Just got done with my first day at the new company. Here's the truck I'll be driving;

[A HERETIC I AM]

It is an International (or Navistar) with a 5 car "Headrack" and a "flat top" trailer. The upper deck of the trailer is a single piece, hinged in the middle as opposed to the 3 individual upper decks the trailer I was driving had. This truck is capable of carrying 12 really small units, like a Miata or a Honda Del Sol or something similar or 11 units the size of an Accord or similar. The longer the car, the fewer will fit on the trailer, if you load 5 on the tractor. A typical load would be 9 or 10. You could easily put 5 mid-sized sedans on the tractor, but nothing bigger than say a Ford Taurus, just because of the length of the cars and their weight.

I'll finish up my orientation tomorrow morning, then put my first load on tomorrow afternoon.

I am as happy as I have been in years, starting with a new firm.

[elleng]

1. Glad you're happy!

Me? TERRIFIED!!!

[A HERETIC I AM]

3. LOL.....trust me, the first time I had to back a car up on an open rack truck.....

I was definitely.......well...clenching!

The first time I had to back a large unit up on one in the snow, it was the same thing all over again!

Thankfully, not a whole lot of snow falls down here in Florida.

[rurallib]

15. Ok - I have a really dumb question that I have wondered about forever

If you back the new cars onto the truck rack, when you open the door to step out, what do you step on?
Is there a precise spot where the step is?

[A HERETIC I AM]

16. Well, not "precise" but yes, there is usually a spot.

Keep in mind that most modern passenger cars are only six or seven feet wide generally - 8' at the most - and to be that wide we're talking those old, big Caddy's or Town Cars or newer, large pickup trucks. That car haul truck is 102" wide, or 8'6".

So yeah, the builders of such trucks do install sort of running boards, if you will, along the edges of the upper decks for the operator to stand on. Most will have either ladders or some sort of hand hold/step combination placed along the tractor and trailer to allow you to either climb down or, when you are unloading, back up!

To be clear, there are absolutely occasions with certain designs and models of this type of equipment that you can have a rather precarious task getting out of the vehicle and down to the ground.

[lunatica]

2. I wish I could ride in that!

[handmade34]

4. Wow!

best of luck! I'll wave when I go by

[A HERETIC I AM]

5. Thanks!

:hi: rightbackatya!

[pacalo]

6. You won't be COMPLETELY happy until you get another one of these...

:hi:

Congratulations, HIA!

:toast:

[A HERETIC I AM]

7. Holy Shit!

You have no idea how right you are!

And, BTW, their policy re: pets was something I asked about during my interview!

Looks like a new pup pup is in my future!

Is that lil tough guy yours?

[pacalo]

17. Yes, that's my Gizmo.

He LOVES the company of men & likes to keep up with everything they do, but he loves his mama, too.

I'm glad that you'll be able to get one!!! Do you watch "Ice Road Truckers" on the History channel? The girl trucker, Lisa, picked up a cute stray dog when she was in India filming "The Most Dangerous Roads" & she had the dog curled up asleep -- not fazed about the bumpy terrain or its surroundings in the least -- everywhere Lisa went.

Happy travels!

[A HERETIC I AM]

20. I have watched "Ice Road Truckers"....

and I caught bits of a few of the episodes when they sent those few drivers to India.

What I can't stand about that show is that they made a "star" out of that Hugh Roland guy. He seems to be a giant horses ass and I read an article that his experience in Alaska really didn't go over so well, at least as far as the Alaska DOT was concerned. They nailed him a couple times (at least) for log book violations because of his stupid, idiotic "Turn and Burn" bullshit. He flaunted regulations and broke the law repeatedly. I got the impression they asked him to go back to Canada and not come back.

As far as Lisa's dog, it reminds me of the first Boston I carried with me, Mr Beau Tye. One of the first trucks I drove in the first over the road job I had (1987) was a Kenworth K100 Cabover like this one;


A NOTORIOUSLY rough riding truck. I remember driving across Pennsylvania on a particularly rough section of road. As I was hitting bump after bump, I looked over my shoulder into the sleeper where Tye was curled up, sleeping. The instant I looked around, I hit a big ass bump and there was Mr. Beau Tye, sound asleep, curled up, floating six inches over the bunk! He came back down and didn't stir at all!


I used to put on my seatbelt in that truck not for a potential accident, but to keep from hitting the ceiling of the truck!

[Shagbark Hickory]

8. Honda Del Sol? LOL

Congratulations on the new job.

[A HERETIC I AM]

9. Thanks.

Just used that model as an example of vehicle size.

Sorry.

[Shagbark Hickory]

11. In the future, use "Honda s2000".

:)

[A HERETIC I AM]

12. I was thinking S2000....

but what came out was "Old Honda Shitbox"


Like a slip of the tongue, you know. Or a palindrome. Like Notlob. (obscure Monty Python reference)

[Shagbark Hickory]

14. Another one you can use is "BMW z3"

[femmocrat]

10. Congratulations, HERETIC!

That thing is a monster! Stay safe! :hi:

[A HERETIC I AM]

13. Thanks, Femmocrat.

I will!

[raccoon]

18. I thought you were an investment advisor/financial advisor. Apparently you've decided to change

jobs?

"I am as happy as I have been in years, starting with a new firm."

And that, my friend, is what's important. :hi:

[A HERETIC I AM]

19. Raccoon, I had been an over the road truck driver for over 20 years....

and yes, in 2006 I made a career change. Needless to say, my timing could not have been worse. I am now back into car hauling, which is what I was doing when I first joined DU back in 2003.

I had a "Last interview before we cut him loose with his first load" interview with the owner of the company this morning. He said "Well, you certainly do have a diverse background!"

Yup. I guess you could say that.


Worked various retail jobs after High School including the first Bloomingdales to open south of the DC area where I was a Christmas hire and left them as a "Selling Head of Stock" a position created for me. Meant I could sell to and interact with customers but was also in charge of the stockroom of a large department.
Worked as a Parts Manager for a Cessna Aircraft & Bell Helicopter Dealer/Parts Room/Flight School/FBO.
Sold wine by the case via private wine tastings.
Sold cars for a VERY short while (hated it).
8 years as a volunteer Course Safety Marshall with the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). Participated in over 60 local and regional club events as a "Corner Captain" as well as 10 or so Professional events (Indy Car, IMSA, Gran Am, Etc.). I was about 3 races away from being Nationally Licensed as a Flagging and Communications Official.
23 years total tractor trailer driving experience.
3 years local driving in the City of Miami in the late 70's, early 80's. Drove my first articulated truck when I was 19.
OTR driver from 1987 to 2006 and from 11/26/2010 to present.
Well over 1.7 million miles accident free in tractor trailers as well as personal vehicles in all weather conditions and terrain.
I've driven all but about 1000 miles of the 47,000 mile US Interstate highway system.
I have driven a tractor trailer in all of the lower 48 states (save one - Vermont) and 3 Canadian Provinces.
13 years total working in Motor Sports, primarily operating tractor trailer based, mobile marketing displays.
7 years total on the Indy Car circuit where I held a Annual "Hard Card" credential, including 6 consecutive Indianapolis 500's
Managed and/or operated displays at well over 1000 individual display days at almost every single major motor racing facility in the US as well a 3 in Canada. These display days include promotions at auto dealerships, Auto shows, outdoor shows, The "X Games", The Outdoor Games and numerous other public, social and private events a well as individual storefront operations for various clients. From a marketing perspective, Displays that I managed or operated have had (and this is my personal and I admit, conservative estimate) over 3 million customer impressions.
6 years total "Open Rack" auto transport experience.
5 years operating "Lift-Gate" type auto transporters, including race car haulers and display vehicles.
About 2 1/2 or 3 years driving "Dry Freight" in Van type tractor trailers.
3 years as a Financial Advisor/Stock Broker. Held a Series 7 General Securities License (since expired) a Series 66 General State Law License (ditto) and a State of Florida Insurance License for Life, Health and Variable Annuities (also ditto).
At it's peak, my assets under management was just over $8,000,000. Not big, by any standards and the primary reason I was unable to hang on in the industry. My client base just wasn't deep enough.


That's my resume.

Oh yeah....couple more things;

Total schmuck, 52, never married.