Profile For Jenny

So! Guess what? I got to train her. Awesome driver she is.

Tonight we got to meet up, she’s about 6 weeks solo and I came here to find my solo stories. She had a rough day and I hope my humble beginnings help lighten her up a bit.

A few of you may remember, but jump in and remember the read. Life got rolling! So dang near a decade ago I shared my solo stories-I really need to up my game again!

In case anyone else needs some encouragement here’s the link. I hope it works.

https://www.truckingtruth.com/truckers-forum/Topic-8796/Page-1/phew-made-it-as-a-truck-driver

Cassie, you’re doing great and those hard days dissolve into the background. Enjoy Ship Rock and some two lane peace and quiet the next few days.

I purchased a small "as seen on TV " swamp cooler or as they put it, cooler and humidifier. As long as I'm in low humidity it freezes me out, and I sleep like a rock! (Think Phoenix, W. Texas, N.M., Nevada, Wyoming...but other places too when humidity is low)

When it's hot and muggy I run the truck. I've never been bothered. Sure beats sleeping like a baby-waking up sh**ty every 2 hrs.

If you forget to set your brakes and your loaded rig goes tumbling down the hillside THEN you tell safety that you "set the whammy bar trailer brakes and must have bumped it with your knee".

Man life is a yo-yo! Haven't been here to see this in a few weeks. Flexibility and patience at play lately. There's changes a brewing! Forgiveness is another one we forget. Mistakes happen.

Last week I had a sweet deal coming back to Oregon from near Morris, Illinois. I made my delivery early, and arrived at the shipper 5 hours early. They were more than happy to load me that early, but I had hauled onions 2 loads ago and the could still smell them. I had spent a night with the doors open and spread coffee to kill it. I am unable to smell it when it is that faint because I'm hauling onions every time I go East. So, I just let them do their thing and when they said they smelled garlic, I knew it was there.

I went down and got a washout and returned, they had me sit about 4 feet off the dock with the reefer running and the doors open for 2 more hours. They tried, but the manager could still smell it so after a few calls and more sniffing they finally just rejected it. In total I was there for 8 hours. I.was.HOT!

My DM found another load for the next morning out of Indianapolis and gave me the choice to try again with the next shift at the place I was or take Indy, so I boogied on Indy. Turns out they rejected 6 more trailers. Everything worked out fine for me though.

Because of the whole debacle I got a phone call from someone and got to learn more about how our freight actually moves for our company, and a few more bits about what's going on behind the scenes. It was good for me to get that info. It helped me be able to forgive the situation and leave it behind, be fair in asking for detention, and get on with it. All in all, I ended up gaining an extra 100 miles, and had that bummer day to talk to a realtor and my loan officer. Looks like I'll be buying a house real soon 😬🏜

This is FANTASTIC! Thanks for starting this up. I asked a question and everyone gets to be involved 😁 Great answers too!

One I've noticed a lot PREPAREDNESS

This applies to many facets.

Mental- let's do this thing!

Physical- Eat well, sleep well(when you can), park a bit further and get some exercise. They'll all help with the mental.

Tools- Appropriate attire, a broom or a blower, hammer, screwdriver, flashlight, vice grips so on.

The note on the tools is this, I speak to many drivers who think the company should supply it all. My tool collection is long, diverse and I've used every single one at one point or another. If I waited for road calls, or always had to hit a shop for the little crud, I'd never move. ( Even the brand new trucks have a few loose nuts )

These drivers who don't want to push a broom need to get a leaf blower for example.

Finally, accountability, each of us only controls ourselves. Mess ups happen, learn and move on. Rarely is there anyone to blame for our unhappiness out here except ourselves. Expecting anything but the unexpected is going to leave you disappointed and unsatisfactory out here.

Side note- I'm an introvert, so all the long haul time lets me build the energy to be pleasant when I have to deal with people. It's not that I don't like people, it's just exhausting 😉

This is perfect! Simple and practical. I will definitely be printing and handing it out. The discussions get a bit overwhelming when it's all about the "buts".

Oh Rainy, you found the words I could not. I have with one outlandish exception been treated with respect out here. And when I'm not, maybe I just ignore it.

I had a couple of student who just couldn't understand how I was so comfy out here. I've had the company give me ladies numbers to help coach, and I can't handle the freak outs about a guy looking or whistling or asking if they need help. I've never felt like "every man who talks to me out here wants in my pants" yet plenty of women I've talked to seem to throw that out there. It's frustrating.

I've been busy!! On a slow month...

The latest struggle has been running blocker with all these other drivers who complain about the company. I work my arse off and only sit if I need it. To my benefit last month was a pretty slow one for me. I'll get to that in a bit.

EVERY TIME, I am near another company driver I get asked the same questions, how long have you been here and do I get the miles. I point to my founder driver sticker and say "yes". I refuse to engage in company bashing with these guys. I let them rant and tell them to take their concerns to the appropriate management staff. To which I get "that guy is such a so and so!" Well, I don't know what to tell you. I end up by the end of each of these interactions wishing I could just say " The only thing I've heard you say that the company has done wrong is hire YOU!"

I don't say that of course.

So last month was a nice slow month for me. I normally like to run my butt off and am totally burned out in time to go home and recoup. Instead, I got about 2/3 the miles and didn't even make a bonus this tour.

But I think I got some ammo for the turkeys, erm crabby drivers....and some lazy fun runs. I was able to take a few detours and see family I hadn't seen in years, I got to park in NM and wander some land I'm considering purchasing, twice :)

Awesomeness for me.

As far as ammo, correct me if I'm wrong, but I figure I had one slow month that I can point to and just tell them that, sometimes freight is slow and every load is what YOU make it. I got laid over in some not so great places but I can say I STILL had a pretty great month.

I'm debating a list of "what I do as a satisfied driver" and leaving it in our breakroom. Initially I'd ask these angry drivers if they are doing __________?

If it was: Are you making your appointments earl? the answer was "Yes!! But there's so much time on the loads I don't really try to anymore. "

If it was: are you consistently sending good early ETA's I would hear "Yes!! But they don't move appointments or give me another load any faster so I don't really waste my time with that any more."

If it was: Are you calling in to the meeting? The answers were every excuse you can think of. Phone use while driving, not wanting to listen to the b***h session, or oh, I just didn't think it was important. The last being my personal favorite to hear.

So, these drivers come to me for what? They ask what's wrong and why they're not happy, and want to know about the company, yet they can't make a phone call to the ONE place that can fill them in wholly on what our freight is doing and out finances and and and and!!!

It's kind of tough being a respected driver by the company, because drivers will tell me that they do what I do and don't get results. I'm done talking to them.

I'm pretty sad and at times mad for having to explain that I'm happy and not having the same issues.

Anyone have any lines that will shut 'em up and not be rude?

Again, I'm just enjoying the ride. We shall see what the future holds.

Yes, changes are going to come, but I could have missed all the learning if I were scared.

The average driver is surprised when something goes wrong. A great driver is surprised when nothing goes wrong.

I couldn't agree more! The best days in Trucking are uneventful.