Three Week Veteran

[Maverick]

Been a long time for posting and have the first leg of the journey under belt. Wow...did I learn a lot, while becoming a member here is considered most valuable toward my first weeks out.

Ran on average of 3500 miles per week as a team, and though that's nothing phenomenal, I'm home for a must needed rest. Must say....running expedite is great fun, and learning the ropes has been a total joy. Log books, check. Shipping info and dock personnel, check. Dispatch and courtesy, check. We have the basics down and can't wait to hit the road for more learning.

One thing I have to figure out is the weigh stations? Goodness, this gets confusing as all get out? Some have you pull in, no matter what....others have you paying attention to on board unit....others have you going a separate lane for reading device. Sigh, I can see getting in trouble by not really knowing what they want you to do? I'm sure this will clear up as we go along, but being in compliance sure can get confusing.

Sitting at truck stops is a total bore and down the road we may have to refuse those "pick up Friday and deliver Monday" loads. Being new, I feel we must accept loads as they come across the board and not be cherry picking this early in the game. O/O is very good and keeps us moving all the while.

Can't wait to complete my training period and go solo. Straight truck expedite will suite me fine, especially when the truck and decisions are mine alone, within the guidelines of freight delivery of course.

Thanks to all those on the forum and it's nice to be learning both here, and on the road.

 

[Rocketman]

Sitting at truck stops is a total bore and down the road we may have to refuse those "pick up Friday and deliver Monday" loads.

If you think sitting at truck stops is boring now, wait until you turn down that weekend load and sit at the truckstop Fri, Sat, Sun and part of Monday until they get ya out.

Weekend loads were the bread and butter for me as a solo straight truck driver. I could run that 1000-1200 mile trip at an easy pace and have half my week in the bank before I unloaded on Monday. I loved 'em. If I needsd a 34 reset or repair work or whatever, I would try to do that during the week, so that I could be available for that weekend load.

You'll learn it. I see nothing in your post that would surprise me from a first trip out. There is nothing there that you will have any problems with over time. I didnt run the EZpass, so I dont want to comment on it. Hopefully someone else will give you some tips there.

 

[BigCat]

If your transponder doesn't flash and the scale is open pull in. If it flashes red pull in and if green keep going.


Mayfield Express

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[MissKat]

Agree with Big Cat. Maintain speed limit on highway going under transponder reader. They simetimes have tv monitor on them that sees you and your dash. Have seatbelt on, cellphone nowhere to be seen. The less mess on dash the better. Leave space between you and truck in front of you. If redlighted or sign says truck must exit, I turn off my headlights once on their ramp. Maintain steady speed on their ramp. There might be an indicator telling you which lane they want you in . Far left is bypass, and if you are empty you are usually allowed to use this lane. If you have to pull on the scale, roll down your window, complete stop before pulling on scale, watch indicator light. Green or exit to highway means pull forward, cut lights back on and get the heck out. They may talk to you via loudspeaker while on the scale. Wyoming you usually always have to go in with your permit book. They want to see your IFTA certificate. Dont offer info. Take in your license, med card, bills of lading, trailer registration, log book if you have one, and permit book if called in. if pulled around for inspection, dont volunteer anything. Have above items handy. They will have you show triangles and fire extinguisher. Make sure that it is latched down. They will have you turn on lights, windshield washers, horn, etc. they may have you pump down and rebuild brake air pressure. They will ask you where you loaded, where you are headed, last fuel stop. If your truck is messy or stinks they may go inside . No empty red bulls laying on floor. If you have electronic logs tell them. If paper logs, earn brownie points by flagging the inspection before handing them the logs for the last seven days. Make sure your current trip info is on the logbook. Make sure you flagged a pretrip and your fuel stop. They may ask to see the receipt. Do not exit the truck until they instruct you to do so. When its over take a deep breath, change your shorts, make sure they gave you all items back, put a sticker on the right side of your windshield, pull out slowly, get back on the freeway and two miles down the road shoot them a bird.

Mayfield Express Tractor Team

 

[AMonger]

sure you flagged a pretrip and your fuel stop. They may ask to see the receipt.

You do NOT have to show them a fuel receipt. Whether you do or not is up to you. Many drivers mail them out at every opportunity.

 

[cheri1122]

Nice post, Maverick. All I can say is: life on the road is better if you don't hang out at truckstops! If I haven't anything better to do, I like to find a big store [Menard's, Hobby Lobby] and cruise the aisles that I usually don't go down - you can find the neatest stuff that you never knew existed - ever see an automatic hammer? [Menards] It often gives me ideas for a new 'project', and I rarely get out scot free, lol. [Tangent: who is/was 'Scot', anyhow?]
Another month or so, you'll know why I laughed out loud at my sister's shirt that says "Trees, please!" I told her it's the expediter's summer prayer - finding a park where you can park is a bit of heaven, even if you don't have a dog.
I have been driving for almost 10 years and still don't understand how drivers can sit in the driver's seat at a truckstop [well, except for Moot] It's the LAST place my donkey wants to be when I'm not driving, right?
PS Don't sweat the scales: my first run through was in a T/T, I managed to miss the weigh plates entirely, and the scalemaster thought it was funny - glad I could brighten his day!

 

[MissKat]

You do NOT have to show them a fuel receipt. Whether you do or not is up to you. Many drivers mail them out at every opportunity.

You must have gotten lucky. Last two level one inspections asked for the last fuel receipt or I wouldn't have mentioned it. Just sayin

Melissa ~ Team Kephart @ Mayfield Express

 

[AMonger]

You must have gotten lucky. Last two level one inspections asked for the last fuel receipt or I wouldn't have mentioned it. Just sayin

Melissa ~ Team Kephart @ Mayfield Express

Oh, they can ask. They can ask for all kinds of stuff. Doesn't mean you have to provide it. Doesn't mean you have to even retain it. Smart drivers have been mailing them or trip pack-ing them off right away for decades. It's one thing to be civil and reasonably cooperative; it's another to be foolish and help them nail you.

You remember the threads about the DOT asking for/demanding frequent fueler/rewards cards so they can see when and where you fueled? Some states are demanding your cell phone to see if any calls were made while you were driving. You going to hand it over?

I realize the Bill of Rights is dead, but not officially. Until then...

 

[Maverick]

Thanks for all the comments and assistance with scale awareness. I actually blew by 2 of them before I realized what happened and was lucky no one was there to run me down. Think I even pulled into a couple when I didn't even have to.......so this evens things out?

As for truck stops, I see them as necessary Islands of visitation, while my senior partner sees them as little Oasis points in the journey. He just loves to rush into these places while I prefer roadside stops at every opportunity. Nice grove of trees, sanitary building and facilities, interesting people to say hello to etc. I could see setting up my wireless access point on a picnic table with the fresh air and quiet solitude of a welcome station. Partner actually gets upset when I pull into a rest stop and always asks why we're HERE.

I must do 6 months with a partner and then run this operation as enjoyable and I see many instances where this is quite possible. I don't sleep well at truck stops, tire quickly of the surroundings, and if there's a motel near by, I get a room on weekend resets. Not here to complain about co-driver but this job can be fun if one stops to smell the roses every once in a while.

Five months to go, and I'll make it so.

 

[Rocketman]

Wow...thats quite a training period, but you will learn a lot from it. You have the right attitude. Just make the best of it until you are able to run the truck as your own, then its your choice as to where to spend your time. I am easily convinced to get a room myself.

If you havent tried it, I would strongly recommend checking out Priceline and their "name your own price" feature. It may not be feasable now, unless the other driver is willing to drop you off and pick you up at the motel, but even better if he is willing. I get great rates on some nice rooms using their system. There is a thread on here somewhere discussing it with some good tips.

 

[Maverick]

Thanks Rocket. I'll take the advice on pricing and make a stop over there to check it out. Drive time is dictated by the insurance company of course, and I must get 6 months behind the wheel in order to drive solo. Co-driver has dropped me off at the hotel and the first week I was averaging about 2-3 hours sleep per night and needed to get some solid rest. Splitting the driving miles was not working out for me, and once I figured out the log book? Noon to Midnight and shift modules seemed to be the way to go? It's worked out MUCH better and guess I put my foot down on that one, real quick. I don't care if I drive more hours or miles on my shift and that's what teaming is all about to me. It should (and has) evened out over time, and while the co-driver does not care for it.....the O/O agreed with me when I ran it by him.

Otherwise, I observe, learn, and ask questions at truck stops. You guys/gals have been great, while tapping into this plethora of information has proven most valuable. Thanks to all for the assistance and encouragement. Back out tomorrow and little time for posting here during the runs, but I do get a chance for a quick glance now and then.

My driving style much better fits the Wolverine than the Panther. Steady while chewing up the miles is the way for me. My goal is to get ME to the destination....freight is attached.

 

[dletheridge]

Another point on those scales. When you go under those sensors keep a good 1/2 truck distance between you and the previous person. For those weigh in motion sensors, keep your speed constant going over those.

 

[purgoose10]

Oh, they can ask. They can ask for all kinds of stuff. Doesn't mean you have to provide it. Doesn't mean you have to even retain it. Smart drivers have been mailing them or trip pack-ing them off right away for decades. It's one thing to be civil and reasonably cooperative; it's another to be foolish and help them nail you.

You remember the threads about the DOT asking for/demanding frequent fueler/rewards cards so they can see when and where you fueled? Some states are demanding your cell phone to see if any calls were made while you were driving. You going to hand it over?

I realize the Bill of Rights is dead, but not officially. Until then...

Amen to that. If they want to see your cell phone tell them to get a warrant. That's personnal and private. Even if you had used your phone, how do they know you didn't stop to use it. None of their business. And yes if you stop and less than 15 mins you don't have to log it. Worst case just a line down. Just sayin. I really get tired of my drivers calling me because some dimwit cop wants silly things at an inspection, and if they bring me a level 1 inspection reciept with no dings, I buy them a steak dinner at Outback.