Subsim Truckers

Onkel Neal · 04-19-14, 02:36 PM

So, I know from previous discussions that there are some truckers/former truckers lurking here, such as Privateer, and a few others. I've completed all my training, received my CDL (with tanker and HAZMAT), and I've been OTR for two weeks now. So far, I have not hit anything, I haven't had any run ins with the law, and I've passed 4 cars/trucks (Schneider governs their trucks at 60, yes, I am a rolling traffic jam

).

I'm hauling tankers, from Arkansas, to Alabama, to Iowa, Wisconsin, and Indiana. I think I've got abput 4000 miles so far, not a lot of sleep, but it's all good, as long as I'm rolling.

I discovered that parking in a Wal-Mart can be risky--I woke up one morning surrounded by 4 wheelers!

Any advise or stories you want to share, would be welcome.

Schroeder · 04-19-14, 03:01 PM

Over here trucks are only allowed to go 50mph. The ones of the company I used to work for were governed at 83 km/h (~52mph). So much for you being a road block.

TarJak · 04-19-14, 03:15 PM

Ours are supposed to be governed to 100 km/h, but I got passed by a B-double tanker on the Hume Hwy on Friday when I was doing 120.

Do you have a sleep cabin and a bullbar on your rig Neal?

Onkel Neal · 04-19-14, 03:24 PM

Yes, I have a sleeper cabin, what's a bullbar?

TarJak · 04-19-14, 03:29 PM

Its a metal frame welded onto the front of your rig for keeping meat out of your radiator grille.

nikimcbee · 04-19-14, 03:35 PM

Are you going to do any hauling up in the oil fields in North Dakota. I hear that's where all the tanker action is?

Every you ever make it out to Ore-gone, I'll buy you a rockstar, or coffee.

TarJak · 04-19-14, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TarJak

Its a metal frame welded onto the front of your rig for keeping meat out of your radiator grille.

Onkel Neal · 04-19-14, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

Are you going to do any hauling up in the oil fields in North Dakota. I hear that's where all the tanker action is?

Every you ever make it out to Ore-gone, I'll buy you a rockstar, or coffee.

Thanks, Jason, I will let you know.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TarJak

Holy cow, no, nothing like that.

TarJak · 04-19-14, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

Are you going to do any hauling up in the oil fields in North Dakota. I hear that's where all the tanker action is?

Every you ever make it out to Ore-gone, I'll buy you a rockstar, or coffee.

Is it anything like this? http://movieclips.com/uvH7-mad-max-2...-under-attack/

Typical day hauling tankers on the roads of outback Australia.

Maybe this bull bar is better:

Nope, that's not a bull bar! This is a bull bar:

TarJak · 04-19-14, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

Thanks, Jason, I will let you know.

Holy cow, no, nothing like that.

They are after you hit 'em with one of those.

Wolferz · 04-19-14, 03:56 PM

Congrats on your accomplishment Neal.

Getting the license is the hardest part. So you're pulling slosh wagons for Schneider? I feel for you. But, you're not nearly the traffic jam a Swift truck is.

I hauled van expedited for CRST and our rigs were governed at 63.5 MPH though we could get'em going much faster down a decent grade like Donner Pass. Are you running team? That's where you can knock down some serious money but you'll work your butt off doing it at eight hours on and eight off. Oregon and Washington are beautiful places to drive through.

I'm force retired now or I'd still be out their jamming gears.

Tell us about your tractor.

Onkel Neal · 04-19-14, 04:32 PM

Yeah, you were a driver, I remember now, and Swamperat, I think,

My Gretchen is a 2011 Freightliner Cascadia, with a Detroit Diesel engine. She's got 281,000 miles on her, so still pretty new.

Wolferz · 04-19-14, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

Yeah, you were a driver, I remember now, and Swamperat, I think,

My Gretchen is a 2011 Freightliner Cascadia, with a Detroit Diesel engine. She's got 281,000 miles on her, so still pretty new.

Split ten?

I drove a Cascadia in CDL school. Nice tractor.

I drove International Golden Eagles for CRST with the Super Ten grinder box. It was nice making half the shifts with my thumb.

AVGWarhawk · 04-19-14, 06:53 PM

Nice job Neal. CDL can be hard to obtain. I have been in the industry for 20 years. Only on the others side as dispatching, load planning, management and sales. Currently as an agent for Landstar. Driving the 11 hours is something I just can not do. The folks that drive for me love it and would not change a thing. At Landstar we are all independent contractors. No forced dispatch. Our contractors do well. If this career is something that really works for you think about purchasing your own rig. Contract on with a outfit that suits you.

Red October1984 · 04-19-14, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TarJak

Nope, that's not a bull bar! This is a bull bar:

I JUST watched that movie the other day. Awesome movie.

Anyway, there are some days where this job sounds appealing to me....driving the road....no bullcrap to put up with...just me, a big truck and the road.

However, doesn't that get boring after a while? The guys who do it for years and years and years?

What did you guys do to stay entertained out on the road all the time? Was it worth it?

04-19-14, 02:36 PM	#1
Onkel Neal Born to Run Silent Join Date: Jan 1997 Location: Cougar Trap, Texas Posts: 21,283 Downloads: 534 Uploads: 224	Subsim Truckers So, I know from previous discussions that there are some truckers/former truckers lurking here, such as Privateer, and a few others. I've completed all my training, received my CDL (with tanker and HAZMAT), and I've been OTR for two weeks now. So far, I have not hit anything, I haven't had any run ins with the law, and I've passed 4 cars/trucks (Schneider governs their trucks at 60, yes, I am a rolling traffic jam ). I'm hauling tankers, from Arkansas, to Alabama, to Iowa, Wisconsin, and Indiana. I think I've got abput 4000 miles so far, not a lot of sleep, but it's all good, as long as I'm rolling. I discovered that parking in a Wal-Mart can be risky--I woke up one morning surrounded by 4 wheelers! Any advise or stories you want to share, would be welcome.

04-19-14, 03:01 PM	#2
Schroeder Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Banana Republic of Germany Posts: 6,170 Downloads: 62 Uploads: 0	Over here trucks are only allowed to go 50mph. The ones of the company I used to work for were governed at 83 km/h (~52mph). So much for you being a road block. __________________ Putting Germ back into Germany.

04-19-14, 03:24 PM	#4
Onkel Neal Born to Run Silent Join Date: Jan 1997 Location: Cougar Trap, Texas Posts: 21,283 Downloads: 534 Uploads: 224	Yes, I have a sleeper cabin, what's a bullbar? __________________ SUBSIM - 26 Years on the Web

04-19-14, 03:35 PM	#6
nikimcbee Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Patroling the Slot. Posts: 17,924 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Are you going to do any hauling up in the oil fields in North Dakota. I hear that's where all the tanker action is? Every you ever make it out to Ore-gone, I'll buy you a rockstar, or coffee. __________________

04-19-14, 03:56 PM	#11
Wolferz Navy Seal Join Date: May 2007 Location: On a mighty quest for the Stick of Truth Posts: 5,963 Downloads: 52 Uploads: 0	Congrats on your accomplishment Neal. Getting the license is the hardest part. So you're pulling slosh wagons for Schneider? I feel for you. But, you're not nearly the traffic jam a Swift truck is. I hauled van expedited for CRST and our rigs were governed at 63.5 MPH though we could get'em going much faster down a decent grade like Donner Pass. Are you running team? That's where you can knock down some serious money but you'll work your butt off doing it at eight hours on and eight off. Oregon and Washington are beautiful places to drive through. I'm force retired now or I'd still be out their jamming gears. Tell us about your tractor. __________________ Tomorrow never comes

04-19-14, 03:15 PM	#3
TarJak Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 17,052 Downloads: 150 Uploads: 8	Ours are supposed to be governed to 100 km/h, but I got passed by a B-double tanker on the Hume Hwy on Friday when I was doing 120. Do you have a sleep cabin and a bullbar on your rig Neal?

04-19-14, 03:29 PM	#5
TarJak Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 17,052 Downloads: 150 Uploads: 8	Its a metal frame welded onto the front of your rig for keeping meat out of your radiator grille.

04-19-14, 04:32 PM	#12
Onkel Neal Born to Run Silent Join Date: Jan 1997 Location: Cougar Trap, Texas Posts: 21,283 Downloads: 534 Uploads: 224	Yeah, you were a driver, I remember now, and Swamperat, I think, My Gretchen is a 2011 Freightliner Cascadia, with a Detroit Diesel engine. She's got 281,000 miles on her, so still pretty new. __________________ SUBSIM - 26 Years on the Web

04-19-14, 06:53 PM	#14
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 27,343 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Nice job Neal. CDL can be hard to obtain. I have been in the industry for 20 years. Only on the others side as dispatching, load planning, management and sales. Currently as an agent for Landstar. Driving the 11 hours is something I just can not do. The folks that drive for me love it and would not change a thing. At Landstar we are all independent contractors. No forced dispatch. Our contractors do well. If this career is something that really works for you think about purchasing your own rig. Contract on with a outfit that suits you. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road