Thinking of starting expediting

[kman]

I have a couple of questions. First, I live in the midwest, close to Bloomington, Illinois. Are there any carriers out there that could get me home on my 34 hour break every week?

Secondly, I currently am driving a 18 wheeler pulling a tanker and have been for 8 months. I went to CDL school and graduated with a 4.0 rating. I went to work for this company I work for now and am still employed by them. Last week a driver with my company in one rig and I was in my rig coming back from Cartersville, GA. A pick up truck slammed on his brakes in front of the other company driver and made an abrupt left turn. This caused the other company driver to lock up his brakes to avoid hitting the pick up. I wasn't so lucky! Although I was following at a safe distance and empty, I hit my brakes, the trailer brakes slid, but the tracor brakes seem to not stop like they should and I ran into the back of the tanker and smashed up the tanker rear and the front of the tractor. I could have went right onto an embankment to miss the tanker but would have risked a possible roll over.

Although there were no citations issued for both of us drivers, I have been suspended without pay pending the accident investigation.

This has been my only accident and have had a perfect driving record till now. I am thinking of getting my own straight truck and start expediting. Are there any companies out there that wil look at me. I am 43 and my driving record is flawless until last week, which I feel was not my fault.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[RichM]

Unfortunately what you described will probably be judged preventable on your part and might wind up on your DAC report. Even though you didn't receive a citation and you didn't create the accident, none the less the safety and insurance departments of the major expedite carriers will judge you as following to closely and you could have prevented it. Proably your best bet is too stay where you are and hope your company sees the light. Good luck and let us know how you make out.

On another subject,expediting does not always get you home for a 34 hour break. You might get home for a weekend and you might be away for several weeks unless you are willing to deadhead many miles at your cost. Expediting is very irregualr in both operations and revenue.

 

[LDB]

As mentioned already, you won't always be near home when you need a 34 hour restart. You also won't need one every week. Unlike typical OTR there will often be down time between loads so you won't use up your 70. You live in an area where you are more likely to get by home than someone in Texas, like me, and other places.

Also, for anyone's consideration and possible benefit and not picking on you, although you said in your post you were following far enough behind the outcome says otherwise. I am not picking on you. I just want people to re-evaluate their perception and definition of enough. I don't see more than 3 trucks out of 1000 that are truly far enough back from whatever they are following. If you can't count one one-thousand, two one-thousane up to six one-thousand at 40mph or below and up to nine one-thousand above forty mph before you reach the point the vehicle in front of you crossed you are too close and what happened to you is a possibility.

Good luck to you.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5507, 5508, 5509
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
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[highway star]

What I find particularly iritateing is when you are in a long line of traffic in the left lane and a t/t will will tailgate you as if it were you causing the back-up. I just start slowing way down and sometimes they get the hint. If not, at least I know I'm really ticking him off.