Profile For Tinker

Until I see a "driverless" truck pull over at 2 am and chain up to cross Donner Pass, I am not worried.

Welcome! Trucking is definitely an adventure. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. There are bad days in every occupation, but the perks that come with this one more than make up for it.

Welcome to TT! This site is full of good advice, great knowledge, and friendly people. Good luck on your journey.

Listen and learn is a good idea. As for your companies policies, best to check with them otherwise you will get 6 different answers to a question with w possible answers. As for how often is it in use? I keep one in my pick up and use it everytime I am on the road in it. In the big trucksb they aren't as common as they used to be, but many truckers still use them and for good reason. Most new trucks do have a place for the radio to ve mounted, some even have built in antenbas and pre wired connections.

I think I am going to get a decent radio that I can try it out with, not top of the line or bottom of the barrel. I was talking to another driver today and he showed me his setup. He uses. a vise-grip mount and his own antenna for better results. His mount looked custom made since it had the cb antenna along with one for xm on a plate welded to the locking pliers. He gad the cobra 29. Seemed pretty happy with it. Thanks for all the advice.

That is the part I am unsure of. I have looked all over the truck and haven't found an antenna anywhere. I suppose it could be hidden.

I was wondering if there are any slip seaters out there that can advise me on a cb radio set up. I run team and am almost always in a Freightliner Cascadia. The tractors we are in have a metal platform on the dash with a strap to hold a radio along with an antenna wire. I don't know if they actually have an antenna though. On the route that I have, we get home every other day, have about 16 hours off, then head back out in a different truck. I've thought about a handheld to simplify things, but those have a very limited range and nay not do well. As for the area I travel, it is I-40 from NM to CA most of the way. We run to LA and back 3 times a week from Albuquerque. Any input?

I will be at home with my family recovering from a crash. Since it it only sore muscles, I am hoping to be back on the road by this weekend. My codriver will probably need more recovery time so I will either be running solo or with someone from the extra board until she is ready to get back behind the wheel. I have a lot to be thankful for this year and am glad to be sharing this time with the people that care about me. Happy Thanksgiving!

Just a reminder to stay safe out there. My codriver and I were involved in a crash this morning on I40 in California. We were rear ended by another semi when traffic came to a stop. The other semi never slowed down and plowed in to us at full speed. There were no major injuries, thankfully and surprisingly! We are currently stranded at a gas station out here waiting for our company to arrange a ride to the nearest town. My best guess is the other driver was distracted or fatigued and never saw us stop. Stay alert, stay alive.

As a team driver, I can tell you that this choice is an important one. Getting good rest is a top priority if you are going to be able to operate the equipment safely. Here are some things to keep in mind: While the cab is normally temperature controlled, breakdowns happen and usually at the worst time. Be prepared to deal with cold. Synrhetic shelled bags do compact smaller and stay very warm, but on some matresses can slide easily which can literally be a pain! Think fast stops, hard turns, winding mountain roads... Avoid the mummy bag. Being able to stretch out makes it easier to sleep and in the event of a need to evacuate the truck, will make your escape faster.