Just One Of The Many Perks Of OTR
Topic 15268 | Page 1
I love what you did there C.S.
I do the same types of things. I will run myself like crazy so I'm making some good money, but no matter how hard you run, opportunities for adventure will present themselves. Often times they are unexpected little presents dropped in our laps.
A happy successful driver knows how to recognize them and capitalize on the moment. The disgruntled will usually end up fuming and venting about how terrible this job is and how incompetent dispatchers are at scheduling appointments.
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.
That's awesome! I don't know if I'll be up in MD much anymore but I'll have to check them out if I'm up there again.
I'm in Findlay, OH, taking a 34. It's a small town and the "truck stop" I'm parked at doesn't even have showers, but these guys let me drop my trailer for a bit so I could bobtail somewhere for lunch. I found this little Mexican restaurant with great food, a cool atmosphere, and really low prices. Man, I haven't eaten that good since I was home. Then in the evening I went for a walk around the park nearby and snapped some pics.
There are little bits of heaven everywhere.
Bobtail:
"Bobtailing" means you are driving a tractor without a trailer attached.
That's awesome! I don't know if I'll be up in MD much anymore but I'll have to check them out if I'm up there again.
I'm in Findlay, OH, taking a 34. It's a small town and the "truck stop" I'm parked at doesn't even have showers, but these guys let me drop my trailer for a bit so I could bobtail somewhere for lunch. I found this little Mexican restaurant with great food, a cool atmosphere, and really low prices. Man, I haven't eaten that good since I was home. Then in the evening I went for a walk around the park nearby and snapped some pics.
There are little bits of heaven everywhere.
Who are you with again Paul?
They let you run on "line 5" while you're on a 34?
Rick
Bobtail:
"Bobtailing" means you are driving a tractor without a trailer attached.
That's awesome! I don't know if I'll be up in MD much anymore but I'll have to check them out if I'm up there again.
I'm in Findlay, OH, taking a 34. It's a small town and the "truck stop" I'm parked at doesn't even have showers, but these guys let me drop my trailer for a bit so I could bobtail somewhere for lunch. I found this little Mexican restaurant with great food, a cool atmosphere, and really low prices. Man, I haven't eaten that good since I was home. Then in the evening I went for a walk around the park nearby and snapped some pics.
There are little bits of heaven everywhere.
Who are you with again Paul?
They let you run on "line 5" while you're on a 34?
Rick
As long as you're not using it to advance the load and keep it under the maximum daily allowment you're good to go (usually 1 or 2 hours per day depends on company).
Bobtail:
"Bobtailing" means you are driving a tractor without a trailer attached.
This is exactly the kind of stuff that I'm looking forward to once I get out on the road. Everything doesn't have to be a trip to a national park or historical landmark. Just unique little spots like this in different parts of the country. Very cool, thanks for posting!
So yesterday afternoon I showed up to the delivery in Hanover, Maryland to discover the customer was closed. Appointment wasn't until today at 0800 so I parked in the lot and let dispatch know what was going on. Then we grabbed an Uber up to this cool little restaurant called Crabtowne, USA. All you can eat snow crab and shrimp, plus they have close to a hundred classic arcade games and pinball machines. If you're ever in the Baltimore area (they're in Glen Burnie) and have a little extra time, check it out!
Posting because I often see people ask here how much you really get to do/see OTR. This is just one of many things we've done since becoming drivers. Sometimes I just can't believe we get paid as much as we do to basically go on a neverending vacation. Shhh! Don't tell anyone!
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
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.
Ugh I wish I could do that. I'm absolutely not allowed to drop a loaded trailer under any circumstances.
I can't even drop a loaded trailer on hometime. I park at my CDL school which has 24 hour security and is way off the beaten path. Not even with a trailer lock and a kingpin lock.
Nope, no way, no how.....
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.
Chickie Monster, as I understand it, C.S. never dropped a loaded trailer. They parked their rig and took an Uber ride to where they wanted to go.
It looks like Paul W. dropped his trailer and bob tailed out for dinner.....not C. S.
Aha! I should read the whole thread, and maybe I'd understand what's going on in the conversation.
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So yesterday afternoon I showed up to the delivery in Hanover, Maryland to discover the customer was closed. Appointment wasn't until today at 0800 so I parked in the lot and let dispatch know what was going on. Then we grabbed an Uber up to this cool little restaurant called Crabtowne, USA. All you can eat snow crab and shrimp, plus they have close to a hundred classic arcade games and pinball machines. If you're ever in the Baltimore area (they're in Glen Burnie) and have a little extra time, check it out!
Posting because I often see people ask here how much you really get to do/see OTR. This is just one of many things we've done since becoming drivers. Sometimes I just can't believe we get paid as much as we do to basically go on a neverending vacation. Shhh! Don't tell anyone!
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.