Profile For James P.

I've a couple of runs in Wa and OR. I just delivered in CA. I now sit in CA waiting on breakdown since a airbreak chamber sprung a leak on my way to my next pick up. I hope to be home next weekend for some much needed home time.

I'd say so far I'm pretty satisfied with Decker, and I'd highly recommend them for anyone coming out of school, or that already has time in the seat.

Let us know if they allow it, or not.

Yikes...

Gerard A,

I agree with you that this company does really look like an amazing company and yes I was drooling over the brand new equipment. Personally I'm hoping to get the Peterbilt 579 since from what I can see it looks like the sleeper cabin on it is a bit larger and the mattress looks bigger. Anyone out there that knows if this is true or not please let me know? I'm a big and tall guy at 6'4 so larger sleeper cabin is very important to me, as is also a thicker more sturdy mattress that would better hold mh weight since a good night's sleep makes me a safe driver.

I currently drive a 2014 579 for Decker Truck Lines. It's like an in between the 386 and the 586. So I'd say it's slightly roomier than a 386, but less so than the 586.

Passing by, the TA looked full. Honestly I didn't think it would be that much better. On the up side though, I've seen a security truck pass through a few times.

Sapp Bros in Denver, CO. I-70 exit 278. There is a xxx shop between the truck stop, and the parking lot. There is also a massage parlor in the back of their tire shop that is plainly visible if you walk around back, or are parked near it (like I am tonight).

I figured I made bad decision trying to get as close to my shipper as I could, but I didn't have time to relocate. I only had 8 hours and 20 minutes of my 70 left for the day, and Walmart in Cheyenne ate up 4.5 of it. By the time I got here I only had an hour left.

I just got issued my own truck Friday after after being on the road with a mentor for 3 weeks.

I wasn't as rusty as I thought since I didn't leave the transmission on the side of the road, but we didn't have any tough backs except for a place in NJ which my mentor handled since I not comfortable in the NE anymore.

My first load has taken me from IA to OR. I deliver in the morning. The rest of the day is for some much needed rest.

Keep the shiney side up.

Get out and start your pre trip before you start your clock, that way if you find a major problem that requires repairs, you wont burn up your clock for the day waiting on repairs. Plus you wont be rushing through to get rolling.

That right there is a very good tip. This is always the way I do it. I learned this as a rookie one day when I put my clock on duty and then started my pre-trip only to discover that I had a nail in a steer tire and it had leaked down about half way through the night as I slept. I wasn't about to drive on the highway with that thing in there and when I called break down it turned out that I was in an area where there just wasn't hardly anybody nearby with a service truck to come out and take care of my tire issue. I ended up waiting almost three hours before they showed up, and I had burned up that time on my clock when I was doing nothing but resting and waiting on a service truck. Technically if that would have happened while I was on the road and I had to wait for repairs I should be on duty, but since I was just starting my day I could have left myself off duty util they got me fixed up and ready to go, and then I could have completed my pre-trip and gotten going without burning up a good portion of my fourteen hour clock.

Thanks y'all. I was basically concerned because in orientation we were asked how long a proper pre-trip took, and the instructor had made mention that if 15 min was all we logged, and we happened to get pulled into a coop for inspection, that it would really suck if the DOT officer wanted to see that 15 min inspection.

I was logging 15 min the first two times I was driving, but after finding this site and y'all, and being motivated to drive again, I wanted to makes sure I do things right this time and try not to get too lazy again.

I'm at the end of my 2nd week with my trainer. I only have one week left then I get my own truck. I'm rather pleased so far. My trainer has been in the game for 26 years, is pretty laid back, and is always happy to help and answer questions. I'm also not quite as rusty as I thought I'd be.

Things are coming back, but being with a trainer usually makes things seem easy. The fun starts when you're in your own truck.

There is one thing I'd like y'alls opinion on. He's pretty adament that I only log 15 min for pre-trip and then get rolling because if I log 30 to 45 min, which is about as long as it takes me to pre-trip, I'll run out my hours too fast and won't be able to run as hard and make as much money. He also says that 15 min is legal and I wouldn't get dinged for it if I get DOT inspected.

I know that you have to show at least 15 min for pre-trip, but I'm also concerned that should I at some point get a DOT inspection, and the officer sees that I only log 15 min that he/she will want to see my 15 min pre-trip. What say y'all? Log 15, 30 to 45, or mix it up (15 min some days, 30 to 45 on others)?

46* and dern windy in Burns, WY.