Few Questions for experienced drivers

[HeavyLoad]

I have a few Questions for some experienced Drivers.

Is it Better To Drive a company rig Or Have your own rig and be a (Owner Operator).

Once ive got some experience under my belt i would like to try and be a owner operator just would like to know the Ups and Downs To being a Owner Operator?.


2nd Question
For The Company Iam Looking at Hauling for Once I Pass All My Tests

Some Roads Mainly The RogersPass And RockyMountain Areas Got Some Roads that seem to be a bit ify as in Big Drops.! :O

As A Experienced Driver How Would You over come this when First starting out as a new driver.

I can Handle them Just fine in my pickup but with a 53 ft trailer behind you well. Just Need some insider tips

[baiano]

2nd Question
For The Company Iam Looking at Hauling for Once I Pass All My Tests

Some Roads Mainly The RogersPass And RockyMountain Areas Got Some Roads that seem to be a bit ify as in Big Drops.! :O

As A Experienced Driver How Would You over come this when First starting out as a new driver.

I can Handle them Just fine in my pickup but with a 53 ft trailer behind you well. Just Need some insider tips

When you get to the top...grab CB yell BANZAI!!! or some other crazy word hit top gear flip on jake and let her fly.

[HeavyLoad]

Originally Posted by baiano

When you get to the top...grab CB yell BANZAI!!! or some other crazy word hit top gear flip on jake and let her fly.

aha
thats funny. but not helpful.
the jake part yes but banzai not really no.

Some of those steep grades ive seen some truckers just wi around them like there nothing :O

seen a gas tanker driver zip around those corners pretty darn quick i kept a nice 300 foot distance from him :) in my pickup

[baiano]

alright here is some real advice, especially your first few times down any specific grade.

1. watch the advised speed signs and go at or under that speed.
2. don't worry about the people behind you, if they think you're going too slow they can pass when they have the chance.
3. start down the hill at no more than one gear above what you topped out the hill in, go ahead and shift up as needed when you feel comfortable.

There are some canyons and grades that I fly past everybody on, whether pulling triples or a rocky double set, but I run those stretches two or three times a week. There are other places where it seems like EVERYBODY passes me. Main thing is don't go faster than you feel safe...you will hear this many times on here..."there is no load so hot that it needs to cool off in the ditch."
Our safety videos at OD always end with "drive your own trip."

Be safe out there and good luck on the new career.

[ranger309]

Originally Posted by HeavyLoad

aha
thats funny. but not helpful.
the jake part yes but banzai not really no.

Some of those steep grades ive seen some truckers just wi around them like there nothing :O

seen a gas tanker driver zip around those corners pretty darn quick i kept a nice 300 foot distance from him :) in my pickup

Well, thats why you are a newbie and we are experienced. We all had to earn our way to the top in this business.

As far as mountain passes, it all depends on lots of factors like being loaded or empty, the wind is blowing hard, its snowy/icey, visibility, ect. Just try not to get to cockey your first year out and you'll more then likely do fine.

Oh yeah and give yourself LOTS of room to stop as in not tailgating anyone. Give yourself an out in case something happens.

Once you get the hang of things and your confidence picks up you will be able to do exactly what those drivers you see out on the roads do now, yourself.

[Cerberus_Kelpie]

[HeavyLoad;688872]I have a few Questions for some experienced Drivers.

Is it Better To Drive a company rig Or Have your own rig and be a (Owner Operator).

Company. More coins in your pockets and less headaches.

Once ive got some experience under my belt i would like to try and be a owner operator just would like to know the Ups and Downs To being a Owner Operator?

There are MANY here that can give advice for potential Owner Ops.
I'm not one of them however just remember to have a large and SEPARATE maintenance account BEFORE starting as well as a monetary cushion to sustain other expenses (food, etc.) at least 3-6 months.
A person can make a small fortune in trucking if the person begins with a large one.

2nd Question
For The Company Iam Looking at Hauling for Once I Pass All My Tests

Some Roads Mainly The RogersPass And RockyMountain Areas Got Some Roads that seem to be a bit ify as in Big Drops! :O

As A Experienced Driver How Would You over come this when First starting out as a new driver.

I can Handle them Just fine in my pickup but with a 53 ft trailer behind you well. Just Need some insider tips.

ALL MOUNTAIN ROADS present such questionable approaches.
BIG DESCENTS, BIG ASCENTS.
Just utilize the COMMON SENSE approach (which isn't very common anymore) and you'll fare well.
Most speed limit signs are for 4 wheelers.
One gear LOWER than what was used to climb is the general rule however it depends entirely upon THE DRIVER.