Profile For Jeffrey C.

My question is what privacy? You're in the cab of a truck with windows. There is no privacy in that situation. Anybody who wants to can look through those windows and see you. Hell, if they want they can photograph or film you and there is no invasion of privacy because their is no privacy. Once you go into the sleeper and pull the curtain in the other hand, now there is privacy. And guess what the can can't see you there. So again there is no invasion of privacy.

Easy way to think of it, in public-no privacy, in private-privacy.

So, just a question for you about that from a newbie myself. Why are only certain places in the truck off limits? What if companies decided to implement cameras in the entire truck that include the sleepers? My point is that if you are in your truck and either on duty or off duty, you are still in the COMPANY equipment at some point. So, don't they have a right to record whether or not your on or off duty? Where exactly is the line in the tractor - the curtain?

I donno. Seems as if there is a splitting of hairs with all of this "they can record me in this spot, but not in this spot", or "they can record me up until 6:00am, when I take my 10, but after 6:00am, I am covering the camera until 4:00pm". To me, if you are in that truck, no matter in the sleeper or not, and I am a company CEO trying to find out if you are safe, then there is NO privacy involved. How do I know if you are not getting high on your 10 behind the curtain?

The test is a little different in MA then where you are. But, if it makes you feel any better, I had to test four times before I got my license.

You are not kidding! I'm at a school right now for 6 weeks in MA. I already have my CDL Class B license and have decided to go for my Class A. When I tested for my Class B before I got into coach buses, I found it easy. Now, 15 years later, perhaps the rules and regulations for testing Class A drivers has gotten that much stricter. We were told today in class that on average, of a class of 10 for example, only HALF will only pass their CDL Class A tesr the very first time. Half. All I keep hearing is "don't do this, you will fail" or "do that, or you will fail", or "don't point this out or say this to the trooper", or else guess what? Yep, you guessed it! You. Will. Fail. Massachusetts must be the hardest state to obtain a Class A license in the entire country. I am thoroughly convinced of that now. Maybe for the Class B license, it is or was relatively less difficult back when, but it has been made very clear to me that getting my Class A, even going through a CDL school, is NOT going to be a walk in the park. And the troopers are going to make sure of that as well. So, while I am not one who likes to take the easy way out of things, or to take any shortcuts, due to this early frustration, I am wondering myself if it is just better to test in another New England state like Maine, Vermont or New Hampshire so that I am not completely demoralized even before the test begins. I am in my 4th day of training and I am pretty much just that: demoralized. So, if you have any little bit of confidence going into a private school, do not worry, because rather than build your confidence from the beginning in order to help you pass the test, they will zap that from you right from the start to begin with.

As a newbie myself starting in trucking after 14 years as a coach bus operator who operated OTR on tours and charters, I just wanted to say that I can understand both perspectives in the heated discussion above. Although, as a "rookie" who is about to get the Class A license (already have the Class B obviously), I've been told that as a "rookie", I should just keep my trap shut and look listen and learn.

So, researching a "good" company is completely natural I believe. While I am in no way knocking companies like Swift, Werner, CRST, CR England, etc., I would be a bit concerned, as a new driver who is transitioning into the trucking industry, as to the on-line reviews about what is posted about the companies referred to as "bottom feeders". With that said, I do not believe that means that a driver has a "bad attitude" or what have you because of those concerns. So, I do think some companies do suck, yes. I wonder myself how far a positive attitude along with being a hard worker at a company such as Swift or C.R. will take you versus Earl Henderson, or Prime (some of the better reviewed companies).

If we're to say "you get what you put into it", I do agree with that and I don't. Let us take a look at one specific company in particular - Central Transport - now, no offense to any drivers that drive for them. The youtube video that someone posted awhile back of their equipment, and the write-up about management encouraging fights, as in physical fist fights, to "settle scores" (Detroit terminal), etc, etc - I'm just simply not so sure that a positive attitude would curb the low morale that seems to be the case at most of their terminals.

However, by all means, on the other hand, IF by some chance, you can work through all of that, not feed into the rumors, write-ups and reviews, and MYOB, do you job, I'm sure that Central Transport, only used as an example, would be a very rewarding truck driving career. Especially where it is LTL as well and can be home most nights as well. To each their own I suppose.

Just some food for thought. Please don't jump down my throat if I have offended you.