Profile For Mike W.

Thanks TT you rock!

I'm in the market for a new Garmin. Right now I use the Nuvi 465 which I like but the maps need to be updated and its not worth paying for maps. I might as well buy a new one with lifetime map updates.

Just wondering if anyone know how often Garmin releases a newer version. The 570 is the most currant one, but I would hate to buy it and then have Garmin come out with its newer version

Thanks Mike

Sorry. I got the answer. This is by far the best truckers web site out there! All I had to do was type in the search box "new medical card". It would have been nice if they told me that in the docs office.

Does anyone know if it is legal to reduce the medical card so it will be easier to put in you wallet? They used to be a size where you can just fold it in half to the size of a credit card and slip it into your wallet. What knuckle head thought of this!? How am I suppose to put this in my wallet?

Thx Mike

I'm sure this is a dumb question for most of you, but you know the saying, ..a dumb question it the one not asked. So here goes. If a driver is working an 8 day / 70 hr week, can he/she work 8.75 hrs 7 days a week without a break? Is the 34 hour reset a requirement each week?

Thanks Mike

ROOKIES

Something I cannot figure out, but maybe someone can explain, is why a driver will, instead of opening their doors before starting to back-in, they will struggle to get their truck lined up with the door first, AND THEN STOP, slowly walk to the back of the trailer, open the doors, fool around with the door ties a bit, then slowly walk back to the cab, and then back straight in, ALL THE WHILE THE WHOLE YARD IS AT A STAND STILL WAITING FOR THIS DRIVER TO FINISH. There is no valid reason to do this.

Instead, open your doors in a spot that doesn't block the traffic flow, if there is a problem with your door tie, deal with it (bungie, etc). THEN back in and let everyone go on their merry way.

Thank you very much

As far as backing is concerned I think I might have something to offer here. I hope this helps and doesn't confuse a new driver, but any driver that backs up well will understand what I mean. First of all, on the road test your judged on how many pull-ups you do. Do too many and you fail. FORGET THAT! Thats behind you now. Don't stress over how many pull-ups you do, just don't hit anything.

One thing that I find all new drivers do is concentrate on where to turn the steering wheel. Turn to the left, trailer goes left, turn to the right, and trailer goes right. This is fine just to get your license but to be a good backer you have to go passed that. I'm not saying that this is not going to take some practice but THIS IS THE KEY, YOU HAVE TO THINK OF YOUR DRIVE TIRES AS BEING THE STEER TIRES FOR THE TRAILER. Think of it, if your tractor is jacked to the left, and you turn your wheel to the right, which way will the tailer go? Not to the right like your taught in TT school. Its going to continue to go to the left because the tractor (AND DRIVE TIRES) are turned to the left. The trailer won't start to go to the right until the tractor drive tires are jacked to the right.

So often I see new drivers get the tandems right where there supposed to be, and then, because the trailer is not parallel with the hole, they pull way up and start the whole process all over again. What you need to do is get the tandems where you want them and then just jack the tractor in whatever direction you need to get the trailer parallel with the whole, DONT WORRY ABOUT HOW MANY PULL-UPS IT TAKES. Keep the pull-ups short, just a few feet, back and forth is needed to jack the tractor drives tire in the direction you need to go to line-up the trailer with the whole, once its straight, do the same amount of short pull-ups to get the tractor back in line (straight) with the trailer. The tandems will still be where you put them because your pull-ups and back-ups WERE SHORT ( remember too if there is over hang on the trailer, keep the tandems away from the other trucks/trailers until the trailer is parallel with the whole) Once the tractor is straight in front of the trailer, back you go! End of story,

As you practice this, you will need fewer pull-up to back in. In time you will be able to back-in one shot (going slowly, you don't have to be a cowboy) almost every time. And if you don't, who cares, just do a few pull-ups.

Just remember, THINK OF THE TRACTOR DRIVE TIRES AS THE STEER TIRES FOR THE TAILER. It might take a while for this to "click", but once it does you will understand what I mean.

If ya can't find it ...grind it!

In my opinion, if a trainer expects you to shift perfectly as a new driver, he or she, is expecting too much.

The last time I say down and figured it out I make about 14 to 16 bucks an hour. I drive OTR and I average 2500 miles a week @ 40 cpm. That is a heck of a lot better than anything I would make at home. I do agree the pay needs to go up but I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for it.

Wow! I guess that's not too bad if someone is living in S Carolina somewhere, but in Jersey, that's not going to pay the bills. Not to mention, all the time spent working. I don't ask for much, but I would like a little bit of a life too.