Profile For Drew D.

They actually DID get a dolly for doubles. I'm honestly kind of over it. If I have to pull doubles in unsafe conditions, I'll just stop. What can they do? Its my CDL and my decision to not risk a potentially fatal accident. If they want to pull them empty on ice, they can unglue their muckity muck asses from the computer chair and do it.

Ill just use this as an opportunity to learn something new and get some additional sweat equity on my CDL record.

I don't see the issue with requiring a doubles/triples endorsement.

It's just a quick computer test. Have you actually seen your company with the equipment needed to build a set? It may be entirely a checklist item, that they want to use in their negotiating position.

For instance:

"90 percent of our fleet have TWIC and Passports".

The hidden meaning? Our drivers can pass the homeland security background check for TWIC and can legally leave the country. But saying "none of our drivers are criminals" would be frowned upon and hurt someone's feelings

Find a good chiropractor that does DOT screenings. They are usually cheaper and don't try to find any excuse to hit you with a short card [3 months]. Also, you sleep like a puppy when they ask you, you DO NOT snore, and despite being in your 30s, you feel like you are 18. Do not volunteer ANY information to them that they do not have to know. Obviously be honest, but this isn't a routine visit to get a complimentary lollipop from your buddy Dr. Kevorkian.

While chiropractors are less likely to do it, many of these urgent care doctors will force you to do sleep studies and other things that cost a boatload of time and money to deal with. I just told a story in another post about how a quack nurse made a mistake and has me in a holding pattern with my DOT card despite both my doctor AND the doctor at primary health giving me the all clear.

Also, keep in mind that depending on who you eventually hire on with, they may require you to take a new DOT physical [they usually pay for it] if their company policy demands it.

As far as the medical card goes, Ruan's compliance department is just doing what any major corporate entity does best: unnecessarily complicate a cup of coffee.

I'll give a brief run down because its been quite a story.

Got hired in and sent for routine physical at the urgent care clinic the company uses. Exam goes well but they detected trace protein in my urine sample. [I've been doing hardcore keto/carnivore for a couple months to lose weight so it didn't really surprise me or my personal doctor]. Anyhow, they issue me a 3 month card and tell me to see my GP.

Fast forward a month or so as his appointments are booked and I waited for my medical to kick in. I goto my doctor and he immediately says that they [the urgent care nurse practitioner] is crazy. Tested my levels, everything is fine. Mind you this little trip cost me about $400 between losing a day of work and cutting into my overtime for the week.

I call primary health to let them know that I followed their instructions and received the all clear from my personal doctor. The actual doctor who answered then looked at my original test and literally told me over the phone that the levels of protein detected at my first visit were within normal levels and I never should have been hit with a 3 month card. He asked me to come in and he would issue me my one year [I have controlled high BP] and all would be well. I do exactly that. Sat and waited for about two hours, but I got the card.

I submit my new card to my terminal manager and all is good right? Wrong! Ruan's compliance department sends me an email and told me that, even though I followed the directions of the doctors THEY sent me out to, I would have to complete ANOTHER exam despite having a fresh one year card because their 3rd party company has to screen it out or something. I know this comes off as a first world problem, but the original nurse's mistake has literally cost me way too much personal time and money. My annoyance is more about the principle and redundancy than anything else.

Drew says:

However, their compliance department is giving me all sorts of grief with my DOT medical card which is an entirely different topic.

What seems to be the problem with your medical card? Usually your medical is ok or it isn't. Can you put more light in this?

Good to know about driving in weather. The main concern I had was driving empty 400 miles in it. My manager is a good guy but way out of his depth when it comes to running what is essentially a beverage operation.

I do plan on sticking around. However, their compliance department is giving me all sorts of grief with my DOT medical card which is an entirely different topic.

I was just a bit caught off guard when it came down the pipe that we would now be pulling doubles and having it be mandatory with no additional pay.

A couple of thoughts;

I once read on this site, "If you don't like a policy your company implements, stick around around awhile. They usually change it back anyway."

Will you absolutely be pulling doubles or does management just want all drivers to get the endorsement?

I pull double tanks daily and it isn't much more terrifying on ice or snow than a single trailer would be. The trip to DMV is way more of a hassle than the job itself.

Heyo, been awhile.

Got something to throw past you guys.

I am currently working for Ruan out of Idaho and are contracted to run all of the state's liqour to various stores and contract stores all over Idaho. Its been an absolute blast and I am actually really enjoying the solid mix of driving, delivering, and building relationships with my various customers. After my foot surgery, I went back OTR for a bit because I didn't want to risk excessive wear on my freshly healed foot, but after gaining weight, I decided it would be better to get back to some physical activity with work. Plus, my buddy who did local beer delivery with me at Molson Coors out of Boise is an assistant manager and really prodded at me for months to join up.

Anyhow, this comes with a fair share of downsides that I assume come with working for any higher profile company. Up until now, I have mostly worked for smaller operations. With the larger scale company comes your corporate trained managers that have little to no knowledge when it comes to what really goes into trucking and what things are like in the trenches. Yes, I know that tale is as old as time. That said, we were just told today that everyone in the fleet is now suddenly required to have double/triples endorsements in order to continue working for the company. Our operation only makes $26 an hour plus per diem for layovers at hotels with some decent overtime. When asked about having our pay raised as a result of pulling additional trailers at much higher risk, the response was "no raise but you get to keep your job" which naturally put a bad taste in my mouth.

I really do genuinely enjoy the work that I do, but is it worth pulling doubles for no additional pay? These guys also have a clear lack of understanding when it comes to winter conditions. I am particularly cautious on snow and ice as I am a native Floridian. And while I have yet to be involved in any sort of collision in my person or commercial vehicle, I don't particularly want to start now. The 95 that runs from i84 from just east of Ontario to Coer D'Alene [the main road we will be driving] isn't particularly known for its good weather either.

Anyhow, what are your thoughts? Should I give an ultimatum? Or just deal with it? I cannot express in words how detached from reality this guy is when it comes to our world of driving.

Ahem, sir, he is at the beach while the Southeast is underwater. Wandering the parking lot was pre-ousting. Not trying to correct you, just updating you. 😀

Get ready for a sh*show. The Teamsters were so bold as to tell Biden to stay the F out of it, not like he's gonna do anything anyway, he's out wandering a parking lot somewhere.

Its really bad, and the fact that we may end up getting four more years of this is terrifying. I feel like we are on the cusp of reaching a critical mass of useful idiots in this country, but I hope I'm wrong.

All I can do is try to stay positive. As a father of 3, I'm not afforded the privilege of being pessimistic. That said, god help us if things don't go good in November.

Well, it's about to get interesting. Our President is on the beach eating ice cream while his nation's economy collapses. In all my years, I've never seen such a lack of leadership in the Whitehouse.

If this strike goes on for more than a couple of weeks, we are in huge trouble. I'm literally embarrassed when I see how seemingly ignorant our elected officials are when it comes to understanding economics. I can never determine if they are really ignorant, or if they are working some sinister plan. The latter seems more probable, but why? What is the goal?

The Feds lowered interest rates to help our inflationary times have a "soft landing." Now we are about try a crash landing. This strike will have far and long reaching inflationary ripple effects.

Download every state's 511 app and file them neatly in a folder on your phone. I try to anticipate as far forward as I can, but my main focus is just to ensure the route I'm taking for my 10 hour push is clear. Weather predictions can change on a dime so its not always possible to completely avoid rough conditions. I always do a google check of key towns and cities I am planning on passing in the winter time. I live out of Idaho so I am screwed no matter which way I go in winter. But yeah, get those 511 apps. Some are better than others, but they are all pretty good at informing you of road conditions.

I had to return to my former OTR company due to an injury that took me out of work for four months. Doctor cleared me to drive but can't do much more. Needed money due to dwindling savings so I didn't have any options. Had to resign from throwing beer which sucks because I was making really good overtime and money doing that gig.

All that said, this is my first week back out and I'm not impressed. I thought I could easily rack 12k+ miles per month with this company as I have before. That is no longer the case. But I was given 4 days to make a delivery from Twin falls, ID to Carthage, MO. I drove for two days before already taking a 34 at Bosselman and then running the remaining the day of delivery. Fortunately, I know this facility and they allow overnights so there is that. I have a reload in Arkansas tonight that runs out to Phoenix. And most of my company freight is out that way. So I'm hopeful that I won't be doing too much more in the way of sitting. But its clearly an industry wide issue. I met up with a company driver here last night that wouldn't stop talking about how bad things have gotten within the company in the last year since I left.

My personal opinion is that it seems trucking is starting to become less and less worth it unless you are okay with being out for indefinite periods of time to make up for your personal shortfall due to being fluffed out on loads. I did what I had to do in the sense that I need SOMETHING to supplement my income while I am slowly cleared for activity, but I'll say this: everytime I hear rotting oatmeal brains in the White house, his token pick of a VP, or that Frankenstein creation press secretary bob and weave their jaws about the economy being great, I feel myself develop an ulcer followed by the unshakable urge to vomit. And the sad part is, I have doubts that any incoming administration will be able to undo the damage caused by all branches of government. We have been sold out to the point where we are well on our way to the 3rd world and its extremely depressing. I hope I'm wrong of course, but I digress.

I'll just keep it simple. I'm at least grateful to be working again even if the money isn't quite what it should be at the moment. Once I recover, I will probably return to local work. I'm thinking one year.

Never mind, tried uploading a photo but didn't work. Mods go ahead and delete...