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Hey Ruger41, answers in trucking

Big Sky RedneckBig Sky Redneck Member Posts: 19,752 ✭✭✭
edited September 2017 in General Discussion
Ok, so I was working pretty hard on my truck yesterday, took a break and read a few posts. Instead of typing out another novel I decided to just embarass myself and video a sermon.

Now, at the time it seemed like a good idea, now it just seems silly. But since it took 3 hours for this to upload last night I'm going to post it.

Hopefully maybe I answered some questions and explained a little bit of what Inwas talking about in refards to newbies and mega carriers.

Yes, my shop is a mess, yes, I move around when talking, no I did not selfie this because the camera is not friendly to my awsome looks [:D] And yes, I did bust Allens balls a couple times [:D][:D]

https://youtu.be/fbyOOaDNbUE

Comments

  • Sam06Sam06 Member Posts: 21,244 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Good rant.

    I try to be a good driver. I let trucks over I let them in when they are trying to get on the highway.

    I never cut them off or get in front of them and slow down.

    I agree the left lane does have the right of way and you should drive in it except to pass.

    Nothing irritates me more that two trucks trying to pass each other and taking 10 miles to do it. I call them trucker drags.


    A few thoughts/??:

    That must be your new T-Bird/engine donor car the white car.

    What were you working on?

    When are you going to pull the engine?



    I have to pull the engine in my 75 powerwagon. It needs rebuilding and a clutch. I am waiting for cooler weather. I am not looking forward to it either. I have to have help and I hate asking for it.
    RLTW

  • Big Sky RedneckBig Sky Redneck Member Posts: 19,752 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The truck, had a busted brake can and two slack adjusters not holding adjustment. Two airbags leaking in the truck and one on the trailer. Heading in town soon to get some tires replaced, money money money [:(!]

    The engine is out of the Thunderchicken, top end removed now just waiting on funds for the Edelbrock Performer RPM top end kit. After that still need a bellhousing, headers and MSD ignition to replace that old 390 with a slightly more modern and user freindly 302.
  • ruger41ruger41 Member Posts: 14,665 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thank you so much BSR for taking the time to make the video. I did give it a thumbs up (my YouTube handle is Undercrown509 ). I'm definitely taking your advice...trucking will be my absolute last resort ( I think my wife would agree as she is concerned for safety reasons..as I am too). I've heard enough horror stories already to stay away from Swift and England. And would never take what a recruiter says as truth.
  • Big Sky RedneckBig Sky Redneck Member Posts: 19,752 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Glad to help, not trying to scare you away but just trying to make sure you don't get your hopes up too high. Starting out is tough.
  • redhawkk480redhawkk480 Member Posts: 2,532 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    every thing BSR said is pretty much on target, there are some local driving jobs that don't have the headache of over the road but they can have draw backs like maybe night time only or running weekends/holidays, maybe lower pay ect.

    I've been driving since 78, been a O/O many of those years but sold my last truck in 2008, just wasn't worth it any more, been driving for this company going on 9 years now, if the truck needs repaired i just take it to the company shop or if its a small item it gets taken care of on the road.

    in many ways i have the a very easy job , I've never even seen the inside of our trailers , these loads are sealed when they leave the dock and remain that way until they get to their dest.
    the down side to my job is we go no matter what the weather is doing if the road is open we're on it

    I do 4 day runs west from here in Wi thru the twin cities to western MN and back home each day, then get two days off, then switch and do 4 night runs down thru Chicago - 31 miles into IN. and return home about daylight and go home try to sleep, loads of fun doing that

    3000 miles/week 365 days ayear holidays included [:(]
  • milesmiles Member Posts: 2,548 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Agree with everything BSR said but would add that the turnover rate with most (not all) trucking companies is fricking unbelievable.

    Here is a small C&P to give you some idea what I'm talking about.
    "The annualized turnover rate for large truckload fleets measured 102% in the fourth quarter of 2015, increasing by two percentage points, according to American Trucking Associations.

    It was the second straight quarter that turnover at large TL fleets was at least at 100%. The last time turnover maintained this percentage rate was in 2012.

    I understand things have improved somewhat now but those are still scary numbers.You can Google reasons why trucker turnover rate is so high and you can gain a little insight into what the issues are.

    As far as BSR's rant about the left lane road hogs,I've always lived by and suggested that drivers either "lead, follow or get the hell out of the way."

    If someone tells you that trucking ain't for sissies, believe them.
  • ruger41ruger41 Member Posts: 14,665 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    IF I do end up trucking my goal is get experience of 1-2 years under my belt and then get on with a local company doing LTL stuff. For instance Anderson Hay is a local but huge hay company and their drivers haul from Ellensburg, WA to the Port of Tacoma and Seattle or out to Idaho and back daily M-F. They make good money (definitely more than my previous job). We also have LTI that just hauls milk over to the Seattle side and back...or get on with Granite Construction driving a dump truck for $35 an hour. But the local jobs require some experience. We also have tons of fruit companies who hire to haul apples etc from the field to the packing sheds. I just got my final paycheck this morning and saw they did give me some severance pay when they originally said they wouldn't be doing it so that gives me a little more breathing room.
  • Big Sky RedneckBig Sky Redneck Member Posts: 19,752 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I think you gotta know how to speak spanish to drive the fruit trucks over there!
  • ruger41ruger41 Member Posts: 14,665 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Big Sky Redneck
    I think you gotta know how to speak spanish to drive the fruit trucks over there!


    LOL thankfully my wife is Latina...I'm having her help me brush up on my Spanish LOL.
  • diver-rigdiver-rig Member Posts: 6,336 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Went on an Alaskan cruise out of Seattle a month ago.

    Why anybody would willingly drive in that cesspool is beyond me.

    I've driven all over this country, and glad I now live in bum f..k Iowa.
  • ruger41ruger41 Member Posts: 14,665 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Well I lucked out. I accepted a job with Comprehensive Healthcare here in town doing intake of patients. Pays decent and I won't be on the road.
  • toad67toad67 Member Posts: 13,008 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by ruger41
    Well I lucked out. I accepted a job with Comprehensive Healthcare here in town doing intake of patients. Pays decent and I won't be on the road.


    Congrats Erik, I hope it works out well for you..[^]
  • ruger41ruger41 Member Posts: 14,665 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thank you! It?s definitely a completely different field from what I did for 22 years but I?m happy to be employed and there?s room to advance and they even help with continued education.
  • Big Sky RedneckBig Sky Redneck Member Posts: 19,752 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Awsome, you avoided disaster!!

    The events this week has me ready to throw in the towel, this streak of bad luck is just getting to be too much.
  • ruger41ruger41 Member Posts: 14,665 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My wife is really happy..she didn?t want me on the road unless there was just nothing left
  • redhawkk480redhawkk480 Member Posts: 2,532 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by ruger41
    My wife is really happy..she didn?t want me on the road unless there was just nothing left


    boy I can understand that , I don't even want to be on the road any more but I'm too old and broke down to do any thing else [:(]
  • Sam06Sam06 Member Posts: 21,244 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You get that 302 into the Truck yet?


    I have to pull a 360 out of my Dodge power wagon and rebuild it. Compression is way down and oil pressure is real low.

    I had the fuel pump blow the diagram and flood the engine with gas while I was driving it. I did not catch it and I think I roached the motor.

    Good fun for the winter[;)]
    RLTW

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