Location:
Upper Uwchlan, PA
Driving Status:
Experienced Driver
Social Link:
Getting into the Trucking career late in my life. Will be starting school in Dec. 2014 at Sage in Lebanon, PA. With completion the middle of Jan. 2015. I am very impressed with Sage so far. I went to a Job fair in Harrisburg in late October and came away more impressed with Sage. A couple of companies who were hiring at job fair said that they would only hire driver with 1-year of experience. When I mentioned I was going to Sage they both said that they would hire students right out of Sage. I've always liked driving. I spent most of my life in Minnesota (so I know winter) and moved NW of Philly 4-years ago. I have driven the MN to PA route so many times over 15 years that it has become a blur. I've done the 1,200 mile track many times in one day, slept many times in rest stops and occasionally motels (though I sleep better in my car than a motel). I've driven my motorcycle on many long trips to between PA and MN and Florida and MN. When I am not working I ride my motorcycle when ever I can. My goal is to start out with a Regional route, if I can get lucky. I've got a 10-year old daughter so I want to try and be around here as much as I can and I know that may be hard to do the first year or two.
Posted: 8 years, 3 months ago
View Topic:
Per diem..worth it in today's trucking world?
One thing to consider if your company pays you per diem how much are they charging you to administrate your per diem?
Posted: 8 years, 4 months ago
View Topic:
Sambo, what is considered a late appointment? We have 30-minutes after ETA before it affects our on-time performance.
Posted: 8 years, 4 months ago
View Topic:
Just got my CDL last week from Sage Technical Service, trying to choose a company....
Hi Truckers
I just got my CDL last week from Sage Technical Service from out of Lexington SC . I have a choice to make before 8/22/2016 between Senn Freight Line, Flatbed Company, or Super Service LLC Dry Van . Senn starts off with 36cpm,Super Service starts off with 32cpm. Senn runs all 48,and I can get home almost every weekend. Super Service runs only East of the Mississippi, and I will be home 2 days every 12 days. Here is the issue, I hear a lot about the mountains, and I'm kind of nervous about the mountains. Plus Senn wants me to leave the truck on yard when I come back in from off the road and drive my own vehicle 1 HR 30 away. Super Service, I can take my truck home . Plus Super Service I can get a $3,000 sign on bonus. Senn don't have a sign on bonus. Please give me some good advice, I would truly appreciate it.
From reading your post kind of feels like you are favoring Super Service. Nothing wrong with that either.
Posted: 8 years, 4 months ago
View Topic:
Just slow down, give more room in front, early morning ice roads watchout for, no engine brake or cruise control in wet, snowy or icy conditions. Light steady braking and strap a snow shovel on the back of the truck. Also carry tools for frozen brakes...good mallet hammer and metal rod or pry bar
Posted: 8 years, 4 months ago
View Topic:
Just good to get them all out of the way if you have the time to study. I took all my written tests together...general, hazmat, tanker, doubles-triples. I did not take passenger/ bus more for sanity reasons. It just opens up more possibilities for your career without having to go back to DMV.
Posted: 8 years, 4 months ago
View Topic:
What is the hardest place you have ever maneuvered a truck through?
I got to agree on Brooklyn, NY. Pick a street... Flatbush Ave, Atlantic Ave, Grand Army Plaza, etc. Everyone double parks, pulls out in front of or races around you, buses try to take you out. They must play some game there where they get points for stopping trucks in the middle of the road. This is one city you don't use the city horn, just the air horn.
Posted: 8 years, 4 months ago
View Topic:
Congrats! First time or fourth time it doesn't matter it is the same issued CDL License.
Good luck with Crete/Schaffer!!!
Posted: 8 years, 4 months ago
View Topic:
New driver less trucks- will it be a real job killer?
This week Qualcomm Navigator has frozen twice and once was about a mile off tracking my progress
On-Guard this week locked up brakes going through an underpass.and locked up brakes on a car in front of me one lane over in the right.
Pretty much typical week for these great truck driving tools. I wouldn't waste my time reading about automated trucks taking away any jobs in the near future.
Posted: 8 years, 4 months ago
View Topic:
Some good apps. I use Trucker Path Others Rest Stops......click on a state, click on the road you want, click on your direction and get all rest stops with some info. Just a little quicker then Trucker Path sometimes. Cat scale, Pilot, Loves, etc. Your Bank if they have an App can be helpful on the road
Posted: 8 years, 3 months ago
View Topic:
Per diem..worth it in today's trucking world?
I think the company want you to believe you are making more money then you actually are on your paychecks. They hope most drivers will not delve too deep in how much they actually make per check. And most of us like to see more dollars on each check. I would think that they might get a better tax break paying it out to drivers then if drivers declared their full per diem each year.