Profile For Zen Joker

Davy's comment below is VERY sound advice. Take advantage of this option at the mega fleet to build a solid record. Reassess in a couple of years, however mega carriers generally reward good drivers and may raise compensation to retain you too.

The good thing about werner is that you can simply transfer to OTR, regional, or any other division. Although if you're comfortable with the backing, and things on the dollar amount, you can make considerable money on it.

To summarize this post...it's about the art of self regulation (aka not letting negative emotions control your actions/behaviors). It's a skill that is critical in trucking but really in any part of life. May as well learn it on the road.

Chronic emotional mis-management not only makes you do dumb and costly things, more research is showing that dwelling in a negative mindset promotes obesity, illness, and disease.

In the end more than half the motoring public is fundamentally incompetent at operating their vehicles and/or have severe mental/emotional issues rendering them incapable of making rational decisions.

The day you will experience the most peace in this field is when you realize that dodging rude and reckless acts by other motorists is part of the job (like your pre-trip inspection, sweeping the trailer, logging your activities in the ELD, etc).

That is awesome!! I too am becoming a trainer later this month.

You are a good person for taking care of your trainees the way you have!! Kudos to you!

I work at the same carrier as Sandman J so not many Hazmat loads for me either. I however maintain my Hazmat Endorsement in case I go 4 days without a shower. That way my vehicle can be placarded with a #2 Inhalation Hazard, and I may legally continue to participate in Interstate Commerce regardless of my hygiene.

Veriha Trucking based in Marinette, WI will consider felons on a case by case basis depending on circumstances and driver character.

Not sure what make of tractor you have, but most sleeper power supplies have a GFCI. On the Freightliners they are inside the side luggage box. Press test then reset. You may have to do this every time you turn the batteries back on. Hope this helps.

They have got a good man for the job!! Will pray for you and God will provide what you need to excel!

Don't sweat the "what if's". If this does not pan out to be a long term thing, given your experience level there is an abundance of opportunity behind the wheel as a back drop for you.

SUGGESTION: Since you will be managing people I'd suggest you dive into (2) books/audiobooks:

The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People (by Stephen Covey) and How to Make Friends and Influence People (by Dale Carnegie)

Best of success PJ!!

One of the things I’m grateful for working for Schneider. No inward facing cameras. And no plans to add them, either. Not that I do anything wrong but it’s nice not having that thing spying on you.

I don't quite understand people's concern with inward facing cameras. Are we banging lot lizards going down the Chicago tollway, driving naked, reading? What's the concern??

The camera's are there to vindicate you from incidents where others are lying in order to sue your carrier and ruin your career. Driver facing cameras show how you responded prior to an incident (watching out, checking mirrors, etc). If they say you waived them forward and then slammed into them OR the driver's head was down and he/she hit me, that gets thrown out immediately with the driver footage. In fact, a buddy of mine was vindicated with driver facing cameras and the cop could see the footage and he wrote the other driver a major fine and my buddy was vindicated after the other driver claimed it was his fault. I was vindicated too in November as the camera showed me blasting my airhorn when a car carrier at a West Virginia Turnpike toll booth decided to back up, scrape my hood and nearly deliver a 2025 Dodge Ram right through my windshield. He TOO lied and told the cop I ran into him.

If your concerns are more along the lines of general personal privacy, your safety department watching EVERY driver, at regular intervals, that is simply not a realistic concern as no carrier is staffed for that. If your concern is being under periodic, random surveillance, then you best throw away your smart phone and all of your electronics, never travel, never use a credit/debit card, and give strong consideration to moving to an Amish community because you are being tracked, watched, and listened to virtually anywhere there are electronics nowadays.

It boils down to this......if you are doing the right things, cameras can only help you. The driver facing camera is off when the truck's engine is turned off so not sure where the concern is if you are a safe and professional driver?

Just food for thought. Be safe.

Hello Larry,

First, angry truck drivers make BAD truck drivers. Your emotions betray you in this field and will end your career pretty quick.

Secondly, your boss is on you because you are demonstrating a very high risk behavior. Now matter how good a driver you are, if you are prone to following vehicles less than 3 1/2 to 4 seconds you will eventually rear end someone. If you are in the habit of following under 3 seconds its a matter of time before you rear end someone AND either kill them or severely injure them and get your carrier a multi-million dollar lawsuit and you a permanent end to your career and possibly prison time.

Four wheelers are @zzholes so are 30-50% of 18 wheelers. You need to find a way to handle that or at least cope with it in way other than tailgating people to "express your frustration" as that will eventually end your career and possibly someone's life. Just my 2 cents.

To answer your biggest question...HOW to deal with it? May not work for everyone, but I had to reason with the idea logically. Humans are creatures of habit and are inherently rude and dangerous drivers. This is not a personal attack to give me a bad day, it's simply human nature and I'm not going to internalize other people's rude behaviors.

In summary, truckers and proctologists have a similar job description..working with @zzholes all day!

Meditation, prayer, and exercise all help. Just don't take the actions of others personally dude.

Take Care!

Been about 4 months with a local company. Inward facing camera s with AI. My Boss see s Im a great worker however my following too closely events are testing him to when to give me a written warning. Had 7 events the past 2 weeks.

Anyone have suggestions to deal with anger? I'm good 99% of the time and it s when some ******* cuts me off or they're going super slow.

I have always had this problem, got away with it with Schneider since they don't have the AI system.

Merry Christmas All!!

I took a week of vacation. Went to the in laws yesterday. Spending the rest of the consuming eating sugary carbs, meat, and distilled liquor.