Profile For Paul F.

I did get a touch of vertigo on the simulators from time to time, it was nothing serious and really quite minor. I am someone that loves rollercoasters, I’m not afraid of heights and have been parasailing quite a few times, so i don’t know the reason why it happened to me.

I would suggest seeing a neurologist. It may be something simple. And without being as abrasive as the previous responder I wouldn’t want you to endanger yourself or the general motoring public if this could possibly happen to you while driving an 80,000 pound vehicle that while out of control can easily cause mayhem.

Just be safe, and good luck to you.

Congrats. Nice work.

I was just informed that I have received my 6 month safety award. It only took me a year to get it. :)

Brett, and everyone else, I’d like to share a story.

First let me say I’ve been busy trucking and have neglected my diary, but I’d like to thank everyone here, because you’re all a major part of my success so far.

Last night I called night dispatch to inform them that I was running very tight, and may be a few minutes late for my appointment time (if at all less than 30 min) but I was on time.

The night cover guy told me “ do the best you can, you’re one of the best drivers in his fleet”

Woot, hot diggity WOOT!!!

In trucking, you'll find that you learn more from your own mistakes than the mistakes of others.

If you learn from your mistakes, I’m a super trucker in only 3 months solo.

Thank you g-town,

Stay safe out there driver.

I’ve been lax keeping up with this diary, but I’ve been busy.

Holy cow what a whirlwind it’s been.

If anyone doubts what the people here say about trucking, DONT. The things I’ve been told are spot on 100% accurate.

I’ve learned more about trucking AFTER I went solo than I ever did in school.

After I went solo, I thought I’d not had enough practice backing, and was nervous every time. Now I have no one to advise me on how to set myself up for backing in. So I look, think, and when I can, watch the other experienced drivers do the thing when I feel uncertain. However that uncertainty is far less common now than when I first started. I look at it and are backing in without having those OMG moments. I look at it and think to myself I got this. I’m not saying this from arrogance, but from newly found confidence. I’ve backed into some very tight places since going solo, and every time I do, I let out a breath, and think to myself, “ok, I CAN do this job”. I’m still, and expect I always will, utilize the GOAL option. I’ve done the GOAL even when I’m CERTIAN I’m good, and often enough, my certainty was wrong and had I backed 6 more inches, I’d have backed into something I didn’t want to.

I’ve made some mistakes. I did damage 2 trailers slightly, and someone else’s truck, and frankly I hate that I did that BUT I’ve learned from those mistakes and have not repeated them. So they were good mistakes, because I learned. I’ve made wrong turns and had to figure out a way to turn around, once in a construction site where they were building condos. WHYBTHE HECK IS A REFER COMING DOWN A DIRT ROAD INTO A CONSTRUCTION SITE?!?! I got that bad boy turned around and got myself outa there, only losing about 20 min of my clock, and a little pride.

I’ve learned that a phone call to the receiver can make a world of difference, I’ve learned that my dispatcher, although I don’t feel he’s the best one out there, and has made some mistakes with me. Is doing his job, and we get along well, and if I ask for time, I can get it. Partly because he is a good guy and partly because I’m flexible. He’s changed my dispach in the middle and I had to change my home time to accommodate it. I did, he appreciated it. And we work together to get this thing done. I’ve also never been late, due to my actions. (A couple of 5 minute late deliveries due to unexpected traffic, or a wrong turn but that’s it.) if I’m late, it’s because they load me late, not my fault. And I keep the lines of communication open with him.

“Glenn, if they don’t have my loaded in an hour or so, I won’t be able to make my appointment time.” Pretty easy, then I go to my bunk and nap until loaded.

I once got a run where I had to tell him I didn’t feel I had enough clock to do it. We discussed it and he found some inefficiencies in my logging and we got back enough time to make the run. (Still learning that part too, I’m not too bad but without a doubt could be better).

My trip planning game is going to have to step up in December. We lost the dedicated account I’ve been doing, so I don’t know where I’ll be almost every night anymore. I’ve come so far in a relatively short time, I know I’ll get the other things too, sure I’ll make mistakes, but not twice the same mistake.

I’ll conclude sort of where I started.

The advice and knowledge I’ve gotten here had been spot on perfect, and 100% accurate, and I’d like to thank you all for sharing that with all of us noobs, rookie solo drivers, and students.

Bravo to you all for keeping this place, somewhere we can go to comfortably ask a question, knowing we will not be mocked or made to feel inadequate because of our ignorance, and know we will get a good answer, or several, to our questions.

Thank you.

On the prime driver Facebook page many people seem to end their statements with "local"

It seems derogatory, but what does it mean?

I asked on that page and as expected did not get an answer, just sarcasm. And a stupid meme.

Thanks. I knew I'd get the answers here.

Auto I'll never use as you do not.

I was wondering how to get those coupling lights to work

Thanks again.

I never got an owners manual and had no luck on the internet, so a little help would be very appreciated. Every time I ask a question on the Facebook prom driver page I get bashed for my ignorance so I'm back among friends. I should never have strayed.

They have me a 2015 international. On the dash is a switch marked pdl it says lock at the top. Also there are 2 buttons by the headlight switch marked auto and work.

What are they for, and when/if should I use them?

Thanks in advance.

But before I slep I have to take the plastic off the granite hard mattress, make up my bunk, and try to sleep with dozens of trucks idling around me. Waiting for the call from them to tell me they're ready.