Training Frustrations

Maybe someone out there could explain to new students that there trainers truly deserve their respect. I have to say that over the past year I have had an overly large amount of students with a huge lack of respect for the job, what I have to teach them and the truck. I work hard to teach my students all the knowledge that they will need to properly preform the job once they leave. I have had far too many students in all my time of training tell me what a wonderful job I did and some have stayed with the company I work for, while others have progressed and taken what they learned and moved on. So why is it that students refuse to respect what I have to teach. Maybe its a problem with authority, for some it seems like they do not like being judged by their peers and others it's like they showed up expecting a free ride while others do all the work. I will be honest, anyone can hold a steering wheel and go down the highway.  It takes a true blooded truck driver to do what we all do day in and day out. It's our job to makes sure that the American public has the supply to keep things rolling we are the supply line for America. It is a big job and if you can not respect the man or women trying to teach you how to do it then maybe this is not for you because it is a huge responsibility whether you want to admit it or not so when you see students out there or if you are one your self take a minute and remind yourself and other students that this is a big job and some respect for those that take the time to teach would be a good thing. As always be safe out there and safe travels. Be extra careful in the next couple of weeks because lots of families will be traveling for the holidays so Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.

Winter is Here

Winter is definitely here, folks.  The general population has fallen into winter driving panic mode and forgotten how to drive. Okay, I am only joking but I know it certainly seems like that some days out there on the roads when the weather turns nasty. So its time for extra care and vigilance as we move our freight, especially with Christmas right around the corner. We want to see everyone make it home so I am going to give you all some sound advice an old friend once gave me. When the weather turns nasty, Slow Truck It. In other words slow it down, take your time.  There is no load worth dying over or killing others over when trying to get it where it's going. It is extremely dangerous out there when the weather turns nasty and as drivers it is our responsibility to keep our equipment and cargo safe along with ourselves and the motoring public. Its early still in the winter season and I personally have already seen far to many wrecks due to the weather.  Many because drivers had to be some where and did not want to stop for the weather. Those loads still didn't  make it where they were headed and hopefully the drivers were okay. So let's be honest, if they had slowed down or possibly even pulled off and tried to wait it out a little bit or even for a plow to go by they may have avoided there wrecks. So as we go forward this winter think about what your doing and drive at your comfort level and do not over estimate your own ability in the snow. Cocky over confident drivers tend to be the first ones you will find out there in the ditch so drive safe and for the road conditions. As always folks be safe out there and let keep those rigs out of the ditch and right side up.
What is your winter driving advice?

Holiday Encouragement

Well folks, I apologize for my absence.  It the last big push for the year. So with the holidays coming, time is always very limited as many of you are well aware I am sure. Tensions are high on all fronts. The weather is turning, the money is lacking and your home life is probably a little shakey to say the least, if your like most families this time of the year. It is very important to keep you cool and have a little patience.  We have all been there or maybe we are right there with you on the front lines. It is an up hill battle this time of year but it is one that you can and will win in the end. Just don't forget to show your families that you care.  They have been hanging in there with you all year long and it has probably been a rough one.   I have come across a lot of drivers that have not had the best year and it shows, but they are putting their best foot forward.  I say good for them and may they be a shining example for others this holiday season. So remember we're all in this together.  With out the folks at home we probably would not be doing this and would be ripping our hair out more than we already are. To all those spouses out there that read this keep, keep those fires at home burning because we sure cannot wait to get back. I want to personally thank all the drivers and families because I know that no one ever really says it.  Thank you from myself and my whole family. I know I can't bring everything my family needs to the stores out there. I do know that another driver just like me is though and I'm doing the same for his family. It's what we do because it is who we are, we're truck drivers: under appreciated, under payed, and over worked. So thank you to all of you and a Merry Christmas and if you do not do Christmas then Happy Holidays. As all ways be safe out there.

The Holidays are coming. The Holidays are coming.

It's that time of year again, where the holidays are coming and the paychecks are going to get smaller. It's just that time of year for everyone. People cut back on what their buying and our freight goes down.  It's not an unknown fact to any experienced driver in the business after a time. We go through this every year. You just come to expect it. My dispatcher actually comes out every year and tell his fleet that the holidays are coming. He knows everyone would like time off, but that those same people will be the first ones crying when they did not make any money that week and to be very careful what they ask for. I do have to agree with him on this. I believe home time is very important, but you can not have your cake and eat it to folks. There is no money coming in when the wheels are not turning. Some how every year drivers all over want to complain when they take off too much time for the holidays and their family suffers because of it. We all need to be very careful in planing our time home for the holidays. Take what you can afford.  Do not stay home longer then you can afford to be there.  If you can only afford to be home a day or two, then that's what you take.  If you can afford a week, then you can take a week. We all want time at home with the family.  However, it does not do us any good if there is no home to go home to. We can be our own worst enemies when it comes to the holidays.  Think carefully about that home time and look at the big picture.  Maybe you stay home a shorter time this year.  Start planning now for the new year.  Build a holiday fund so that  you can take the time that you and your family so richly deserve, because we all deserve time to spend with our families.  As always folks be safe out there.

Family Time

Sorry folks but no really update this week. It was family time this weekend, so my time was limited. Home time is a big deal to my family and I and we try to make the most of it as best we can. Extended family gatherings take up much more of a truckers time but are no less important than any other family time. So to all of you I hope your home times were good or you make the most of your up coming home times.  Hopefully we'll be back next week for all of you. In the mean time, check out the store.  We've added on some new items and fixed our lack of a link problem that we seemed to have over looked. So safe travels and be safe out there.

Christmas

Oh the holidays are coming, the holidays are coming. Its time to start thinking about those home times and preparing for Christmas. It can be the happiest and most frustrating time of the year for all of us truck drivers and families a like. Holiday shopping as a truck driver is near impossible.  Most of it comes from the internet, while other gifts come out of the truck stop. For the family it's tough too.  What do you get your truck driver for Christmas that he can use?  Well first you should ask what it is he might need because space is limited in the truck so we don't want to be buying to many trinkets or knick knacks for the truck that will only take up space in the truck needlessly. So take the time to ask. Movies are good for down times, but only if they have a TV and DVD player in the truck. Those only work if they can supply power to them.   Gps, an up to date atlas, book of truck stops, refrigerator or things to help provide more healthy food options are all good too.   In the next week or two were going to put some of those kinds of items up in the store for all of you, so please stop back by and check out our store.  For all of those truck drivers we will also be working on  having some great items up in there for the family at home so stop back by and take a look.   You may find just what your looking for in there.  Find it here: http://astore.amazon.com/trdratafale-20

Senior Moments in Truck Driving

You know I do a lot of talking on here and every week when I post we seems to get a decent amount of views. No one ever comments or ask a whole lot of questions, so this week I am interested in hearing from you - doesn't matter if you're a student, veteran truck driver or anywhere in between. Now we all have senior moments, as they've come to be known, where we forget something or do something completely foolish.  Just recently someone was telling me one such story.  They could not find the keys to their truck.  Come to find out they had left them in the door of their truck. What are  some of your stories?   I love a good story.   You can learn a lot from listening to other people's stories.  The only thing we ask is that you keep it kind and not judgmental if you comment on a story.  We've all made a mistake or two or more out there on the road.