AJ's Truck Driving Journey
Topic 5059 | Page 9
Hang in there AJ, you are doing great. We all go through the butterflies, lonliness, and all other feelings that come with beginning this life. Soon you will be on here encouraging folks to carry on just like you have been.
Stay safe my friend.
Thanks, buddy..... It is quite a journey.... As long as it keeps rolling, I'm in ... 
We all go through the butterflies, lonliness, and all other feelings that come with beginning this life. Soon you will be on here encouraging folks to carry on just like you have been.
Amen to that!!!!
11 / 1 / 14
Day six of Phase I .
Today started with work in the Atlas' while we waited for the sun to come up. We then did the pre-trips and some backing. Our regular trainer was taking the day off, so another cat came in to give myself and another fellow a little final "exercise". We were given directions to a "Shipper" and where let loose to go find it. The trainer gave minimal guidance. Mostly regarding safety en route.
My classmate made the mistake of looking at Google for directions at the last second and defaulted to that when taking the exercise. He left out half the directions taking the Google route ! lol .... I made a big block letter chart of each freeway, road name and direction... then clipped it onto an air vent and had little problem finding the business. I missed one turn and had to go around the block.
I wore my work boots this morning as it was VERY cold in Atlanta. I was used to my tennis shoes and my shifting suffered a bit as I was fumbling with the feel. The only "work on " marks I received on the two page / 2 column per page ( !! ) summary was in the shifting. Three marks in the shifting section ... something like Up shifting / Down Shifting and Clutch use - or something along those lines. I am very happy with that, since I know I was just thrown by the different shifting feel. I was squaring off the turns well. Clearing out the tandems with out killing anybody. Setting up turns using any and all space available.
We were cut loose early today. I think the remaining players are all in a good shape. Tomorrow should be almost fun.
I feel like I'm in a good place with my driving and did well with my daily backing attempt.
Bring on the Hire, the trainer and Phase II .... OTR
Let's roll.
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
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.
Tandems:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
Was that you I blew by while going through Atlanta today? Just kidding. I did go through there but it was just a hair after daylight.
Getting used to taking what you need to make them turns huh? Sounds like you are rolling along just fine.
Was that you I blew by while going through Atlanta today? Just kidding. I did go through there but it was just a hair after daylight.
Getting used to taking what you need to make them turns huh? Sounds like you are rolling along just fine.
Oh, yea.... You would have blown by me, alright ! I'm not moving to fast out there! lol ...
As for the driving, ... The trainer said I had good "instincts", which really put me at ease.
Sunday, 11-2-14
Last day of Phase I.
We started out the day planning another "Find the Shipper" exercise. I had a pretty good plan, I thought... lol I managed the beginning of the trip well, all the way to getting on the interstate in Atlanta. That's when I learned a great lesson. Document the EXIT # coming off freeways! The road name is not mentioned sometimes. Maybe just the town or military base. The point of the exercise is to get you lost and see how you manage it.
I learned a few things while working my way back to the target area. Use the sun to judge your direction ( keep in mind time of day and whether it is a Winter Southern angled sun) Also, malls are near freeways, many times. So, when I saw the mall, I started looking for the interstate, focusing AWAY from the housing areas. BTW, the first recovery technique for a missed exit is simply to loop around on an exit that has a return ramp in the opposite direction. This didn't work for me, as my missed exit was just before a major spaghetti junction meaning I had to take a highway. ( I could have kept going until I found one, though .... hmmm )
Anyway, I got flipped around on the I 75 north. When I saw a road that was on my directions ,I took it and continued North on it until I found the intersection I needed.
Great lessons in keeping your cool and using all the tools you need to get the job done. ________________________
Today (Monday) we get hired on with Roehl and begin Phase II. Catch up on some laundry, get some manuals, get debriefed and wait for your training tractor. We should be back at the hotel by 2PM or so...
Most of the pressure is off and being replaced by nervous excitement and a sense of pending adventure...
What an amazing journey !
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
Interstate:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).
Hey AJ, I haven't followed from the beginning. What kind of hometime are you looking at w/ Roehl? How long are you going to be away during training? I know that was a concern for you and I'm curious if you were going w/ their 7 off / 7 on program after training, if that's how it works. Been thinking about you buddy - hope all's well!
Hey AJ, I haven't followed from the beginning. What kind of hometime are you looking at w/ Roehl? How long are you going to be away during training? I know that was a concern for you and I'm curious if you were going w/ their 7 off / 7 on program after training, if that's how it works. Been thinking about you buddy - hope all's well!
Hey, Buddy....
Well the initial plan was the Home Time 14 / 7 fleet. However the Nashville drop yard is behind schedule. So, it appears that I will be OTR for the short term.
I was hired on yesterday, so now I am an employee of Roehl. We received credentials and gate passes. I am now sitting in the hotel with 6 hours on my 70 clock waiting for my trainer to arrive. HOS is still a bit fuzzy to me, but I'm about to get thrown in the deep end on that one !! lol
Phase II begins.... may the docks be broad and easy ;)
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Sounds good AJ, really happy for you brother. You'll be in my thoughts.
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Hang in there AJ, you are doing great. We all go through the butterflies, lonliness, and all other feelings that come with beginning this life. Soon you will be on here encouraging folks to carry on just like you have been.
Stay safe my friend.