What are something’s all truckers should know that can get you in huge trouble? (Arrested, lose license, charged)

Posted by Not-A-Pickle1@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 344 comments

I went into the industry not knowing shit even after school. Well now that I’ve been driving for several months, I realized I had never done a DVIR. I’m searching for another job because I realized my employer does a bunch of illegal shit and had me fooled and took advantage of my naive ass. I have more experience as a class B holder than I legally should. Anyways, I want to know what are obvious and the most important things to know about trucking that if you do them or don’t do them, you could be arrested, charged, and or lose your license.

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Hypnowolfproductions@reddit

CSA scores make and break companies and drivers alike.

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Wreckit727@reddit

I thought only carriers had csa scores not drivers? I mean i guess if you’re an owner op it affects you equally.

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Hypnowolfproductions@reddit

The CSA translates to your dac report. The same inspection good or bad affects you for being in the inspection as well as them. Just where it’s recorded. If you’ve never been inspected your not in bad shape. But the scores can sink a company and that inspection on you on the dac through the CSA system can easily sink you also. A lot of officers are being told to write warnings on the roadside inspections. But those warnings on your dac are just as damaging as a violation. But they hurt both you and your company. Lots of guys think a warning doesn’t hurt when it’s on an inspection. A failed inspection hurts driver and company. So it’s what you really need know. Your dvor might be clean but a dirty dac is a killer still.

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BT270@reddit

I've been driving 7 years. Have a class A, but drive B or C daily. Don't do anything other than a daily inspection, that I take seriously. No logs, no electronic books. I know it's my responsibility, but I have no idea what what anything you said means. Roast me I guess. Home every day by 2.

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Hypnowolfproductions@reddit

Here’s a link to assist you. https://www.truckersjusticecenter.com/dac-reports

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BT270@reddit

Thanks for the info, that was a good read. Info I should know, but haven't needed thankfully.

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Hypnowolfproductions@reddit

Always glad to assist good people.

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Wreckit727@reddit

That’s good to know thanks for the info. I will request a dac report because I’m a rock hauler and we get inspected like every time a DOT officer sees us haha. I will have to make sure it’s accurate. Do you know if any of the information on a dac report can be appealed or corrected? If it’s wrong obviously.

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Hypnowolfproductions@reddit

When I hauled propane I had 9 inspections in 2 years all good.

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Wreckit727@reddit

For us rock haulers they stop us not because they know our inspections will turn up out of service violations. They stop us because the way we are loaded. 8 times out of ten we will be overweight on one of the axles that’s why they target us so much. And there is nothing we can really do. We don’t have sliding tandems and we aren’t going to dump the load and get loaded again, we would be there all day trying to get it perfect. So it’s good know some of these things can be appealed. I know last time I was inspected the officer gave me a warning for abs when my trailer was manufactured in 98 and has no abs so I will definitely be appealing that.

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Hypnowolfproductions@reddit

Hopefully you company already appealed it. Or if your an owner it’s your job. Yep they do that because they get paid more for failed inspection even if it’s appealed and the appeal wins. It’s a money grab. We suffer and pay a different way. Good luck on appeal. Yep a mechanical that’s grandfathered is an immediate win.

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Wreckit727@reddit

Yeah i will have check all that out because I always thought we had to eat all of those fictitious warnings they give out. Good thing I have kept pictures with date stamps on most inspections.

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Hypnowolfproductions@reddit

I had one when my cluster lights were down not up. It had a sticker stating it met all standards on date of manufacture. My safety at the time just said, “not another one. I hate them doing this. I’ll take care of it.”

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ScoobyDooo13@reddit

Incorrect Violations on inspections can be appealed through the DataQ system. you can find it if you google FMCSA DataQ

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Natural_Bookkeeper_7@reddit

For drivers it's a psp record. It's pretty fucking stupid. Hard enough to get a job as a first time cdl driver so you gotta join shitty companies with shitty equipment. Got fucked over with trailer violations dipped the fuck out of the company after that. Fuck truck driving can't wait to quit this bullshit.

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Wreckit727@reddit

I feel you on that one, like we don’t have enough shit to worry about. That they feel the need to continuously fuck us over on any bullshit. I had a friend that literally rolled his truck off the lot (bran new) and got pulled over for an inspection and came back with bullshit warnings.

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Natural_Bookkeeper_7@reddit

It's ridiculous bro. Not even worth it at all. Even an accident that's not your fault still fucks you over. And the driver can sue the truck driver 🤦‍♂️. We always have to prove ourselves innocent. I'm just here to make some money, save and get the fuck outta this industry withing a 3-5 year span. This industry sucks ass and is a waste of time. Holding a steering wheel teaches you nothing like a trade would.

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Wreckit727@reddit

You are right about that! Any little bullshit can literally kill your career. This industry will run you down if you don’t play it smart.

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Fatguy503@reddit

At our safety meeting this year the dot cop told us "Every driver has a score, and someone holding a CDL license in the United States is actually the worst driver with the most points".

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Wreckit727@reddit

Can you imagine if all the drivers on the road were held to our standards? Your brake pads are too worn, out of service. Too much play on your steering wheel, out of service. Etc etc most of the cars you see on the road would be put out of the service and their “points” would be through the roof.

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FlatbedtruckinCA@reddit

dont get out of your truck naked and then go pee...

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party_face@reddit

To add to this, be very careful peeing outside in general...you could end up as a registered sexual offender.

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TurntUpBuddahBawlz@reddit

I knew a dude while in construction who peed outside of an office building/bush late one night and ended up having the owner and kid inside. Dude got charged and now he’s registered. It was insane. I didn’t even think that it was a think but they got him for indecent exposure around a minor and what not smh.

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RunawayPrawn@reddit

That's so fucking retarded lol

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skinny08910@reddit

WTF!!! 😭😭😭

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Cubsfan11022016@reddit

If there’s kids around, or playground, or school, even if you’re unaware of it, can get some serious charges against you.

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FrickUrMum@reddit

Actually some states is just peeing outside 3 times no matter where or if anyone’s watching

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Cubsfan11022016@reddit

I would argue if no one was watching, then it never happened. But also, use a damn bathroom lol. It ain’t that hard.

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FrickUrMum@reddit

It’s more of you get caught like walking home from a bar pissing behind a dumpster. Pretty much every guy is an uncaught sex offender because of this law tho

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therealeeazybroski@reddit

Don’t whip your dick out in loves

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J9Dougherty@reddit

This reminds me of a story from my dad's rookie years. He hopped out the passenger side in his tightie-whities to drain, and the door autolocked. His hide-a-key was on the driver side, as well as a busy shopping center. Always grab your key or roll a window down.

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Not-A-Pickle1@reddit (OP)

thats fucking wild lmao

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FlatbedtruckinCA@reddit

there is a post here somewhere where someone took a picture of a jabba-the-hut mo fo doing this... veiw at your own discression...

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mitancentauri@reddit

it haunts me

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johnfro5829@reddit

In certain states domestic violence convictions even misdemeanors will lead to the loss of your CDL. Child support payments and being behind can be an issue as well. My Brother had his CDL suspended after literally coming one dollar short on his child support back payments. And believe it or not some states even a non-domestic violence misdemeanor conviction may preclude you from having a CDL license.

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humpthedog@reddit

If you flee from the scene of an accident you lose your cdl plus jail time

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VictorHelios1@reddit

I do not stop when I have a traffic accident. Do you? No you can’t. Hey who has time? Not me I hit somebody I run somebody over I keep moving especially if I’ve injured someone. I do not get involved in that. I’m not a doctor. I’ve had no medical training. I’m just another guy out driving around looking for a little fun and I can’t be stopping for everything. Well let’s just look at it logically - let’s be logical about it. If you do stop at the scene of the accident. All you do is add to the confusion! These people you ran over have enough troubles of their own without you stopping and making things worse. Leave these people alone! They’ve just been in a major traffic accident! The last thing they need is for you to stop and get out of your car and go over to the fire - because by now it is a fire. And start bothering them with a lot of stupid questions. Are you hurt? Well, Of course They’re hurt! look at all the blood. You just ran over them in a ton and a half of steel. Of course they’re hurt leave these people alone. Haven’t you done enough? For once in your life do the decent thing don’t get involved. Well in the first place it’s none of your business, none of your business. The whole thing took place outside of your car. Legally speaking these people you ran over were not on your property at the time you ran them over. They were standing in the street that is city property you are not responsible. If they don’t like it let them sue the city. And besides. It happened back there. It’s over now. Stop living in the past. Do yourself a favor count your blessings. Be glad it wasn’t you and I’ll give you a practical reason not to stop. You need a practical reason? If you do stop sooner or later the police are going to show up. Is that what you want? Huh? Waste even more of your time standing around filling out forms answering a lot of foolish questions lying to the authorities? And by the way who are you to be taking up the valuable time of the police department. These men and women are professionals they’re supposed to be out fighting crimes. Stop interfering with police. And besides. Didn’t anyone else see this accident? Huh? Are you the only one who can provide information? Surely the people you ran over caught a glimpse of it at the last moment. So let them tell the police what happened. They were a lot closer to it than you were. There’s no sense having two conflicting stories floating around about the same dumb ass traffic accident. Things are bad enough people are dead families have been destroyed. Time to get moving!

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BillytankX@reddit

George Carlin joke? Sounds like him.

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VictorHelios1@reddit

Congrats! As the first to guess it You win 1 billion internets! Please submit your credit card info, dna sample, all biometrics and first born as collateral to collect.

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MichiganGeezer@reddit

A lot of trucks don't have easily readable logos or company information on the sides of their trucks, and dashcam systems never point to the sides of the tuck where they'd document the dot information where few people would quickly observe it. Of the dashcam videos showing hit and run truckers it seems getting the information on the truck is nigh impossible unless a good Samaritan helps out.

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RevenueGullible1227@reddit

Not CDL position but at a company with tons of commercial vehicles ,it was a very prominent oilfield casing company. Some the 18 wheelers had logos but everything else was straight white . Owner said he knew everyone was smoking meth or doing other hoodrat shit so it be stupid to put the logo on the tong/chase trucks .😂🥴🤦‍♀️ Type of place that would bail you out of jail or not get sad if you bought the crew a 30 rack on for the 3 hrs home . Shit was wild ,you can't really do shit like that if you wanna work for any decent oil company as 3rd party

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linux23@reddit

Damn. That's crazy as hell.

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Bibbimbopp@reddit

I hope it doesn't catch up to me, bit I ran from an accident in Loves once. Too many roller dogs.

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K1d-ego@reddit

And it’s amazing how much I’ve seen it happen. Western express driver tore off my buddies fender and ran. I watch a guy with a conned trailer knock the mirror sideways a truck. He pulled over and I pulled over to see if he was going to report it since I was a witness but he just fixed his mirror and went on with his life.

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oasuke@reddit

Anything you do in your personal car is directly tied to your CDL. That means you need to treat driving your passanger car as if it's your truck.

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onydawg02@reddit

I hate that this is a thing

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Temporary_Tangelo527@reddit

facts, way too much shit can basically end ur career. too vulnerable as a career for me to stay in it even another 2 years. tryna find an out

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Harryisharry50@reddit

Good luck let me know if you find something a uneducated old man can do and make 90k plus a year and be home daily

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USSpeepee@reddit

I do transportation management for 80, having my license really helped that.

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Harryisharry50@reddit

So your a dispatcher ? Making 80k s year ?

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USSpeepee@reddit

Nope. Manager. I manage the drivers, audit the routes, expenses, oversee dispatchers, work with maintenance companies both for our leased units and owned units. I’m also licensed with endorsements so I fill in drive for my guys when they call in or take off. Or if something crazy comes down the pike I don’t want to disrupt what the guys have going on, I’ll jump in the truck and take care of it.

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Harryisharry50@reddit

Sounds like a safety department position

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USSpeepee@reddit

it’s not but ok. I still drive 2 days a week on top of the management. Just good at what I do in a niche market.

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Dezzolve@reddit

That’s kind of the trap that trucking has you fall into. There are no, or very few careers that you can get into with as little education/training as truck driving that have comparable salaries and benefits such as time home and healthcare.

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Temporary_Tangelo527@reddit

absolutely but u gotta look at it as a long term investment

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Consistent_Library18@reddit

Just invest what you make and you are set for the long term. I started at 23 with $0, I'm 32 now and over those 9 years in trucking (really 16yrs of work since its been 60-70hr weeks) I've been able to get my net worth to over $500,000. Over $100,000 of my net worth came from stock appreciation and dividends from buying stocks every week from my first paycheck back in late 2013. Basically any career where you can make a lot early on will make you more wealthy than a career with a slow rise up a corporate later due to compounding growth of the early high pay assuming you don't waste it.

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Temporary_Tangelo527@reddit

how much were u saving in those (16 years), not what u made from investing but also dont forget u invested when the market was very low

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Consistent_Library18@reddit

Well I have an extremely low cost of living out of Wisconsin. My budget is about $1,500/mo. So just take my earnings - tax (25%) - 1.5k/mo and its roughly how much I invested during each month. 2013 $4,500/mo. 2014 $5,500/mo 2015-2023 $7,000/mo. I agree the market was cheaper before, but I lost all my gains from 2013-2020 during the covid crash. So really 2020-2023 has been the entire $100,000+ return as the market did an extreme whiplash recovery.

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Not-A-Pickle1@reddit (OP)

How much were you investing weekly? I’m doing $50

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Gold-Difficulty6557@reddit

10% of your gross is the magic number. Too much or little, and you're not realizing max efficiency and ROI.

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Consistent_Library18@reddit

Started at $600 weekly and went up to around $1000 weekly as my wages went up.

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lesserDaemonprince@reddit

Bold of you to assume the current system will exist in 20 to 40 years.

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Exact_Whereas_5575@reddit

Even if you didn't buy stocks, and held that cash in bonds or a high yield money market account (4or5% apy) you would be making 25k a year gains. You would have to pay taxes on it though, but it's still guaranteed free money. Less risky and solid enough returns for me. You could also talk to your bank about cd's and get similar rates have them roll them in reoccuring cd's and just let it compound. It blew my mind how much money you can make by just having money in the right places, with no risk gauenteed labor free money, with no risk. You just might not have access to use that money right away.

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Consistent_Library18@reddit

I agree it is a safer short term investment, but remember the Fed is working to get inflation back to 2%. They are rolling off many 10's of billions of dollars in bonds every month (driving the short term returns up.) Also remember the US government can't afford to pay 5-6% interest on our debt. Interest on debt is now more expensive than our military spending. All of this to say the entire political and financial system will be working to get bond yields back down to 2-3% once they are comfortable with inflation in the near future. If stocks are still yielding 5%+ in a 2-3% environment then their value will go a lot more than the 5% safe rate of return on short term bonds as they become more valuable over time. If I was close to retirement I would definitely switch to mostly bonds as I wouldn't want to take a huge hit, but remember there is more going on with stocks than just cash dividends. There is growth and share buybacks as well. When you stack up all three real returns in stocks have been around 7-10%. I just feel more comfortable with business cashflows because if bond yields go down a lot stocks will run up a lot and switching back to stocks at that time could cost a lot.

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Exact_Whereas_5575@reddit

Your not wrong I'm just saying it's guaranteed return. Stocks will most likely have a return but aren't gaurneteed. If inflation does come back down to the 2-3% mark and your getting 4.5 or 5 % on a long term bond your still gaining around 2.5% on inflation with no risk. If you were to buy and long term bond now the rate is locked in and your are betting the rate of return beats inflation. The only way you don't gain on this investment is if inflation runs higher for longer. Even then you will get your money back plus the intrest, it may not keep up with inflation though. Investing in stocks can be great way to make money but you can also lose it. It's really more about risk tolerance.

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Consistent_Library18@reddit

Yeah I do recall the feeling in March/April 2020 where I lost 7yrs of gains it was a pretty sick feeling. I agree it's good advice if you are planning to use the funds in a 10-20 yr time horizon because the risk of a crash and cashout situation is not worth the extra returns.

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qualmton@reddit

Not sure these rates are going to last for more than 2 years. That’s where I keep the more liquid part of my funds for now 1-2 year cds are hitting 4-5.5 percent it’s like we’re in the 80s again

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Exact_Whereas_5575@reddit

I agree maybe even less time or more idk but it won't last forever. To the same point you could lock in a 10 or 20 year bonds at 4.5% and let it mature.

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DaHick@reddit

Just as a side note to this. If you don't want to tie up your money long-term, Lending Club is currently paying 4.5% on a savings account. https://www.lendingclub.com/personal-deposits

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audible_narrator@reddit

Yep this. My husband does this and shifts the CDs around when due to get better interest.

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Gold-Difficulty6557@reddit

Well fucking done. Man, you have more sense than the majority of the working population. Great response, I hope people can see this story and learn from it. 🤜

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Didgeterdone@reddit

Yes Sir, manage your cash flows. Pay you first every time, without fail. You first includes your retirement too. You first includes your kids college funds. You first includes your truck maintenance / replacement fund. You first means YOU FIRST. That is the reason you are out there counting white lines, not crossing them. Then pay every thing else. Then enjoy the ride, you are in control of You, your fiscal health and your mental health. Keep your guard up for any intruders to any of those areas. Escort them right back out the door they try to come in.

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NealinAZ@reddit

I would add that if you are going to invest in stocks, you should learn about using a DRIP (Dividend ReInvestment Program). You can access DRIP programs on Compushare. You set up monthly purchases and it all happens automatically before you get your pay check. Take all your stock dividends as stock and your costs are extremely low, plus you are going to pay long-term capital gains when you are my age (74), rather than higher short-term capital gains rates. Do that for 40 years or so with companies like Home Depot and Raytheon and you will be very comfortable in retirement.

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Content-Damage8406@reddit

The sad thing is , it’s a skilled job if you do it right. I think drivers are under appreciated. Without trucks nothing moves. Look around you and excluding things that grow there is nothing that hasn’t been on a truck .

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Cow-puncher77@reddit

Unfortunately, everything that grows has to go on a truck, too. Harvested crops (wheat, barley,potatoes, fruit, veggies, nuts) go from a harvester straight into a truck usually to go to processing or storage. Cattle, sheep, goats go from pasture to truck to processor/feedlot to truck to market street.

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Content-Damage8406@reddit

I more meant if you were sitting in the average suburban house there is nothing that hasn’t been on a truck except naturally occurring grass plants and trees. I didn’t mean produce or forestry products.

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Cow-puncher77@reddit

Ah, well, true. But not so many natural yards left anymore, in modern building, as all the sod is hauled in, the trees and bushes come from a landscaper who got them from a wholesaler that had them hauled. Jus’ sayin’… not to be argumentative.

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Didgeterdone@reddit

Just because it moved by truck does not mean the driver made money on the load. Drivers have got to be smarter about their truck, their fuel, their routes, their insurance, their everything, to squeeze as much as they can out of a loads pay. Taking one for the “team” is BS. Losing money is losing money. You don’t get that back by working harder on the next load. Why would a batter strike out at his first at bat? Thinking the pitcher would lob a pitch next time he was batting? No, both are professionals doing professional work. Don’t lose money to help the company out. They are just helping you get out of the business.

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_Oman@reddit

Yes, but things that grow immediately go on a truck to be useful :>

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Sprucepineoakbirch@reddit

I'm not a trucker and i view it as a skilled job that's been undercut by people willing to work for peanuts filling old box trucks and hot shot setups. Then you see some drivers in 18 wheelers doing crazy shit and i think to myself "what planet are you from?". Truckers need to police their own. My industry is the same and fortunately it's still highly regulated. We don't have border jumpers willing to drive illegal unsafe vehicles for pennies on the dollar. I'm simply pointing to safety and not immigration policies.

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Magyarmongol72@reddit

Only if it's a union gig. Home time means being home every day. Benefits mean you don't pay for them and includes a pension (not 401k). A good salary is hourly, ot after 10 and 90k plus.

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joshc1957@reddit

Yeah, let's ask some ex yellow drivers how much they're enjoying that union gig 😂

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Magyarmongol72@reddit

You sound like one of those supertruckers who still buys dvds, gets mad when he sees another trucker wearing crocs, supports a political party who is harming you, etc.

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joshc1957@reddit

Sounds like a lot of projection lmao

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Magyarmongol72@reddit

OK Mr. Deregulation. I feel for you. Let's talk about Yellow and the bs you dropped.

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joshc1957@reddit

Must be a salty yellow driver that got shafted while all the non union guys are still making money lol

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Magyarmongol72@reddit

Explain how our pension funds work Mr. Supertrucker. Also explain the pay gap between union truckers and non.

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joshc1957@reddit

I drive a cascadia. Not a super trucker. I get 10 mpg loaded and don't pay any union dues. My equipment is nice rather than the rickety shit union drivers typically have to use until it breaks. Oh and I still have a job lmao. Plus I automatically own large amounts of stock in my company, and when I retire it will pay out far more than the crappy pension those yellow drivers were promised and never received.

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Magyarmongol72@reddit

Union dues!!! I knew it. Rickety? OK boomer. Our fleet is always updated plus we do not have driver facing cameras. Stop drinking the kool-aid. Do you get paid during your down time? How many days a week do you work?

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Magyarmongol72@reddit

Haha. You are slow and spout off typical right wing bs. Learn about the pension fund. Oh wow like tons of companies don't give their workers stock.

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joshc1957@reddit

Only if you don't abide by the simple rules. It's in the contract you sign to become an owner. "Like tons" okay. My company is growing, union companies are going under and their workers are getting shafted. But what do I know lol

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Magyarmongol72@reddit

Omg like UPS right? Please get your facts straight. Rules? Like low pay, unjust termination? Compare wages with any union truckers. A class b teamster makes more than 99 percent of otrs. Stop drinking the juice. What union worker got shafted?

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Magyarmongol72@reddit

Haha I'm retired at 51. Explain shafted ? You mean like low pay, 1099, etc?

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joshc1957@reddit

So you have nothing better to do than argue online about things that don't even affect you? Lol. Go back to your golf or whatever and let the workers talk about work. You're not in this conversation lmao

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Magyarmongol72@reddit

Oh I am. Workers? Ha! Must suck to be as old as you are and have to still work for peanuts.

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joshc1957@reddit

Even if I were an old man it would drive me nuts to not have a purpose in life and something productive to do for society. I enjoy giving and helping people for a living. Makes sense that you're proud to be so selfish and greedy. I'm not jealous of anyone who gets to sit on their ass all day and do nothing 😂

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Magyarmongol72@reddit

Lolz selfish and greedy? Please explain?

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joshc1957@reddit

Laying around all day and doing nothing for anyone isn't something to brag about. The fact that you think it is and try to use that to put down people who work speaks volumes about who you are as a person.

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Magyarmongol72@reddit

The non union workers are the ones who got shafted. Learn stuff!

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Magyarmongol72@reddit

When did I put someone down? I earned my pension. 25 and out baby! I do tons of stuff.

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Magyarmongol72@reddit

Why? They get their pensions. Are you blaming the teamsters? I smell bootllicker. Next you're gonna say unions take money out of your paycheck and protect lazy workers.

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joshc1957@reddit

Actually they didn't. Lot's of videos out there of workers who had been there for decades ready to throw hands over not getting their pensions. Union workers got screwed as usual. Fat union rats made their money and bailed leaving every single worker there without a job or a pension. Bootlicker? I'm an owner of my company lol

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Magyarmongol72@reddit

Bs they got their pensions. The local controls them not the company. Stop just stop. Typical right wing bs.

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joshc1957@reddit

You're completely ignoring the videos and all the workers out there that didn't get their pensions. Shame on you. Typical liberal bs. Act like you care about the little guy but in reality only support the big guys and turn a blind eye when they screw over the little guy.

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boolonprime85@reddit

trust me its beats the office by a long shot

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Historical-Detail300@reddit

Sell crack

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Harryisharry50@reddit

I thanks cash is fast . But damn the time in prison ain’t worth . I already lost 3 years of my life for selling drugs trying to eat and stay out of the cold ain’t doing that again

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vwsalesguy@reddit

Sell cars. That’s what I went into out of trucking. Pick your favorite brand and apply.

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linux23@reddit

Where are you located because 90k sounds enticing for an educated chap like myself. Lol

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Harryisharry50@reddit

Chicagoland just outside of it by ohare airport . 33 miles west of downtown

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Brandnewbroski@reddit

Really, cuz I'm searching within 15 miles of Schaumburg and can't really find much with 6 months OTR experience.

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Snoo-6053@reddit

Haul rocks

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Harryisharry50@reddit

Now I think of it check out Penske logistics they bought out black horse while back they hired my cousin she had 11 months experience with KLLM hauling reefers they pay good decent equipment

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Magyarmongol72@reddit

All the liquor and beer distributors are hiring.

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Harryisharry50@reddit

That’s dude best bet with little experience. I been driving for over 20 years and 15 of it in city delivering milk and frozen food . Money wise was good but I’m old and my knees and hips worn out now days

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Harryisharry50@reddit

Yeah you don’t have enough experience to get in where I work minimum of a year . Used to be two

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Magyarmongol72@reddit

Class b teamsters make over 90 k with full free benefits and alot only work Tuesday-Friday.

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Excise1902@reddit

Wtf how? I make 45k a year as a 9 car hauler.

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Magyarmongol72@reddit

Thats sad. I'm sorry. You deserve better.

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Excise1902@reddit

To be fair, this is my first CDL job with only 6 months of experience.

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Magyarmongol72@reddit

It's not fair. Scale here is 33.50 an hour after 18 months.

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Excise1902@reddit

Where are you located? I'm working from the Chicago region near Oakbrook. Fuck I'm getting scammed then huh?

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Magyarmongol72@reddit

Go teamster and live better.

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Flackjkt@reddit

Pretty much going rate too haul fuel.

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Harryisharry50@reddit

Nope no hazmat . Just city driving no touch freight I’ll make over a 100k this year with 5 weeks paid time off . I get 16 hrs s month of paid time off plus vacation time so that’s 24 days by it’s self plus two weeks vacation

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Flackjkt@reddit

Yup good gig. The local stuff pays so much better often than the over the road stuff. It floors me when they talk about how little they make with giant school debt on top of it. It’s no wonder few make past a year.

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Shatophiliac@reddit

Sales jobs at a big company, or a trade like welding. Sales jobs usually don’t require any experience or education, but you do have to be able to sell something well. Imo, that’s something people either have or don’t have, it can’t easily be taught. With trades you would have to stay in it a while to make 90k, or work for yourself. And that may also require some training. You definitely don’t have to have an education though to make that kind of money. The other option is start your own company. Maybe even in trucking lol. Just hire other drivers and you can handle the business part of it.

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Unique-Ad-2544@reddit

Literally any trade

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Harryisharry50@reddit

I’m old man hard labor not so great no more my knees and hips are f@ck from pulling milk all them years

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Magyarmongol72@reddit

You with a liquor or beer distributor? I'm in Chicago (Belmont Craigin).

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Harryisharry50@reddit

I replied to a chat with you on that sir

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Itscottinphx@reddit

Don’t sell yourself short. My son sells shoes online that he buys at local outlet stores and makes more than $90k. I don’t mind my job but I’m not afraid I couldn’t make as much doing anything else if it went away.

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Country_Potato@reddit

My biggest problem with trucking is that are so many ways to basically end your career. I never feel secure in my job.

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timbotheny26@reddit

I especially hate it since it's not my driving I'm worried about, but the driving of those around me.

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J-Rag-@reddit

I mean it's not that hard to manage. It's pretty easy to not get a speeding ticket or a ticket for doing dumb shit.

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Arnhildr-Fang@reddit

I mean...not to be rude but that is obvious. Would you give a cdl to someone who can't drive a civilian vehicle legally or safely?

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skinem1@reddit

...and that is why my wife became my chauffer for 10 years.

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h2-0h@reddit

This is the way

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TheTuggingOfBoats@reddit

My SO always questions why I swing obnoxiously wide and start slowing down super early when we're driving around town in my Jeep

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Danlyanne@reddit

We are both truck drivers.. He will chuckle, and I know that I just cornered my Mini like I was driving my truck and trailer. lol

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Defias_Bandit@reddit

Made this comment in another post but I’m pretty sure this isn’t the case anymore. A red light ticket I got last year was treated as a regular ticket, and my CDL had no bearing on it whatsoever.

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lost1nsea@reddit

That’s written in the cdl handbooks within the first 10 pages. Not many people read it though, great stuff so you know these little details

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Osmotic@reddit

Also legal limit for alcohol (at least where I live) is .04. So half the normal limit for a non CDL holder.

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tonysopranosalive@reddit

This one here. I don’t condone drinking and driving at any limit. But .04 is the threshold for any CDL holder.

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Osmotic@reddit

Yeah it's really not worth it in any situation. Especially nowadays with lift and Uber being everywhere.

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tonysopranosalive@reddit

Random topic but I do work with a guy who has Diabetes, he genuinely has a speech impediment where he slurs his words. The man has never touched a bottle in his life. I felt really bad when he was trying to make ends meet via Uber/Lyft but someone reported him because they thought he was drunk due to his impediment and he was blacklisted from ride shares. The dude is one of the sharpest people I’ve ever met, he just can’t speak like you and I can.

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Osmotic@reddit

Yeah that kinda stuff bums me out because it's not his fault.

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tonysopranosalive@reddit

We move air freight and this guy when I get my BOL’s in the morning can pinpoint whatever pallet is where and what needs to be on my truck. I love him to bits and he’s a big reason big places are getting their stuff. I drive the truck and deliver, but people like him have their eye on what’s going where and when I bump your dock: it’s him that’s making sure you’re getting what you need. You don’t know him, you’ll never meet him, but he’s there and a huge reason why all of this works and our paperwork gets done.

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Osmotic@reddit

The average person has no idea what goes on behind the scenes and how many people are involved to get things made and where they need to go. I got one of those guys at our warehouse too and I feel the same.

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TheFugitive70@reddit

That’s federal, so applies in every state.

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Advanced-Sherbert-29@reddit

I actually did not know that. I mean it doesn't really matter because I don't drink at all, but that's interesting.

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Magyarmongol72@reddit

Only in your work truck.

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WonderfulAd3492@reddit

Bs

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Osmotic@reddit

Oh wow I always thought it was for any vehicle. Good to know.

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Snoo-6053@reddit

If you do something like run on bald tires, and have a blowout, killing someone, you'll like get charged with Manslaughter. Conviction is likely, if you are younger or have feminine features you'll likely get used as a human toilet for your prison stay. Watch OZ on HBO Max for more on how it works

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LiiilKat@reddit

As a field tech, I drive a high-top Ford Transit, and though a CDL is not a requirement, I feel this comment as well because if I don’t have a license, I don’t have a job either.

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Diegobyte@reddit

Including the lower BAC limit

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FuturePowerful@reddit

Yah never ever do anything wrong in any car at all

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Vanstrucker2222@reddit

If you go over your hours 14,16,70 and you get into a wreck, you are automatically at fault. Doesn’t matter if you were hit by a drunk driver. You are at fault.

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Tuvix1701@reddit

Make sure hazmat is properly secure.

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DAbabster@reddit

Carrying ANY alcohol in your truck can get you in some serious trouble. I’ve had other truckers tell me that it’s ok if you keep alcohol in the sleeper area of your cab. Stopping for the night and having a beer or two is ok but carrying any alcohol in your truck is a regulation and usually a company no-no.

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smithkd0422@reddit

Um..100% false. It's 100% illegal to POSSESS any alcohol in a CMV, sleeper or not. You also cannot legally even enter the cab or sleeper of a CMV until after 4 hours since having a single sip of alcohol. So if you have 1 beer..or even 1 sip, you can't legally enter your truck at all period for at least 4 hours. Facts.

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thirdgen@reddit

Having a CDL may make you ineligible for pre-trial diversion programs available to “civilian” drivers for things like DUI/DWI or regular traffic infractions. There are federal regulations that prohibit states from making traffic charges go away for CDL holders.

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Sayitlouder2022@reddit

You can lose your trucker license if you don’t renew it properly and in time. Which means you have to retest to get it back(depending where you live) so always renew on time with your medical exam before it expires completely. Your driving abstract is your best friend for getting good paying jobs - so keep it clean. This means you drive like a professional in your personal vehicle all the time. Don’t get into an an at fault accident either- this looks really bad. Speeding is being cracked down on- do not do it in the big truck- they will not tolerate it AT ALL. You’re basically looked at like a weapon or missle flying down the street. Stick to the law when driving the big rig. Always do a proper pretrip and log book. Hefty fines that add up for every single mistake wrong or missed. Don’t do anything dangerous and you won’t be arrested. Just cuz your a big rig doesn’t mean you will get arrested for anything unless you’re severely breaking the law like drugs, drinking and driving, cell phone in hand causing a collision or extremely fatigued while driving (which is also a DUI) You lose your license like you would in a normal vehicle. Demerits/too many points- really bad fines - or a collision with bodily harm due to something negligent you did. It’s really the same as a car but your just expected to be a lot more professional and safer. So stick to the rules and you’ll be alright.

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

In Oilberta they give you 2 years to come up with a class one medical before you have to retest. They just drop you down to a class 3 in the meantime

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Sayitlouder2022@reddit

Not anymore with the new Melt program and rules for class 1 drivers. You have to submit a medical at the time of renewal and you only have 6 months post expiry to renew your license or you’ll have to retest to get to get it back. Otherwise you’re correct they will drop your classification down to a 3.

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

How many one eyed gravel truck drivers are out there? Answer: A lot more than you would think

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Sayitlouder2022@reddit

Haha my uncle is a one eyed trucker !

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

Ya it’s weird, for unknown reasons they don’t treat class 3 driving (gravel truck) any differently than they treat a car license (class 5) I always thought this was kind of odd because a loaded gravel truck weighs about the same as an empty semi, they’re not light weights. There’s no medical for class 3 until you’re 75. It worked out good for me though because I was driving a gravel truck at the time and then when I got my class one back I went back to hauling equipment. It never really dawned on me until I was part of the one eyed brigade how many other one eyed drivers there would be out there at any given time

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

Let’s see, I did it 4 years ago because I needed cataract surgery and got my class one back just shy of two years, all I had to do was pass the vision test. If I would have just kept my class 3 I wouldn’t have to have had a vision test until I was 75

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Sayitlouder2022@reddit

Thats a lot different and that was before the melt program.

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

Well I’m not an acrobat but MELT was introduced in Alberta on March 1st 2019, in response to the humbolt bus crash. I got my class one back after cataract surgery in 2021. Incidentally, for all you drivers out there who may be experiencing similar issues with cataracts, the surgery takes 20 minutes and is life changing, my robot eye is actually better than my normal one now and I can’t recommend it highly enough

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Sayitlouder2022@reddit

Vision is a lot different then medical. And things are constantly evolving as time goes.. yes there are exceptions to every story such as yours - but what I’m saying is this isn’t a common situation people can expect.

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truckerlivesmatter@reddit

Add to this the stupid law that we can’t smoke marijuana, or eat edibles…AT ALL. Not even when at home. Not even in states where it’s legal.

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primal_breath@reddit

Come to Canada. We can smoke all we want as long as we're not high at work.

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Montreal4life@reddit

depends... people going to USA still have to do tests since theyll be in USA... everyone I know that does usa runs has to quit 30 or so days before they enter... also , here locally, most (all?) the fuel haulers will test you like if it was usa, even though it's only local

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primal_breath@reddit

Yes if your in the USA you have to follow the USA laws and if your in Canada you have to follow Canadian laws. I've never seen/heard about/worked for a company in Canada that stays in Canada that does pre-employment drug screening. Sure if you get into a major accident and seem off they may ask for a test to see if your currently high/drunk but that's all I've ever heard of.

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Montreal4life@reddit

I saw a good paying local tanker job it wouldn't leave more than 100km from my home but drug test city over there! Because of the fuel you haul and the dangers associated with it I guess. They are relatively lenient with it though I think, ie you fail your first test for weed you might get one more chance 30 days later until termination. This is a large and reputable local company btw not some rando

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primal_breath@reddit

Maybe they are only looking for hard drugs. Do you know someone who has failed for pot before?

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Montreal4life@reddit

The recruiter literally told me they're looking for pot, hard drugs, everything.  Trust me, I would have applied there otherwise lol

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

That’s not entirely true, most companies still have a pre employment piss test

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truckerlivesmatter@reddit

See? I don’t understand why we can’t be that way! If I can get blackout drunk on my days off I should be able to have an edible to help my back pain, or just for the Hell of it. Just have a nice joint with friends. It really pisses me off.

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OneMetalMan@reddit

I work with a bunch of cowboys who insist on going 20mph over the limit wherever they go, and save a whopping 30 minutes of their day. The icing on the cake is they keep losing their incentive bonus because they keep screwing up their piece counts because they are rushing to get back to base.....for some reason. I guess it's cool to only work 35 (and be payed for) hours a week

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unresolved-madness@reddit

Don't pee in a bottle and throw it in the trash at the truck stop. They are on here looking for you.

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Cubsfan11022016@reddit

Being caught using your phone while driving is a $2700 fine to you, and $11,000 to your company. Good luck staying employed after that.

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Chestnut15th@reddit

This is cap

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EthoGuy@reddit

Dashcam with GPS

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freightliner_fever_@reddit

I did by the skin of my teeth. got a warning, no ticket. safety wanted to fire me but my boss begged them not too lol. haven't so much as opened my phone to change the song since.

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TamponTom@reddit

Same. Siri can open and play podcasts as well as be used with SoundCloud

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AlbinoBlakMan@reddit

Currently going through this right now. Still in waiting since it’s a holiday weekend. 0/10 do not recommend.

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theWolfeman88@reddit

Get a phone mount. You're allowed to change the song as long as you're not holding the device. Also no data entry, aka typing a bunch of words to search. But pressing next on Google/Apple car mode while listening to your Playlist? Perfectly legal.

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onydawg02@reddit

How could it be proven otherwise? What if a cop says you were texting but you were only changing the song? Another thing that worries me is false accusations. I was driving my personal vehicle one night and i passed a cop doing radar. I saw him from a mile away but he pulled me over and said i was on the phone. I wasn’t, i just had my hand on my face as i passed. He said yes you were, and i said no i wasn’t, i was sitting with my hand on my head. Then i showed him my phone was connected to my cars Bluetooth. He claimed he just got another call and told me to leave.

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justdan76@reddit

I got a ticket in Ohio for speeding. It was the one time I had set my cruise on 55 and wasn’t actually speeding. Flat ground. Trooper stopped me and said I was speeding. I said I wasn’t. She said the radar doesn’t lie. I said then you were pointing it at someone else. Etc, etc, it came down to her word against mine, nothing I could do. Had to pay the ticket and wait however many years for the points to disappear.

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uproot_homebrew@reddit

Cant you pull the truck's radar info? I believe theres supposed to be some sort of log that records your speed. Thankfully i havent had to depend on said info, but i will look into it more carefully

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justdan76@reddit

This was years ago, in an old Mack. I worked for a small place, there was no tracking or data recording.

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theWolfeman88@reddit

You kinda answered your own question. Hitting skip on your mounted device is no different than changing the channel on your radio. With that being said, I usually just hit skip on the dash in my Freightliner.

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Quynn_Stormcloud@reddit

Yeah, bouncing, shaking truck cabs and touch screens are a bad mix. I always use the controls on the stereo or Bluetooth speaker for skips. Don’t want to hit the time slider or volume controls by accident, and my phone is usually on the sat nav app anyway, and that gets really finicky.

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FileCareless@reddit

Isn’t a dvir on required if something is wrong?

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Blanc0_one@reddit

I was told cali drivers have to do one daily

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NCtoDFW@reddit

Better have your shit right on I 44 in Missouri

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OtrOptions@reddit

Don't drive naked

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VictorHelios1@reddit

I just tell the dot thing I’m doing a gender reveal party.

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GoBucs1969@reddit

Wouldn't that be genital reveal?

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VictorHelios1@reddit

How else do you reveal your gender?

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GoBucs1969@reddit

True.

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OtrOptions@reddit

This is the way

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TheWookieStrikesBack@reddit

Your legal BAC is lower than someone without a CDL even when you aren’t in the truck

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Magyarmongol72@reddit

Stop thinking companies give a darnn about you.

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Consistent_Amount140@reddit

Tell me more of these illegal practices of said company.

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CEVIII518@reddit

solicitation.

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Ogediah@reddit

It’s not an attitude check. They’re trying to get you to admit to a crime. If you don’t admit, then they’re required to give you a reason for pulling you over. In a CMV, the reason can simply be a routine inspection. All that said, you don’t have to be an ass. As an example: you can have your window rolled down before the officer walks up and greet him when he arrives with something like “how are you doing today officer?”

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VictorHelios1@reddit

If they ever ask why they pulled me over, any one of the following: - “let me guess the (insert local police force) is having a formal costume ball and you want me to be your date? Wait for them to respond with “we don’t have balls… - hey I wasn’t speeding I was just trying to keep up with everyone else! (No one else around) that’s how far behind j am! - because you wanna trade guns? - because you wanted to thank me for paying your salary? (cops LOVE it when you mention this)

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frezor@reddit

Try this one: “Because the local lot lizards ain’t up to snuff and you’d like to make it up to me?”

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voucher420@reddit

How fast were you going? “Not fast enough, you still caught me!”

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Magyarmongol72@reddit

Those are about yellow not contributing to the fund anymore. Jeremy learn things.

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Foxlen@reddit

Stay healthy, the gov (CA atleast) will strip u of ur class 1 quite quickly

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cohonan@reddit

I’m the safety guy for a trucking company and this is underrated. It sucks when the doctor at your medical card renewal won’t renew because you are overweight and can’t keep up with your cpap.

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FlowerInADarkRoom@reddit

Lovin on a lot lizard 🦎

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the_Killer_Walnut@reddit

Make sure you are aware of Truckers Rule #34. It’s too much to explain. Just google it.

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legendofthegreendude@reddit

Thanks for that new PTSD

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Not-A-Pickle1@reddit (OP)

>Truckers Rule #34 okay so now that i have post nut clarity, dude im being serious

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the_Killer_Walnut@reddit

One thing I always do is visually inspect the kingpin/locking lever to make sure it’s locked. It seems pretty basic knowledge, but I never did it for my first 8 years, always just tug tested. Then I got hired at my last job and they’re adamant that we do this. Apparently, they had a driver lose a trailer at highway speeds years ago, so now they drill it into everyone’s heads.

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WreckenTexanMoto@reddit

Yep, I've had the retention spring on my 5th wheel break. I'll check it twice while hooking up and then tug test.

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NUNG457@reddit

Let me put it to you this way, Ive worked for a state dot for 7 years as my only CDL job......... I don't know shit about what's legal or not. Logs.... What are those? Weights? Who cares..... Rest periods? We're allowed 16 hour days, 7 days a week until the snows gone. At this point I could never work for an outfit that when dot waves, I have to do more than just wave back. I'm only here to learn what someone else might point out.

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Harryisharry50@reddit

Same I work government job . Fly pass cop 75 in 55 they just wave . Once in blue moon they’ll flash lights for you to slow down . What’s a log book or hos . 7 days a week 16 hrs days sure no problem just make sure you have 8 hrs and 1 minute off your you automatically put on double time

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justhereforthefunnyZ@reddit

Tell me you work for USPS without actually saying USPS.

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Harryisharry50@reddit

Lol

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justhereforthefunnyZ@reddit

Fellow TTO 😉

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Harryisharry50@reddit

Nice .

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ispypizza@reddit

What’s an example of a job position with the state dot?

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HurriedLlama@reddit

Snow plow driver

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Plethorian@reddit

School bus driver's don't get a pass. That's one reason there's such a shortage.

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NUNG457@reddit

Dot maintenance division. Plow snow in the winter, and road repair/maintenance in the summer.

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OverSizeLife@reddit

Sounds like you're a snow plow driver. State Plow drivers are exempt from hours of service

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NUNG457@reddit

We're also exempt from overweight and oversize during snow removal operations. My plows alone add 4k roughly to the front axles and when down and fully extended wing I'm 16 feet wide.

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OverSizeLife@reddit

I looked into getting on with our state plow department, they just don't pay enough for me at the time as it was only $19.85/hr and i was averaging $42 an hr hauling oversize. Now I've not worked in nearly 15months due to an injury and I'm not even allowed to go back to it, kinda wish I'd had just taken the offer at the time.

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NUNG457@reddit

Yea I'm only making 22 an hour right now aft 7 years. However I get 14 paid holidays, 28 days of PTO a year, pension, insurance. The list goes on. My take home might not be great, but for my area we do pretty well. My benefits are worth like 24-25 $ an hour when you add everything up.

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OverSizeLife@reddit

That's not horrible, slightly above average for where I live in western Ohio. Hope it all works out for you.

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NUNG457@reddit

Biggest thing for me is I'm happy, I was a manager at a chain gas station before I went to the dot, made 80k, was never home. Now I make 45-50 with winter ot but I literally live right next to the state shed I work out of. So when quitting time hits and everyone breaks for their cars, I'm in my front door before half the guys are even out of the parking lot. I enjoy being outside all the time and the weather doesn't bother me a bit. Happiness goes a long way.

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ChBrBrown@reddit

Yeah but … you’ll never need to drive for anyone else as long as snow falls and cars crash

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Dismal_Ad_9603@reddit

I got 4 years left, if I want. Trust me I don’t want will probably bail out in two. Fuck this snow shit. Oh and cannabis, not for you! Cdl, why you can have that back!

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NUNG457@reddit

I hope you're not wrong because I have 30 years left before my ass can retire.

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The_Chimeran_Hybrid@reddit

Don’t worry, cars will keep crashing for sure. The snow is a different story though, who knows what this world will be like in 30 years.

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Zanurath@reddit

Might be colder actually, pretty good chance the north Atlantic current might collapse which brings warmth from the tropics to north America and Europe. If that happens tropics get hotter and NA gets cooler.

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transcendanttermite@reddit

16 years and 7 months for me…. I know the feels, man.

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justhereforthefunnyZ@reddit

Same with USPS.

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msmanhands@reddit

Same with working for a utility company

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wellwellshitwellshit@reddit

If you have a cdl then the legal limit is 0.04 not 0.08

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Conscious_Weasel@reddit

Even though our legal limit is .04, any amount of alcohol in your system can get you arrested. Went to dinner with a few friends while we had the weekend off at the yard, our restaurant was 1/2mi from the yard, we all had 1-2 drinks and at the end 2 of us (myself and another ) walked back while the other 3 drove back. We got 1/2 way back and the driver who drove everyone blew a .02 and went to jail for the night. His car got impounded and the drivers that rode with him ended up walking the rest of the way. Moral of the story, regardless of how far it is, don’t drink and drive. Your CDL, life and those around you should be more important. Uber or walk back if you do drink.

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DieselAndPucks@reddit

Yeah no, that's a load of BS. He got arrested for something else and didn't want to tell you. For starters the limit is 0.08. 0.04 is only when operating a commercial vehicle(on duty or not), not your own personal car.

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metooeither@reddit

You don't know what you're talking about, cdl holders are held to a higher standard, even in their fucking car, that's Federal not state.

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DieselAndPucks@reddit

I don't know what I'm talking about yet you can't provide a single source saying so. Don't trust me, trust the FMCSA, you know the guys who literally make up the rules? How about you search on the subject before calling out someone when you're fucking clueless. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/commercial-drivers-license/states#BAC-Standards BAC Standards The FMCSA has established 0.04% as the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level at or above which a CDL commercial motor vehicle operator who is required to have a CDL, and is operating a commercial motor vehicle, is deemed to be driving under the influence of alcohol and subject to the disqualification sanctions in the Federal regulations. Most States have established a BAC level of .08% as the level at or above which a person operating a non-commercial motor vehicle is deemed to be driving under the influence of alcohol. Sanctions for alcohol-related driving violations may affect the driver's qualification and eligibility for both commercial and non-commercial licenses.

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Smprider112@reddit

No, he’s right. I was a cop for 10 years, the .04 only applies while actually operating a CMV. The only added penalty to a DUII with a CDL is if it is your first, you aren’t eligible for diversion like most non-CDL first time offenders are offered. I arrested plenty of CDL holders for DUII, .08% was the standard for operating a non CMV, regardless of what license you had. It even specifically stated as such on the Implied Consent form we were required to read prior to requesting a breath test. It said along the lines of “A) .08% or more if you were not driving a commercial motor vehicle. B) .04% or more if you were driving a commercial motor vehicle C) or any amount if you are under 21 years of age.”

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Distribution-Radiant@reddit

Wrong. The moment you get the CDL, the limit drops to 0.04 while driving any vehicle.

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DieselAndPucks@reddit

No it's not. Stop spreading myths that aren't true. "In Texas, it is a crime to have a blood alcohol content (BAC) level at 0.04% or above if you have a commercial driver's license, and are driving a commercial motor vehicle. This legal limit is not set by the State of Texas alone but by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which states that any commercial driver operating a commercial vehicle with a BAC of 0.04% or higher is considered to be driving under the influence."

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robitt88@reddit

I feel like there's more to this story than just his .02

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Conscious_Weasel@reddit

Just went with what the other guys said that road with him. He said / she said

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robitt88@reddit

I wouldn't accuse you of lying about the story. But something happened that you might not even be aware of. Personal vehicle with .02 won't get you arrested under any conditions. I'm guessing either warrants, unpaid tickets, mouthing off, or some other violation that happened during the incident. The people in the car with him either don't know why he was arrested or they're sticking to their story of "he didn't do nuffin"

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SierraCarolina@reddit

His buddy is super nice and the cop didn't want to risk losing a good dude, so the cop gave him a safe place to sleep for the night.

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Cubsfan11022016@reddit

I would guess there was some kind erratic driving that went with it. If you’re under the limit, but are acting/driving like you’re drunk, you’re drunk. Everyone handles alcohol different.

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ALunaSea@reddit

Ck ck CFR DOT regs part 49:40 .04 or higher is a DUI for a CDL holder in any vehicle. .02 up to 3.9 is considered positive and reported to employer, pulled from service. .01 - .02. Will get reported to employer, up to them if u get pulled from SVC https://www.transportation.gov/odapc/part40

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linux23@reddit

Black?

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Distribution-Radiant@reddit

>any amount of alcohol in your system can get you arrested This is true without a CDL, if the officer feels you're too intoxicated to be driving. You can get a DUI/DWI while completely sober if you're impaired - such as from low blood sugar.

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CowThatJumpedTheMun@reddit

Keeping your FMCSA Medical card with you at all times and to keep it up to date.

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Ceepeenc@reddit

BAC is lower than non CDL holders

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Smprider112@reddit

Only when operating a CMV. Common misconception. It’s still .08% BAC in a non commercial vehicle. I arrested plenty of CDL holders for DUII when I was a cop, they were all in personal vehicles and .08% was the standard, not .04%.

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Ceepeenc@reddit

In my state, it explicitly states this in the DMV literature.

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Smprider112@reddit

What state? Because I’m quite certain every state is the same with regards to operating a CMV vs a non-CMV.

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finmo@reddit

It doesn’t matter if weed is legal and/or you have a script for it you can’t do interstate commerce with it on you or in your blood.

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NarutoUchihaX14@reddit

Not sure if anyone's mentioned this. But in some states, you can be put on the sex offender registry for pissing in public. Pissing in public, would kinda umbrella passing between your tractor and trlr or if you pull over. Of course an officer would have to be extremely....extremely bored to do such a thing, but you know how life can be for some people

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ablackcatnamedjax@reddit

Always wondered why whenever my old man would come in off the road my Mom would drive everywhere on his days off . It wasnt because he didnt love to drive it was because he wanted to protect that license ! Protect that cdl at all costs fam!

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JoyKil01@reddit

Happy cake day!

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ComfortableTonight82@reddit

Hauling Coors beer East of the Mississippi is bootlegging.

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bomber991@reddit

I saw that documentary too.

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metooeither@reddit

Keep your medical card current or you'll lose your cdl and all your endorsements. No, you won't get them back after you turn in a new medical card, they are gone, you are back at the bottom, you have to redo all of them.

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ramanw150@reddit

Getting a lot lizard that's actually a cop

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Beneficial-Swan-5849@reddit

Do y’all ever see male lot lizards? 🤔

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metooeither@reddit

I've seem a meme about them

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hunnerbunner2000@reddit

No, those are the truck drivers.

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Beneficial-Swan-5849@reddit

Ah. Might explain why he didn’t charge me.

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skinny08910@reddit

👀👀

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skinny08910@reddit

Damn, cops go after drivers too...

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ramanw150@reddit

Yes

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Rip-kid@reddit

Way of the road Bubs

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fishnwiz@reddit

Just don’t pick one that has all their teeth, that’s a dead giveaway.

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ramanw150@reddit

I used to work at a bread warehouse on the wrong side of town. It was the main street to get booty and drugs. For a little while there was this pretty woman walking down this street. I say pretty as in pretty for this street. Some of the other drivers would joke she's a cop. I found out she wasn't. I knew someone of the people on that street. I used to give away bread. It's how I ensured my safety.

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Beneficial-Swan-5849@reddit

“Pretty woman walking down the street” made me sing. Thanks.

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ramanw150@reddit

Singin Do wah Diddy diddy dum Diddy do

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ramanw150@reddit

Lmfao so true

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Both_Somewhere4525@reddit

Wtf.

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linux23@reddit

Plus it hurts if she doesn't know what she's doing, lmao.

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Not-A-Pickle1@reddit (OP)

Lmao I’m local

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Beaverbumper00@reddit

So are lot lizards.

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xj5635@reddit

Thats good. You can often get discounts for being a repeat customer that way

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Fickle-Future-8962@reddit

Lol.

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metooeither@reddit

Don't fuck up Haz Mat loads. Crawl around on that shit like a raccoon and make sure it matches the paperwork, make sure it's separated right, make sure your placards match the shit in the trailer and on the paperwork. Fucking pita.

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ComparisonGeneral825@reddit

Just 2 main things not do is don't use drugs and don't drink and drive. Just use command since. Don't speed because it will raise your insurance for your car for 3 years. 🙋🫵👍🚛🏆

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Hipphazy@reddit

Where do I find command since on the keyboard?

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jmzstl@reddit

I think every driver should know about the $90 million verdict against Werner: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/werner-verdict-texas-crash/ It’s important to realize that you could do everything right, but the lawyers will always find a way to make you the bad guy if you’re involved in an accident.

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bezm12@reddit

That was some karma for Werner and how they treat their drivers. Karma is real.

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justdan76@reddit

Wow. Just wow.

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justdan76@reddit

Wow. Just wow.

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CobraWasTaken@reddit

Are you worried that you'll be in trouble for never doing a DVIR? It's not required by law unless there's something wrong with your truck.

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Sarcasamystik@reddit

What is a DVIR?

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RichAbbreviations965@reddit

Vehicle inspection report ( pre trip/ post trip)

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researcher_bot@reddit

Anything in the FMCSR’s can get ya hosed: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations The one that seems the most surprising to drivers of all ages and experience levels, part 40. Relatively plain language here: https://www.transportation.gov/odapc/part40

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Dicked_Crazy@reddit

Plain language? There are 413 sections the part 40 of the FMC essay. There’s nothing plain about it. However what you need to do is perfectly plain. Stay away from all of it and you never have a problem.

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Distribution-Radiant@reddit

The limit for a DWI is much lower for a CDL holder, even in your personal vehicle. Guy I knew blew a .05 in his own car. Limit for non-CDL is 0.08 here, but CDL is 0.04 *when not working* (0.00 when working). Can't have any alcohol - empties or sealed - in the sleeper either unless you're parked up for the night. Not even in a trash can or fridge. If you have a few before you sleep, that's fine, just make sure you dispose of them before you hit the road again.

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HeathenBliss@reddit

You are not supposed to have alcohol within 12 hours of operating a commercial motor vehicle

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RichAbbreviations965@reddit

24 hours

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TrustNothing@reddit

This is.. Wrong

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ate2for@reddit

I think the law on alcohol is actually none in it at all, best to stick to home or hotel rooms on that one

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ItsMrAhole2u@reddit

You can transport in the sleeper if you're in PC. [proof ](https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/question-3-does-prohibition-against-carrying-alcoholic-beverages-ss3925-apply-driver)

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BedAdministrative619@reddit

Or drink it all before getting in and sleeping. After I saw how severe the rules were, I chose to stop drinking entirely. I like the job too much to risk it on a drink.

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65mph_swerfty@reddit

Make sure your insurance card matches the truck your driving. Had a friend get in a fender bender and didn't know his boss gave him the insurance card for another truck. Wound up with a felony insurance fraud conviction. Guy can't even get any license until he pays $100k in fines and spent 6 months in county jail. Boss who knowingly gave the wrong card had no charges filed and is still in business. Also, never give rides to strangers. Another friend is doing 10 years for that mistake.

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PlantsNCaterpillars@reddit

…so, what is the rule for DVIR? Last two companies I worked for we did one on every vehicle we drove. Company I started working for recently doesn’t even have the employees doing them and there is all kinds of fucked up shit with the vehicles.

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yurr55@reddit

Having too many fireball shots before driving.

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I_dementia87@reddit

Stealing your bosses truck.

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ten_jack_russels@reddit

Right to jail

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ImHufflePuff_Crap_ok@reddit

But it was my 3rd day.

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Nasty_Rex@reddit

Was Fireball Wiskey involved?

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ten_jack_russels@reddit

Shut up-Back under the jail for you. /s

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Nicolastriste@reddit

That right there was your mistake. You always quit on before your third day so you don’t have anything bad happen.

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danf6975@reddit

2 tickets in less than 2 years for 15 over each and you loose your license. Not your cdl but your actual license. Hence always protect it even if you have to pay a lawyer a lot to get it reduced.

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tnj4ez@reddit

Driving school ONLY teaches how to get the license, not how to do the job. It is a constant learning curve to know the job. A rule change has made DVIR's only needing to be filled out to write up a problem, company policies may require daily DVIR, but legally it has changed.

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SiCon6@reddit

Your personal driving, eating and smoking habits can end your career either from a point or insurance perspective. You have to maintain not only your license, but your medical card as well. Fuck around with high blood pressure and find out.

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HeathenBliss@reddit

Every accident is preventable. It doesn't matter if you're at fault, or if a meteor fell from the sky right through your engine block and there was no way you could have known that it would happen. The insurance companies, the lawyers of the people affected, and your company in particular, we'll find a way to make it your fault as the driver. It is not fair, it is not reasonable, but it is the way this industry is structured. Drive defensively at all times. It doesn't matter if you're going to be late. Doesn't matter if your dispatcher is breathing down your neck. The only thing you have to say to a dispatcher is "this is the best effort that I can safely and legally produce", and every word they say after that to try and pressure you to be unsafe or do something illegally is harassment and can get your company fined and wind up with you having a very nice lawsuit. Yes, you can be fired if it is proven that you are not actually producing your maximum safe and legal effort. But if you are producing that maximum safe and legal effort, you are bulletproof, in terms of employment. Don't get in a hurry for anything. Take your time. Check everything out twice. Plan your route out carefully. Drivers who get in a hurry are drivers who have accidents. And, here's this tidbit. Insurance companies put millions of dollars of research into figuring out if they are able to predict which drivers will be involved in an accident. What they can to determine was that even if a driver had a clean record, witnessing or being close to accidents as they occur is a key indicator that that driver is in some way driving unsafely. Even if the accident occurs in front of you or behind you. If the accident occurs in front of you, it means that you are doing something that consistently winds up with you being near unsafe drivers. If the accident is happening behind you, it could indicate that you are doing something that affects traffic behind you even if you yourself are not involved in the accident. Or twice is just a coincidence, when spaced over an entire career. Having it as a regular occurrence, say more than once or twice every couple of years, means that you need to be reassessing your driving style. And on that note, make sure that you are assessing your driving style proactively everyday.

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Dumpster_Sauce@reddit

Arrested/charged/lose your license are kind of all common sense shit. DVIR wouldn't do any of those, so going with that theme, approving your logs, keeping the load you are currently doing up to date in the logs, and making sure the logs device is able to be handed to the officer standing beside the truck without him getting in are things that are often overlooked

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Not-A-Pickle1@reddit (OP)

we dont keep logs because we operate within a 150 mile radius. I was told that usually lets us slide

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Quynn_Stormcloud@reddit

Company I used to work for, we played by the full rules, even with the 150 air-mile exception. We crossed a lot of ports, and corporate offered a lot of perks for passing DOTs, so we had Elogs, paper backups, everything handled through our workphone (though I logged in to as much as I could on my personal phone because everything was so slow on that little brick). They did not mess around, and company policies were always beyond the minimums in FMCSR. I wouldn’t want to work for a company that treats DOT, safety, and the green book as a chore.

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Magyarmongol72@reddit

Yes! I am in Chicago too. Belmont Craigin. Yeah you are. Check out the liquor distributors.

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midwestmiller@reddit

The ONLY time you should have alcohol on your truck is in the trailer for a delivery. You can be 100 percent sober with a single can of unopened beer and cops can get you for it. How badly is up to the officer at that time.

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ItsMrAhole2u@reddit

Not exactly, you can transport alcohol in the sleeper using PC. [Link](https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/question-3-does-prohibition-against-carrying-alcoholic-beverages-ss3925-apply-driver) Also, what constitutes as "having physical control of your truck" is a huge grey area and usually depends on the officers discretion. Usually, having personal control means you're in the driver's seat, with the keys, OR if you had intent to drive/can be argued you were driving.

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Distribution-Radiant@reddit

They can get you for an empty in the sleeper too.

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Avato12@reddit

Can someone explain to me about the dvirs I was told you only do it if shit needs fixing but im not sure.

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rilloroc@reddit

I do them at the beginning and end of every trip. The reason I do so is that the more shit there is to look at, the less closely the trooper looks at it. Same reason I keep my truck clean. If the truck is clean and the windshield and mirrors are clear and sparkly, they leave you alone.

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holupyouwhatnow@reddit

Yeah they changed the rule so that you only need to do a dvir if you find something wrong but some companies still require one every day. You are always required to log and annotate your logs that you did a pretrip however, and most ELDs will auto annotate your pretrip after filling out the dvir. So you have two options, log 10-15 minutes on duty abd manually annotate it as your pretrip, or what all the steering wheel holders do is fill out a dvir after waking up, open the door and piss naked out the truck, then start it up and drive off.

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MoPuff@reddit

Human trafficking is a no no

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emzirek@reddit

There are jobs where if you get a ticket for speeding in your personal vehicle you can lose your job professionally speaking

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laskomasko@reddit

Don't drink Fireball and always call out on your third day nothing good ever happens.

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Turducken44@reddit

Can confirm

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Ok-Letterhead2280@reddit

I only do one if something needs fixing.

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Not-A-Pickle1@reddit (OP)

Our trucks need a lot of fixing. But we don’t even know where the dvirs are at our job. Because our boss don’t want to worry about put a truck in the shop.

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_FearMose_@reddit

Same

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