Bad Day Gone Good
I was having such a terrible day. I don’t know what it was, but I just had a bad attitude. I tried to keep it from hubby and other people, but I was just annoyed. Of course, on days like this, something is bound to go wrong. It might have something to do with all that bad karma I was carrying around with me, but I’m not sure.
We sprang some kind of a leak and thought it had something to do with our last oil change. We were in Glendale, KY, just coming up to exit 86. We knew there was a Petro at this exit so we decided to pull in there. Let me tell you, that Petro was busy as all get out. I just knew that we would have to wait and wait and wait. I pulled myself together and pretended to be patient. Then, I walked inside to see how long it would be before they could get us into a bay.
The manager, Scott Rye, was working the front desk along with his staff. It was crazy busy. Scott also had a new employee, Mike, who being new, naturally had lots of questions about the phones, the computer system and various questions he himself was being asked by various customers. I thought to myself, this is going to be absolutely hell. But, I had to get through it. That was all there was to it.
To my great surprise, Scott took a minute away from his multitasking (I have no idea where he found it) to talk with me about my issues. Mike wrote up my work order on the computer and then told me to pull into bay three. There was already a truck there, so I thought “great; now I have to wait for that darn truck to pull out before they can see my truck.” To my further surprise, out came Justin Hogue and Justin Perry and they looked at my truck. Within 45 minutes, we found out what was going on. It turned out that two hoses were rubbing against each other and a hole had been worn into one of the hoses thereby allowing fluid to leak out.
We were under a hot load and didn’t have the time to run over to Freightliner for the part we needed. Not a problem. Justin fixed it so that the hoses were unable to rub against each other. He then used duct tape to minimize the leak in the hose. We were charged a small fee and on the way we went. We were able to deliver our load on time and on our free time we took care of the leak.
I know that this doesn’t seem like a great deal, but we really appreciated how professional Scott and his team was that day. We highly recommend the Petro in Glendale, KY. The staff is friendly and can obviously handle all the stress involved with meeting the mechanical needs of their customers. Thank you so much Scott, Mile, Justin and Justin. You made a surly trucker’s day on that day!
Thursday, August 05, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Exercising on the Job
My colleague and friend Linda Caffee got me started on this exercise thing. It all began when our Trucking Solutions Group got together for our first face-to-face meeting at a conference in Denver, Colorado last year April. I got there on a Sunday and got a call from Linda who met me in the lobby of our hotel. Linda and I hit it off right away. She is so down to earth and friendly that I felt very comfortable around her. In fact, I was so comfortable that I forgot my aversion to exercise! I can still hear myself telling her that I would meet her in the exercise room the next morning at 5:00 a.m.
That first week was a great week. I found that even though we all (the Trucking Solutions Group) had our days full with the conference and also went out somewhere to eat every night, I was still eagerly looking forward to exercising in the morning. Another lady named Rose started coming down also (boy was she in great shape!) While we were exercising Linda, Rose and I talked about this and that and before you know it our time was up. I had heard that exercising gave you energy; well I guess that was how we made it through that activity filled week! But, the real test was whether I would continue on this exercise “thing” even when I didn’t have my role models around.
Those first few days at home were the hardest. Lucky for me, I am an early riser. I am usually up and at em around 5:00 a.m., so that part was easy. But, what I really and truly love to do while I’m at home is (drum roll please) NOTHING!!! So, getting my behind out of the house was a real challenge. I think that I called Linda at least a couple of times during that first week! I remember how long that half an hour was. Yes, you heard right, one half hour!
I have a song that I really like that goes back to the good old days. It’s called Planet Rock by Africa Bambaataa & Soul Sonic Force and it has a really great beat. Well, back in the day, I use to cut the heck out of a rug so I used that song to pace myself. The song lasts for seven minutes and 34 seconds. I would listen to that song and also listen to some Annie Lennox (I know, quite a mix LOL) and do my walk. By the second week I had worked my way up to 45 minutes. By the third week (and also the week we were scheduled to go back out on the road) I had worked up to one hour and had also added a few twists.
The twists I added were as follows:
1. Two 2.5 pounds weights that I could velcro around my ankles, and
2. Two three pound barbell weights that I carried in my hands
I concentrated on my stride and on also working with the weights in my hands. In this way I could strengthen my legs as well as my arms. Now, the real trick would be how I could work it into my work schedule.
The first thing I had to do was to make exercising a priority! I try and walk in the early mornings or early evenings. That is when the temperature is most conducive to the exertion of walking. I don’t always have one hour so I will walk a half an hour if that is all the time I have. Sometimes I don’t even have that and I only walk for 20 minutes. The trick is to just do it! No excuses. Hubby and I haul air freight and our loads aren’t usually ready till late at night. We usually deliver early in the morning so that gives me the opportunity to walk at least three times a week and sometimes even four or five times a week.
I avoid exercising in the middle of the day. I did that once in New Orleans; big mistake! The humidity was terrible. I managed to get in a half hour, but it was hard. I don’t want to do anything that would make exercising distasteful and that would definitely accomplish that. I concentrate on the beauty of nature and sometimes I even bring my camera. I don’t always go for power walks. The other day we were in Seattle, Washington and I decided to take a leisurely walk around the neighborhood. Before you know it three hours had passed and I had walked five miles! I also got to meet some really nice people to boot!
We make sure and park a good distance from all services at truck stops or at our terminals. On the days when we are under the gun, I will usually get out and walk my dogs Sheba and Doodles during my shift. After I get them back in the truck I will make the time to do a quick power walk for about 15 minutes. We have yet to be late on a delivery!
I’m still developing my exercise routine, but for now this seems to work. I have worked my way up to six pounds around each ankle and two five pound barbells that I use to develop the muscles in my arms, shoulder and back. I know that it isn’t easy trying to keep in shape while we’re out on the road, but if you put your mind to it, it can be done. If the girl whose favorite activity is NOTHING can do it, so can you!
My colleague and friend Linda Caffee got me started on this exercise thing. It all began when our Trucking Solutions Group got together for our first face-to-face meeting at a conference in Denver, Colorado last year April. I got there on a Sunday and got a call from Linda who met me in the lobby of our hotel. Linda and I hit it off right away. She is so down to earth and friendly that I felt very comfortable around her. In fact, I was so comfortable that I forgot my aversion to exercise! I can still hear myself telling her that I would meet her in the exercise room the next morning at 5:00 a.m.
That first week was a great week. I found that even though we all (the Trucking Solutions Group) had our days full with the conference and also went out somewhere to eat every night, I was still eagerly looking forward to exercising in the morning. Another lady named Rose started coming down also (boy was she in great shape!) While we were exercising Linda, Rose and I talked about this and that and before you know it our time was up. I had heard that exercising gave you energy; well I guess that was how we made it through that activity filled week! But, the real test was whether I would continue on this exercise “thing” even when I didn’t have my role models around.
Those first few days at home were the hardest. Lucky for me, I am an early riser. I am usually up and at em around 5:00 a.m., so that part was easy. But, what I really and truly love to do while I’m at home is (drum roll please) NOTHING!!! So, getting my behind out of the house was a real challenge. I think that I called Linda at least a couple of times during that first week! I remember how long that half an hour was. Yes, you heard right, one half hour!
I have a song that I really like that goes back to the good old days. It’s called Planet Rock by Africa Bambaataa & Soul Sonic Force and it has a really great beat. Well, back in the day, I use to cut the heck out of a rug so I used that song to pace myself. The song lasts for seven minutes and 34 seconds. I would listen to that song and also listen to some Annie Lennox (I know, quite a mix LOL) and do my walk. By the second week I had worked my way up to 45 minutes. By the third week (and also the week we were scheduled to go back out on the road) I had worked up to one hour and had also added a few twists.
The twists I added were as follows:
1. Two 2.5 pounds weights that I could velcro around my ankles, and
2. Two three pound barbell weights that I carried in my hands
I concentrated on my stride and on also working with the weights in my hands. In this way I could strengthen my legs as well as my arms. Now, the real trick would be how I could work it into my work schedule.
The first thing I had to do was to make exercising a priority! I try and walk in the early mornings or early evenings. That is when the temperature is most conducive to the exertion of walking. I don’t always have one hour so I will walk a half an hour if that is all the time I have. Sometimes I don’t even have that and I only walk for 20 minutes. The trick is to just do it! No excuses. Hubby and I haul air freight and our loads aren’t usually ready till late at night. We usually deliver early in the morning so that gives me the opportunity to walk at least three times a week and sometimes even four or five times a week.
I avoid exercising in the middle of the day. I did that once in New Orleans; big mistake! The humidity was terrible. I managed to get in a half hour, but it was hard. I don’t want to do anything that would make exercising distasteful and that would definitely accomplish that. I concentrate on the beauty of nature and sometimes I even bring my camera. I don’t always go for power walks. The other day we were in Seattle, Washington and I decided to take a leisurely walk around the neighborhood. Before you know it three hours had passed and I had walked five miles! I also got to meet some really nice people to boot!
We make sure and park a good distance from all services at truck stops or at our terminals. On the days when we are under the gun, I will usually get out and walk my dogs Sheba and Doodles during my shift. After I get them back in the truck I will make the time to do a quick power walk for about 15 minutes. We have yet to be late on a delivery!
I’m still developing my exercise routine, but for now this seems to work. I have worked my way up to six pounds around each ankle and two five pound barbells that I use to develop the muscles in my arms, shoulder and back. I know that it isn’t easy trying to keep in shape while we’re out on the road, but if you put your mind to it, it can be done. If the girl whose favorite activity is NOTHING can do it, so can you!
Communication 101 FOR The Leased Owner Operator
Your first opportunity to begin the communication process with your carrier begins before you even get to orientation. As a business owner, you are the one responsible for any and all information that is available to others about you and your business. It is critical that you get a copy of both your MVR and DAC reports before looking to lease on with any major carrier. The cost of the MVR varies from state to state. You can get one free copy of your DAC report annually. You can also get a free copy if you have been denied employment or terminated based on information contained in your DAC. If you want to request a copy of your DAC on line go to this site: http://www.hireright.com/Disputes/Report.aspx. Review your DAC very closely and make sure to correct any discrepancies prior to beginning your search for a carrier. For more information visit this website: http://www.usis.com/Consumers/default.aspx. Note that according the FMCSR 383.35(c) motor carriers are required to request a minimum of ten years worth of accurate employment history. For this reason, it is critical that the information, neatly supplied by you matches with the information supplied by DAC. You do not want the first impression you make on your carrier to be one of unpreparedness.
You should take the following information with you for your orientation:
1. Employment History (with accurate dates)
2. Copy of your MVR
3. Copy of your DAC
4. Driver’s License
5. List of any prescription drugs you are taking
6. Long Form Medical Card
7. References
Communication is more than what you say, although what you say is extremely important. Communication is also about the way you look and how you carry yourself. Your family knows how wonderful you are and so you don’t always have to look and be your best for them. Society has no idea about any of this. You have to show them. The first impression people get about us, even before we open our mouths, is when they see how we are dressed. That impression can often be cemented when we open our mouths. How you are dressed and what you say will determine not only how your carrier will view and treat you but also how you will be viewed and treated by society.
First of all, arrive on time. If you can’t make it to orientation on time how can you be counted on to make your deliveries on time? Pack a jacket instead of the usual hoodie. Bring a good pair of work boots instead of sneakers. Don’t wear a baseball cap to your orientation. Make sure that you arrive at orientation with clothes that are clean and pressed. Carry a briefcase with you where you can keep all of your own information as well as all the paperwork you will be receiving over the course of the orientation. Carry a notebook, pens, pencils, a ruler, a small stapler, paperclips and whiteout in your briefcase. Turn off your cell phone, or at least leave it on vibrate. Nothing shows lack of interest more than a person who accepts personal phone calls during orientation. Watch your language and do not use any profanity. Always keep in your mind that you are attending a professional function. Pay attention and don’t ask unnecessary questions. We’ve all been stuck in the orientation process with that one “special” person who just can’t get over the sound of their voice! Don’t be that person.
Remember that your truck will have to be inspected. Make sure to arrive with a clean truck both on the inside and on the outside. Take care of any mechanical issues before you arrive at orientation. Here is a list of some of the things you will need to bring with you relating to your truck:
1. Name, address and phone number of your lender (if you are still making payments on your truck).
2. Copy of the title to your truck (original title if you own your truck outright).
3. Copy of the Bill of Sale
4. Form 2290 Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (marked paid).
5. Proof of Insurance
6. Current DOT inspection
I cannot stress enough the importance of looking the part after orientation. Once you are actually leased on with your carrier, it is imperative that you continue to dress professionally. Don’t get too comfortable just because you made it through the orientation process. Never have any face-to-face communication with your carrier unless you have cleaned up and put on a clean set of clothing. It will level the playing field psychologically. I know that this can present some difficulties, but those difficulties are worth it if it allows your carrier to see you as a professional.
Here are some quick clean up ideas:
1. Baby wipes. These are good for a quick clean up but not for a deep down clean.
2. Comfort Personal Cleansing. These are pre-moistened washcloths that you warm up in the microwave. They can be found at Wal-Mart.
3. Premium Fresh’n Up Personal Washcloths. These are extra large and extra strong wipes. These can be used when baby wipes just will not do the job, but you do not enough time for a thorough cleansing.
4. ConvaTec Cleansing Foam. Also known as Aloe Vesta. It is “a high foaming, non-aerosol, ph-balanced cleanser for all over cleaning.” You can find this product at http://www.convatec.com. This is great for a deep down clean.
Finally, get to know the people within your carrier's organization before they get to know you. Find out a little about them. What are their names? What about their birthdays? Are they married? Do they have children? Who does what? If possible, try and get their e-mail addresses. They will truly serve you well down the road.
Always remember that you are a business owner and no longer an employee. The carrier you are leased to should be treated as your number one customer. Prepare customer satisfaction surveys and ask key members of your carrier’s organization to fill them out. A survey is good in three ways particularly: it’s a good tool to discover if you are providing the best service possible to your carrier; it’s a good tool to find out how you can improve the services you are already providing; and it also shows your carrier that you are willing to go the extra mile to maintain that professional relationship.
Some questions you could ask are as follows:
1. Does (name of your company) pick up your loads in a timely and expedient fashion fashion? Yes No Explanation_______________________________________________________
2. Does (name of your company) deliver your loads in a timely and expedient fashion?
Yes No Explanation_______________________________________________________
3. On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being the highest) how satisfied are you with the services provided by (name of your company)._______________________________________________________
4. If you could make any improvements in the services offered by (name of your company) what would they be? _________________________________________________________________
Try and make it a point to drop by the office from time to time and share positive information with your carrier. The reason for a visit from you shouldn’t always be because you have a problem. In that way, should you actually have a problem they will be open to listening. Don’t forget to offer potential solutions to any problem areas you may have. Anyone can point out problems. It takes a professional to offer solutions. If you are with the right carrier, this will be appreciated and rewarded.
We just recently came through some very trying economic times. We saw many of our business associates fall by the way side. We will miss them greatly. We saw many well known companies close their doors. Many carriers were forced to make tough decisions and had to downsize their fleets accordingly. Freight was down and there were more trucks out there than there was available freight. Freight has still not come back to the levels they were once at and times are still very uncertain. We are not out of the woods just yet and only the strongest among us have survived. Some see these times as difficult times. I see these times as times of opportunity. Here is our opportunity to change how we are viewed by the public. Change starts with one small step. Let’s take that step together!
Happy trucking!
Your first opportunity to begin the communication process with your carrier begins before you even get to orientation. As a business owner, you are the one responsible for any and all information that is available to others about you and your business. It is critical that you get a copy of both your MVR and DAC reports before looking to lease on with any major carrier. The cost of the MVR varies from state to state. You can get one free copy of your DAC report annually. You can also get a free copy if you have been denied employment or terminated based on information contained in your DAC. If you want to request a copy of your DAC on line go to this site: http://www.hireright.com/Disputes/Report.aspx. Review your DAC very closely and make sure to correct any discrepancies prior to beginning your search for a carrier. For more information visit this website: http://www.usis.com/Consumers/default.aspx. Note that according the FMCSR 383.35(c) motor carriers are required to request a minimum of ten years worth of accurate employment history. For this reason, it is critical that the information, neatly supplied by you matches with the information supplied by DAC. You do not want the first impression you make on your carrier to be one of unpreparedness.
You should take the following information with you for your orientation:
1. Employment History (with accurate dates)
2. Copy of your MVR
3. Copy of your DAC
4. Driver’s License
5. List of any prescription drugs you are taking
6. Long Form Medical Card
7. References
Communication is more than what you say, although what you say is extremely important. Communication is also about the way you look and how you carry yourself. Your family knows how wonderful you are and so you don’t always have to look and be your best for them. Society has no idea about any of this. You have to show them. The first impression people get about us, even before we open our mouths, is when they see how we are dressed. That impression can often be cemented when we open our mouths. How you are dressed and what you say will determine not only how your carrier will view and treat you but also how you will be viewed and treated by society.
First of all, arrive on time. If you can’t make it to orientation on time how can you be counted on to make your deliveries on time? Pack a jacket instead of the usual hoodie. Bring a good pair of work boots instead of sneakers. Don’t wear a baseball cap to your orientation. Make sure that you arrive at orientation with clothes that are clean and pressed. Carry a briefcase with you where you can keep all of your own information as well as all the paperwork you will be receiving over the course of the orientation. Carry a notebook, pens, pencils, a ruler, a small stapler, paperclips and whiteout in your briefcase. Turn off your cell phone, or at least leave it on vibrate. Nothing shows lack of interest more than a person who accepts personal phone calls during orientation. Watch your language and do not use any profanity. Always keep in your mind that you are attending a professional function. Pay attention and don’t ask unnecessary questions. We’ve all been stuck in the orientation process with that one “special” person who just can’t get over the sound of their voice! Don’t be that person.
Remember that your truck will have to be inspected. Make sure to arrive with a clean truck both on the inside and on the outside. Take care of any mechanical issues before you arrive at orientation. Here is a list of some of the things you will need to bring with you relating to your truck:
1. Name, address and phone number of your lender (if you are still making payments on your truck).
2. Copy of the title to your truck (original title if you own your truck outright).
3. Copy of the Bill of Sale
4. Form 2290 Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (marked paid).
5. Proof of Insurance
6. Current DOT inspection
I cannot stress enough the importance of looking the part after orientation. Once you are actually leased on with your carrier, it is imperative that you continue to dress professionally. Don’t get too comfortable just because you made it through the orientation process. Never have any face-to-face communication with your carrier unless you have cleaned up and put on a clean set of clothing. It will level the playing field psychologically. I know that this can present some difficulties, but those difficulties are worth it if it allows your carrier to see you as a professional.
Here are some quick clean up ideas:
1. Baby wipes. These are good for a quick clean up but not for a deep down clean.
2. Comfort Personal Cleansing. These are pre-moistened washcloths that you warm up in the microwave. They can be found at Wal-Mart.
3. Premium Fresh’n Up Personal Washcloths. These are extra large and extra strong wipes. These can be used when baby wipes just will not do the job, but you do not enough time for a thorough cleansing.
4. ConvaTec Cleansing Foam. Also known as Aloe Vesta. It is “a high foaming, non-aerosol, ph-balanced cleanser for all over cleaning.” You can find this product at http://www.convatec.com. This is great for a deep down clean.
Finally, get to know the people within your carrier's organization before they get to know you. Find out a little about them. What are their names? What about their birthdays? Are they married? Do they have children? Who does what? If possible, try and get their e-mail addresses. They will truly serve you well down the road.
Always remember that you are a business owner and no longer an employee. The carrier you are leased to should be treated as your number one customer. Prepare customer satisfaction surveys and ask key members of your carrier’s organization to fill them out. A survey is good in three ways particularly: it’s a good tool to discover if you are providing the best service possible to your carrier; it’s a good tool to find out how you can improve the services you are already providing; and it also shows your carrier that you are willing to go the extra mile to maintain that professional relationship.
Some questions you could ask are as follows:
1. Does (name of your company) pick up your loads in a timely and expedient fashion fashion? Yes No Explanation_______________________________________________________
2. Does (name of your company) deliver your loads in a timely and expedient fashion?
Yes No Explanation_______________________________________________________
3. On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being the highest) how satisfied are you with the services provided by (name of your company)._______________________________________________________
4. If you could make any improvements in the services offered by (name of your company) what would they be? _________________________________________________________________
Try and make it a point to drop by the office from time to time and share positive information with your carrier. The reason for a visit from you shouldn’t always be because you have a problem. In that way, should you actually have a problem they will be open to listening. Don’t forget to offer potential solutions to any problem areas you may have. Anyone can point out problems. It takes a professional to offer solutions. If you are with the right carrier, this will be appreciated and rewarded.
We just recently came through some very trying economic times. We saw many of our business associates fall by the way side. We will miss them greatly. We saw many well known companies close their doors. Many carriers were forced to make tough decisions and had to downsize their fleets accordingly. Freight was down and there were more trucks out there than there was available freight. Freight has still not come back to the levels they were once at and times are still very uncertain. We are not out of the woods just yet and only the strongest among us have survived. Some see these times as difficult times. I see these times as times of opportunity. Here is our opportunity to change how we are viewed by the public. Change starts with one small step. Let’s take that step together!
Happy trucking!
What Was I Thinking?
Charles and I have been married for 21 years come this November. He spent the first eight of those years trying to get me to learn how to drive a big rig. To understand how formidable his quest was you have to understand where I was when he began.
I had been a legal secretary for most of my adult life. I grew up in New York City and as an adult I lived in Stated Island. In short, I was a city girl. My dad was in the Air Force and as a child I split my time between wherever my dad was stationed and the lower east side of Manhattan. Whenever my dad went out on his isolated tours of duty my mom and I lived in Manhattan and I went to Catholic school.
I left home at an early age and survived by my wits. I knew that I needed to find work in order to survive so I went door to door looking for work. One day I found myself at a 24 hour diner. I really liked the feel of the place so I started going to this diner almost every evening. I wiled away my time after a fruitless day of looking for work by ordering the least expensive menu on their menu; Sanka coffee and toast.
One day, after I had been up for several days, I found myself at that diner again. It turned out that the people who owned that diner were first generation Greeks. We started talking to each other in Greek, me speaking broken Greek to their perfect Greek, and they ended up offering me a job. They taught me everything that I needed to work as a waitress at their diner. That was my first lucky break. I worked for them off and on for a few years and keep in touch with them to this day.
For a few years I bounced around doing a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Among my occupations were: carnie girl (I worked for the James E. Strait Traveling Carnival Show [I really did run away and join the circus LOL), bartender and dancer. During a lucid period of my young life I somehow managed to study for my GED, which I obtained when I was 20 years old. Also during this same lucid period, I taught myself how to type. When I got my typing speed up to 45 words per minute I talked my way into a position at a temp agency as a temporary clerical worker.
In time I was sent to a law firm to fill in for one of the secretaries who was going on vacation. The lady that I had filled in for was preparing to retire and liked me. They offered me her position and she taught me as much of what she knew as possible. I ended up staying at that law firm for two years. While working as a legal secretary I took a correspondence course and obtained my paralegal certificate. I guess you could say that I had all the makings of an old school truck driver from way back then: I am a self-taught person!
So, fast forward ten years: I was living in El Paso, Texas and married to a truck driver who began pestering me to learn how to drive a big rig almost from the very beginning of our marriage in 1989. When he first started his pestering I thought he had lost his mind. I’ll be honest with you: I was petrified to even sit on the seat in front of the steering wheel. And when he started that big old truck I just about jumped out of my skin.
Actually, what made me go to school to learn how to drive a truck wasn’t so much my husband’s gift of persuasion; it was the low wages I was earning in a border town. That is the reality of why I decided to become a truck driver. It was either starve or make some changes! I got sick and tired of earning a top hourly rate of $9.50 an hour! I knew that I would experience a drop in income by moving to El Paso, I just didn’t realize that it would be a 50% drop!
I was a two week wonder. I remember it like it was yesterday: there I was with my CDL in hand and someone was actually expecting me to drive! In my two weeks of experience I had only gone out on the highway three times: twice as part of a group of students and once during my test! The only thing that I really and truly remembered from the previous two weeks was: 13’6”, period. I think that I had only hooked up to a trailer maybe twice. That anyone could expect me to actually drive this thing was unbelievable to me! How my husband would actually consider trying to sleep behind me was another matter altogether!
Charles started me out real easy: I only drove four hour shifts. I can still remember being so scared that I barely turned my head from left to right. I held on to that steering wheel with a death grip! The first ticket I got was in (I think) Virginia. I had missed all the over head signs telling me about a scale up ahead. You see those signs were not on the side of the road where I could move my eyes to see them. Oh no, they were overhead hanging off the over pass. Well, how could anyone expect me to see those signs? After all, if I was too scared to move my head from left to right how in the heck would I be able to move it up or down? I remember asking Charles what I should do as the scale master was racing out of the scale house. His response: pull the hell over. He’s always been real gentle with me (as you can tell).
The next four years were a very interesting time for Charles and me. For the first time (and I am sure that some of you who have read some of my posts can feel my pain), I was not the boss. I had to rely on Charles for everything. My very life depended on making sure that I checked in with him. What a time. It was a real challenge. After putting up with his you know what for seven months I decided that I had had enough. Boy, he was surprised when I quit the company we worked at and signed on with Werner.
Apparently, Werner had a lot more confidence in my skills than my husband. It’s a wonder I didn’t kill myself in my short time with them. But I did accomplish one thing though: I actually learned how to drive that truck. You see, Charles was too protective (insert here that he had a strong belief that I would kill us both) of me and wouldn’t let me do anything more than basically hold the steering wheel. Under his tutelage I didn’t know how to back my truck and I didn’t know how to deal with anything else truck related except for holding the steering wheel. He’s an old school truck driver and, while he loved me as his wife, he had absolutely no respect for me as a truck driver. And why should he have? I wasn’t a truck driver; I was a steering wheel holder!
Werner set me loose in a Freightliner Classic on the east coast. They had a lot of confidence in me (insert here that they could care less if I lived or died) and just let me run wild! Boy oh boy did I learn how to drive a truck! I also learned how to deal with all my paperwork, how to read a map, how to plan my trips, the difference between north and south and east and west, how to load and unload, how to back that baby just about anywhere and last but not least, how to ask for help. It was a humbling experience.
I stayed with them for a few months until my husband asked me to come back and drive team with him again. After some thought (you know I didn’t even tell him how much I had missed him, right?) I said that I would even though it meant giving up my freedom (NOT). I hope he doesn’t read this. But in reality, I didn’t mind; I had proven my point. I didn’t want to be a steering wheel holder. I wanted to be a truck driver. And the love affair began anew. No, not with my husband, that never ended, with driving a truck! Having said that, I still consider myself a trainee because I still have so much to learn.
Charles and I have been married for 21 years come this November. He spent the first eight of those years trying to get me to learn how to drive a big rig. To understand how formidable his quest was you have to understand where I was when he began.
I had been a legal secretary for most of my adult life. I grew up in New York City and as an adult I lived in Stated Island. In short, I was a city girl. My dad was in the Air Force and as a child I split my time between wherever my dad was stationed and the lower east side of Manhattan. Whenever my dad went out on his isolated tours of duty my mom and I lived in Manhattan and I went to Catholic school.
I left home at an early age and survived by my wits. I knew that I needed to find work in order to survive so I went door to door looking for work. One day I found myself at a 24 hour diner. I really liked the feel of the place so I started going to this diner almost every evening. I wiled away my time after a fruitless day of looking for work by ordering the least expensive menu on their menu; Sanka coffee and toast.
One day, after I had been up for several days, I found myself at that diner again. It turned out that the people who owned that diner were first generation Greeks. We started talking to each other in Greek, me speaking broken Greek to their perfect Greek, and they ended up offering me a job. They taught me everything that I needed to work as a waitress at their diner. That was my first lucky break. I worked for them off and on for a few years and keep in touch with them to this day.
For a few years I bounced around doing a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Among my occupations were: carnie girl (I worked for the James E. Strait Traveling Carnival Show [I really did run away and join the circus LOL), bartender and dancer. During a lucid period of my young life I somehow managed to study for my GED, which I obtained when I was 20 years old. Also during this same lucid period, I taught myself how to type. When I got my typing speed up to 45 words per minute I talked my way into a position at a temp agency as a temporary clerical worker.
In time I was sent to a law firm to fill in for one of the secretaries who was going on vacation. The lady that I had filled in for was preparing to retire and liked me. They offered me her position and she taught me as much of what she knew as possible. I ended up staying at that law firm for two years. While working as a legal secretary I took a correspondence course and obtained my paralegal certificate. I guess you could say that I had all the makings of an old school truck driver from way back then: I am a self-taught person!
So, fast forward ten years: I was living in El Paso, Texas and married to a truck driver who began pestering me to learn how to drive a big rig almost from the very beginning of our marriage in 1989. When he first started his pestering I thought he had lost his mind. I’ll be honest with you: I was petrified to even sit on the seat in front of the steering wheel. And when he started that big old truck I just about jumped out of my skin.
Actually, what made me go to school to learn how to drive a truck wasn’t so much my husband’s gift of persuasion; it was the low wages I was earning in a border town. That is the reality of why I decided to become a truck driver. It was either starve or make some changes! I got sick and tired of earning a top hourly rate of $9.50 an hour! I knew that I would experience a drop in income by moving to El Paso, I just didn’t realize that it would be a 50% drop!
I was a two week wonder. I remember it like it was yesterday: there I was with my CDL in hand and someone was actually expecting me to drive! In my two weeks of experience I had only gone out on the highway three times: twice as part of a group of students and once during my test! The only thing that I really and truly remembered from the previous two weeks was: 13’6”, period. I think that I had only hooked up to a trailer maybe twice. That anyone could expect me to actually drive this thing was unbelievable to me! How my husband would actually consider trying to sleep behind me was another matter altogether!
Charles started me out real easy: I only drove four hour shifts. I can still remember being so scared that I barely turned my head from left to right. I held on to that steering wheel with a death grip! The first ticket I got was in (I think) Virginia. I had missed all the over head signs telling me about a scale up ahead. You see those signs were not on the side of the road where I could move my eyes to see them. Oh no, they were overhead hanging off the over pass. Well, how could anyone expect me to see those signs? After all, if I was too scared to move my head from left to right how in the heck would I be able to move it up or down? I remember asking Charles what I should do as the scale master was racing out of the scale house. His response: pull the hell over. He’s always been real gentle with me (as you can tell).
The next four years were a very interesting time for Charles and me. For the first time (and I am sure that some of you who have read some of my posts can feel my pain), I was not the boss. I had to rely on Charles for everything. My very life depended on making sure that I checked in with him. What a time. It was a real challenge. After putting up with his you know what for seven months I decided that I had had enough. Boy, he was surprised when I quit the company we worked at and signed on with Werner.
Apparently, Werner had a lot more confidence in my skills than my husband. It’s a wonder I didn’t kill myself in my short time with them. But I did accomplish one thing though: I actually learned how to drive that truck. You see, Charles was too protective (insert here that he had a strong belief that I would kill us both) of me and wouldn’t let me do anything more than basically hold the steering wheel. Under his tutelage I didn’t know how to back my truck and I didn’t know how to deal with anything else truck related except for holding the steering wheel. He’s an old school truck driver and, while he loved me as his wife, he had absolutely no respect for me as a truck driver. And why should he have? I wasn’t a truck driver; I was a steering wheel holder!
Werner set me loose in a Freightliner Classic on the east coast. They had a lot of confidence in me (insert here that they could care less if I lived or died) and just let me run wild! Boy oh boy did I learn how to drive a truck! I also learned how to deal with all my paperwork, how to read a map, how to plan my trips, the difference between north and south and east and west, how to load and unload, how to back that baby just about anywhere and last but not least, how to ask for help. It was a humbling experience.
I stayed with them for a few months until my husband asked me to come back and drive team with him again. After some thought (you know I didn’t even tell him how much I had missed him, right?) I said that I would even though it meant giving up my freedom (NOT). I hope he doesn’t read this. But in reality, I didn’t mind; I had proven my point. I didn’t want to be a steering wheel holder. I wanted to be a truck driver. And the love affair began anew. No, not with my husband, that never ended, with driving a truck! Having said that, I still consider myself a trainee because I still have so much to learn.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Well, we're home for a day and a half. There is so much to do. Yesterday I stopped by the post office, went to wally world, dropped by my in-law's house to see my grandniece and nephew, came home and went through the mail. Today I've finalized an article I'm working on, plan on going to see my CPA and then visiting my mom. After that, I plan on finalizing a report I'm working on, and then I have to clean up the truck and put stuff back in. I'm kind of looking forward to getting back in the truck and just driving.
It's been four months, three weeks and one day since my last cigarette. So far I've saved $798 and have not smoked 3,550 cigarettes. I have added one week, five days and seven hours to my life. Let me tell you, it has not been easy. You truly have to make a DECISION! I still get urgings. As a matter of fact yesterday was a particularly bad one. When I talk to my friends who have quit smoking years ago they tell me that they still get urgings maybe once or twice a year. So, I guess this is normal.
I try and exercise three to four times a week, but sometimes I can only do it once a week. Hubby and I haul air freight and it's go, go, go. I carry weights in the truck so when I can't go out for a walk I use the five pound weights to work out my upper body and the ten pound leg wraps to work out my legs. I've been watching what I eat and have gone on the South Beach diet. I am in week three and have started adding back five grams of carbs a day. I don't really keep track of my weight, but I have noticed that I am fitting into my size 10 jeans a little more comfortably.
On another note, hubby did not stick with it. He never smoked cigarettes, smoking cigars instead. He claims that he doesn't inhale, but who know. At any rate, he doesn't smoke in the house or the truck. I think that he is secretly amazed that I've come so far. In the past I never made it past a month. Hopefully, I can serve as an example for him.
I try and exercise three to four times a week, but sometimes I can only do it once a week. Hubby and I haul air freight and it's go, go, go. I carry weights in the truck so when I can't go out for a walk I use the five pound weights to work out my upper body and the ten pound leg wraps to work out my legs. I've been watching what I eat and have gone on the South Beach diet. I am in week three and have started adding back five grams of carbs a day. I don't really keep track of my weight, but I have noticed that I am fitting into my size 10 jeans a little more comfortably.
On another note, hubby did not stick with it. He never smoked cigarettes, smoking cigars instead. He claims that he doesn't inhale, but who know. At any rate, he doesn't smoke in the house or the truck. I think that he is secretly amazed that I've come so far. In the past I never made it past a month. Hopefully, I can serve as an example for him.
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Day 6 of not smoking.
I don't know what it is about quitting, but all I want to do is eat! I've been in the freezer just thinking about what I can cook to eat. I'm not even hungry. Go figure. But, I am determined not to smoke. I think that I'll switch to the Southbeach diet. We've done it before and as a matter of fact, hubby lost 50 pounds on this diet. I'm sure that without being on this diet I'll gain about 10 to 15 pounds, but why go through that?
I was listening to CNN this morning and I heard that there is one bad side effect of quitting smoking: you can eat so much that you become obese and then you develop diabetes. Well, I'd rather get diabetes than lung cancer. I can work with diabetes, I don't think I can work with not breathing! But damn, all I want to do is eat! By the way, I haven't cooked anything either, but I have been looking at my Joy of Cooking cookbook.
I don't know what it is about quitting, but all I want to do is eat! I've been in the freezer just thinking about what I can cook to eat. I'm not even hungry. Go figure. But, I am determined not to smoke. I think that I'll switch to the Southbeach diet. We've done it before and as a matter of fact, hubby lost 50 pounds on this diet. I'm sure that without being on this diet I'll gain about 10 to 15 pounds, but why go through that?
I was listening to CNN this morning and I heard that there is one bad side effect of quitting smoking: you can eat so much that you become obese and then you develop diabetes. Well, I'd rather get diabetes than lung cancer. I can work with diabetes, I don't think I can work with not breathing! But damn, all I want to do is eat! By the way, I haven't cooked anything either, but I have been looking at my Joy of Cooking cookbook.
Friday, January 08, 2010
I wonder how many of us became owner operators because we were tired of all the crap we had to put up with when we were company drivers? I used to think that being an owner operator would be a piece of cake. With my background and after spending almost nine years as a company driver I was sick and tired of always having to do what the company told me, to go where they told me, to take only the amount of time off that they allowed me, etc. I thought that I would become an owner operator and I could go wherever I wanted to go, do whatever I wanted to do and take as much time off as I pleased. What I dreamer I was.
So, I did my homework that last year that I was a company driver. I tracked everything from where we went to how much fuel we used. I talked to hundreds of other owner operators and picked their brains. I created various spreadsheets that would help us track everything from what our actual revenue was to how many gallons per mile we used. I found all kinds of informative websites on running your own trucking business. I could tell you what our costs were on a daily, weekly, monthly and annual basis. Finally, in March of 2006 we felt we were ready and we took the plunge; we purchased our first truck.
We finally moved to our current company and it was one of the best moves we ever made. This company is 100% owner operator and is non-forced dispatch. For the first year I carried my old point of view over into my business practices as an owner operator. We would refuse loads going to places we didn’t want to go to and we would take as much time off as we wanted. It didn’t matter to us that our time off fell on high volume freight days. We felt that it was our truck that we were paying for so we had that freedom. In truth, we did. It was our truck and we were paying all the bills. In short, we were developing a bad attitude.
We finally got it right in time for 2009 which, by all accounts, was not a good year for the trucking industry. There was not enough freight and too many trucks. Trucking companies were failing left and right! The small solo operations were hit even harder. Thanks to our view of our business and our relationship with our carrier, for us it was a good year.
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
1/8/10 Day four of not smoking.
Have changed from drinking coffee to drinking tea. It helps that I caught a bad cold while hanging out with my nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grand nephews over the holidays. This is the first cold of my adult life that I have not forced myself to smoke through! Still get urges that go something like this: I'm doing something and the thought runs across my mind that as soon as I finish this I can sit down and have a smoke. Then I remember that I stopped and it doesn't feel bad at all. If the urge is really strong I chew a nicorett gum. I'm using 2mg as opposed to the 4mg. I want to get through this successfully, but I don't want to drag it out.
I have increased my walk time from one hour to an hour and a half. I'm trying to compensate for my insatiable appetite. As God is my witness (in the words of my favorite big screen heroine Scarlet O'Hara) I will not be fat! I have been eating healthy. Lots of whole wheat, fruits, fresh raw vegetables, chicken breasts, fish and on rare occasions, lean red meat. We're going out on the road tonight and I've prepared lots of healthy snacks for us along those lines. I purchased one of those vacuume sealers that I will use to keep things fresh.
We're finally leaving the house after a long holiday break tonight. My next big challenge will be not smoking during my shift. I will overcome that challenge and share my experiences here on this blog.
Okay, that's all for now.
The first day of not smoking.
We've finally stopped smoking. I know that it's awfully optimistic of me considering that I have tried to stop quite a few times over the last two years, but I think that optimism is necessary in this case. I can't believe how hard it is to quit. Can you believe that this stuff is legal? I had an easier time quitting contraband (no, I won't spill my guts as this stuff stays on the web FOREVER LOL).
In the past, when I have quit, I have quit on my own and hubby kept at it (he smokes cigars and while he claims he doesn't inhale, I live with the guy and know better). This time we are doing it together. I have a good feeling about this time!
I smoked my last cigarette last night at I don't remember what time. Here lately though smoking wasn't as enjoyable as it once was oh so long ago. Even that last cigarette was smoked simply to feed the beast. It makes me feel like a hostage. As I inhaled the last of that cigarette all I felt was relief that I was finally on my way to being free.
There are so many hindrances to smoking these days. For one thing, while I don't believe all the dangers attributed to secondhand smoke, it doesn't really matter because everyone else does. When someone comes to my house who is not a smoker I always wonder how my house smells to them. To me I don't notice any smell, but I know from past experience with quitting that there definately is a smell. And let me tell you, it is no picnic having to go outside in subzero temperture to feed the beast! While I'm out there feeling like an adict I wonder why I'm putting myself through that.
I hate that deep need of wanting a smoke after every meal. I mean what's up with that? On a positive note, I really look forward to being able to actually taste my food. I guess I'm going to have to really ramp up that exercise schedule.
The cost of cigarettes has become prohibitive. Here where we live in the southwest it costs $54 a carton, that's just for ten packs. In other areas it costs upwards of $70 to $80 dollars and in other areas it costs a little less. If a carton lasts me for ten days and we have 365 days in the year that means that I am spending $1,971 for cigaretts (on average) each year. That price doesn't include those times when I run out of cigarettes and have to pay a per pack price. Times that by the money my hubby spends: one double pack of Blackstone Cherry (five cigars in each pack) costs an average of $7 each and he smokes at least one pack a day. Times that by 365 and he spends about $2,555 per year. Our grand total for smokes a year is $4,526!!! Believe me, these numbers are understated. Sometimes hubby smokes two or even three packs of cigars a day when we are out on the road. Sometimes I smoke a pack and a half! So, we are potentially looking at saving over $5,000 a year by quitting. I'm motivated!
I always feel bad when people bring little children and babies to our home especially if those people don't smoke. I've always been a polite smoker, but it is really a hassle having to go outside of my own home to smoke at those times.
On waking up this morning, my first thought: damn I'm not smoking! What an addiction! My hope is that by publicizing our progress it will serve as a motivational tool not only for us, but for others thinking about quitting.
Well, we're on our way and we can do it!
Have changed from drinking coffee to drinking tea. It helps that I caught a bad cold while hanging out with my nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grand nephews over the holidays. This is the first cold of my adult life that I have not forced myself to smoke through! Still get urges that go something like this: I'm doing something and the thought runs across my mind that as soon as I finish this I can sit down and have a smoke. Then I remember that I stopped and it doesn't feel bad at all. If the urge is really strong I chew a nicorett gum. I'm using 2mg as opposed to the 4mg. I want to get through this successfully, but I don't want to drag it out.
I have increased my walk time from one hour to an hour and a half. I'm trying to compensate for my insatiable appetite. As God is my witness (in the words of my favorite big screen heroine Scarlet O'Hara) I will not be fat! I have been eating healthy. Lots of whole wheat, fruits, fresh raw vegetables, chicken breasts, fish and on rare occasions, lean red meat. We're going out on the road tonight and I've prepared lots of healthy snacks for us along those lines. I purchased one of those vacuume sealers that I will use to keep things fresh.
We're finally leaving the house after a long holiday break tonight. My next big challenge will be not smoking during my shift. I will overcome that challenge and share my experiences here on this blog.
Okay, that's all for now.
The first day of not smoking.
We've finally stopped smoking. I know that it's awfully optimistic of me considering that I have tried to stop quite a few times over the last two years, but I think that optimism is necessary in this case. I can't believe how hard it is to quit. Can you believe that this stuff is legal? I had an easier time quitting contraband (no, I won't spill my guts as this stuff stays on the web FOREVER LOL).
In the past, when I have quit, I have quit on my own and hubby kept at it (he smokes cigars and while he claims he doesn't inhale, I live with the guy and know better). This time we are doing it together. I have a good feeling about this time!
I smoked my last cigarette last night at I don't remember what time. Here lately though smoking wasn't as enjoyable as it once was oh so long ago. Even that last cigarette was smoked simply to feed the beast. It makes me feel like a hostage. As I inhaled the last of that cigarette all I felt was relief that I was finally on my way to being free.
There are so many hindrances to smoking these days. For one thing, while I don't believe all the dangers attributed to secondhand smoke, it doesn't really matter because everyone else does. When someone comes to my house who is not a smoker I always wonder how my house smells to them. To me I don't notice any smell, but I know from past experience with quitting that there definately is a smell. And let me tell you, it is no picnic having to go outside in subzero temperture to feed the beast! While I'm out there feeling like an adict I wonder why I'm putting myself through that.
I hate that deep need of wanting a smoke after every meal. I mean what's up with that? On a positive note, I really look forward to being able to actually taste my food. I guess I'm going to have to really ramp up that exercise schedule.
The cost of cigarettes has become prohibitive. Here where we live in the southwest it costs $54 a carton, that's just for ten packs. In other areas it costs upwards of $70 to $80 dollars and in other areas it costs a little less. If a carton lasts me for ten days and we have 365 days in the year that means that I am spending $1,971 for cigaretts (on average) each year. That price doesn't include those times when I run out of cigarettes and have to pay a per pack price. Times that by the money my hubby spends: one double pack of Blackstone Cherry (five cigars in each pack) costs an average of $7 each and he smokes at least one pack a day. Times that by 365 and he spends about $2,555 per year. Our grand total for smokes a year is $4,526!!! Believe me, these numbers are understated. Sometimes hubby smokes two or even three packs of cigars a day when we are out on the road. Sometimes I smoke a pack and a half! So, we are potentially looking at saving over $5,000 a year by quitting. I'm motivated!
I always feel bad when people bring little children and babies to our home especially if those people don't smoke. I've always been a polite smoker, but it is really a hassle having to go outside of my own home to smoke at those times.
On waking up this morning, my first thought: damn I'm not smoking! What an addiction! My hope is that by publicizing our progress it will serve as a motivational tool not only for us, but for others thinking about quitting.
Well, we're on our way and we can do it!
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Well, we're still at it (trucking that is). We purchased our first truck in March of last year. Boy have we learned a lot by becoming owner operators. The trucking companies make a lot of money off of us. For example: they bill their customers a fuel surcharge and then find very creative ways to keep as much of it as they can for themselves. Some companies take a long time before they give us our fuel surcharge. In other words, they get it right away and then hold on to the surcharge for their own use. The impact on us is that we pay today's diesel price and as a result our settlement statement is a lot less than had we received the fuel surcharge right away. That hurts because when you are a small outfit you need all of your income. Other companies reimburse you the surcharge on a state to state basis and then turn around and charge their customers the Department of Energy's (DOE) average cost per gallon. The difference can be substantial and is also very difficult to determine. Yet other companies only update the average cost per gallon for owner operators on a monthly basis and yet charge their customers the DOE's weekly updated version.
Another thing our current company does (they shall remain nameless because Lord knows what kind of trouble we would get into if we name them) is offer up our vehicles for exclusive use to some of their most valued customers. That offer means that the customer gets to use our vehicle exclusively. They get to hold us for as long as they wish. They have to pay a higher fuel surcharge to the freight company, sometimes as much as 100% more. Of course, the freight company does not pass that along to their owner operators (O/O). We still get that same old fuel surcharge that is calculated on a state by state basis.
Imagine the profit to the freight company if the fuel surcharge (FSCH) on a given Monday is at $.34cpm. Here is an easy way to figure this out. Lets use as our example one O/O and come up with a figure for the total 100. Here goes:
One O/O (solo) runs approximately 2000 miles (low ball) for say 48 weeks. That comes to: .34 times 2000 = $680 in FSCH. Now, lets multiply that amount by 100 (the number of O/O leased to the freight company). That comes up to $68,000. Now lets continue on with our little scenario. If you times $68,000 by 48 weeks you get a running total of $3,264,000. That averages out to $32,640 per O/O per year. That is what they pay their O/O in FSCH. But, we can't forget that that is not what they are charging the customer. They are in fact charging the customer $.70. What that means is that they are in fact keeping $3,264,000. My God! What a profit. And all of this because we are leased on to them. And who said truck drivers are dumb?
Well, we know the issue, but I don't know what we can do about it. Last year legislation was presented to ensure that O/O received all of the FSCH collected by the freight companies. That legislation did not make it because it was said it would allow too much government intervention. Unfortunately, this is true. But as truckers we are really struggling and need every penny we have earned. I think that in this case, government interventions is definitely needed.
Well, I'm getting ready to go. I plan on purchasing a digital camera and will post pictures to this blog. Of course I will have to figure out how to do this as I am 50 years old and this stuff is really hard for me. You can't imagine the time I had in getting this blog up and running. It took me a year to remember that I had started it:).
Talk to you all soon (actually no one has even looked at my blog). Nonetheless, I'm going to keep on.
Another thing our current company does (they shall remain nameless because Lord knows what kind of trouble we would get into if we name them) is offer up our vehicles for exclusive use to some of their most valued customers. That offer means that the customer gets to use our vehicle exclusively. They get to hold us for as long as they wish. They have to pay a higher fuel surcharge to the freight company, sometimes as much as 100% more. Of course, the freight company does not pass that along to their owner operators (O/O). We still get that same old fuel surcharge that is calculated on a state by state basis.
Imagine the profit to the freight company if the fuel surcharge (FSCH) on a given Monday is at $.34cpm. Here is an easy way to figure this out. Lets use as our example one O/O and come up with a figure for the total 100. Here goes:
One O/O (solo) runs approximately 2000 miles (low ball) for say 48 weeks. That comes to: .34 times 2000 = $680 in FSCH. Now, lets multiply that amount by 100 (the number of O/O leased to the freight company). That comes up to $68,000. Now lets continue on with our little scenario. If you times $68,000 by 48 weeks you get a running total of $3,264,000. That averages out to $32,640 per O/O per year. That is what they pay their O/O in FSCH. But, we can't forget that that is not what they are charging the customer. They are in fact charging the customer $.70. What that means is that they are in fact keeping $3,264,000. My God! What a profit. And all of this because we are leased on to them. And who said truck drivers are dumb?
Well, we know the issue, but I don't know what we can do about it. Last year legislation was presented to ensure that O/O received all of the FSCH collected by the freight companies. That legislation did not make it because it was said it would allow too much government intervention. Unfortunately, this is true. But as truckers we are really struggling and need every penny we have earned. I think that in this case, government interventions is definitely needed.
Well, I'm getting ready to go. I plan on purchasing a digital camera and will post pictures to this blog. Of course I will have to figure out how to do this as I am 50 years old and this stuff is really hard for me. You can't imagine the time I had in getting this blog up and running. It took me a year to remember that I had started it:).
Talk to you all soon (actually no one has even looked at my blog). Nonetheless, I'm going to keep on.
Friday, February 03, 2006
I have been a truck driver for the last eight years. It seems that when I became a truck driver I stepped over some kind of divide. On one side I was a respectable legal secretary and on the other side I became this low life truck driver.
My husband and I have been married for over 16 years. He began trying to talk me into becoming a truck driver almost from the very beginning of our married life. It took him eight years to succeed. What really tipped the scale in his favor was the very low wages I earned working as a legal secretary near the border. Since I wasn't bi-lingual, many higher paying positions were not available to me.
Let me tell you, learning how to drive that big rig was no easy feat. I think that I was terrified almost the entire first two years. And then there was my husband. He has been driving for over 25 years. For the first time in our marriage he was the boss (out on the road). That made for some interesting conversations while I trained under him.
There are many things that I don't like about trucking. For one, I don't like being away from home for so long a period of time. I also don't like having to wait for hours to get loaded and unloaded. We don't get paid for waiting. The thing that I hate most is how we are compensated: by the mile. But, overall it's a good job. My husband and I feel that we are doing a service for our country. I smile every time I go to a Walmart store. I know that if it weren't for people like me, the store shelves would be empty.
You won't catch me smiling while I am waiting to get unloaded at a Walmart store. They have very strict requirements. For example, you cannot arrive any earlier than one hour before your load or unload time. Also, they charge you to unload their own products. Finally, you can spend up to 12 hours waiting to get loaded/unloaded at one of their distributorships. You do not get paid for the wait. By the way, Walmart isn't the only store that does this.
What I really love about being a truck driver is the freedom. I think that it is one of the only professions remaining where you don't have someone watching your every move. Also, every day out on the road is casual Friday! I guess that we are the last of the cowboys.
I wish that the compensation methods were changed. You can't pay a person by the mile and then jump all over them when they try and get as many miles as they can. We are forced to waste hours waiting to get loaded and unloaded. We are not paid for our actual miles run. If people really wanted truck drivers to slow down, they would change some of the rules we work under. Oh, I almost forgot, most of the time it is not us the drivers that are in a rush, it is our companies that are in a rush. They have to keep that contract. Trying being late on a load more than a time or two and you will not have that job or you will not get the good runs!
We are so regulated (i.e. drug screens and back ground checks) that I don't know how they can find any fit drivers at all. Did you know that we have to be drug tested within hours of any accident whether it was our fault or not? We also have to be drug tested prior to any employment with a carrier. Then there are the DOT phyical requirements.
The drivers that we know are all aware of the awesome responsibility that we carry. We all try very hard to be safe and courteous to others out on the road. We report irresponsible drivers. Almost to a person, we love our jobs. Even now, when I'm driving down the road and I look out of my sideview mirrors and see that big old trailer, I have to smile to myself. I am driving a big rig!
My husband and I have been married for over 16 years. He began trying to talk me into becoming a truck driver almost from the very beginning of our married life. It took him eight years to succeed. What really tipped the scale in his favor was the very low wages I earned working as a legal secretary near the border. Since I wasn't bi-lingual, many higher paying positions were not available to me.
Let me tell you, learning how to drive that big rig was no easy feat. I think that I was terrified almost the entire first two years. And then there was my husband. He has been driving for over 25 years. For the first time in our marriage he was the boss (out on the road). That made for some interesting conversations while I trained under him.
There are many things that I don't like about trucking. For one, I don't like being away from home for so long a period of time. I also don't like having to wait for hours to get loaded and unloaded. We don't get paid for waiting. The thing that I hate most is how we are compensated: by the mile. But, overall it's a good job. My husband and I feel that we are doing a service for our country. I smile every time I go to a Walmart store. I know that if it weren't for people like me, the store shelves would be empty.
You won't catch me smiling while I am waiting to get unloaded at a Walmart store. They have very strict requirements. For example, you cannot arrive any earlier than one hour before your load or unload time. Also, they charge you to unload their own products. Finally, you can spend up to 12 hours waiting to get loaded/unloaded at one of their distributorships. You do not get paid for the wait. By the way, Walmart isn't the only store that does this.
What I really love about being a truck driver is the freedom. I think that it is one of the only professions remaining where you don't have someone watching your every move. Also, every day out on the road is casual Friday! I guess that we are the last of the cowboys.
I wish that the compensation methods were changed. You can't pay a person by the mile and then jump all over them when they try and get as many miles as they can. We are forced to waste hours waiting to get loaded and unloaded. We are not paid for our actual miles run. If people really wanted truck drivers to slow down, they would change some of the rules we work under. Oh, I almost forgot, most of the time it is not us the drivers that are in a rush, it is our companies that are in a rush. They have to keep that contract. Trying being late on a load more than a time or two and you will not have that job or you will not get the good runs!
We are so regulated (i.e. drug screens and back ground checks) that I don't know how they can find any fit drivers at all. Did you know that we have to be drug tested within hours of any accident whether it was our fault or not? We also have to be drug tested prior to any employment with a carrier. Then there are the DOT phyical requirements.
The drivers that we know are all aware of the awesome responsibility that we carry. We all try very hard to be safe and courteous to others out on the road. We report irresponsible drivers. Almost to a person, we love our jobs. Even now, when I'm driving down the road and I look out of my sideview mirrors and see that big old trailer, I have to smile to myself. I am driving a big rig!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)