Where is BigRigSteve?

[G-CPTN]

He's stopped - looks cold . . .

[Western SMT]

Trucker talk from BigRigSteve -

http://www.bigrigtravels.com/gallery/5118352_GFHMd

[G-CPTN]

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=41.681118&...15&l=0&m=h&v=2
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=41.681118&...12&l=0&m=h&v=2


Do they still use CB radios?

Weather for Newton, IA, USA
-15°C
Current: Haze
Wind: N at 18 mph
Humidity: 78%
Wed
Chance of Snow
-16°C | -27°C


Wonder what this is:- http://wikimapia.org/#lat=41.6974017...18&l=0&m=h&v=2

[G-CPTN]

Seeing the wide expanse of flat snow reminds me that I did antilock-brake trials on a special low-mu (0.1) surface with a 38 ton 6x4 rigid and 4 wheel drawbar trailer.

He's rolling again.

[Western SMT]

Requirements to operate a big rig in the USA -

http://www.mifotowa.com/Trucking-And...ted-states.php

Differences between Owner and Company driver -

http://www.mifotowa.com/Trucking-And...ny-drivers.php

[G-CPTN]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebraska

[G-CPTN]

Passing Omaha . . .

Sunset.

950 miles to go (to destination) and he can drive another three hours today if he wants to . . .

370 miles so far today.



.

[G-CPTN]

Off-highway (in a city) truck-stop.

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=40.8683531...12&l=0&m=h&v=2
Extra 105 miles - 475 total today - not bad considering the weather.
845 to go - too far for one day, but he should make it on Friday . . .

[BigRigSteve]

Well, I got an email today that asked me to check out this forum, and possibly answer some questions. LOL I have read ALL the posts.

First, it made me laugh and cringe at what I read. LOL Not sure if it is a good thing to be talked about or not. LOL

At any rate, I will do my best to help answer questions best as I can.

Things that come to mind are: "He sure can't reverse"! LOL. Well, sure I can. What you folks don't see is what is behind me. I have doors to line up with that has all of 6 inches varience either way. In snow, there are no markings to help guide me in. Another issue is the other day while in New Jersey, the docks I backed into had metal plates sticking out that if you hit, or even off a little bit, they will tear the insulation on the doors. Also, keep in mind, I have a big sleeper, and the truck is 72 feet long bumper to bumper, so in order to get in perfect alignment, I have to approach at an angle. Alot of the woring space I have to back up in is shorter than the length of the truck and trailer itself. The other guy you saw back up easily??? Could it have been the yard dog? They have very short tractors, and have twice the steering ability than I do since all they do is move trailers and they are not street legal.

But then, sometimes, I DO have trouble backing up. LOL. Nobody (not me anyway) is perfect. Sometimes I win, othertimes I lose. LOL. As long as I dont get into an accident or damage the truck, trailer, cargo, etc, I figure it is a good day. LOL

Ok, on to the good stuff. I do NOT run every available hour that i can legally drive. It is not a race. If I do get to a receiver early....I just end up sitting. Every shipper and receiver operates to a strict appointment. That is why you see me sitting sometimes and not driving. MOST of them will not load or unload you early at all. LOL

Don't forget the time difference between us and you as well. I perfer to drive during the day so I can see more and be safer than run at night when the drunks, animals, etc are out.

Not every place is a drop and hook. Most are live loading/unloading. Some places I can be in and out in 2 hours or so. Other times, I have sat there for as long as 23 hours!!!

I have to get fuel where my dispatch tells me to. Sometimes that means 1-2 times in a single day. The computer tells me which stations are the lowest prices for fuel.

I am a company driver, and this is a company tractor.

I haul freezer loads. produce, etc.

I agree, the US drivers rules can get confusing at times. LOL.

Basically, I cannot drive more than 11 hours in any day.
I cannot drive AT ALL after my 14th hours since the start of the day.
I must get 10 hours total rest. 8 of which must be continous sleeper berth.
I cannot work on duty and/or drive more than 70 hours in a rolling 8 day period.

Hope this answered or explained some stuff. I will check back tomorrow and see what else I can offer in the way of help.

[BigRigSteve]

Originally Posted by G-CPTN

Passing Omaha . . .

Sunset.

950 miles to go (to destination) and he can drive another three hours today if he wants to . . .

370 miles so far today.



.

??? LOL I stopped for the night just West of Omaha, NE (York, Nebraska) and show I have logged 479 miles for today. Yep, 3 hours driving available today.....but I fought snow and ice just about all day. Plus, why burn up all my available hours early? LOL. That means I would run into using up all 70 hours in 8 days and then cheat myself out of another trip after I deliver this one. LOL