post got off course right off the bat.

Anybody have recommendations on what I was asking about in the original post?

For the data cards (internet) - I don't think I could go without it now. It's just too damn useful. I use it for browsing when I'm sitting, looking up addresses, etc. I have Sprint and love it. It's well worth the money. I can get on the internet just about anywhere I'm at.

GPS system - there are only 2 gps systems that are labeled truck specific - Truckmiles and CoPilot Truck. I use CoPilot myself and find it to be a great tool. However, you CANNOT rely 100% on ANY gps system, even ones made for a car, but especially in a truck. Double-check the route the gps system creates before taking it.

As far as GPS goes, I would go with one that works on your laptop, the HUGE screen is much nicer then a small dash mounted one, also you than have the opportunity to try out different programs. Now a GPS that using bluetooth or usb to connect to laptop is extremely cheap, the programs to work it, are not, but even a GPS receiver and good software will be cheaper than any all in one unit. Personally I have a Holux 236, which works on both my Palm TX and laptop.

Sprint/Nextel ic502 hybrid. Uses Sprint network for vioce call and Nextel network for direct connect(walkie talkie). Great phone and even greater coverage. I also use a bluetooth headset so I have both hands available for driving.
http://nextelonline.nextel.com/asset...ic502ext_l.gif

Sprint Pantech Broadband internet card. Card was free and $59 a month for unlimited use.
http://nextelonline.nextel.com/asset.../px500_185.gif

HP laptop. I use Microsoft Streets and Trips with their GPS recv. I have the laptop mounted on a ram mount stand and set up right next to where the dashboard ends. The mount is fully adjustable and I can swing it back to where I can use it while sitting in the sleeper.
http://www.microsoft.com/streets/ima...ot2_ST_GPS.jpg

XM Radio Roadie
http://friends.xmradio.com/Images/10...XTMain_200.jpg

13 inch color TV/DVD combo.

Fridge. Gotta have one of these to save money.

I think when it comes time to replace my laptop I may go with a tablet style. These have a touchscreen, and yes, that big screen makes a huge difference. The touchscreen is a great investment as I don't have to look for the mouse cursor on the screen. Just touch where I need to.

This is one example: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1179877038282

Here's another, but it also has Sprint/Verizon wireless built in: http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp...5&displayTab=O

Well....
Two speeding tickets in 3 years. SNI probably wont call you back.

To qualify for employment / lease with Schneider National, you must at least meet the following criteria:
Be at least 21 years old
Must be either a U.S. or Canadian Citizen or be authorized to live and work in the U.S. or Canada
Have a Class A Commercial, AZ/Class 1 Commercial Driver.s Permit or License (CDL) in the state/province of your residence
Pass a Department of Transportation Physical and Drug Screen
No convictions for Reckless Driving in the past 5 years (never in a Commercial Vehicle)
No more than 2 Moving Violations in the past 12 months; no more than 4 in the past 36 months
No License Suspensions due to Moving Violations in the past 3 years; no more than 1 suspension in the past 10 years; no more than 2 suspensions in your lifetime
No convictions for Alcohol or Drug-Related Offenses in a motor vehicle in the past 5 years, no more than 1 in the past 10 years; no more than 2 in your lifetime (never in a Commercial Vehicle)
No pending Criminal or Motor Vehicle Charges

Re: Help get me up and going.
 

Oh, the horror...!!!

This post makes me think of someone taking a top of the line motor coach out to the woods and coming home and telling the neighbors they'd been "camping"...

Just messing with you, but I'm sure there's a few "oldtimers" reading this post and :roll:

I think I could much rather prefer to have a dash mounted gps receiver than using my laptop. Are there any good ones?

All I really want it for is for when I get close the shipper/receiver to get me through the city.

The problem is that *NONE* of the standalone gps units are set up for trucks. They will not take into consideration the length, height or weight into consideration when doing the routing.

Even though CoPilot isn't perfect, it works great for me.

As far as using my laptop, I do. However it's mounted in the bunk and I only use the touchscreen monitor while driving. It's a 7" widescreen unit that I have mounted to my sun visor.

This is the unit I use: http://store.mp3car.com/Xenarc_700TSV_p/mon-004.htm
This is another good one: http://store.mp3car.com/Lilliput_7_V..._p/mon-001.htm

Why incur the extra cost of a external GPS? A goog one will run you $250-300 or more. You can get the Microsoft Streets and Trips with the GPS receiver for half that amount. And it will update construction zones too. The new version also has the talk capabilty that tells you when to turn and so forth. Plus the screen will much larger to see. I gotta tell you. I've had S&T for several years and upgrade every year and it is the best around. But hey, that's just my opinion. :wink:

Ok, well that makes sense. So I'm just would have to just throw the laptop up on the dash when I'm using it I suppose?

That's the only reason I wanted the dash unit... so I wouldn't have to look to far away from the road.

Schneider/Tickets
 

Have you possed your Schneider questions on pumpkindriver.com? BOL

double post

Re: Help get me up and going.
 

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: I can remember driving from Mount Holly NJ to San Diego CA in a Paystar5000, with a 549 gas engine & a 13 speed, no sleeper, pulling a trailer that weighed 45,000#. No such thing as a cell phone..no such thing as a "laptop"..no GPS...very little in the way of FM radio...and AM was sketchy to..oh yeah....no XM or Sirius either!! Made the trip in 4 days, and only called in once...collect. :)
Of course, that was as a company driver...with a Company fuel card that was accepted at every gas station and motel I encountered.

They do make stands that you can mount your laptop in your truck. They cost in the $175 to $250 range. Or if you are a little handy, you can make your own for a whole lot less.
http://www.dieselboss.com/stand.htm

That thing is awesome. I definitely would want one. One question though. I will have a passenger in that seat a lot. Would that stand be in the way for them to get in and out of the seat.

Your taking your girlfriend...What else do you need? Have her read the map and tell you were to go. :lol: Seriously. I was in the same boat as you were. Didn't have squat, not even heat in Michigan in the middle of winter. I got disgruntled very fast. I think how you start something determines greatly how you finish or even if you continue. Good luck with it.

Re: Schneider/Tickets
 

I just signed up for that site. I'll ask there also.

I would not buy either at this time. The merger is about to be approved by the FCC, and the whole thing will change.

There will be an option to keep your service as is with either existing XM or Sirius channels for the current subsription price, OR they will have customizable options, such as 60 channels, your choice, mix-n-match from both services, cannot remember the cost, but it is about the same as the existing set-up.

The problem is, that for the customizable option, where you select from both services, A new radio will need to be purchased that will except the feed from both. The latest press release stated that the new radios would more than likely not be available at the time the merger is completed, but will be out soon after.

As far as current service, if you really want to know what is going on in the Wonderful World of Trucking (WWT), you will need XM and listen to XM 171 - Open Road. Sirius' Trucking channel does not even come close on information. The only thing Sirius has that I want, is my NASCAR Channel, so once the new set-up takes place - looks like I will be buying a new reciever.

OH, Sirius has the NFL, XM has the NLB and NHL.

I've had XM before and I love it. I I had to choose between the two I'd get XM just because of Opie and Anthony. But I would really love a mix between the 2. If I had the nfl and opie and anthony it would be perfect.

The mix will be available, just no one knows for sure when everything will be final. Looks like sometime in 2008 from last report I read. Just read something the other day, that sayed one plan would allow every channel, except the premium ones, from both services could be available for around $18.00 a month. Who needs that many channels, on XM, there are only 6 or 7 I listen too on a regular basis.

The last email I got from XM said it was at least a year away for the dual radio. Personally, they're the same thing and play the same music. The only reason I would get a dual radio would be to listen to Howard Stern again. But even that probably wouldn't motivate me to spend a bunch of money on one.