Answering Questions #TruckerTuesday

First, I would love to say that it just makes me smile when you all send questions! I love answering them. Here’s another batch with answers:

Are there any companies that don’t require cab sharing during training? – Jonathan

You are referring to a mentor and not that I know of. That’s probably a good thing though. I know if I were a trucking company I wouldn’t just toss my keys to a new driver. I would want to make sure they knew what they were doing.

For those of you that don’t know about mentors – when you are a new driver you share a truck with a company driver that trains you. You have separate beds. I was with my mentor for 6 weeks.

How do you maintain your personal vehicle at the terminal while OTR? – Jim

When my husband and I team drove we just parked our car at the terminal until a home time when we needed it.  Our car suffered because it didn’t run all the time.  When just my husband drove I’d pick him up at a truck stop for his home time and I drove both of our vehicles so they would be used regularly.  If you don’t have a significant other (or family member or friend) I’d see if maybe you and another driver could help each other out by starting the others car for them. Obviously it would have to be someone you trusted.

Why would truck drivers flash their lights at me when I’m passing in the left lane? -Zack

If they’re flashing them once you’ve passed it could be for a few reasons. If you had your brights on maybe they’re reminding you to turn them off (truck mirrors are bigger and those brights are blinding even when you’re behind our trailer).  Another reason is that you may have come over to closely.  You need to give a trucker more space than a car because they can not stop as fast as you can.

Do the truckers on the side of the road pulled over lose their license because they were pulled over? – Maggie

Most likely, no. I mean I suppose there are reasons they’re pulled over that would cause them to lose their license.  A DOT officer can pull a truck driver over for no reason at all expect for an inspection. The road is our work area so they are able to stop us and make sure our trucks are in working order and our logbooks are up to date.

Hope that answers your questions!

Do you have a question? Email me at [email protected] and put Trucker Tuesday in your subject line.

Safe travels!