Question:
Last night while on the phone with a long time driver, o/o carhauler(not a tner). I was told I have nothing positive to say about trucking. Well this week the positives have been over shadowed by not going home when I needed to.
My positives are my no means anything huge. But I do see them every day in the job. Today walked by a small pine tree that was loaded with small little birds chirping was 530am central. It was so neat to hear them. Even held the phone up so daughter could try and hear them.
Getting into a spot with no help, then getting back out of it.
Seeing a food sign for WOK & ROLL, made me smile.
Street sign, STREET ROAD next right
Pink Sunrises and sunsets.
Going over a bridge or an area that had scared me 6 months ago and going
wow this was easy and its pretty here.
Having dispatcher message me from home asking how my weekend is going.
A few extra minutes in the day because someone changed appointment time allowing me extra time to get to customer and not rush to do it.
I am able to find positives in everything with this job. The best positive is the folks I have met in here and just being on the road.
The negatives are plenty and I guess sometimes I get stuck on them. I really dont feel the wimp or sissy that was implied last night. Yes I am still learning and still very frustrated that my backing is not where I think it should be. But I am still hopeful in time and with practice that will change.
My negatives have been having to ask for help backing or taking 2 years and 3 days to get into a spot.
Having to get out of the truck to go inside and use restroom.
Not getting home as planned, 1st time they did this. 1st time I needed to be home to for drs appointments.
Listening to the comments on radio about JB Hunt or the one who replaces the H with a C.
Going to places that at Condo truck and 53' trailer have no business being at.
Some times not having the physical strenght to get the landing gear moving or the tandem lever to move.
Falling on my tush when I put my weight behind the tandem or the landing gear.
The absolute best positive. My daughters joy when I do make it home even if just for a few hours.

Answer:
Good post Bearbell
Two suggestions:
1.Buy a porta potty at Walmart they are cheap and easy to keep clean and odor free
2. When you need to be home for something, Dr. appt. that sort of thing always put that information in any qualcom messages 2, 3, or 27 times a day. for at least 2 weeks. Then they might see it and you have a record of fair notification to them about home time.
Sort of like:
---->Countdown to my Dentist appointment on the 22nd<----
*****17 days from today and I must be home for it.*****
If you don't stand up for your needs they sure as hello won't
Sounds like you getting better and getting it together keep up the good work and keep smiling (it makes them wonder what your up too)

Answer:

I have to agree with Batty! You are doing better, are you still singing when an area bothers you?
The driver you spoke with last night, may have a point but only a point. To the DRIVER, maybe he only hears you when you are negative. Try sharing some of your positives with the him. I know it's hard, trust me I had a friend that when I WOULD talk to him I heard all you do is be upset. I thought about it and he was right EVERY TIME I spoke with him I was upset about something. I started thinking about this each time we spoke and pretty soon, he was telling me how much better I sounded. I was being more upbeat on the phone with not only him. But because I was making an effort with him I was making an effort all around, boy did it change things for me. I was always happy in front of the shipper / receiver / customer, but after that on the phone I made sure people understood how much I loved my job! <just an observation and what I did>
Glad to see you still posting, I miss our talks, but with OUR schedules, life is hard to manipulate. Soon, we'll find time to talk, I am sure. - Pete
The only source of knowledge is experience.
- Albert Einstein
Cj aka Fairedust

Answer:
Wait till the time the OTR fleet is going to go over to the "new" maptuit software for mapping and directions. I see huge problems. So huge I am not only thinking (big time) about leaving. I am beginning to sell my JB Hunt stock. Well over 100k.
Bearbell, I chatted with you a few times.Told you this company will work as hard for you as they will work for them. I think they have.
My self. I have to get out of OTR driving. I think the whole companie needs to. There are so many local and dedicated jobs open in your area. Take one of those. Don't be like me. I am stuck. I have done OTR to long. I am having the mondset I am stuck in it.
Lucky, for me the company has been real for me. They are still trying to get me a local contractor spot. They are working real hard. I just don't think they can give me what I want now. They have done it before. I have faith in them.
They are trying. I really can't belive how supportive they have been.
Who knows. I got went out today and put in apps. Just to kill the time. I wish to stay on here. I may have to move on. The problem is me.
Got 3 jobs today. I told them I will have to wait 2 weeks. Have to give my former employer notice if needed. I explained what I was doing.
All 3 were local. gigs. 1 was something diff.
1 was a metal place Teamster union. 28.76 a hour plus over time time and a half. Working 60 hours a week now,and all the beenies. Go out snatch a loaded trailer with scrap metal, move it. Drop it and move the other in place and go.
1 was air products. Teamster union. Wage depend what job I take. Looks like a lot of work.
1 was ABF. Local P/D. Teamster union wage like 16.87 to start. Looking at it hard. Maybe I could get into line haul.
The other 1 was as a trainer at a trucking school. The school would allow me time to work a full time of part time job (I choose). They want me full time, but can work how I want. I can even do it for extra money. The pay is not great. No beenies at all. He is a small business. Nice guy. I am thinking I can help him out. I also love making a differance. May be fun. He has a good program, not a fly by night. I seek the best.
Still nice to think with my experiance I can help others learn. Thinking of taking the metal job, and seeing if I can do weekends at the school to help.
Yet, I am waiting. I still think my current carrier will come out and help me. They have been trying for days. I will go back to company if I need to. That isn't a problem. They are trying. That is all I can say. Many places would not even try.
I want a job for ME not for the money. Yet I can't sell my self short. I have to be able to look in that mirror in the morning and think I am all that.
If you are not getting home for as much time if you would like, change. Look into it.
I am so OTR trained, changing is a scarry thing. Don't get there if you do not want to be. Some folks need to be OTR trained.
So, do YOU like it or hate it?202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:
Wait till the time the OTR fleet is going to go over to the "new" maptuit software for mapping and directions. I see huge problems. So huge I am not only thinking (big time) about leaving. I am beginning to sell my JB Hunt stock. Well over 100k.
Bearbell, I chatted with you a few times.Told you this company will work as hard for you as they will work for them. I think they have.
My self. I have to get out of OTR driving. I think the whole companie needs to. There are so many local and dedicated jobs open in your area. Take one of those. Don't be like me. I am stuck. I have done OTR to long. I am having the mondset I am stuck in it.
Lucky, for me the company has been real for me. They are still trying to get me a local contractor spot. They are working real hard. I just don't think they can give me what I want now. They have done it before. I have faith in them.
They are trying. I really can't belive how supportive they have been.
Who knows. I got went out today and put in apps. Just to kill the time. I wish to stay on here. I may have to move on. The problem is me.
Got 3 jobs today. I told them I will have to wait 2 weeks. Have to give my former employer notice if needed. I explained what I was doing.
All 3 were local. gigs. 1 was something diff.
1 was a metal place Teamster union. 28.76 a hour plus over time time and a half. Working 60 hours a week now,and all the beenies. Go out snatch a loaded trailer with scrap metal, move it. Drop it and move the other in place and go.
1 was air products. Teamster union. Wage depend what job I take. Looks like a lot of work.
1 was ABF. Local P/D. Teamster union wage like 16.87 to start. Looking at it hard. Maybe I could get into line haul.
The other 1 was as a trainer at a trucking school. The school would allow me time to work a full time of part time job (I choose). They want me full time, but can work how I want. I can even do it for extra money. The pay is not great. No beenies at all. He is a small business. Nice guy. I am thinking I can help him out. I also love making a differance. May be fun. He has a good program, not a fly by night. I seek the best.
Still nice to think with my experiance I can help others learn. Thinking of taking the metal job, and seeing if I can do weekends at the school to help.
Yet, I am waiting. I still think my current carrier will come out and help me. They have been trying for days. I will go back to company if I need to. That isn't a problem. They are trying. That is all I can say. Many places would not even try.
I want a job for ME not for the money. Yet I can't sell my self short. I have to be able to look in that mirror in the morning and think I am all that.
If you are not getting home for as much time if you would like, change. Look into it.
I am so OTR trained, changing is a scarry thing. Don't get there if you do not want to be. Some folks need to be OTR trained.
So, do YOU like it or hate it?202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:
Could you tell me a little more about the teamster metal place?

Answer:
Chad. Yes. I will not give out the name yet. They are only taking 5 drivers. I sure don't want to get knocked out by a few more folks going in there. Every big scrap place around here is hiring union drivers now.
The job is simple. Drive my car in for what ever shift I get put on. Same hours Monday to Friday. They rum a 99 mile area. Contractors do the longer stuff and alot of contractors here. Like over 100 trucks.
Big company I used to sell scrap Iron to. I am considered a tech driver. I have done this before. I have drivern roll off trucks, dumps, and galliuns. Basically. I would drive a 5 axle and when a person missed work or the needed a driver that can run a class b roll off I would do that. If you have to drive a pick truck. Like scape metal containers that are picker up with a medium size leg I would do that.
Most would be Semi truck and trailer. Most none tarp. The metal shavings have to be tarpted. Little non ferrouse metal. Most is heavey steel. It isn't moving.
You take out a emptry. Drop, hook move, drop and rehook and go back to do it again. Most times you will take in the Loaded trailer and have the plateform operator unload it in a long line. Takes like 3 mins to get unloaded. Then move on. Easy really.
It is one of the much better jobs in my area. Senourity gets the best bid runs. I understand that.
They load out scrap in rail( on site) and on barges (about half mile away). The barge deal is what alot of folks like. I like the dealing with different, but still the same places.
Most of these waggons are dropped at factories and machine shops.
Easy work.
Now, today I got something I think will work for me much better. I think I am going to call the guy tomarrow and tell him I will come out and check out his trucks and see what I think. I chatted with him on his site for like 3 hours. Nice guy. 30 truck LTL fleet that has been in the works since 1969.
Pay is right were it needs to be. I can drive 12 miles from my home. Get in the truck. Go make my 10-12 stops a day. Come back empty and go home. Run the same areas. No St Louis . All east of here. Like Mt Vernon and Effingham. That sound cool to me. I don't really want to run into St Louis every day then back out again.
paid for 40 hours a week if I do it or not. Most are doing 55-60 hours a week now. Time and a half over 10 hours a day. Double time on the weekends. Tripple time over night or on holidays.
Full employer pay for health (on me I pay for the familiy) and pension. They also offer profit sharing and a 401k. Will cost me 50 a week to cover my family under the health insurance. Not to bad. Dental, vision and prescription with medical.
Off on week ends. 730am to about 5pm. Some times till 730 or 800 pm. All the over time you want. None is required. Pay isn't that great.
They are not union. They are kind of set up like union. The owner seems like a union supporter. Nice frank guy.
I am thinking of this place. The idea not running big cities sounds nice to me.
Well Chad, there you go. If you would like to know more. PM me. I don't want to be leading treads off track. I am know for it. I just don't want to do it now.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!