Profile For David L.

We are paid a flat rate per day every day we are out...7 days a week rolling or sitting and get a small mileage "bonus" for all loaded miles. Bottom line is I make nearly double the weekly take home pay that I got as a software support analyst. Granted, I miss the weekends off and paid time off, but even though my "hourly" rate would come out lower I'm taking more money home. I've never minded hard work.

I went to Millington last year then to Columbus, OH, for road training when Ocala, FL, was short of instructors...I then got priority in Ocala...I got my permit in FL and then did my DMV road test in FL after time in Columbus.

Check to ensure the company you choose has a passenger policy...some don't.

Have you had a chance to sit in a truck and run the checklist? That helps a lot. Also, at school you will spend lots of time practicing pre-trip and air brakes.

The shadiest place I've ever stopped was in Fresno, CA. The Fifth Wheel is technically a truck stop. But they are really stretching the definition.

I was stuck there for two nights cause the receiver wouldn't take me, and Swift wouldn't let me T-Call it. Which in turn caused me to miss my home time date, which sucked since I had plans that had required reservations and money put down.

Moral of the story...don't park at the Fifth Wheel in Fresno.

The drop yard in the cattle feed lot was pretty special, too. Parked on the shoulder of the one lane drive...with permission of course...and yeah, it smelled like cows!

When we were with Swift, as a team, we often got congratulated for fuel savings...but our truck was only shut down at the fuel pumps or when we parked for a meal. I think our miles compensated the idle time. We don't use the bunk heater much as we are either driving or one is sleeping and the other attending our load...sitting up all night or day gets to be a drag. Both of our KW T680s have rear bunk controls so I'll be driving with the temp at 70 or so and Sean will be sleeping with it as cold as he can get it! Or vice-versa! Something we found that helps is to tuck a blanket along the edge of the top bunk and it hangs down for a second curtain...helps with heating/cooling and blocks more light that leaks through.

My hand pain is different as I'm developing arthritis in my thumbs and other fingers. I use Motrin (Advil) and just suck It up. In your case, I think the guys nailed it...too tight a grip. I move my hands around and will change primary grip from one to the other...also, using a stress ball or gripper is good. I found that a few minutes using the gripper during a night run actually helped refresh me...not like a nap or coffee, but I didn't need to stop!

Sean and I have been running a 2015 KW T680 with auto 10 speed since August. It takes an adjustment period to learn the quirks of the collision avoidance system and the adaptive cruise...sometimes the radar and/or computer lose their minds! We picked it up with 22 miles on the odometer and are around 85K now. They main time we miss the clutch is backing...with the computer running things it's difficult to finesse it on a difficult or rough surface...gutters, gravel, cheesy ramps have led me to smack the dock pretty hard...Sean uses his Jedi mind tricks and doesn't seem to have this issue! And schools won't see automatics very soon...you train with road warriors, especially with Swift. Not knocking them...I'm a Millingtin alumni.

Thanks for the reception. It was one of those things 99% of guys over 60 are going to contend with sooner or later! I'm glad to be back at work.

I was out of the truck for almost eight weeks with a medical issue that developed over New Years weekend. We'd had a great home time in El Paso with family for Christmas. We got into Indianapolis for the New Year weekend. I wound up in the ER on 1/3/16 and let's just say I now had an appliance attached and needed to get home to see my doc and a urologist. SLT was great. I could have flown home but they routed us south and Sean dropped me at the house the next weekend. It took a few days to get to the doc and a referral. Surgery was a week or so after that and then recovery. I got some honey-do chores done and Sean got home mid-February for an extended home time. Our DM stayed in touch and was great about letting me say when we were ready to head out. I wasn't earning a paycheck but never felt my job was at risk. It's good to be back! Sean has shared his experience running solo for a team company! SLT treated us with respect and concern and I appreciate that.