Thanks for checking in SP, glad its all ok, and just the typical stuff getting started on your own truck.

Andy

 

from reading your posts it looks like you been running into a little bad luck , running out of fuel on the hwy and doing a u turn with a dot officer behind you.
it will get better as the miles get under your belt, at least you didn"t put it in the ditch. super truckers (owner operaters ) they love to put it in the ditch.
as for the jakes you can use them in the rain (not ice or snow )the more you have in the trailer the less chance you have of jackknifeing , but even if it"s empty you probobly will not, just be more vigalant with your mirros.
as far as your d.m. not getting back to you if you are running late .after you c.y.a. on the q com it is best to call the shipper or reciever on your own and inform of the situation and make a new apt. time directly with them because your dm or dispatch will forget and your time will be wasted

 

Where was the consignee here in Rochester, if you can remember (the name or location)? That was a pretty rough storm - but worse in a single-screw! (I work for a private carrier, hauling plastic bottles) And hey, at least you didn't run afoul of one of our many, many short bridges - they seem to get hit pretty regularly, despite being well marked.


And re: your logs, aren't they only supposed to be allowed to go back seven days? Or do you only have to supply them with seven days? (This is, I suppose, more of a general question.) I've never been entirely clear - I know I have to hand him (or her) seven days worth, but if I hand over more, can they cite me on things further back?


BOL, southernpride - do what you can to keep up your positive outlook when things get rough. Time'll pass quicker than you think.

 

They can go as far back as 6 months, or even longer if they do an audit on you with the company, and yes they can cite you for anything they find, if you have log books from 2 years ago in your truck, they have a right to search your truck, and if they find it, and check it out, they could cite you for something on it, if they so chose to.

 

I may have missed something,but I thought you were going flatbed? Glad things are going alright.

 

Thank you again for all of your time that you have put into this post! It is very informative and is written with a great perspective!

Thanks and best of luck to you!

 

Pfft, the company did an audit on my logs, and discovered the one day I fudged the logs a little to gain some time, now I have to take a log class

 

Hey everyone.

Just wanted to check in. I have just hit the one month out on the road mark. AND 3 months with Swift, so i got my first Raise !!!!! WOOO HOOO 1c !!!! the good news is next month i get 2c!

Rochester - It was a small 2 door medical supply co. sorry dont remember the name.

Flatbed - When my BIL quit on me, i gave it up, didnt feel like doin it alone for 3 reasons:

1. 2 people can tarp and and strap a lot easier than 1, and safer
2. I'm lazy
3. I liked the idea of drop hook, not that it's happened much yet.

ANY way... i'm up to 27cpm now, still getting about the same miles, maybe a little more, but i'm learning to manage my time better now and find i'm actually available to run more miles.... I'm on a 1800 miler now!

I'll end up grossing about 3,000 for Jan, but it is a 5pay check month for me.....

Now the interesting stuff.....

After 3 days in the shop in kansas, I got to run some good miles and then ended up with 3 loads all around my house, so i got to spend a total of 6 nites in my own (or should i say old) bed. I couldnt sleep worth crap!

But it was good being home, and i got to be home for my twins 1yr bday! They are growing like weeds!

While i was in the shop waiting, i talked to a few drivers and found out about a dedicated acount that runs out of Rinco GA (12 miles from the house) pays 35cpm and 800/wk guaranteed. PLUS 1 day home per week guaranteed to, i'll be home more than that since it's so close. Wee i figured even though they say you have to work for 6 months otr before going dedicated that i would try my luck..... Jan 5th i was #8 on the waiting list. Today i'm #2! CANT wait for that.

I talked to my Fleet mgr and asked for a new DM, he said he'd get back to me, never did, but all of a sudden my requests and messages are being answered FAST! hmmmm...... i'll let it be till i go dedicated. Then i'll be out of ATL. terminal, not greer.

I also had an issue with about $300 swift owes me for lumpers truck wash and so forth. I was startiung to get "damn it they were right feeling" when i called payroll and as it turns out i turned them in incorrectly, and they were quickly pd! WHEW! Thought ya'll were gonna be right about me being getting screwed for a minute.... PSYCH!

Lastly, I have my truck set up to my liking now. Took a MONTH! but i can drive for hours on end, talking on the CB, listening to my Sirius radio, chatting on the phone, and time is flying, and i'm enjoying it. Yeah i said it, i'm actually having fun out here.... (OH and i havent eaten fast food AT ALL since JAN1!!!!) i got my lunchbox stove and my cooler and i'm happy as can be.

and as i siat here typing this a CR England truck just bumped into me.
(F!%&) I dont wanna hear no more BS about swift drivers backing, this guy is a Owner op and been driving for 20 years. Unfortunatley he did some damage, so i had to call it in. but he's being cool about it. gotta run.

96948
"Lead Foot" (yes ironic cause i drive a swift truck i know)
Come say HI anytime!

 

Very cool post... SP. Thank U for all the time and effort you've put into it.

I just sat here and read the entire thread. Sorry bout your ticket and the deer. Sounds like my luck. :?

I start w/ CRSI on the 4th of Feb. I just got the call today. Like U I have been in the IT business and really hated the office environment; and I was the owner for 16 years.

We moved from Calif. to Nashville in Oct. We love TN. and the south in general. We hated Calif. for many years and tell most that we escaped Calif. I just wanted a change in careers and love to drive. Your post has been very uplifting; post reading all the trucking company bashes Not just Swift.

Anyhow, Congrats on passing, are you still smoking? cause I do and I'd like to think I'll make the decision to quite when I'm ready

Keep the posts coming. Would love to see a year in the seat of what was a rookie.

Foxx

 

Hello again. I have discovered IDLE AIRE! Love it... kinda pricey though. Should get my idle time down a bit tho, and I guess the TV and internet is worth it once in a while. Maybe i can get some reimbursement?!?!? hmmm...

Any way, I've had a GREAT week (as far as miles go anyway) - 3700!
i deliver ATL, Ga tomorrow. Plus as of Jan 12 i got my first raise!
27cpm now. Feb 12 i will have another raise to 29cpm. Hopefully shortly after that i will get on the dedicated run i'm waiting for! 35cpm 800/wk guranteed and it runs outa my back yard so more hometime!

The CR england guy who bumped me while i was writing my last post was arrested for drugs, but that seems to be the end of that. After i delivered in Ogden UT, i got sent to WA. On the wat there a woman just in front of me lost controll of her car( snowy and icey roads) and hit another truck. i stopped cause it was pretty bad, but all was ok.

So now i;m going through the motions w/ swift about possibly being suspended for 3 days and having a performance review because i got 2 tickets. (one from school which was thrown out and my u-turn ticket)... I'm trying to get them to not count the soeeding from school since i was not an employee and it got thrown out. So waiting on word about that, The same day i found out about all this, the following happened.

20 miles from oregon state line my tag flies off the truck, i tried to find it (it hit the windshield cause it was zip tied to the grill.) but no luck. So i go into oregon weigh station and get the "park and bring in paperwork" sign. GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Turns out i had to get a different permit now cause i have no "base plate" so get the permit and keep going. No other paperwork was checked. Get to WA get the same thing at weigh station so i figured it was because of the plate again. WRONG! I got a nice random level 1 inspection! After going over the truck with a fine tooth comb the stupid piece of shitaki mushroom cop could find nothing.... till he went into my permit book. My insurance card expired 1/1/08. i explained i had been an insurance agent and thought it was 12/31/08 honest mistake but could have a new one faxed right over. NOPE he wouldnt allow it. Then the trailer registration... it was there and valid, but he couls not read the tag number on the reg. card (cause it's like 10 years old) so he wrote me a ticke for that too! Sorry SOB. He was just p'od that he couldnt find a good Violation to get me on. But those wont count against me. thank god.

This adventure has turned into one heck of a roller coaster trip let me tell you. Still enjoying ot though, just wish protecting a CDL was as easy as getting one.

I wont be home again 2/12 for 4 days. (Been out since 1/12) i'm moving. till then adios!

-Lead Foot.