12-20-09 03:07 PM - Post#94565    

Noticed not many rookies posting here of late... My guess it may have something to do with the real slow economy and slow freight...

It is unfortunate that a lot of people getting into trucking end up going broke in the process or are not adequately prepared for the reality and sacrifices of the first year as a trucker with an OTR starter companies...

I was reading another trucker's blog where he listed 7 major pitfalls for "Newbie" drivers...incluing Choosing the wrong CDL school for their initial training, Believing the recruiting brochures about Big $$$ in OTR trucking, Thinking a Starter Trucking Company cares about them and their success, Leaving their first driving job too soon (3 or 6 months), Trying to become an Owner/Operator or Lease Operator too soon, and Failing to start a driving job ASAP once they earn a CDL....etc...

Most of the good trucking companies do not train nor hire inexperienced drivers with less than 2 or 3 years of trucking experience...which becomes a "Catch 22" for many want-a-be truck drivers.

I could definitely relate to the items mentioned
I trained with one of the best back in 1995 ... Schneider National, but I left after 6 months . I was interested in their "home-run" program... drive OTR for 2 weeks --be home 1 week... I realized it was not going to happen in Oklahoma with them...
I ended up going back to OTR a year or so later in 1997, but freight was pretty strong back then plus I was able to run as a team OTR driver with my oldest son.

12-20-09 03:45 PM - Post#94566    

    In response to Dutchman1

In this current economic turned down it's even more important for a new driver to stick with his training company until he has at the very minimum 1 year under his belt, preferably 2. Anything less and he is going to find obtaining another job is much harder than it was years ago. What with the proliferation of 'cdl mills' and larger companies either laying off hundreds of experience drivers or just plain failing, the urgent need for drivers has dropped dramatically. And let's just forget about trying to have your own truck right away, that's a sure path to financial ruin.

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12-25-09 07:15 PM - Post#94635    

    In response to GregK

Also if one uses the search feature they will find most of there questions have been addressed.
While this site doesn't ,od,some sites the admins and moderaters get all bent when a new person ask's a question that has been asked before.

I think that is wrong.Things can and do happen in our industry.A answer to a question posted 6 months ago may not be pertainant today.

Re: Where Have All the Rookies Gone??
01-11-10 06:21 PM - Post#94883    

    In response to Dutchman1

Alot of the new drivers are quitting because of no miles.THESEstarter companies hire students so they can get government subsidies and the poor students dont get trained.Then many are getting fired because they brake the rules once too often like over idleing going out of route ect ect.Comapnies will fire you at the drop of a hat these days.Ive only got 7 yrs otr exp,but back when I was getting trained its NOTHING like it is now.Those students and new drivers really have it rough.

Re: Where Have All the Rookies Gone??
01-13-10 06:51 AM - Post#94912    

    In response to patriciajnsn

Here's a guy that should have had it tough:

This is from back home, in Buffalo:

Truck gets stuck under bridge on Walden



This truck was too high for the bridge on Walden Avenue, between Wasmuth Avenue and Roetzer Street.

The Story


This bridge, is CLEARLY marked 11' 8" on both sides, with yellow flashing lights, and get's hit at least once a year, usually by one of these companies that hire nobodies off the street...

There he goes , one of God's own prototypes. A high powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live and too rare to die. HipKat's Blog

Re: Where Have All the Rookies Gone??
01-14-10 07:08 PM - Post#94936    

    In response to HipKat

• HipKat Said:

wow,chopped that trl in half.Did he not see a low clarence sign.I see LCT ON THE TRK,IS THAT AFFILITED with Gainey?I drove for Gainey over a yr,I cant remmeber if he also had LCT TRKS.i KNOW HE HAS SUPER SAVOR.Sorry about the caps.You know i'll just bet that driver depended on his GPS FOR DIRECTIONS.Theyre trying to ban gps just for that reason unless u have the truckers gps.

01-15-10 08:10 AM - Post#94945    

    In response to patriciajnsn

Banning GPS is another example of government trying to legislate bad habits. A good driver has a truckers Atlas and uses that to verify his trip, check for weight restrictions on bridges, low overpasses, etc. To blindly rely on a GPS is not only foolish, but dangerous.

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01-15-10 12:27 PM - Post#94948    

    In response to GregK

I do agree with u there greg.I vary rarely use it unless to the customer if they cant seem to give me accurate directions.Otherwise i'll get my ole atlas out.My phone GPS likes to give me the longest route so I don't get help from her too often.I don't have one of those costly GPS,I don't need it.These drivers that hit low bridges its there own fault,my guess would be they depend on their GPS too much.

01-15-10 04:13 PM - Post#94951    

    In response to patriciajnsn

There is no such thing as a "trucker GPS". Yes, there are GPS units that say they are truck specific, but that is no guarantee that it is correct. Nothing will replace eyes, ears, and brain out here. Those that rely on fancy gadgets are just waiting to be burned.

Ping Pong Expediters Panther Trk# 31277

01-15-10 08:04 PM - Post#94957    

    In response to Pelicn

Well id like to know what its called then, thats what officers call it and they sell truckers gps at Petro for like $300.00.A driver for the company I drive for has one of those gps and I guess it tells where the low bridges are and gives u a truckers route unlike a walmart gps.

01-15-10 08:12 PM - Post#94964    

    In response to patriciajnsn

I'm not sure, but think there are a couple OOIDA recommends too.

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01-15-10 08:48 PM - Post#94966    

    In response to GregK

I dont haave a gps but my phone gps,but if I ever decide to get one which is highly unlikely,it would be the one that gives truckers route.Alot of truckers have it now and some depend on it so much that they dont even glance at the atlas.I'm constantly looking at my atlas.I have the ripped and tornout pages to prove that.LOL

01-17-10 02:03 PM - Post#94984    

    In response to patriciajnsn

Too me anyways there is simply no excuse for this. Even if an overpass looks like it may be close I would proceed VERRRY slowly and at the first sound of a scrape or stopping and looking that it wont fit its time to stop and back it up.

Yeah its ambarrasing BUT THIS wopuld be a whole lot moreso AND likely cost you your job.

Flashing lights, warning signs clearly marked..no theres no excuse except driver inattentioin for this one.

"Life throws ya curves..but you learn to swerve"

01-17-10 05:14 PM - Post#94987    

    In response to Blubird

I agree,not too long ago I delivered a ld in Chicago.Of course I called the cust for directions.Only they would know the best route for trks,WRONGGGGG.They led me to 2 low bridges had to call 911 TO BLOCK THE STREET SO i CAN BACK UP.Sorry didnt mean the caps.Thank god this officer was very nice.I follwed him to the customer.Ive had to call 911 a few times.Id rather do that then hit a low bridge.Can u imagine the cost to fix it if u hit a low bridge.

01-18-10 02:05 PM - Post#94996    

    In response to patriciajnsn

I wouldnt even venture a guess and I darn sure wouldnt wanna have to explain to the cops OR my fleet/safety manager HOW I managed to hit it when it was clearly marked

Only time ive ever had to call the cops was in Chicago and going to deliver at McCormick Place.Seemed like every street i could see that went there was either "No trucks " or One ways the wrong way.
The officer was very nice and told me to just go down the one way the wrong way. I could see the darn place from the street i was on,I was that close, but it just seemed there was no way to get there.
He said drivers go down that one way to get there all the time, and they just let em but never did tell me HOW to get there the right way LOL

"Life throws ya curves..but you learn to swerve"

01-18-10 08:13 PM - Post#95012    

    In response to Blubird

Randy, there was probably NO right way to get there....LOL

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01-19-10 12:31 PM - Post#95023    

    In response to GregK

One thing bad about Chicago is besides more low bridges then u can count but they dont have any warning signs.Its like there it is.Does'nt bother me to call 911 and doesnst bother me how mad the traffic gets.Im not going to hit a low bridge just because theyre in such a hurry to go nowhere.

01-19-10 01:28 PM - Post#95024    

    In response to patriciajnsn

years ago when I needed help finding a place I hire a cab to lead me to the place. The ones that did it had the knowledge to get you there with out low bridges.

PS don't know about that now day's

Chaplain

May The Lord Richly Bless You

01-19-10 01:29 PM - Post#95025    

    In response to GregK

Yeah I think someone told me .."You cant get there from here" LOLOL

Youd sure think a HUGE expo center like that would have better access than it does thats for sure.

"Life throws ya curves..but you learn to swerve"

01-19-10 01:31 PM - Post#95027    

    In response to Blubird

Did that same thing years ago also Chap.

"Life throws ya curves..but you learn to swerve"

01-19-10 01:45 PM - Post#95030    

    In response to Blubird

I remember years ago being at the convention cent in Atlanta Ga.

Picking up a oversize load and the roads that I was suppose to take didn't match up. Also it took me over a bridge posted 70,000 ponds OH boy.

I finally got a hold of the local police and they told me how to go and yes I went over the low limit bridge the only way out.

They told me when to cross the bride! At that time they would be some where else.

Of course it didn't do my nerves much good! I weighed 120,000 ponds 70' long and 11' wide

City's can be interesting to say the least

Chaplain

May The Lord Richly Bless You

01-19-10 02:10 PM - Post#95037    

    In response to chaplain

"Interesting" was not the word i was thinking Chap. LOLOL

"Life throws ya curves..but you learn to swerve"

01-20-10 01:13 PM - Post#95068    

    In response to patriciajnsn

• patriciajnsn Said:

I didn't mean to offend you, all I meant by no such thing as a "trucker GPS" was that none of them are foolproof. Yes, there are units that say they are truck specific, and yes they sell them in truck stops, but they still aren't perfect. I think the new Garmin 465T is one of the best available now according to user reports that I've read.
I have to agree, I hate Chicago! We have also stopped traffic to "crawl" under a bridge that looks too low. We have also called the fire dept to get a good route to a customer.

Ping Pong Expediters Panther Trk# 31277

02-06-10 01:12 PM - Post#95277    

    In response to Pelicn

You did'nt offend me sorry if it sounded that way.

02-07-10 11:24 AM - Post#95298    

    In response to patriciajnsn

I just don't get how I managed to drive for 15 yrs with no GPS, and most of that time with no cell phone....

Pretty crazy, huh?

I never hit a bridge, but I DID almost lock them up the first time I was on the BQE in NY and saw the 12'1" markings on all the bridges....

The only thing that kept me going was the fact that I knew other trucks had been through there.

There he goes , one of God's own prototypes. A high powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live and too rare to die. HipKat's Blog

02-07-10 12:20 PM - Post#95299    

    In response to HipKat

I ran into that when coming back from JFK. I was just riding and wondered about the driver, who wasn't lifting at a 12'1" bridge and then realized, other trucks just went under it. Crazy. NY State seems to be one of the worst for not posting correct height limits on bridges. Hip will know the one I'm talking about in Buffalo on the was to the post office. I think that one is only posted 11' something, but if you stay in the center of the road you have plenty of clearance.

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02-08-10 08:48 AM - Post#95303    

    In response to GregK

That's NY for you. We always figured they burn a foot on their clearance, and measure from the curb, so a 13'6 marked bridge is at least 14'6 in reality.

There he goes , one of God's own prototypes. A high powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live and too rare to die. HipKat's Blog