And We're Off!
Topic 13809 | Page 9
Good luck CM. Its all about the journey and your's is just beginning. Enjoyed your thread. If you have the time, keep em coming.
Safe travels!
Bottom line: I love my job! I have questioned whether or not I was going to like this. But now that I'm here really doing it, it's the coolest, most incredible and hardest thing I've ever done in my life!
That's so great to hear. I know exactly where you're coming from. Keep up the great work, and the great posts!
Glad to read all is well, good luck on your test next week.
Good luck to you cm. I to just finished with my trainer Friday night. Luckily we rapped up in my home town so I got to come home for the weekend and relax. I go to test out Monday. My home terminal is only a 30 minute drive from my house so that is nice for me. I should be in my own truck by Wednesday. Sounds like your going to do great.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Well I did it! I get to update my driving status to "Rookie Solo Driver"!!! Went to the terminal this morning and went over a few nuts and bolts policy and procedure things. Then this afternoon we went out onto the range. I aced the driving course and I was super impressed with my backing skills! My setups still need a little work but I got into all the spots with NO help! But... When I was doing my 45 angle back I ran over a cone because I was focused on not hitting the trailer. But I did the course again and did much better!
So tomorrow... I get assigned my very own truck! Stay tuned for pictures. I already have a name picked out...
I have to talk to dispatch tomorrow because I have to go home right away. I never recieved my plastic CDL in the mail and my paper expires the 25th. So I need to get to the dmv and get that taken care of.
So excited!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
Waaay to goooo ChickieMonster!
Your a real (rookie) truck driver now!
When I was doing my 45 angle back I ran over a cone because I was focused on not hitting the trailer.
Yeah. I did that. I was so focused on the back end, I crunched into the yellow post right in front of me! You have to look in three directions at once!
Pictures! Pictures! Let's see your new buggy!
ChickieMonster,
I have read almost all of your posts from the start. You certainly have developed that "can do" attitude in your brief time in trucking. This will certainly serve you well on the future. I look forward to reading about you future journeys and to see how far you go in your career. May the sun always be setting from behind. Enjoy the ride
Hey congrats on the upgrade and making it through training!
Your story has been a lot of fun to follow along with and it has really taught people some very important lessons about the emotional roller coaster you'll face getting your career underway and the power of fully committing yourself to being successful on the path you've chosen.
For anyone that hasn't read ChickieMonster's earlier thread you really have to read this to understand the full story:
Having confidence in yourself and being committed to the cause are critical if you want to be successful at something as difficult and complex as trucking. Putting in the hard work and having a great attitude will get you places in this industry.
Can't wait to see the pictures of your first truck!!
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
All done! Got the keys to my new baby! Just waiting on service to figure out why my check engine light is on so I can get moving. I met my FM and she is super cool. She will be my dispatcher for 10 weeks while I get my feet under me. She has a much smaller fleet than the regular dispatchers so she can be more available to help.
She wanted me to take a load to Indianapolis tonight but I would have to run all night to get to the relay spot on time. (They are trying to get me home so I can take care of the dmv.) she asked if I felt like I could do that safely. I told her that I have been up since 5 this morning and I didn't think it was a good idea for me to try and run all night having been up that long. She was ok with that and is still working on trying to get another load. Did I screw up here? Should I have taken the load? How bad does it look that I refused my very first load? Granted she did call to ask how I felt about it before sending the info over the Treq unit. I dunno... Any thoughts?
Otherwise I am doing some laundry and going to take pictures as soon as service is done with my new baby!
Dispatcher:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.Fm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
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That was such an awesome thread, I can't wait to see more of your posts!