CDL Certified

jay2pointoh

jay2pointoh

Joined
Feb 25, 2009
Messages
742
Well folks, after three long hot weeks of training and testing, I am now CDL certified. Truck driving came easy to me, but I now have a greater respect for those driving today. One of the greatest times of my life so far and it was a blast. Going to work in Tennessee soon. Any other truck drivers out there?

Here are a few pics.

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Class A!

Wow. The man's got class... the State of Florida says so.

Congratulations. Driving the "big rigs" is not easy.






And an organ donor too. Good for you! God willing, it will be a long time before you use that endorement.
 
I met with a recruiter once, but never went through with the training. Too bad maybe; I think I would have liked it.

Drive safe!
 
Congratulations Jonathon.
I'm a third generation truck driver, and been driving truck for 31 years..
I got my license the morning of my 18th birthday and have been driving truck ever since. I just turned 49 on the 1st of this month...

I've just about done it all. Drove dump truck, log truck, hauled cars, refer and flat bed long haul, pulled triples, and for the last three years have been driving gas tanker.

It a good business to be in because there is always a need for good drivers. Especially when you get a few years under your belt.
Keep you driving record spotless. If you don't you won't be able to get a job because of the carriers insurance. Don't get caught up in all the b.s you hear.
If you have questions, ask as many people you can....

I don't mean this to be disrespectful, but I've seen enough people and trained enough people that come out of driving schools to know, they just teach you the very bare minimums you need to get the truck from point a to point b. It will all come with experience. Don't get disillusioned when dispatchers and bosses lie to you. Unfortunately, a lot of them do.
One other little piece of advice to make your life easier. When you get to your destination that you are delivering at, be very courteous to those working there. If you go in with an attitude, they will make your life very miserable.

Also, whatever your delivery time is, be early. Sometimes you just can't be on time, but if a driver is late it throws their schedule out of whack, and they get very cranky...


Be careful and I wish you the best of luck. Its not a job for everyone, but for those of us that do enjoy it, its a good way to make a living.

Even after 30+ years, I don't know everything, none of us do. But, if you ever have any questions, feel free to send me a p.m and I will try to help you out.

Mike
 
Congratulations! Not an easy task.

Always respect the size and weight of your equipment, the freight your moving, weather conditions and remember that others lives (and your own) depend on your decisions.
Don't get cocky on the road, keep your distance and stay out of convoys full of yahoo's.

Be accurate and truthful with your log books and update them daily.

When your pulled for inspection roadside, you should know more than the inspector. Be pleasant with them as they are just doing their job like you are.

Your a professional driver so you should conduct yourself as one on and off the road whether your working or not and in any vehicle your driving.

Some tips:
Don't jump off docks or your knees will hurt twice as bad when you get older.

Use a thin hook wherever you can do so. Use it for opening binding trailer doors and pulling them down, sticking swing-door latches, pulling dock chains or lift plates, slider bars, fifth-wheel latches, dragging empty skids. You'll put less wear and tear on your back by doing so and you won't hurt twice as bad when you get older. (notice there's a trend here about pain)

Don't lift, tug, pull or push anything you cannot do easily. If you do, the cumulative effect of it over 20 years will turn you into a pain-pill eating machine.

Be nice to dock hands no matter how bad they treat you. The bigger your hurry, the longer you'll be there.

When backing into a dock and needing to pull up to square up, pull as far forward as you can. Your goal is one swing/one pull-up.

Keep your mirrors clean. Use jumbo spot mirrors on both sides.

Block traffic from both sides when hitting a dock and be in no hurry to back in. (you'll figure this out quick)

Carry a bottle of tums, ibuprofen and aspirin.

Most warehouses, terminals, air/ocean facilities have a bathroom for drivers but there usually is no soap or TP. Keep some in the truck.

If your running the road or line-haul try and eat healthy. Years of eating at a Greasy Spoon will catch up and expose itself at one of your DOT recerts when you get older.

Never tell your dispatcher what you think of him until you have left the building. Never trust directions a dispatcher offers. Never trust directions from someone at the facility your trying to find (they tell you how to get there in a car, not a 13'6" truck -viaducts, restricted streets, local length & weight limits are not taken into consideration)

Never trust GPS anywhere near a city. (Viaducts)

Kiss your Wife/GF/Dog when you get home and leave the crap you put up with at work, at work.

Start saving 10% of your check every time you get paid.
If your a local driver, budget on 40 hours pay. OT comes and goes.

It's a thankless job and the pains of age will come early but you'll earn a nice income.

Good luck. Feel free to PM if you need any pointers. I've been the loose nut behind a wheel for 24 years now.
 
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Well guys, thanks for the advice. I'll try to remember it all but I guess it will come with experience. So I decided to go with Covenant Trans. and I think I'll be O.K.

I just came back off the I-10 from Colton, CA back to FL. What a beautiful road. Never been further west than TN before. All was good except El Paso, TX. CRAZY TRAFFIC.

Arizona...."Yes sir, I am a U.S. citizen."

I could go on and on. I think its just the first drive excitement. Home for a few hours purely by luck of being in the area with no load to pull.

Gotta go open my new knives. Later.
 
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