Profile For The Breeze

I can't answer your questions, but good to see you post again after forever.

Welcome back!

I lurk around these parts every so often. I've been staying busy with the driving so that's always a good thing!

I'm going to orientation in Richmond. Does anybody know what they're looking for on the road test for an experienced driver. I also couldn't find much recent information about what orientation is like for folks that have some driving experience.

I have no real answer. I grew up in Raleigh and live near by now. I am just beginning my adventure and start school Oct 23. So wanted to shout out a say I hi neighbor. What area do you live?There are a tremendous amount of industrial parks in the area, maybe reach out to them.

I live in North Raleigh right off of Capital blvd near the cook out and the harbor freight if that gives you an Idea. There are a couple WalMarts nearby but they are a for sure no go. In the past (almost 2 years ago) I got permission from a Lowes to park behind their building and they were okay with it. So I may do that again. For me though its security and access. These local places where I can park my truck aren't on the best side of town. What I'm going to do is call around and see if I can find an Industrial park or a Penske or Ryder that I can park at while I'm home. I don't mind sliding someone a few bucks just so I know my truck is in a safe place. For now my neighbor is keeping an eye on the truck while I'm out and about and my immediate neighbors are happy with it and think its kind of cool that there is a trucker around. Once I do find a more permanent place I will report back, hopefully I can help out some drivers in my area.

Dan

I'm looking for recommendations on parking while I'm home. With the account I'm on at JB Hunt it's best for me to take my trailer home and there in lies the problem. I'm currently parked in my neighborhood and I cleared it with my neighbors, but I was approached by an older couple doing their morning walk. The guy I spoke with was friendly but, passively alluded to me that he was hopeful that I would find a safe place to park my truck while I'm home.

He didn't insinuate anything else, but now I'm concerned that my truck is going to be towed away in the night, so I'm trying to come up with a solution in town (Raleigh) that doesn't involve me parking at the Petro in Mebane over 50 miles away. I'd be willing to pay someone to let me park in a safe location while I'm home but I don't know where to look or who to ask. So I'm presenting my question to you guys.

Thanks, Dan

The people here could help you and understand your situation better if you took the time to proofread your thread before posting it, but you have received some great advice. I wanted to chime in because I get head aches often, I think it runs in the family. Anything from lack of hydration, sleep, and poor diet can bring them on. I have the misfortune of being affected by low pressure weather systems, and those bring on the worst head aches. All I can say is try to stay hydrated and keep some Excedrin near by, this will help numb the affects of a bad head ache and can usually save you from being late. We've all had to shut down because we don't feel well, but 9 times out of 10 a good driver knows how to do this and it comes down to trip planning and self motivation. I've had plenty of days where I've run 450 miles instead of 600 because I didn't feel well, but I ran to the point where I knew on time delivery would be easily achieved and then I shut it down so I could have my precious me time and feel better.

The fact that you've been placed on medical hold means that without a doubt there is more to your story. It's not profitable for companies to place a driver on medical hold, or any kind of hold for that matter! It's already been said that if the wheels aren't turning you're not earning. So my guess is that this has happened in the past and the company you're working for has recognized a pattern in either your health or behavior. If it's your health I would not be spending my time posting in a trucking forum about how you can squeeze wages out of your company for non driving activities. Instead I would be at the doctor trying to figure why I have such crippling head aches that prevent me from working and earning a living. If you don't have any major medical issues after getting checked out by a doctor, I would focus on hardening up and pushing for miles. That's only way you'll get any kind of money out of a trucking company. Pay rate: CPM.

Dan

I just wanted to add to this. While you're doing all the confusing number crunching, if you're trying to recap hours during your driving day and your goal is to have full usage of the hours you gain before your 14 ends. Take into account the time zone in which your logs are set in relation to your pu/del time zone. I used to run recaps religiously and pulled reefer freight at night mostly. It's always a shocker when you realize halfway through your day that you regain your hours back at 2am and not midnight. Don't ask how I know this lol. 😏

Dan

I'd say it depends on who you work for and their policies. You could always ask them not to leave a bald spot or ask them to take a sample elsewhere.

Dan

Look at it this way "Different folks different strokes".

I know plenty of good drivers who nose in when it's safe to do so, a lot of them are owner ops who don't own/lease their trailer. They do it for the reasons you mentioned. But I do agree 80% of the time it doesn't make any sense. But there are exceptions. If you can do it where you pretty much have a straight back and intend to leave the truck stop after most people have left it's usually okay.

However, another exception I see to this is when rookie drivers nose in because they don't want to or are not confident in their backing skills. A lot of the time they don't have the experience to know which spot to nose into and they end up creating more trouble for themselves later.

The reality is that if your truck gets bumped and your bumper is pulled off and your alignment is knocked out or worse, it costs a lot more money and the key word here is "downtime". I've seen trailers get backed into by yard dogs and the damage is usually cosmetic and wouldn't be considered something that puts you out of service. Try not to bother yourself too much with people who do this its more common than you would think. I mean this in the nicest way possible, this is not at all a roast. Sometimes its just hard to see both sides of things.

Everybody runs their truck differently, and at the end of the day as long as they're obeying the rules and delivering freight safely without damaging equipment it shouldn't matter.

Dan

Thanks for the good vibes guys! I'm looking forward to it. I'll get some hazmat experience with this account so that will be a good thing. The nice thing is that it's 11 out 3 home. I just have to make myself come home. The road has a way of making you stay out.

Dan

Yes I broke my lease. I was breaking even and making a profit but not much of one. I was living out of the truck and needed to do something different. Long story short at the risk posting too much personal information I got a moving violation at Swift and that combined with a ticket I received before obtaining my CDL disqualified me from being rehired as an employee with them until 2018. I left on very good terms and I was offered my original dedicated position with them before my DM and I hit the road block with Safety. I tried my best bringing it up the chain of command at Swift and so did my DM but I was told there's nothing they could do. Don't get tickets. But I appreciate you checking in.

Dan

So I guess you were able to break your lease with Swift, or did you complete it?

Not trying to bust your chops, but considering you have well over a year of experience with Swift, did you try to find a Dedicated Assignment that fit your needs with them first?

The reason I ask? Because just like having many opportunities opening up with numerous companies after a year of experience, the same dynamic exists with your initial employer.

Good luck with your new assignment.