Profile For Lorie J. (Brite Eyes)

Hi James O. I just wanted to add a few more cents to the mix here. First off - CONGRATS on getting your CDL!

As a lady trucker (company driver, Owner/Operator, Small fleet owner) since the 1980's, what you are starting will not be easy. I am happy to read in your post that the company plans to train you and run you local, not just put you in a big truck with haz doubles and turn you loose on America. I hope the company is better than one I experienced. After my first 4 years of driving (yep, flatbed OTR) I looked for local work and got hired with a Propane company. I told them I wanted a trainer for at least 3 weeks...maybe more depending on my comfort level (research STATIC issues). They agreed. After running team one day and chasing my trainer for 2 days loading and unloading propane at transfer stations (2 to 3 times a day) around Ohio, I was told I had to run to PA alone. After refusing the load, I got some serious harassment/coercion from Dispatch (she called me a bunch of unkind names). Truck/keys and tanker trailer were parked at their terminal and I quit.

With that said, I will ask you to please exercise the same common sense should this company that hired you not provide enough training so you are comfortable by yourself. Please do not see it as a failure or lack of ability to ask for another week or 2 of additional training time. No company should refuse. Only YOU know when YOU will be safe to operate solo. Be honest with yourself. The hardest thing to live with is a fatality when you survive, are at fault, and those that are deceased are families, kids, babies.

Understand that CDL school doesn't prepare you for the Roadside Inspection or crossing scales in the Weigh Stations or portables set up on the little roads that truckers use (some to go around OPEN stations). Take your time. Follow directions. Let the officer know you are a new driver. Go online to FMCSA website and review this company's safety record at https://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/CompanySnapshot.aspx Enter their DOT #, scroll down and read - info including # of trucks, drivers, Inspections, Crashes and Hazmat issues. In the upper right corner box you will see a link to SMS Results. Click the link and it will take you to the Safety Management System. Top Center Box will show you the company's Vehicle/Driver/Hazmat Out of Service percentages and comparison to National Averages. Companies that exceed National Average percentages in 3 categories are deemed Unsafe and get a federal audit.

Scroll down you will see the 7 Basic categories. As you scroll you will notice 4 boxes on the left that are fixed. Click the top box with the truck icon. The page will refresh and, scroll down, you will see Violation History section and then Roadside Inspection section. Check out how often trucks are placed Out of Service due to mechanical issues. That will give you an idea of how often/how well the equipment you will operate is maintained.

Lastly, companies with higher than National Average % are inspected more often. There is what is called the ISS (Inspection Selection System). Ask your company what their score is or ask to see it. When you pass a law enforcement officer or cross a scale, they will input the company DOT # in their computer. Scores: 1-49 = GREEN and PASS; 50 - 74 = YELLOW and OPTIONAL; 75-100 = RED and INSPECT. Law enforcement officials will see a big color bar on their screens. RED or YELLOW (when closer to 74 than 50) get pulled in/pulled over often. Expect to get inspected because your company has a poor safety record.

Know that your CDL will now record every violation you get in a CMV. When you take unsafe equipment, get pulled over and issued a citation or put out of service (OOS) until repairs are complete, that info will attach to your CDL. PSP (Pre-Employment Screening Program) reports are required by law to be pulled by companies to check a new hire's safety history. Get stopped often with issues founds and you will find it difficult to change jobs in a year or two. Crashes follow you for 5 years, Roadside Inspection issues for 3 years.

We are heading into snow season and your training was during summer...there are a lot of new feelings, vibrations, noises, senses, habits etc you learned/acquired in summer that will change in winter. How and When to apply brakes is a big one. Please take it slow and be careful. Re-train yourself on the new feelings, vibrations, noises, senses, etc. Watch videos online of Winter Driving Techniques to help you get acquainted with some changes (others you just have to experience).

Take care, be safe, and Good Luck out there! Lorie

Why?

Deb, I have no idea. Just copied the above from another website...womentruckers.org (not sure).

To answer this question: 1. If you have the vent open, someone can spray ether (starting fluid) into the bunk - near your head and it could cause you to pass out. The creep then has more time to get into your truck and do you harm. 2. Most truck bunks have the door on the driver side. Someone trying to break in will have access to your head when they succeed. Giving them access to your feet gives you time to respond - with a billy club or weapon of some kind (hairspray, aerosol spray cans of anything, cattle prod, wasp/hornet spray - works up to 25 ft but smells awful to clean up!)