A Month Of Trucking With Daniel B.

Happy 100th reply!

Alright, I knew I would have to talk about this more and here goes.

The truth is, I'm a wacko Russian who doesn't know his limits and likes to bend the rules for the satisfaction.

It was a long combination of things, and David mentioned most of them. First, I got out of there at 1730 in rush hour traffic. The nearest scale in my route is an hour away (that's with no traffic). The nearest scale is right by SF and if I go over there during this time I'll never get out! It took me two hours to drive to that scale that's an hour away, so just to drive there and back it would be about 3 hours. Let's not forget I already drove 2.5 hours unpaid and out of route just to find a parking spot. Last I checked I'm not a charity for Prime.

This load has already made me sit for half a day, then I had to sit for another half a day on the appointment day and deal with frustrating traffic on both days. Then because there's so much time on this load I also sat for another day. So because of this load, I lost two days of potential driving which I could have made 600$ if all went well. This load has been more damaging than profitable.

Essentially, my BS cup was full. I've had enough and the next step was to unhook the trailer into the ocean. Going back meant all of the things above not to mention yet another dangerously tight backing where you're inches from hitting houses.

I like to think I know the CA weigh stations well considering how often I'm here. I knew for a fact that first weigh station would be closed. I also knew for a fact that the weigh station in Sacramento would be closed too. However, if I'm ever unsure my wife will gladly check for me. We live in Sacramento a mile from that weigh station, so I have eyes on that place when I need them.

It was just the fact that I knew I would get away with it so why not do it? I wouldn't do this in any other state! And I seriously don't recommend anyone follow my footsteps. But the whole point of this thread is to document my month, it would be wrong to leave this out.

This type of stuff is priceless. Anyone that makes it into this industry will face these situations and more everyday so they will be better prepared. Thanks Daniel for sharing with everyone. If mine weren't so boring I would consider it. Lol

This type of stuff is priceless. Anyone that makes it into this industry will face these situations and more everyday so they will be better prepared. Thanks Daniel for sharing with everyone. If mine weren't so boring I would consider it. Lol

Everyone Will Have different days, it's the reason why I'm going to be starting mine after the weeks over.

Daniel, gotta love CA predictability when it comes to scales.

Daniel, your honesty and that of this site is what makes me feel more comfortable in my decision to enter trucking. You tell it like it is! Even when you had to make a decision that is not "PC" or in line with the letter of the law. I think your thought process was one of Risk Management and not Risk Avoidance (which is all the rage with the CYA crowd that runs things these days...mini-rant over). Sometimes you have to consider all the factors...as crappy as they can be...and make the best out of a bad situation. Like you said...you had some knowledge about the terrain, you knew that you had major traffic obstacles, and you weren't extremely screwed on weight. Yes you could have gotten fined for weight and bridge formula violations; however, you used your planning skills and worked out a scenario that got you out of a mess.

Thanks for your "Trucking Truth".

12/21

I'm back to my regular schedule today. I woke up at 0800 to pack all my stuff and left at 0900. My plan is to get there an hour before my appointment time and drop my trailer at the delivery. I drove over Donners Pass again but it wasn't bad this time, it sure did slow me down though!

I drove to Fernley, NV and fueled up. After a took a 30 minute break then took off again down the open road. After my break I drove 8 hours nonstop.

It was a lonely day, not much to look at in Nevada on I80. I spent my day singing, listening to NFL games, and thinking. Man, as a trucker you spend more time in your mind than anywhere else. I drove 10 hours and 55 minutes today in a 11.5 hour day doing 620 miles. That's 620 mile markers, and 10 hours and 55 minutes staring into nothingness until 2215.

Its a bit of a blessing and a curse. All that time allows you to think things thoroughly, but at the same time it can make you mentally unstable. Trucking really does change you. Before trucking I wasn't like this. I didn't really want to talk to anyone because if I didn't know them I didn't care to know them. Now, I find myself getting into a conversation with a total stranger at a grocery store. Or, struggling to get off the phone when I still have things to talk about. I don't know if I'm using the right words here, but the lack of socialization makes you crave small talk.

I am a full time driver, a part time volunteer because of the insane hours we work unpaid, I am a part time day dreamer and a part time singer. And that's another thing, I don't really talk about it much, but I am a self taught singer. I'm actually pretty good and sing whatever song would bring a smile to my wife's face. Yes, I sang All Of Me by Johnny Legend and know it by memory.

All the hours of loneliness really do start getting to you. The first few months are just so awesome and cool because every sight you see is a first and you're always in awe. But when you've ran the same road 50 times and run it several times a week it becomes dull. This is another reality that you don't hear about much.

You must learn to cope with this or it will eat you inside out. You could talk to your friends, but from my experiences they're always just too busy. Its hard to say "Ill call you tomorrow at 2" when you don't even know how your schedule tomorrow looks like. You pretty much fall off the radar with your friends and family. Here's a truth, I haven't been to my families thanksgiving party in two years. This year, they didn't even bother to call me. Do you know what happened? They forgot. When you're not there anymore, especially when its been like that for years, people forget about you and they move on. Its as if you went to jail and they'll see you when you get out.

So to the three people reading this, please consider this before and as you go along in trucking.

Hey folks! You're looking at yet another legendary thread by me. In this thread, I will document my days for an entire month for everyone to read. You will learn a ton, and also gain a good understanding of how life really is like on the road. This is going to be the same concept as my Adventures of Daniel B. thread. I will make it as detailed as I can possibly make it and answer any questions you folks have. Please understand though that I'm working 10+ hour days and sometimes I simply cannot respond immediately. But rest assured, I'll get to you when I can.

Remember, attitude is #1. Lets see how I do in December!

Hello Mr. Daniel B., Just wanted to let you know that i am thankful for all the feedback that you and everyone at TT provides. It really inspires me to be a true professional out there on the road. I am counting down the days until i start my training. Thanks again. Jesse Carter

You must learn to cope with this or it will eat you inside out. You could talk to your friends, but from my experiences they're always just too busy. Its hard to say "Ill call you tomorrow at 2" when you don't even know how your schedule tomorrow looks like. You pretty much fall off the radar with your friends and family. Here's a truth, I haven't been to my families thanksgiving party in two years. This year, they didn't even bother to call me. Do you know what happened? They forgot. When you're not there anymore, especially when its been like that for years, people forget about you and they move on. Its as if you went to jail and they'll see you when you get out.

So to the three people reading this, please consider this before and as you go along in trucking.

I'm sure there are more than just three people following this thread. :P I'm still following it and log in to check for new posts on a daily basis.

The aspect of being alone so much is actually one of things that has me interested in the profession. I am extremely introverted and absolutely have to have hours of time to myself, where as being around people for long periods of time drains me and makes me want to go and find time to be alone. Though I am rather accustomed to spending Thanksgiving and Xmas with my parents, my many siblings and their (too)many children.

Don't you listen to audiobooks or anything like that while you're driving for a long period of time, like that? The ability to listen to audiobooks while working is also something that I think I will enjoy, once shifting gears and such becomes second nature to me, anyways.

Awe, Daniel it is called Nostalgia; sentimentality for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations. It happens to many around the holidays! Buck up, it's all good! Take Care! Happy Holidays!

12/21

I'm back to my regular schedule today. I woke up at 0800 to pack all my stuff and left at 0900. My plan is to get there an hour before my appointment time and drop my trailer at the delivery. I drove over Donners Pass again but it wasn't bad this time, it sure did slow me down though!

I drove to Fernley, NV and fueled up. After a took a 30 minute break then took off again down the open road. After my break I drove 8 hours nonstop.

It was a lonely day, not much to look at in Nevada on I80. I spent my day singing, listening to NFL games, and thinking. Man, as a trucker you spend more time in your mind than anywhere else. I drove 10 hours and 55 minutes today in a 11.5 hour day doing 620 miles. That's 620 mile markers, and 10 hours and 55 minutes staring into nothingness until 2215.

Its a bit of a blessing and a curse. All that time allows you to think things thoroughly, but at the same time it can make you mentally unstable. Trucking really does change you. Before trucking I wasn't like this. I didn't really want to talk to anyone because if I didn't know them I didn't care to know them. Now, I find myself getting into a conversation with a total stranger at a grocery store. Or, struggling to get off the phone when I still have things to talk about. I don't know if I'm using the right words here, but the lack of socialization makes you crave small talk.

I am a full time driver, a part time volunteer because of the insane hours we work unpaid, I am a part time day dreamer and a part time singer. And that's another thing, I don't really talk about it much, but I am a self taught singer. I'm actually pretty good and sing whatever song would bring a smile to my wife's face. Yes, I sang All Of Me by Johnny Legend and know it by memory.

All the hours of loneliness really do start getting to you. The first few months are just so awesome and cool because every sight you see is a first and you're always in awe. But when you've ran the same road 50 times and run it several times a week it becomes dull. This is another reality that you don't hear about much.

You must learn to cope with this or it will eat you inside out. You could talk to your friends, but from my experiences they're always just too busy. Its hard to say "Ill call you tomorrow at 2" when you don't even know how your schedule tomorrow looks like. You pretty much fall off the radar with your friends and family. Here's a truth, I haven't been to my families thanksgiving party in two years. This year, they didn't even bother to call me. Do you know what happened? They forgot. When you're not there anymore, especially when its been like that for years, people forget about you and they move on. Its as if you went to jail and they'll see you when you get out.

So to the three people reading this, please consider this before and as you go along in trucking.

Daniel there are more than three people reading this my friend. And just so you know I served our country in submarines for 25 years. I have 11 deployments under my belt and I can and tell you I have missed my fair share of events. There are times when we are on missions and the crew has no way to communicate with their families. We too are forgotten until we return home. Our families continue on while we are at the pointy end of the spear. But let me tell you something, your wife does not forget and thinks about you everyday and wants you to come home safely. When I got lonely I just reminded myself of this very fact and kept me focused. Now there were more than one on a sub but I do not consider it to be any different. It takes guts to do what you are doing and what I will be doing starting Jan 5th. If there is one reader who understands what you are going through it is I. Stay strong and and look forward to someday meeting you even if its in a grocery store. Hope you make it home for xmas and safe travels my friend.