The Complete Guide To A Career In Trucking
Rookie Drivers: Job Expectations & Safe Driving Tips
Will I be forced to drive unsafely, or illegally? Who makes that decision?
Forum - New driver is already stuck! asking the vets.
The engine is making lots of noise that's either a pulley or the a/c compressor. The company sent out a guy who said he just has no idea which it is so he can't help. No fix to the problem. There is a bent tandem rim on the trailer and the tire is slowly losing air. There is one marker light out, one taped together and one hanging off the trailer
Forum - Can dispatch force me to run with no brake lights?
Because you're new to trucking you're doing everything by the book and that's exactly what you should do. A veteran driver probably would have just driven it to the truck stop to get it repaired and hoped for the best along the way.
Forum - Truck Inspection on a company vehicle.
Trust me when I say my supervisor knows my opinions on the truck and that I will refuse to take an unsafe vehicle on the road. I just worry that he will get someone else to do it and I don't want that on my conscience if I can help it.
Will I be forced to drive in bad weather??
Forum - Driving in bad weather ? Snow, rain, ice, etc.
Wet or dry road, you need to deal with the moving energy of the truck. That’s what brakes and steering handle. On rain, snow and ice, you have much less control since the trucks tires can break with the ground, and the truck will go its own way (skid & slide).
Forum - Are you forced to drive in bad weather requiring snow chains by companies you work for?
Heavy C, not pushing through inclement weather will not make them think any differently of you. Its not worth it for the company to risk losing hundreds of thousands of dollars just to get a load in on time. They can always reschedule.
Will the DOT inspect my truck often, & what if I fail?
Five Things Your Drivers Don't Know About Roadside Inspections
But when I see what looks like a pigsty on the inside of the truck, my thoughts are 'that’s how this guy is going to maintain his truck,' assuming he’s the operator. Even if he’s not, it may be an indication of how well he keeps after the company to fix things.
Forum - DOT Inspections: Good News/Bad News
Thanks guys and, yes, about all one can so is shrug it off and keep on truckin'! But, it's a good reminder to all drivers to be thorough and conscientious about even the little details during a Pre-Trip.
Forum - Random Vehicle Inspections
Nothing can make a simple safety inspection turn into a Level 1, ruin your day and **** of your company more than starting out the whole procedure with a bad attitude. These officers have demanding and dangerous jobs.
What is "distracted driving", and how seriously is it taken?
Wiki - Cell Phone Use, Texting, & Driver Distractions
Commercial drivers convicted of multiple violations will be subject to heavy fines and be disqualified from driving. Penalties for driving while texting or dialing are the same as the FMCSA penalties for "serious traffic violations".
Article - Distracted Driving For Truck Drivers: The Penalties And Risks
The FMCSA rules do not apply to devices used for dispatching, as long as they are used as part of the company's fleet management system and are not being used for texting.
Should I try to avoid driving in busy cities, or over mountains, as a new driver?
Forum - Driving in heavy traffic
My 3rd day of drivers training and my trainer says he is going to test me in heavy traffic. I say bring it on. Well it was an eye opening experience. I was scared s!!@#@ it is very taxing on you and your nerves.
Forum - Best and worst cities for trucking traffic?
I haven't had to drive through Atlanta much, but my least favorite that I usually do is Austin. Just one real highway through it, and any time of day it seems I wind up stopped or in 2nd gear for a long time. They need a real bypass.
Forum - Mountain driving scares the heck out of me
We just got a pre plan and if my trainer accepts, we're going to California. The mountains scare me to death. I don't want to go. I hope he denies it or they give us a load in the Midwest or southeast
Forum - Afraid of Heights... Driving to Tacoma, Washington from San Antonio, Texas
Please help. Any input is appreciated. I'm driving to Tacoma, Washington from San Antonio, Texas and want to know what is the best route to minimize mountain driving and heights. If I can avoid it altogether that would be lovely.
What if I can't get enough sleep?
Forum - The Sleep Cycle of a Truck Driver - It Doesn't Exist
One thing that I wasn't quite prepared for when I decided to become a truck driver is the sleeping patterns. I knew fatigue was a big issue in truck driving, but now I truly understand why. The long driving hours are only part of the issue. But the main issue is the lack of any normal "bed time" for an OTR truck driver.
Forum - Out of logbook hours but told to drive?
What do you do? What is legal to do? And what is the right thing to do? Technically, you cannot drive because you have no hours on your clock. But does the security guard have the authority to overrule that and still make you leave?
Forum - Do y'all get enough sleep????
Without a doubt - nobody is "making" anyone do anything out there. You don't have to drive when you're tired. And most people won't when they know they shouldn't. The problem is when you're "on the fence".
Wiki - Drowsy, Fatigued, or Ill Driver Regulations & Tips
An FMCSA Driver Fatigue And Alertness Study determined that a driver's alertness was affected less by time-on-task, and more by time-of-day. Most people experience diminished states of alertness at night, especially after 12 a.m.
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