High-Seas to Highways
#151
07-17-2007, 04:07 AM
Originally Posted by broncrider1
if someone could tell me how to make it smaller id appreciate it....im kinda a computer dummy
Take Care, Goin Fer It's Wife 
#152
07-17-2007, 07:10 AM
Originally Posted by devildice
Day Four & Five of OTR Training 07/15-16/07
2 more days of training are behind me. The last couple of days were rather uneventful. Both days were absolutely gorgeous days for driving especially since a good portion of it was through secondary roads. It’s amazing how beautiful some of these out of the way places are. We made it to our customer on Sunday evening and were able to park the truck right outside the property and wait for their morning arrival. Right after arriving, we unhooked all our bungee’s but did not remove the tarp. This way we are ready to rock and roll in the morning and by leaving the tarp on we were still in compliance. At 6am people started to show and by 7am the crane was pulling off the 1st of 5 steel plates we had for them. Shortly before 9am we were re-chained & tarped and on our way to our second drop in Utah. Between the 2 days I have driven a little over 850 miles. As training progresses, I will drive more and more. Although I am only on day 5, things are coming together nicely. My shifting is almost flawless. There have been only one or two times that I have ground or missed a gear. Tonight we are shut down at a TA truck stop off I-80 in Nebraska. Tomorrow will be another early rise day as we continue toward Utah for a Wednesday delivery. You and your trainer are moving along! It seems that in 6 days(7/12 to 7/18 ) you will have covered 4100 miles and this is your first week! Of course, a team could easily cover these miles, but I don't get the impression that you and your trainer are teaming. How many of these miles have you driven? Keep up the reports. And be safe!
#153
07-18-2007, 12:59 AM
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 2,065
Day Six of OTR Training 07/17/07
Although by Davis’s schedule, we were not expected to drop our load until Wednesday morning, however, all across NE, WY, and UT the roads were clear and we were able to deliver today with 15 minutes to spare before they stopped receiving for the day. You’ve got to love when things work out in your favor. We fully expected to call in that we were empty and more than likely have to sit a day as I guess Utah is not the greatest of places to load out of for Davis. This would be ok, as my trainer was going to show me some things that I will be required to do and know, a “training day” if you will. Well as we called in our empty status, we got a load going to Toledo, Oregon. We will find out all the details tomorrow. My driving is getting better and better as each day passes. I did not miss or grind a single gear today and I got to say it again, I sure do love floating them gears vice double clutching. By the end of my first week, I would have almost been coast to coast. Davis sure keeps their drivers moving.
#154
07-18-2007, 01:05 AM
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 2,065
Originally Posted by danske
Devildice,
You and your trainer are moving along! It seems that in 6 days(7/12 to 7/18 ) you will have covered 4100 miles and this is your first week! Of course, a team could easily cover these miles, but I don't get the impression that you and your trainer are teaming. How many of these miles have you driven? Keep up the reports. And be safe!
#155
07-18-2007, 01:10 AM
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 2,065
Originally Posted by Goin Fer It
 Glad to see you are moving along! The first day is usually the hardest. That is until you miss your stop or get bad directions or have major construction slow you down and/or something go wrong with the truck. But it is nice when things like that happen with your trainer vs being alone. Glad you are getting your shifting down! I know it is a good feeling! Goin Fer It's Wife
#156
07-19-2007, 02:51 AM
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 2,065
Day Seven of OTR Training 07/18/07
It was yet another beautiful day for driving. Although we arrived at our shipper in Provo, about 30 minutes before they opened, it was a couple of hours before they even started loading us. After getting loaded, we had to run about 20+ miles to one of their other facilities to scale. Once we did that, they added a little more to us. This particular load pays by the ton and therefore we want to get as much on as possible. We are grossing right at 79,500lbs and are headed to the Oregon Coast…..GFI & GFIW’s favorite state. I am quickly gaining a lot of respect for “flatbedders” as the securing, tarping/untarping, and unsecuring and stowing everything this past week has really kicked my butt. On the other hand though, my driving is improving more and more every day and as each day passes, my “rookie” status shows less and less. I did all the driving today from Provo, Utah to where we are shut down for the night, Boise, ID. Not that far, but after securing the load in the hot morning sun, Boise was a welcome stop.
#157
07-19-2007, 07:38 AM
Originally Posted by devildice
Day Seven of OTR Training 07/18/07
It was yet another beautiful day for driving. Although we arrived at our shipper in Provo, about 30 minutes before they opened, it was a couple of hours before they even started loading us. After getting loaded, we had to run about 20+ miles to one of their other facilities to scale. Once we did that, they added a little more to us. This particular load pays by the ton and therefore we want to get as much on as possible. We are grossing right at 79,500lbs and are headed to the Oregon Coast…..GFI & GFIW’s favorite state. I am quickly gaining a lot of respect for “flatbedders” as the securing, tarping/untarping, and unsecuring and stowing everything this past week has really kicked my butt. On the other hand though, my driving is improving more and more every day and as each day passes, my “rookie” status shows less and less. I did all the driving today from Provo, Utah to where we are shut down for the night, Boise, ID. Not that far, but after securing the load in the hot morning sun, Boise was a welcome stop. You may not get this message before hitting US20 between Corvallis, OR and Toledo, OR, but please take it easy. I found this article from the Oregonian and the highway is much need of work. http://www.oregonlive.com/news/orego...560.xml&coll=7 Are you pulling a 48' or 45' trailer? I know GFI had a 45'. Definitely, a 45' trailer would help on Hiway 20, but that weight is going have you run thru the gears!! BTW, what is your trainer's truck equipment for engine and tranny? Another thing, when you were going to and from PA this last week, did you run the Ohio Turnpike? I know many companies(SNI never did for me) don't pay the toll for Ohio. Enjoy the Columbia River Gorge tomorrow, but be safe on US20.
#158
07-19-2007, 05:22 PM
Originally Posted by devildice
Thanks GFIW......yes we are moving along and as each day passes I am building more stamina, getting more comfortable driving, shifting, paperwork, etc....it is in deed a GREAT feeling. BTW, like the pics you posted. I know this is a silly questions, but how is GFI liking that Condo? These things are sweeeeeeet in my book. It's going to suck when I get assigned a flat top :sad: I hope you guys don't get stuck to long in Oregon. Freight out of Washington this last week was VERY SLOW! My husband dropped Monday morning and is just picking up a load in Idaho this morning. Dewers wife posted on the other thread that he was stuck up in Washington also. I know with the miles that you have run this week a reset would not be so bad at this time for you guys but hopefully you get out quickly after that! Goin Fer It's Wife
#159
07-19-2007, 05:32 PM
Originally Posted by Goin Fer It
I hope you guys don't get stuck to long in Oregon. Freight out of Washington this last week was VERY SLOW! My husband dropped Monday morning and is just picking up a load in Idaho this morning. Dewers wife posted on the other thread that he was stuck up in Washington also. I know with the miles that you have run this week a reset would not be so bad at this time for you guys but hopefully you get out quickly after that! Goin Fer It's Wife But, it is late in the week, so would it shut them down for the weekend?!? :sad: Hopefully, it all works out for them.I have been following their progress with Google Maps, and I think they are at 4900 miles in 8 days!
#160
07-19-2007, 06:20 PM
Originally Posted by danske
If they have to take a reset at the deliver point, they are only a few miles from Newport, OR and Pacific Coast! But, it is late in the week, so would it shut them down for the weekend?!? :sad: Hopefully, it all works out for them.I have been following their progress with Google Maps, and I think they are at 4900 miles in 8 days! Maybe they will get lucky Oregon does not seem quite so bad to get out of as Washington does. But I think when my husband has gotten out there it is not usually as long of a run. I guess time will tell on both of them! Goin Fer It's Wife |
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