Profile For Eric S.

I’m actually not can you point me in the right direction?.

That is great news. I hope you are on Workforce to get tons of info and help.

Hey y’all I’m not sure if anyone remembers me but I was on here awhile back speaking about my plans with western express. Long story short my time there was better then I thought it would be. I gave them 7 months and actually tried too stay a full year but it just didn’t pan out. Now I’m with CFI and let me say after being here and around the other drivers and personal I’m beyond happy. The CPM is about five cents less then what I was making at western but that’s okay because the respect,miles,and help if needed is big step up. I’m planning on being here for the foreseeable future god willing.

I’m going to be coming back to this a’lot but thank you for breaking all of that down it’s gunna be my reference point when I’m doing this job career/solo. Greatly appreciate it.

You broke that down perfectly along the lines I was thinking of doing this with my co driver. But can you explain that 17 hour rule to me a little bit?

If you adhere to a 14-hour clock, it will be difficult for both drivers to load and unload.

I'm flatbed at Prime and in TNT you run teams. My trainer and I both loaded and unloaded, but we did not adhere to the 14-hour clock.

Typical schedule for flatbed is driver 1 drives 3 hours to shipper. Two hours total turn around time (both drivers on duty while loading). Driver 1 driver 1 finishes his 8 hours of driving, but because driver 2 started his 14 hour clock 10 hours ago (when he was loading), even with the new rule driver 2 only has 7 hours left on his 14 hour clock. Or he would wait two more hours to get his full 14 hour clock back.

Now for the next load you will deliver in the morning, drive up to 4 hours to the next shipper, and then pick up another load. So 2 hours to unload, 4 hours driving, 2 hours to load. If the driver who drove to the receiver, also drove to the next shipper, how much time does the next driver have to drive a shift?

Even if you disregard to the 14-hour clock, and then just load and unload off duty, you will have some BRUTALLY long days. With the new rule I have 17-hour days, and those feel like a vacation compared to the schedule I ran in TNT.

With the new rule for 8/2 or 7/3 split sleeper birth, the 2 or 3 hour does not count against your 14-hour clock and effectively extends your 14-hour clock. So, if I arrive at a shipper or receiver, but have to wait long enough to where I'm off duty for 2 or 3 hours, I can still maximize my 11 hour clock as follows:

0500: on-duty pretrip and then drive to shipper. At this point my 14-hour clock ends at 1900.

0600: arrive at shipper and wait for 3 hours. Off-duty or sleeper.

0900: load and secure.

1100: Drive.

1630: 30-minute break.

1700: drive

1900: without the 3 hour extension for being off-duty, my 14-hour clocks ends and I have to stop for a 10-hour break. At this point, I've only used 8.5 hours of my 11-hour drive clock. But because of the extension, I can drive until 2200.

2130: My 11-hour drive clock runs out and I stop for the night.

So, with a 3-hour extension, my 14-hour clock becomes a 17-hour clock.

But this is when driving solo.

The brutally long days you will encounter as a team are as follows. Let's say that your stick to a 12-hour shift. One driver starts at 0600 and his shift ends at 1800. The other driver has a shift from 1800 to 0600.

The "night" driver, drives through the night to arrive at the shipper at 0600. Let's say you get unloaded right way. Total turn around time is 2 hours. The "day" driver drives to the next shipper, getting there about 11:00. Let's say total turn around time is again 2 hours. Now you're at 1300. The night driver has had maybe 3 hours in the sleeper (the 3 hours his co-driver drove). Then 5 hours again from 1300 to 1800. The "night" driver hasn't been off-duty or in the sleeper long enough to drive. Okay, fine, you say that the "day" driver can until 2000, because his clock started at 0600, right? And the night driver can get 8 hours in the sleeper, right? Well, guess what? First, you can begin to see where how this planned schedule begins to shift, even with a good scenario. Before you know it, you sleep schedule is all messed up.

In addition, this a pretty tame scenario. While in TNT, there where several times where I drove through the night, delivered in the morning, tried to get a couple of hours of sleep, then unloaded in the afternoon (late), slept two hours, then drove through the night. So, I had two complete drive shifts, a load, and unload, all on 4 hours of sleep.

You broke that down perfectly along the lines I was thinking of doing this with my co driver. But can you explain that 17 hour rule to me a little bit?

If you adhere to a 14-hour clock, it will be difficult for both drivers to load and unload.

I'm flatbed at Prime and in TNT you run teams. My trainer and I both loaded and unloaded, but we did not adhere to the 14-hour clock.

Typical schedule for flatbed is driver 1 drives 3 hours to shipper. Two hours total turn around time (both drivers on duty while loading). Driver 1 driver 1 finishes his 8 hours of driving, but because driver 2 started his 14 hour clock 10 hours ago (when he was loading), even with the new rule driver 2 only has 7 hours left on his 14 hour clock. Or he would wait two more hours to get his full 14 hour clock back.

Now for the next load you will deliver in the morning, drive up to 4 hours to the next shipper, and then pick up another load. So 2 hours to unload, 4 hours driving, 2 hours to load. If the driver who drove to the receiver, also drove to the next shipper, how much time does the next driver have to drive a shift?

Even if you disregard to the 14-hour clock, and then just load and unload off duty, you will have some BRUTALLY long days. With the new rule I have 17-hour days, and those feel like a vacation compared to the schedule I ran in TNT.

No not at all

The reason I’m going team with the flatbed is because the work will be easier and take less time as opposed to one person doing it.

How's that going to work as far as the driver who's supposed to be resting getting their 10 hour break? Will the other driver be doing work related duties while logged sleeper/off duty? Thats a huge no no if its caught.

No I was given the option. They did there regular thing in trying to point out the positives of team driving etc. if I was going dry van or reefer I would just do solo. The reason I’m going team with the flatbed is because the work will be easier and take less time as opposed to one person doing it. I do understand that teaming can take a toll on the friendship and things of that nature. But the way I look at it is I’m at a second chance company and the more I can do to keep my nose clean and my record good BEYOND bettering my skills I’m going to take it. That’s just my personal opinion on it.

Did WEx tell you you had to start as a team driver, Eric? Or was that decision left up to you? Just curious.

If you had no choice in the matter then I can't fault you for trying to look at it in the most positive way you can. That's good.

Just be prepared for some difficulties that may arise, as Kearsey and PackRat pointed out.

10-4

Eric, It is a forum where one can communicate freely amongst drivers.

You asked for thoughts and received a quantity of expert advice from proven drivers concerning things that actually work in the real world.

Your teaming help idea ain't going to work after the first couple weeks. Your notion of making more money as teams won't happen either. Feel free to believe whatever you wish, though.

Appreciate the advise. My trainer here actually put me into some situations that I needed to make difficult backing manuevers since I told him that’s what got me disqualified with England so I appreciate him taking the time out to show it to me.

"Nobody’s drinking the kool-aid..."

You may have interpreted that statement about the kool-aid the wrong way. He was just telling you to not get caught up in all the rumors and negativity you may hear from other drivers at the terminal. We call them "terminal rats" and they do nothing but complain while trying to suck you into their sphere of negativity.

Stay above that and remain positive. That's all. Don't let their negativity bring you down.

Also, don't let a company's reputation influence you at all. Western Express might appear to have a lot of slackers and complainers driving for them, but remember, they also have a lot of successful drivers too. Just concentrate on trying to be one of those successful drivers👍

"Nobody’s drinking the kool-aid..."

You may have interpreted that statement about the kool-aid the wrong way. He was just telling you to not get caught up in all the rumors and negativity you may hear from other drivers at the terminal. We call them "terminal rats" and they do nothing but complain while trying to suck you into their sphere of negativity.

Stay above that and remain positive. That's all. Don't let their negativity bring you down.

Also, don't let a company's reputation influence you at all. Western Express might appear to have a lot of slackers and complainers driving for them, but remember, they also have a lot of successful drivers too. Just concentrate on trying to be one of those successful drivers👍

I’m not blaming anything on anyone at this point in time. I’m driving this truck at the end of the day so blame can only be placed one way in most cases. I thought this was a forum were you could talk freely amongst other drivers?.

Eric you not stating anything factual. What you are saying is purely subjective. You worry should be solely on yourself and your performance. Not how a company looks to other people. I have no idea what you mean by “a company is only as good as its drivers”. I worry about myself and have never blamed a company. Don’t drink that terminal rat koolaide.

Because I’m pointing out to the negativity that’s out there surrounding western. Everyone loves to blame the company,I’ve done it myself. But a company is only as good as its drivers 🤷‍♂️. Sure I sound like a bootlicker but im just stating facts.

In that case, you should be licking your chops to get out there and outshine the internal competition. Driving is competitive. You are competing mostly with your coworkers. Go ahead and leave them in the dust. Show WE that you are a step above the other people they hire😉

I don’t thin you understand what I’m getting at there. We’ve all been in a situation we’re an extra set of eyes could of been useful especially in our first year. Plus I’m doing flatbed and flatbed is a lot easier if two people are helping each other out which is what me and this other guy will be doing. It’s not going to be a one way street here. Either way I have four weeks with a trainer before I even get to that stage so by then the skills will be better thank you for commenting your thoughts.

Heard and understood sir. I’m actually going to team up with another driver as soon as my training is done. Having someone else out here to help me out if I’m ever in a position we’re I’m stuck or can’t figure it out would be invaluable. Plus the money couldn’t hurt.

First.. You realize other people are looking at you thinking you are one of those u desirables that you frowned upon, right???

As a second chance company you will find people who dont meet the standards of other companies....including you. So dont put people down.

Secondly, teaming so someone else can help you is wrong and selfish. That person is not your trainer. Many team mates just go into the bunk and close the curtains. You are getting paid equally so why would they waste their break helping you with your screw ups?

Yes you could get someone willing to help. But you could be with someone with less experience than you! What if you are the one being asked to explain?

Good luck