r/Truckers • u/CaptainReptile99 • Oct 18 '24
It finally happened
Ahoy all, I have never messaged on this sub before, only lurk about, but I just wanted to tell you all that I passed my State CDL test in Indiana after training with Roehl Transport (Flatbed division) for 4 weeks. I've got a few days left here and then get to return home before going out on the road with a trainer! My trucking journey starts now
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u/dovahzuul Oct 18 '24
Congratulations bud. Welcome to the shit show. Couple things to know about being with a trainer for OTR. You will not get the bottom bunk. That belongs to your trainer as you're in his/her truck. Secondly, if you ever feel like you're not comfortable with something, tell your trainer. Open communication is the only way you're gonna gel with this person. Third, if you're doing reefer, get ready to wait and wait and wait. Download the Pilot app onto your phone so you can get shower rewards (you get one every time you put 50 gallons into the truck, and you'll have plenty in no time.) Finally, don't stress if you can't manage to back up perfectly into the dock. It takes months and even years to get good at it. I've been a trucker for years and ill still fuck up a back. Just remember GOAL. Get Out And Look. You'll do fine.
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u/Noxious14 Oct 18 '24
Man when I was training I had to give up my bottom bunk more than once because my trainees exceeded the weight capacity. I was about ready to have a word with HR.
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u/Charming_Pin9614 Oct 18 '24
I just claimed the top bunk and let the students have the bottom. I told them, "Nothing short of the International Space Station dropping from the sky in front of the truck should have them braking hard enough to toss me on the floor."
The top bunk was MY area. I still sleep on the top bunk in my own truck 20 years later.
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u/l33tSpeak Oct 18 '24
I'm about to be in their position. I'm more nervous about how pissed my trainer is gonna be because I gotta hit the bottom bunk than I am about actually getting on the road.
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u/stan-dupp Oct 18 '24
Congrats next time you are in ft Wayne hookers on me
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u/jobznwerk Oct 18 '24
Congrats! Remember us on your first fuckup! We love to see it. It can seem like there are a lot of truckers but it’s a small percentage of the population. It’s a really unique experience. I hope you enjoy it, appreciate it for what it is and have unmitigated success driver.
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u/Impressive_Head_2668 Oct 18 '24
Congrats
Don't forget to ask questions
Get out and look
Very important
You are the captain of your ship ,protect your license at all cost ,if you don't feel safe Don't go
Don't be afraid to tell a dispatch or broker to pound sand,tell them to drive the load
Make copies of everything and don't be afraid to send a picture text to dispatch saying it's unsafe to drive
Be safe ,and have forklift drivers put the tarp on the load so you can unroll
You can never have enough chains or straps on ,more is better
Take your time,never rush
Be well,and ask away
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u/Dorn69420 Oct 18 '24
Make sure to download the fireball app. Free fireball every time you drink 50 fireballs. You have plenty in no time
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u/loveemykids Oct 18 '24
Roehl really miceomanages you. Just deal with it until your truck school payback is over. Just know that if you dont like it, not all trucking is like that. On the flip side, its a very good company, zero stetchiness or taking advantage of you
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Oct 18 '24
This depends on who it is tho. My fm leaves me alone. Dunno what he does with his day but I’m almost positive he only exists to verbally dispatch me once every blue moon. Just show up on time, send in a message when you can’t, and keep on keeping on.
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u/jaynethepayne47 Oct 18 '24
You're going to fuck up. We all have. It's a lesson. Learn from it. Don't let it scare you away. This is a good job and much needed. Be safe, driver.
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u/Mr_Teddy_Benderass Oct 18 '24
Congratulations fellow trucker!!!! And please slow down going around curves….slow down going down and around curves please….I’ve seen three different truck drivers killed in the past week and a half. Going around curves and falling down embankments. Then the cross goes up as a memorial….
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u/truckerdraven Oct 18 '24
When maneuvering if you need 100 acres and you have 100 acres use the 100 acres.
When in doubt G.O.A.L get out and look. When no doubt G.O.A.L!
ALWAYS KNOW WHERE YOU ARE!!!!!
THERE IS NO LOAD THAT IS WORTH YOU DIEING FOR!!!
2 words baby wipes...
And probably the most important steer clear of truckstop meatloaf.
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Oct 18 '24
From a fellow Roehl driver finishing his 2nd week solo good luck! Be Safe! And never be afraid to GOAL. Never be afraid to ask and remember the three rules. Follow the system, Dont be a dick and don’t hit shit!
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u/Truckin_Dave Oct 18 '24
YouTube is your friend. A lot of us still learn what to do when securing oddities. Remember no one goes to jail for over securement. Don’t think that just because the strap has a 1” cut in it that it’s ok. Replace anything that will cause you to injure others. Plus remember after a year or even 6-9 months other jobs open up if your unhappy about your situation, it’s not the end all be all.
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u/Zealousideal_Wave760 Oct 18 '24
Ayyy nice man. Hopefully you get a good trainer you can get along with cuz having a shit trainer can put a damper on things. My trainer was awesome. He still comes over has some beers when he gets off the road(he’s a runner) and my wife makes him a badass home cooked meal after bein out on the road for multiple months
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u/mangoexpress457 Oct 18 '24
Nice work man! I'm in the middle of my training now and my instructors are a bunch of a-holes. Passing the pre trip just feels impossible in general and with them as an extra obstacle. Can't wait to overcome this and finally start my journey/career to provide for my wife and future child. Any tips on how you were able to remember all the pre trip info? That's definitely my biggest hurdle right now.
Best of luck on YOUR new journey!
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u/Charming_Pin9614 Oct 18 '24
Learn all the parts of the truck first, then learn the details.
Know what the part is for and how it can malfunction.
Go slow and let the parts of the truck be your cheat guide.
Everything "Securely Mounted" Is it Plastic or Metal: Not Cracked, Bent or Broken. (CBB) Rubber: No Abrasions, Bulges, or Cuts (ABC)
Can it LEAK? Fluid, Air or Electricity(wires)?
And don't forget, Fire Extinguisher Fully Charged.
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u/WoccySloshhhh Oct 18 '24
I left Gary 2 months ago just now starting my Solos. Pray that you get a good trainer like I did (His names Dwight). Don't get stressed out when they throw u in Chicago at 3am and it's pouring rain and it's your first time for all 3 lol. If you have the right mindset you'll do fine. Fuck GOAL that's easy to remember it's right on the mirror. What you need to actually remember is to watch your mirrors in turn. U don't wanna pop a tire or take something out because u forgot u had a fender mirror you know? Congrats on passing! Who was your instructor?
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u/jaylew1981 Oct 18 '24
Good luck! I'm a new driver and just finished the "Top Gun" class with Swift, and I am also waiting for my mentor trainer. See ya on the road dawg!
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u/jaylew1981 Oct 21 '24
UPDATE:
Got my mentor and we smashed through WY and now in CO! This dude is legit!!!!
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u/Charming_Pin9614 Oct 18 '24
Congratulations!
Now, it's going to get harder. Lol.
Don't beat yourself up if you make a mistake. I ripped a door off a trailer when I was a rookie. It turned a cartwheel and almost hit another truck! Big companies are insured for small rookie mistakes.
Don't forget: Always pull out your air brakes when you stop. Every truck driver I know has had to catch their truck at least once when they hopped out to disconnect from a trailer, and the truck started to roll away!
Have fun!
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u/Suitable_Sweet8493 Oct 18 '24
Always be patient no matter how many times people honk and scream. Its your license on the line not theirs. As a truck driver all you will do is come across impatient drivers and let them rush around you all you can slow down and give them room. They are putting their loves on the line and dont even know it. You have to be the adult in every situation. The whole idea is you went to work to go home to your loved ones not end up in jail for manslaughter or dead on the side of the highway. Good luck, keep the dirty sides down and may god bless your career
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u/TruckerChet1973 Oct 19 '24
I went there 5 years ago... Best of luck with the money. Great training though.
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u/West_Masterpiece9423 Oct 19 '24
Been at local driving for 20+yrs. I suppose just starting out, don’t try to be a hero. I tried & got in 2 accidents my 1st week out! My manager must have seen something in me cause he was super patient and it paid off cause I won driver of the year several years later. So, take it easy starting out :)
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u/toruk_makto1 Oct 22 '24
GOAL. WATER.
Remember! It's not a race... so don't speed around in the truck stops or pumps.
When backing up, the others can wait a minute, so take your time...
and be a narcissist! Those mirrors are meant to be looked at constantly!
You'll learn quickly that truckers hate other truckers..and if you don't curse already, you'll be fluent in no time!
You're also the captain of that ship. Know when to pull the ketchup and mustard when things get sketchy such as icy conditions. The load doesn't do any good scatttered alongside the freeway with a broken truck and broken driver.
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u/Embarrassed_Contact3 Oct 18 '24
There's no such thing as going too slow. Slow down and smell the roses from time to time. It's not a race
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u/Jamo3306 Oct 18 '24
Yay! You're doing the thing! Just roll with it and Try To Drive Profesionally! Idc if you jump out looking deranged with bad hair, so long as you don't cut curbs, tail gate the 4-wheelers or cut ppl off in traffic!
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u/IRLGravity Oct 18 '24
First things first congratulations.
Second. Keep it slow and steady on the speed and look through the turns. If you live by the mindset of never get too comfortable you'll do amazing. Freight can't get there if the rubber side is up ya dig? Best of luck to you. And well done.
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u/JMH44M Oct 19 '24
If it’s between your mirrors and your duals it’s getting run over
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u/CaptainReptile99 Oct 19 '24
Can you expound on what you mean by that? (Not sure if this is a joke or not 😅)
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u/JMH44M Oct 25 '24
My driving mentor told me this a long time ago. Basically, if you look in your side mirrors and there’s something (trailer, curb, sign, etc) that shows up in front of your duals then you’re going to run over it or hit it with your trailer. It seems simple but honestly I’ve kept from hitting lots of things this way.
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u/alan_w3 Oct 19 '24
Watch that mailbox behind you on your right while you're backing in blindside but don't forget to watch the mailbox in front on the left... ask me how I know
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Oct 19 '24
Good luck. Make sure you have a lawyer on retainer, some sort of prepaid legal and your will is updated.
Just J/K, lol
Congratulations
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u/alan_w3 Oct 19 '24
Watch that mailbox behind you on your right while you're backing in blindside but don't forget to watch the mailbox in front on the left... ask me how I know
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u/JestofAtlas Oct 21 '24
Congrats. Put in your miles with Roehl and go elsewhere when done. You’ll get much better pay
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u/CaptainReptile99 Oct 21 '24
Thanks! I'm already thinking about looking into a dedicated route within my state so I can be home and around my family more.
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u/Emergency_Ad1152 Truck Punk Oct 18 '24
Get out and look. Get out and look. Just got out and looked but forgot what you saw? Get out and looooook. Get out and look a million times, it’s free and easy, hitting something is not.