Profile For ButtonUp

A 15 minute nap is a quick and effective fix for a very dangerous situation!

This should say 20 minute nap.

And it's true.

Not sure what that is above the Crack, looks like a balance weight, but not sheets they usually go, maybe some kind of reinforcement.

I would request a new wheel.

I'm sure it's fine for now, but I would request a new wheel myself, and document it so you can show the request is pending if you get inspected.

If that thing above it is some kind of repair... I would find that out.

If I found something like that on my steer wheel the company would replace it.

Lol well...

Just had my 9th year in September with the company, June will be ten years since I got my cdl. Been training about 3.5yrs now. I'm 100k from my million miles, but if I hadn't been training I would have already had it.

I think about you all often, but I don't visit enough.

Just changed my status to experienced. 😉

It took a few years to feel experienced.

I'll try to get back more often.

There's a lot of good people here.

Until next time!

When I find a nail in a tire, what I do depends on the situation.

If I'm picking it up to drop it off at a terminal or yard that has a shop or is generally serviced, I roll with it. Once I get there I try to pull the nail out with a pair of needle nose pliers. If I'm successful and it doesn't leak, that's that. If I can't get it out, or it starts leaking air, then I write it up to be repaired.

Tires get nails all the time. If I'm picking the trailer up at a yard or terminal and I find it on the pretrip, i do the same thing, then request a different trailer if needed/ possible.

A cracked steer wheel is a different story. I would write that up as soon as possible.

Hey everyone,

I always mean to get on here and report in, but it never happens, so I stopped myself in the middle of Jack Ryan and forced myself to boot up the pc and post this.

In June it will be 8 years since I got my CDL.

The time has really passed.

I'm still on the same account I've been on over 7.5 years as it's really suited me.

I think about this forum often, and how much a part of my CDL training, and even later on with Hazmat, it was.

It was not easy to learn to drive a truck for me, and I started backing hay trailers in with the old pickup when I was 8. There is some debate as to whether experience actually hurts when learning for the first time, but I think it just takes getting used to, like most things in life.

I started training a little over a year ago, and it has been interesting, to say the least. I wanted to support new drivers in a way that wasn't there for me when I started. I basically just sacrifice my time to let them practice themselves, keeping an eye on things, and interceding when needed, but I don't stand at the door and tell them what to do, I stand next to the spot, and watch what they're doing, and once they get it spotted I'll offer feedback on what I saw, then have them do it again. It works very well, except when the trainee doesn't understand what I'm saying, and I can't understand them. I'll leave that... at that.

If there is one thing I mention for new drivers regarding backing, it should be this: You are not steering the trailer... you're pushing it. The trailer will turn on its own once it starts to go that way. At that point it's all about getting your tractor back in front of the trailer so it doesn't get away from you. If it starts to turn too much, stop, then pull up just enough until it feels like it's back on track. Repeat.

I asked one of the safety guys at the terminal about backing once, and what he said to me was frustratingly simple but true. "Backing is one of those things you just get better at the more you do it."

Anyway, good luck to those of you starting out, and an inadequate Thank You to those of you that have sacrificed so others could have a place here.

Thanks, Brett.

I'll try to keep in touch more often, but you know how it can be!

ButtonUp

I've been meaning to post my annual message, but keep forgetting. I wanted to chime in on the pay, though.

In training, I made nothing until I got my cdl, then got 25 a day until I got assigned to a trainer. I can't remember exactly how much it was at first but I remember i was bringing in about 400 a week for a few weeks until I went to the next phase of training, where I got 12 cents a mile for a few weeks, which wasn't bad, I'd bring home between 400 and 700 depending.

After I went solo I made 35k My first year and about 40 my second. Been about 44k a year after that. Would have been more this year but I've taken a lot more days off than usual.

I skipped most of the pages on this post, but decided I should add my comment anyway.

There are a lot of jobs one can get away with drug use. Including trucking. The problem is, if there's an accident, it is very possible one might find oneself in prison.

I was in trucking school with a guy who had a friend who was involved in an accident and went to prison because they found weed in his system.

Is it worth it?

Basically what I was going to say. It's required because you need to know how to do it, not because it's always necessary. I tend to double clutch more when downshifting, rarely when shifting up. But there will be times one needs to get it in gear and blipping the throttle either won't work or isn't practical for the situation.

Today is 3 years since I passed my CDL test on the second try. After a few months of training, and switching companies, I have over 2.5 years with my current company and will be with them 3 years in September.

I got the driver of the month last month, which was kinda cool.

Just wanted to jump on and say thanks to Brett and everyone who was there for me when I was starting out. TT was a big help when I was in school and wondering if I could pull it off.

I've been with them 2.5 years and love it. As with any company, the key thing is to find a position that benefits most from your talents and abilities. There are a lot of unhappy drivers with any company, but as Brett said, the abundance of opportunities allows one to find a position in which they can flourish. When the time is right, I can change it up to make more money or get more hometime, depending on my needs and wants. Right now I'm home daily and it's more like a regular job than a lifestyle, which suits my needs as a single parent.