Profile For Zen Joker

"We" refers to me and God (not the multiple personality disorder my wife accuses me of!)

It's funny, but anyone who spends an enormous amount of time alone (myself included) always says "we" when referring to themselves. When I first started driving, I noticed that everyone said things like, "We're heading to...." or "We have four hours to go."

I've always done it, and I still do.

In fact, I also walk around talking as if there's someone in the room with me. I'm constantly explaining myself to this imaginary person. The other day, I read that we organize our own thoughts by explaining them. It helps us sort through our thought processes to make sure we have a grasp on things. I like that explanation better than, "he's obviously insane" so I'm going with it!

I dropped my first trailer a couple months ago. The nose of the trailer was on the bottom of the fifth wheel plate by 2 inches and I managed to crank it and get the tractor back under it. 20/20 hindsight I realized I got out of the rookie habit of saying out loud to myself the following and pointing to the part of the trailer. I called it "Calling out the Big 3".

COUPLING:

1) Kingpin is secured 2) Lines are connected 3) Landing Gear is up "We are are ready to hit the road"

UNCOUPLING:

1) Trailer is in good order (swept clean, BOL in bill box, tires and mudflaps in good order, etc) 2) Lines are disconnected 3) Landing Gear is down "We are are ready to uncouple from this trailer"

"We" refers to me and God (not the multiple personality disorder my wife accuses me of!)

In either case I CREEP forward a few feet and watch the mirrors to double check. I've realized this is not a rookie habit it's a professional habit. May look goofy but I know my own quirks. Average drivers focus on their strengths, great drivers focus on their weaknesses and identify areas of improvement.

In the end, do NOT focus on the error too long and crawl inside your own head dude. Everyone has their moments. Learn, move on, and continue to succeed!

...also I work for Veriha and am mentoring a new driver that just went solo who is still on parole after serving 10 yrs, so they may possibly consider you depending on your situation. Best of luck.

All this is very great feedback. Have a buddy who has a box of 5 RM's, they aren't built to last. Garmin is the best value. Hammer is a good back up if the GPS glitches and freezes.

While OTR I ended up only trusting Garmin. I found the RM electronics don't last. Since coming off the road I have been using the Hammer app on my phone. We switch between 4 trucks and it would be a pain to constantly hooking up a gps and taking it with me at the end of each shift. I like the Hammer app, I don't pay for it, you don't have to. You can define your truck, put your hazmat in it. It shows truck stops along the way. I would say try it. If you're doing line haul, you will probably learn your routes after a while. I go to the same places all the time, so I rarely need the GPS.

Veriha Trucking accepts felons on a case by case basis.

One thing we find works is to discuss holiday plans with extended family.

I am working Thanksgiving week as my company offers a pretty respectable holiday bonus. So I am on the road Thanksgiving week and we celebrate the Sunday I am on weekly home time. As far as Christmas, I am taking the week off.

More thankful than ever for the industry that has saved our American Dream and to TT for the great start!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!

"Semi" retired?? Your punny!!

Since I’m semi retired I take all the major holidays off. Plus my customers are closed as well.

No matter what the plans I hope everyone has a safe holiday season!!

First and foremost, as previously alluded to, check your carrier's policy. My carrier states in the driver handbook they defer to state law. Customers can write whatever they want about no firearms on premises, and you do NOT want to carry on your person at these facilities and you need to respect that. As far as what I may or may not have securely contained in the truck within my personal affects, they can gargle that which contains my reproductive glands (pardon my French). Nobody at any facility. The only vehicles they can legally "Search" are there own, not a 3rd party carrier's vehicle. Even during a DOT inspection from what I have heard (someone please correct me if there is something else written by law) can anyone rifle through your personal affects in the cab UNLESS they have just cause. Inspect the cab, yes, empty out all your bags, boxes and private belongings in an invasive search of the vehicle, I don't think so unless you have done something to create just cause per the law. AGAIN, please correct me if you have something concrete to argue this point.

As far as state laws, this is where you really need to pay attention and KEEP reviewing them on a regular basis as they can change at any time with the ongoing endless gun regulations in communist states. As Kearsey has pointed out, New Jersey is best example. ANY hollow points, ANY high capacity magazines found in your possession you are going straight to jail and good luck getting out any time soon. I found this out after doing a last minute check last summer which trumped my prior research from years back. So right now, there are about 30 rounds of 9 mm hollow points and 2 hi cap magazines in a landfill in Eastern Pennsylvania that were discarded at a toll service plaza. Wasn't worth the risk to me. Soaked the magazines with all the rounds in water and taped the mags with a roll of tape help avoid any possible discharge during waste management processing.

I wouldn't carry for traditional self defense (break ins, disgruntled motorists, WWE trans lot lizards, etc) I keep it in case some major doomsday event happens (grid goes down, EMP attack, mass riots, etc.) and I am stranded somewhere and have to live off the land and get home without the truck by some other means.

Sorry I was less than "Zen" in this reply, however this whole topic shouldn't be an issue in a (supposed) constitutional republic. It is one topic that gets me pretty riled up.

Lastly, the firearm referenced in this post and all of my firearms were tragically lost at sea. "This wasn't any boating accident!!.....this wasn't a coral reef.....and it's wasn't jack the ripper.......it was a shark"

Me too Davy...

I have the same weekly route and back haul hauling industrial hose assemblies and non-woven cotton for diapers to and from North Carolina. Unless companies stop needing earth moving equipment for mining and building new developments and babies stop cr*pping themselves I am pretty secure.

My heart and prayers go out to our industry (and many others) that will be impacted by this.

I’ve been off the road for a week on vacation. Did a ton of firewood and finished building our expanded chicken run.

Did take time for some mini golf with mini Zen Jokeress :)