Yet Another New Guy - YANG

Thanks for the update Tracy! Believe me, there will be great days and miserable days ahead, but let yourself be learning in all of the different circumstances you get into. There's so much to learn and get a grip on during your first year, that it's really kind of a whirlwind of exposure to all the ins and outs and ups and downs of running a big rig across the country. It's a great experience though, and I'm loving every minute of it! Don't let the stress of it keep you from enjoying yourself while your learning and improving your skills.

Keep up the good work!

Thank you very much! I learn more every day, using the scales correctly, getting better at backing, learning how to deal with customers that do weird things. I still struggle a bit with shifting on mountains, but I'll get it! I sure appreciate your support!

Hey, that's great news! Somehow I never saw your previous update from almost a week ago. I don't know how that one slipped by me.

I think you're the first one we've spoken to that went to Watkins-Shepard. I really don't know a whole lot about the company. Their "fire hose training" is pretty much the industry standard. Everyone crams as much as possible down your throat as quickly as possible so you can get out there making money as a productive driver. It's overwhelming for sure!

So are you running OTR or regional or what?

Thanks, Brett! Watkins-Shepard is based in Montana but has terminals all over the east and west, but few in the middle of the country. We do a lot of carpet and furniture from the east, and Freight of All Kinds (FAK) in the west.

The firehose at Watkins-Shepard is pretty amazing, and they continue to support us. Today I did a short run from Missoula to Columbia Falls, MT, along Flathead Lake. While the run was slow due to two lane roads, tourist traffic and lots of towns, it was beautiful. We're blessed with amazing scenery out here!

On your question on what type of driving, I'm OTR. Pretty much new folks at Watkins-Shepard are OTR, with a few exceptions. The guys on the east coast tend to be home on the weekends more, while those of us west just run and run and run.... (you know what I mean).

I am okay with that, I gotta pay my dues, and it may turn out that is what I want to stay with.

I really like the people at Watkins-Shepard, everyone in the company is nice and is someone you'd want to know....even the recruiters. :)

I'm looking forward to some of the coast to coast runs we do a lot of. More money! A common scenario is to pick up a load of furniture in North Carolina and run back west dropping it off at various places, getting mileage and drop off fees each time. Not a bad deal all the way around.

Watkins-Shepard is in the process of upgrading all the equipment, too. Trucks, trailers and Qualcomm units. It's a good time to come on with them, I really lucked out there.

Thanks for all the comments, folks. I'll be back with further updates.

Thanks for all that info Tracy! I don't have much in the way of information on them, but I'm going to put that on my to-do list. I need to let people know about their training program.

Another update...

Just spent the last few days in the Twin Cities area. I was delivering a load in Iowa and got an urgent call from dispatch. One of our trucks delivering in the Wisconsin/Minnesota area was hit by a drunk driver (everyone is okay) and totaled the truck and trailer. I had to go up, tranfer the load to my trailer and deliver the 21 drops. I've never delivered LTL before, much less driven in some of the areas I had to go. Three quarters of the load was in Minneapolis/ST. Paul, the rest in small towns throughout the area. To deliver, I had to maneuver that tractor and 53' trailer into places I would be afraid to drive my Jeep into. I had one situation where I took a wrong turn and was headed into an area when semis are not allowed, I was able to get my rig turned around by turning into a ritzy lane and backed out into traffic with the help of a sympathetic driver blocking traffic.

At another point, the manager at the delivery point wanted me to back into a dock made for straight trucks in a busy mini mall parking lot. I tried a couple times, but despite emergency flashers and reverse lights (the manager wouldn't stop traffic) cars kept going around both sides of me. I finally parked on the edge of the road about 50 feet from his door and said it just wasn't safe. He wasn't happy and said "Every other driver has done it!" I repeated it wasn't safe and we'd just have to move it with a hand truck. I remember the trainers saying 'Do not let the client talk you into doing something you don't think is safe' and I agree with them.

Thank the Lord I didn't hit anything this week!

Got everything transferred on Tuesday night, made all the drops by Saturday afternoon, (a day later than an experienced driver would have). I think I did pretty well, and did it safely. Definitely an experience! The story that there are two seasons in Minnesota, Winter and Construction, is definitely true. Unbelievable traffic issues there.

I survived, and it's one more experience in trucking for me.

I'll be updating again when I can.

21 drops? Is that a typo!!

Oh my goodness, us Central drivers complain when we have 3!

Tracy, be proud !! You took up someone elses load, and delivered it as soon as possible. No one could have asked for anything better from you. And trust me, your dispatch will remember this in the future and treat you right for it. I agree with the trainer, I refuse to make a safety issue out of something that has another solution. Its easier to explain why the receiver was mad because you wouldn't do something unsafe, than to explain why you DID something unsafe. And alot less paperwork..lol Good Job Trucker !!!!

Thanks, All! Feels good to have support from fellow Truckers (can I say that now?) Yes...the dispatchers are remembering...I'm getting loads within a few hours of finishing one, sometimes before I even make the delivery. I've been in Oklahoma the past few days, heading to Dallas deadhead in the morning for a Drop & Hook then heading for Missouri. Short run, but it was a quick turnaround.

I sure appreciate the community here! Wish I could check in more often!

21 drops? Is that a typo!!

Oh my goodness, us Central drivers complain when we have 3!

No typo....it was a busy few days!

I just did another run in Oklahoma...dropped just two or three pieces each in four stops, then the rest of the truck at a big furniture warehouse this morning...all 117 pieces.

Interesting thing, one of my drops was at an upscale botique furniture store in Tulsa, two HUGE crated bookcases. I pulled up in my rig and there were three ladies there, who had no hope of helping me get those monsters off my truck. They called everyone they knew to help but no one could come, finally they hired a couple construction workers from a nearby site to help. Took an hour and a half to clear that drop! ... more time than the near full truckload drop.

Tell me more about Watkins Shepard .... do they have a company sponsored CDL course? I'm still in the process of fingering out which school I want to go to and I like the idea of lots of miles.

Interesting thing, one of my drops was at an upscale botique furniture store in Tulsa, two HUGE crated bookcases. I pulled up in my rig and there were three ladies there, who had no hope of helping me get those monsters off my truck. They called everyone they knew to help but no one could come, finally they hired a couple construction workers from a nearby site to help. Took an hour and a half to clear that drop! ... more time than the near full truckload drop.

It's always an adventure out there and it's always something new, ain't it??

Thanks, All! Feels good to have support from fellow Truckers (can I say that now?)

You most certainly can!!!

Yes...the dispatchers are remembering...I'm getting loads within a few hours of finishing one, sometimes before I even make the delivery.

It takes a little time to prove yourself out there but once you have, you're golden. You need a decent dispatcher that can keep you rolling, but that's usually not a problem most of the time. Trucking companies have different ways of identifying their best drivers and keeping them going. It sounds like you're on that list of top-tier drivers.

I sure appreciate the community here! Wish I could check in more often!

It's been a lot of fun having you around and watching you progress through the early stages of your trucking career. You were obviously one of the people who understood what it was going to take to do well in this career so there was never any doubt it was going to turn out well - and it has.

I'm sure hoping you can find time to check in and help out the people coming in behind you. Some of the messages we give to new drivers are a tough sell, like:

- Attitude and professionalism is everything

- Prove yourself first. The good miles and fair treatment will follow

- Don't obsess over the company you choose. A great driver will do well anywhere they go

People have a hard time believing that stuff because they hear so much negativity about trucking companies from other websites. It gives them the impression that trucking companies are ruthless, nasty businesses trying to take advantage of you at every turn and you have to find a good company or you'll get burned. Well I know that isn't true. The other experienced drivers on here know that isn't true. But we need people like you that have come through TruckingTruth, listened to our message, and are now out there proving that what we say is true.

A positive message is always a tough sell in today's world. People gravitate toward negativity, especially when there's a mob mentality of "poor drivers against the big, bad companies".

We're really gathering a strong contingent of drivers now that come here to help out and it makes a world of difference. You're exactly the type we need to help new drivers understand what it takes to be successful out there. We'd love to have you back anytime you get the chance.

Thanks, All! Feels good to have support from fellow Truckers (can I say that now?)

You most certainly can!!!

Thank you!

It's been a lot of fun having you around and watching you progress through the early stages of your trucking career. You were obviously one of the people who understood what it was going to take to do well in this career so there was never any doubt it was going to turn out well - and it has.

I'm sure hoping you can find time to check in and help out the people coming in behind you. Some of the messages we give to new drivers are a tough sell, like:

- Attitude and professionalism is everything

- Prove yourself first. The good miles and fair treatment will follow

- Don't obsess over the company you choose. A great driver will do well anywhere they go

People have a hard time believing that stuff because they hear so much negativity about trucking companies from other websites. It gives them the impression that trucking companies are ruthless, nasty businesses trying to take advantage of you at every turn and you have to find a good company or you'll get burned. Well I know that isn't true. The other experienced drivers on here know that isn't true. But we need people like you that have come through TruckingTruth, listened to our message, and are now out there proving that what we say is true.

A positive message is always a tough sell in today's world. People gravitate toward negativity, especially when there's a mob mentality of "poor drivers against the big, bad companies".

!!!

Very good advice Brett. You hit the nail on the head. If you are positive to all you meet, things will go well, as long as you are getting the job done.

I see a lot of drivers complain about low miles, bad trucks, etc. etc. I'm driving what appears to be the oldest truck in our fleet and still rolling hard. Had my first real breakdown that cost me time and my load, but I know I'll get a new one as soon as my truck is fixed. Through the breakdown I kept my dispatcher , our shop and my deliveries informed. Today someone else took the load and it's their responsibility now. I could be mad about that, but I'm relieved the load is going to get delivered.

After two months out there, I've encountered all kinds of drivers, situations and problems.

Doesn't do ANY good to get mad about them, Keep Calm and Carry On.

Over the two months I've been out, I've managed to buy a GPS, Satellite Radio, CB, and Bluetooth Headset. All have been invaluable.

I'm still using a cooler and need to buy ice. I'll be glad when I can afford an inverter and a refrigerator. And the inverter will help my charge my laptop instead of having to find a plug in at truck stops.

The difficult stuff is finding a place to stop at night. It really depends on the area of the country or even the city. The Northeast is very difficult, as are most large cities. I prefer to stop 50-100 miles outside a large city even if I have a delivery there, and it's a lot easier.

The nightly truck stop rodeo would be a hoot if it weren't sad and sometimes dangerous. The latecomers will often do ANYTHING to get a spot, even park in front of you.

Lot Lizards are a pain in the butt, banging on the side of your truck in the wee hours when you are trying to sleep. The best option is to just ignore it and they move on.

I've come to appreciate IdleAir despite the expense. It's cheaper than idling the truck and you can often get a spot there when no others are available.

Some truck stops charge for a spot to part..$8-$15 for 24 hours. Sometimes it's worth it, especially if you are out of hours. I really appreciate the truck parks that Arkansas and Missouri put along the freeways. The folks that did that are truly wonderful.

At least for my company, we have more loads that we can service. I've only had one broker load in two months, and we're often asked by the dispatchers how quick we can deliver because we have loads waiting. I have heard that will fall off some just after Christmas...a normal slowdown time for freight.

All in all, the experience has been interesting and fun, although being away from my wife is tough. I really do appreciate the people here, as I've said...and I will continue to check in when I can.