AJ's Truck Driving Journey

How long are you staying out at a time?

How long are you staying out at a time?

The first stint was a month.... fastest month of my life ! lol

This one is two weeks..... we'll see ;)

Are you on a bi-weekly now or something? Looking forward to hearing some updates when you get the chance AJ, been thinking about you.

Are you on a bi-weekly now or something? Looking forward to hearing some updates when you get the chance AJ, been thinking about you.

No ... pure long haul OTR.

As it turns out, Roehl does NOT have plans for a terminal , or even a drop yard for that matter, as was promised by their recruiter at CDL school. That leaves all Home Time Fleet options off the table.

I didn't really want to share a sleeper cab truck anyway.... It's destiny.

OK , let's try to get caught up on this deal. I think I left off with the the beginning of Roehl, Phase II.

I landed a trainer who was a bit of a gruff, tough love fellow, with few endearing qualities. I must have told myself a thousand times… "It's only temporary, bite your tongue and smile." I wan't going to **** off the cat who held my career in his hands, no matter how much he irritated me.

He talked too loudly, smoked and kept his APU near the temperature of a supernova at night. When he corrected me while I drove, he did so with more of a scream than a suggestion.

It was all too much. After the crash course CDL school, Roehl Phase I and now a stint in the Marine Corps with my Phase II trainer, I became deathly sick with a sinus infection that I just now am getting over… One month plus of massive headaches and low grade fever. What a lovely way to start out my new and final career.

My next post will be the story of my first load that took me home with my own truck. Nearly sick out of my mind, you can guess it was a blast ;)

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.

DAC:

Drive-A-Check Report

A truck drivers DAC report will contain detailed information about their job history of the last 10 years as a CDL driver (as required by the DOT).

It may also contain your criminal history, drug test results, DOT infractions and accident history. The program is strictly voluntary from a company standpoint, but most of the medium-to-large carriers will participate.

Most trucking companies use DAC reports as part of their hiring and background check process. It is extremely important that drivers verify that the information contained in it is correct, and have it fixed if it's not.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

The day I was issued my new truck, a 2014 International ProStar+, I had just come off the road with my Phase II trainer. There was no night in the hotel for me. The trainer said we would sleep in the truck at the Ellenwood terminal. Fine by me, I was almost free of the tyrant. I was a good student for him. He was the boss and I let him know it. The waiting seemed endless to get things in order to get my truck. Moving my gear around was excruciating with my sinus infection. There was no place to rest. I just propped myself up in the lounge and waited for my fleet manager to give me a truck #. When I received the # , it was already in the service bay. The mechanic was distant at first, but warmed up once he discovered I was actually interested in the functionality of the truck. He was then, at least, tolerable of me. My attitude seemed to be rare. I was free from the pain of my illness for a brief time with this joyful occasion. Then I got to the permit book - completely outdated with no year end stickers of any kind. More waiting…. But, at least, I was able to get away and lay down in my own truck, far away from the madness. OK, the permit book was in order after a couple of hours and I received my first load assignment that would take me home. The first step was to find an empty. Of course, there were none. My head really starts t******* now, and my fever gains pitch. Next order - bobtail across Atlanta to get an empty at a customer location. Every step in the process was brand new to me. I retrieve my empty and proceed to the shipper. I didn't have my Rand-McNally unit yet so I was using the routing info from my load assignment. I was so delirious from my head pain, I didn't even think of using Google Maps, which I had used a thousand time prior. Of course, I get lost. I travel right down the middle of downtown Athens, GA. The road kept getting tighter and tighter. I start seeing college kids (UGA) and realize I'm in big trouble. I am definitely NOT on a truck route. I end up in what is virtually a residential area pulling a 53' trailer. Every corner was extremely tight. How I got out that area without an accident or a ticket, God only knows. I eventually find the shipper and get loaded. OK. A small amount of tension eases from the tennis ball in the back of my neck. I hit the road. Plenty of time on my HOS so I plan to find a spot just on the other side of Atlanta. I hit I285 in Atlanta at 1500 on feel I should make it to I24 before the rush hour kicks in.

Lesson #1 - It's always rush hour in Atlanta! I just cleared the bulk of the traffic with 30 minutes on my clock. It was now dark, I had to find a shut down point. The truck stop I pulled off for was madness. I knew I couldn't go in there in my condition. I head down US41. Finally , the cars thin out and I was able think. 15 minutes left on the clock. I think, great, I going over on my HOS on my first run !! I spot a slightly industrial area over to my left and I pull in to see if I can squeeze in somewhere and shutdown. Every entryway was built for cars with nice curbs and manicured shrubbery. No way am I taking out a garden with tandems. I crawl through the area searching. It winds around to a bit of an open area parallel to US41. 5 minutes left on clock. The road ends with a hard 90 degree turn with nice lawn one side and barricades on the other. I'm stuck. I shut it down and tell myself I would figure it out in the morning. If I didn't get arrested, that is. The daylight brought an amazing sight. I had landed, after all that journey, right in front of a church. I didn't recognize it at night, because it was a modern design, but the cross was plan to see now. I was safe after all. I walked around the area and came up with a plan. I barely got that rig out of there with no damage to property, livestock or small children. After my escape I remember little else. I remember traveling through Chattanooga, which I love to do, however I have no recollection of the consignee as I sit here typing this. I suppose my fever had gained some, and I was simply on auto-pilot. I do remember getting the rig, now traveling dead head, near my home and dropping the trailer at a little country store where I had seen truckers do the same. I locked the doors and kingpin, then pushed off. I was now bobtailing down the country roads of my home. I felt good, If not absolutely exhausted. I pull into the driveway just a bit and park it. No way I can get through the trees and all the way to the house. I put on the air cuff lock and lock her up. As I start my walk to the house, I turn around and peer at the truck from a distance. It looked monstrous on my little driveway, off my little country road. I reflected over what I had gone though to get to the point where I was standing now.

Continued on next post.

The massively fast paced, stressfully hectic CDL school. The 14 days straight of Roehl Phase I, knowing that at any point, you could be sent home. The 12 days with my trainer from hell in Roehl Phase II, where my body finally succumbed to all the stress and, but my mind stayed strong. To, finally, getting my own rig and finding my way home.

Was it all worth it?

As this was the only career I could get into quickly and make good money, I had no choice. I had to make it work and I did.

… so… yes, it was well worth it.

I turn around and walk up the long driveway to the house. The horses recognize me as a slowly walk by. I make the last turn and there is the house.

I'm home.

Awesome!!!!!!!!!

Now if you could just bottle up each lesson you learned along the way from day one until now we could pass those out to every new driver so they know how much they'll have to endure to get to this point

Great story! Hope your recovery is going well!

LOVE the story! I am starting next week at Knight after driving for my family farm for what seems like forever and your story was inspirational.