Triletter Update - A Year After CDL School

Starcar and Old School,

Made it home safe and sound. Kicked back enjoying life and the family. Already contemplating the next line session on the road and what I can do to make it more efficient for me and the rest of the company team. Amazing what a beer or two can do for the thought processes.

I wouldn't want to go back to dry van and have never been a fan of refeers. Gave a thought to tankers, but the Missus drew the line on that one; images of flames. I love the challenge of figuring out how to safely secure a load and then tarp it so it looks just like a present. (Not there yet, but working on it.) That feeling from the body telling you that you have actually used muscles that most others don't. I am certain there will be time or two this winter when I will wonder what I was thinking as I am cold and frustrated. Then again, I have done that this summer when I was hot and frustrated.

Nope, I think that flatbed brings together everything that I want; the physical, the mental and a sense of accomplishment when it is delivered. Not to mention how we all tend to look after one another. That is not to denigrate others; it is what works for me.

Time for another "quick" update.

Really enjoyed the home time. Got to spend a great weekend with my wife to celebrate our 34 married years. Not enough time with the grandson or dogs, but have to set priorities. Strange emotions in that I didn't want to leave my family, but really jonesing to get back out there and do this driving thing again.

First load out was refract brick to Roanoke, Va. Got it there without too many issues other than me worrying about time and a place to park. I am finding that planning is really difficult if you don't know the area or routing takes you through "interesting" places. Got the last spot in a rest area and even that got a bit complicated due to how some people choose to park.

Getting into the steel mill was an adventure - sort of a cross country trip on totally unimproved roads. Got a pre-plan right away, but found that I had to go back out the gate I came in order to pick up 100 yds away. Picked up some flat steel way late due to no fault of my own (wait out/in) but got it done. Delivery went fine. Well, it did for me since the steel plant had loaded me with the wrong product. Luckily they accepted the load so I was able to get the next load.

The next load was extruded aluminum that was pre-loaded and tarped with minimal securement. Meant I had to drop my tarps and an equal number of straps. Two of 3 tarps were good, but the middle light weight tarp was not in great condition with a couple of holes, one around a D ring. And the trailer was missing a front marker light (just a hole with a wire pigtail) with another light crushed. Round it off with the yard tractor having set the trailer where a full size tractor could not get in to hook. After rearranging the front tarp to cover product better, got to work and got it done in the heat again. I found that I still sweat - a lot!

Whom ever does/wrote their routing software has a very wicked sense of humor. I understand that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. I also understand that the price of fuel dictates the fewest miles. However, when you have to drive narrow winding roads on pretty hilly route with lots of braking and accelerations due to small towns, what ever "savings" you made in milage probably got used up in the other factors; never mind the nerves of the driver on the road or attempting to navigate roads that don't show up in your atlas and the GPS want you to U turns because it wants to go another "better" route. I must say, though, it was a very scenic route.

Well down the road and before any lights were needed, got the repairs done to the trailer and decided I would go ahead and splurge for reserved parking; money well spent since when the repairs were finished, there was no parking available and my hours were shot. In fact the security guy (off duty police) had to chase one unauthorized guy out of a spot for me. As I was pulling out of the garage a bob tail tractor comes roaring around the corner a whips into the vacant space. He was "just" looking for a spot so he could go in and get a work order for repairs. The security guy comes back and asks me why I am not in the spot. Told him and he got hot. I said as long as it didn't take too long, no real harm. He walked of saying it would take long. Then he guided me in on a tight blind side back. Love those police/security guys!

Got up and saw that a line of thunderstorms was headed my way, so expedited my departure time to avoid getting soaked; mountains, in the dark, in torrential rains, gusty winds and vivid lightening are interesting. A couple of LCTC's into the day (rain, clear skies and back to wind and showers) noticed the middle tarp had what appeared to be a hole in it. Stopped at a closed weight station and found several holes on the side (none touching anything) and a 1 foot hole up on top of the load where a seam had given way. Got up on the trailer rail to patch and found another hole. Got it all patched up with duct tape in wind and cool. (Left in the morning at 74* and was patching in 42* with gusty winds and light rain.) Now I am freaking out since some of these loads can't get wet. I have taken several pictures of the load a different points, luckily, and reported it to dispatch. Another adventure in finding the consignee at the first stop the next morning due to an exit closing, detour signs few and far between and GPS that didn't have a clue and going to 3 building before finding the correct one. Told the guy right up front that I was concerned the load may have gotten wet. Got the first tarp off and found the entire load was dry as a bone. All of that worrying for naught. Still trying to get a handle on that worrying issue.

Even though I wasn't scheduled to make the final stop until the next morning, I determined that I could deliver that afternoon and coordinated with my DM. Delivery went off without a hitch and had everything packed up (2 tarps and a few straps) in a very quick time for me. I was pushing my 70 and am sitting until tomorrow morning when I have reasonable hours to proceed; 2hrs in South Dakota doesn't leave too many options. Have used the time to hit Wal Mart across they way and clean up the abode. Just another week in the life of driving flatbed. Got 2600 miles in for the first week back out and still loving this adventure!

Really enjoying your updates Larry, you sound like the flat-bedding gig is just the right medicine for you. I think truck driving takes some special people, but flat-bedding even raises the bar another notch. Keep it up, and I'll keep an eye out for ya!

Thanks Old School, I keep checking every time I see one of your company trucks to see if it is yours. I am certain we will cross paths at some point and I look forward to it. If nothing else, we have to be good examples for the flat bed community or StarCar will hunt us down for an attitude adjustment - as it should be!

I see I trained Larry very well

I have always said that whatever another trucker does out there...every person that sees it will paint me with the same brush. and some of the stuff I've seen makes me wonder if their mother raised them, or just tossed food out into the back yard for them.

So keep enjoying your adventure....and keep up that good truck driver/skateboarder image. After all...ya never know when Starcar might pull in to park next to ya, while your washing your tandems...And I"ve got an app for that

Time for another update. Still getting around. I tooled around the west for a while hauling scrap iron that was cut up mining machinery, air conditioners and other stuff. Got my first mountain winter driving in. Sat at the bottom of Wolfcreek Pass in CO for about 12 hrs while the chain laws were in effect. Had a heavy load and the pass was still pretty much packed snow on the road. It takes a long time to go over that sucker at 12 miles per hour! Found that I just had to be really smooth with the gas and I was good to go. Thought I would have lock the differential, but patience (and fear) have a way of working together.

Have encountered a few trucker gotcha's in the last few. I am pretty good at making sure that I get where I'm going in a timely manner and communicating any issues with my DM. Had to make contact with the receiver to make sure they were ready for the product on Tuesday morning. Get a call Sunday night (mind you, I am coming from Pueblo CO and am at the first stop Sunday night for a Monday delivery) telling me they aren't going to have a crane until Wednesday. So much for my planning. My delivery for Monday was also a surprise to them - they weren't expecting me until Wed or Thur. QC'ed my DM with the information and he was like, What? Mass confusion. Just put my pay a week behind.

Then I got the news that I was getting a new DM. Really liked my first, but he had a chance at a new position in the company as a driver developer. I actually found this out after my new DM called to let me know that I was now hers. OK. Guess that they just gave most of the drivers to a new DM. But me, I became a "draft pick" for my new DM. Got off to a great start, too. First load with her and had a new guy loading the new guys 53' California spread axle trailer. Didn't think it looked right. Secured it, tarped it. Another driver in my company comes in, takes one look at the dock and asks me if I would back in for him. HUH? No, I'll help walk you through it. Ended up with me getting it set up so he all he had to do was back it straight in. He had over 6 months OTR prior to this job. Don't think he will last long. So I take off and my load gauge is not right. Go down the road 30 miles to the nearest CAT scale and sure enough, the rear axle is 20,200. Call my new DM and she says take it back. So unsecure, untarp, back it in, resecure and retarp. Some creative elog and I am heading out the next morning at zero dark thirty, busting my hump to get the load delivered - safely and working my MPG's. Keeping my DM appraised and making plans if I can't get the load off in time. I made earlier than my estimate, make my empty call and am cleaning up when I here the QC. DM - CALL ME. Remember the guy that I set his truck up so he could back in? He left several hours before I went into the sleeper and I beat him and another driver to the consignee. She just wanted to let me know that I had done good. Got the load off to late for an immediate load and ended up sitting the weekend.

Since I'm sitting the weekend, let's get the PM out of the way on the truck and get the trailer serviced and a new DOT inspection, says maintenance. Cool, except the trailer fails due to an ICC bumper being cracked/bent out of tolerance. Told to go ahead and pick up the load on Monday and they will route me through a trailer repair. Made for a nice easy Sunday of hitting Wally World for supplies, getting fuel and then spending the night at the shipper to conserve hours. Load in the morning and it goes pretty good, but the trailer repair take longer than anticipated. Being in Richmond VA heading to Massachusetts I wasn't too keen on looking for parking after dark so I just hit my next fuel stop, called it a night and let my DM know what my plan was. Up early to avoid the DC debacle called traffic heading for the infamous George Washington bridge in New York City. I've heard way too many bad stories about this bridge and New York City. I've come to expect 4 wheelers to do dumb things, but I really didn't expect the same from my fellow truckers! Suffice it to say that my truck and I both made it with no scratches, bumps or dings. Not the most "fun" I have had, but not the white knuckled terror I had made in my mind. Got the load in about an hour early with a QC on the road of "Call me when empty." OK, what now. Get the load off in a pretty quick fashion since there were two company drivers there at the same time; tarps are always better with two people. Have to get out of the yard and there is another msg telling me not to forget to call when empty. So get the truck out of the yard and give her a call. Get another, "Good job! I'll have a load for you in the morning."

I am always my worst critic, but I'm starting to feel comfortable with the securement and tarping. Life in the truck is good since I have figured out how to get things restocked and feed myself quality meals. I stress WAY too much about getting places on time and wasting time, but it seems to turn out OK. I communicate via QC when required. If I have a problem, I communicate that with a recommendation for a solution. Still am so wet behind the ears it isn't funny, but I am starting to get a handle on what I am supposed to be doing.

Loving life. Been in 33 of 48 states in my first 90 days. What's not to like?

Just read through this thread. Congrats on getting the Melton gig! I have been really interested in getting into flatbedding, and Melton was a big pick of mine, as they do run ads on job boards in my area, (SW Florida.) When I called them, they told me they did not hire south of Tampa. Right now the only choice I have is CRST Malone, which is their flatbedding division, but they are lease or O/O only. So that dream is on hold for a while.

I can tell you all I have heard about Melton is good, from talking to other drivers. They seem to have a lot of happy drivers working for them. In my humble opinion that says a lot. Anyhow I enjoy reading your updates and also hearing all the advice from the other flatbedders on here. One day........

And the reason I want to go there? That whole sense of community that flatbedders seem to have! I like that.

Larry, I always enjoy seeing your updates. I'm not sure why I take a special interest in them, maybe it's just because you're flat-bedding now, and we seem to move in a lot of the same places. I've been doing a few short hauls down in Texas this week, but my DM messaged me yesterday that he was setting me up for a cross country run. It's funny because we've gotten to know each others ways so well, that I had already told my wife what he was doing before he even told me and it turns out I was right on the money.

I've had my share of fun on some of those air conditioner loads too. It seems the crane appointments can really mess you up. I had one that I re-powered from Nashville with two drop locations in Houston, and one drop in San Antonio. The snag I hit was that they had the San Antonio crane lined up first so I had to double back to Houston with my company not wanting to pay me for the miles that I had doubled up on. I chalked it up to a lesson learned until they dispatched me to pick up my next load in San Antonio because their software indicated that as my last drop. That gave me 15 deadhead miles when I really had to drive all the way back to San Antonio from Houston. That's when I decided "No they are going to have to pay me for all this or find me a different load." I was respectful and calm when I called them and explained everything, but firm enough to let them know that I couldn't continue doing twice the miles for half the money. Once everybody understood what had happened I got an extra 250 dollars for my troubles and that was more than what the mileage pay would have been! I find that if you're being responsible and doing a good job you will be treated fair in this business.

I'm still loving the flat-bed work, and it looks like you are too. It's great to hear from ya!

I find that if you're being responsible and doing a good job you will be treated fair in this business.

Amen to that!

Larry,

It seems you and I have 2 things in common, retired Navy & flatbed.

As Old School has already stated, I like him have enjoyed reading this whole thread. It seems like I might just have to start a journal just like you guys have done. Seems to be the going thing to do here of late.

Ernie