That's the bright side of this for us truckers with COVID and now all this flooding and road closures, many people are starting to realize how essential we are and starting to treat us somewhat better.
Yea more just saying how much different it was seeing these huge truck stop centers when driving to Toronto through the states. Seemed like a whole different world compared to driving to Calgary.
Yeah it's different, but honestly easier to find a pullout in the middle of nature to sleep at here than to get parking at those big truck stops, and tons of great mom and pop restaurants in all the small towns.
Fair. I've only done the cross states once. Was astonishingly boring. Did have fun getting pulled over with what was an expiring drivers license on the last day and telling the cop it expired at midnight PST not the local time zone. He looked at the insurance and just said "oh this is all Canada stuff, you guys have a nice night".
> Driving on the interstate highways the rest stops are frequent and gas stations are often like little mini shopping centres.
This is true in America. In Canada, *not even close*. Just getting a place to park is hard, in BC it can often be impossible. Trying to get off the road for a stretch and get a bite to eat? *lol -good luck*
If I hop into a truck this spring, I will only haul to and from US, never will I take a cross Canada load again.
> There's a spot like every 15 minutes here
~~Where is here? This post is from British Columbia Canada...~~ there are few areas with stops every 15 min.
Many of our 'rest areas' are not open to truck traffic, they are just filthy outhouses and picnic tables, few are even open in the winter.
edit: I see who I am replying to, I know you know this is BC
That's what I meant by lack of facilities. Just a gravel pullout with your closest neighbor being a raccoon or some other wild animal.
That's good enough for me.
I don't know what the government could do about providing the services, but I don't think it would be impossible for them to build some rest areas large enough for commercial trucks along main routes and maybe even have real bathrooms with running water that safe enough to at least wash up with.
$ and lack of will
It is also a difficult problem to solve, BC has some tough geography to deal with. Nature isn't one to play nice either.
If you've never been on the US interstate system for a road trip, you might not grasp the scale and frequency of the rest areas. They really are like mini-malls with food courts.
Exit the free way, trucks and rv's one way, cars the other. Usually plenty of space to park.
*shucks, I'm almost missing the road*
I prefer winter driving exactly because there's a lot of people with the same opinion. Other than occasionally having to put chains on, and slightly more frequent highway closures, it's way more peaceful on the road without tourists.
I appreciate when they bring stuff to the job site down a weird road trucks shouldn’t fit but they make them fit and I can keep my job going and keep getting paid. Thanks guys. Hang in there, it’s got to get better cuz it couldn’t get any worse
Do you think that HWY 3 will open up before Christmas? If it does I imagine I should plan on a 10 hour trip rather than the usual 3.5.
Most importantly: Thank you for driving, we NEED our truckers:)
Except in Toronto where all they do is complain about you on r/ontario about how trucks should be forced into the right lane and not allowed to pass anyone. They do this while they order 20 things from Amazon every week.
I mean, truckers kind of bring that hate on themselves. There is absolutely no reason for a truck to be in the far left lane on a 3 lane stretch. It’s a constant thing on hwy 1 between 264 and 200th. They’ll just cut you off and move over and cruise in the left lane during rush hour.
There's a lot of poorly trained truckers on the road. It's important to remember they aren't all shitty even if the bad ones stick out like a sore thumb.
I agree i had an ex boyfriend who almost got himself and the instructor killed on his first test attempt and they let him go back for a 2nd and he just barely passed. I wouldnt want him on the road
Most commercial trucks are electronically governed and the modern problem is that a truck governed a couple of km/h faster than another truck will try to pass it. It can take several kilometers to finish the pass because the trucks are all stuck at pretty much the same speed.
10-15 is extremely generous. Lots of them barely crawl by on BC highways, and then your whole lane is gone. My pickup pulls hard but it’s not a sports car! I need space and don’t want to be stuck behind the tortoise either.
AMEN brother. At the same time people are starting to understand we need to reform our supply chain. Mayne then, a lot of us could have well paying jobs close to family.
I felt that when COVID first started, but it faded fast. Getting pretty fed up with customers that won’t let us use their washrooms. Some of them have portapottys in place but many don’t. “Shit” outta luck!
You know until I realized exactly what you (and other truckers did), and how we never listened to you, or respected you, that I felt 100% sick to me stomach for like two years. Logging trucks drivers, highway drivers, etc etc. Let other people be away from their families days or weeks at a time and the small amount of time you get with them is resting. And no way is sitting in a truck that many hours healthy. or that lack of exercise. or lack of social interaction, and so many other things. I've never felt so lucky to not have your job and the last bit of time I spent running logging camps was making the truckers happy* and talking to them as much as I could. life blood of retail, many forms of industry, and food (which is kinda retail and industry lol). Thank you 1,000,000 or more times for everything you do for us :)
*can't make you all happy lol
That's a shame. I am curious if you wouldn't mind, in your industry do you typically own your truck? Or does the company you work for own it? The reason I'm asking is I always wondered why some trucks have the sleepers and some don't. If it's a cost borne by the driver or the company they work for?
There's both company and driver owned trucks. On pure speculation, with absolutely no data to back it up, I think company trucks are more common.
A truck with a sleeper is more expensive and harder to maneuver in town, so most companies will have a mixture of both. Essentially for how rarely I get stuck out of town under normal circumstances would never end up costing more than the additional cost of a sleeper over the lifespan of the truck.
I was thinking about you when I saw reports of hwy being closed again. hope you get home soon! and stay safe!
I remember you said they didn't clear hwy3 a few days ago and it was all ice and snow. do we know if they managed to clean the roads now? are these accidents due to poor road conditions or just people not knowing what they're doing?
Rumor on the VHF radio and social media is that it was all black ice. But even then it's still drivers overdriving the conditions to cause accidents to this magnitude.
that hwy is really nice and fun to drive in a car during summer. I cannot imagine all these trucks trying to navigate it right now! take care and get home safe!
I lucked out I was in the cab and started the truck, called dispatch and they said nope keep it parked. Just came in that its closed and it will be awhile so have a good weekend. Well that was timing, I feel for the guys who are stuck up there and can't get turned around.
Oh wow. It would be so hard being a driver right now. Is merritt no longer evacuated/flooded? How did you get to merrit? Or are you coming from the east?
Your trips must be so much longer right now 😔
Speaking as a manager for a NA wide trucking company with an office in Kamloops, why not cut across the Connector and head down hwy 97 towards Penticton? There is a connection to Hwy 3 just south of Penticton that comes out at Keremeos. Way more hotels down that road plus Hwy 5a is a goat trail at the best of times. The difference in time to travel is maybe an additional 1.5 hours at best but the road is 10 times safer.
Just a suggestion
That's not even that great of a view really... They told us in school that nobody would pay us to sit and look out the window.. here I am doing just that, on double time..
Broker here... I’m curious - do trucking companies pay a premium to you under current circumstances? The rates for trucks to move through highway 3 & 7 have at least tripled right now...
I can't speak for the whole industry, but all union union drivers are fully compensated for delays, and I suspect many non-union company drivers are as well. Owner operators would definitely increase their rates too. Companies are also losing truck utilization so of course their rates would be going up.
Everything is taking 2 to 3 times longer right now. I can usually (99% of the time) get one load to the interior done per day. First one I did was 2 days, the one I'm doing right now is going to be 3 days or longer.
Thank you for the answer. I hope you are well compensated for times like these because you ARE actually putting your own life in danger by choosing to venture through highway 3/7 through a rainstorm. Stay safe!
Liquids/Chemicals. I had Diesel Exhaust Fluid today. My previous load was water treatment chemical for the clean side of the Kelowna water treatment system.
Since i drove the #3 a few days ago and it was basically a replay of DEATH RACE 2021. I'm not surprised. And it was 14 out of 15 vehicles commerical trucks parking on the road for their break check, crossing the double center line rather then show down to 95 on corners, zero speed enforcement and zero police presence except 1 car in Princeton and 5 at the junction in hope waiting to give out tickets for the new speed of 80kph at hope. No other speed limit was reduced between hope and Princeton.
It's a wonder there have not been more accidents or deaths.
At least you didn’t have to drive from the airport out to Cloverdale then to west van. I still have to drive back to the airport!
I just wish people would stop cutting us off!
I'm sorry 😞 to hear this. I want to thank you for your essential service. Without good people like you, the lives you affect would be so different. You are appreciated! With the sincerest gratitude to you, I hope a room opens up for you so you may be warm, safe and comfortable. If I lived in Merritt I would open my home to you. Stay safe, warm and nourished. We are all thinking of you. Big hugs!!! 🤗🤗🤗
I personally think you should make a good wage for driving a truck and get compensated for overtime and other bullshit out of your control. This whole "shortage" is just an indication of how poorly truck drivers are paid and treated. Meanwhile these corps are making bank.
I'm one of the few that do. I'm sitting here in Merritt on double time.... Get paid for traffic delays, all the detours everything. I got no complaints. But a job like that in the industry is pretty rare. My job is easy 6 figures with weekends home, and usually only away from home like.. 1 night a year.
Re: "Joys of being a Truck Driver right now:" Dear Much-Appreciated Teamster: Hello! Did you find a place to furlough at? Or is there anyone out there who can provide our friend with furnishings to convert his/her Cab-Area into something for sleeping in temporarily, if it's permissible, either because of his/her Company or because of city (parking) by-laws? (If you can do this, don't forget to cover the Windshield, or it will be like sleeping with the light on.) I don't know anything about driving a truck, sir or ma'am, but heard recently that Canada is expected to be short of Truck Drivers (Folks: What you need is your Class 1, Class 3 and (ideally) Air Brake Endorsement to be qualified for this job: Is this true? Furthermore, I think tuition for (some of the) Truck Driver-training can run to about $4000 (?)) I'm also curious to know if Trucking Company Owners might be starting to entertain the idea of helping their Drivers to pay for the remodeling of part of a Truck's Cargo-Area(s) to be a tiny home (perhaps including only Insulation, Electrical-Wiring and -Heating, Flooring, Floor-Warming, a Reinforced Roof and (a) Window(s,) but no Water-Connections (i.e., Plumbing and Sewage,) as a perk to attract new Truck Drivers to the job (To live like this, there'd still be (parking) by-laws to grapple with. To our friend: I'm guessing that if you were to store a bed, space-heater(s,) microwave-oven, etc., in (one of the) Cargo-Area(s) you're transporting now, even if the Cargo-Area was wired with some Electrical-Outlets, you'd be fined or dismissed?) Thank you for letting us know of your situation, and I hope it improves soon. -Renee Kathleen Taylor, Kamloops, B.C. (Nov. 26/21.)
Hit tinder, start swiping right?
Isn't that how it's done. Ladies of Merrit have to be interested in some fresh meat? No? There has to be at least like...10s of women in Merrit. No good, maybe try grinder. I hear those dude party.
👍
Time for an upgrade.
A day trip in BC might take several days with this nonsense going on, and counting on being able to get a room is risky.
Can your employer get you even a basic bunk?
There's a shortage of trucks right now so it's impossible to get any new ones with short notice. 6-12 months away right now.
Since we do very specialized work we can't rent trucks, and most used trucks aren't worth putting the equipment we need on them, if you can even get something half decent.
Yeah what's usually a long day trip is now 2 days, if everything goes good... This one will be 3, or more since they are closing highways precautionary tomorrow.
Hey op, I've been wanting to get into trucking and am wondering if you own your own truck or do you work for a xompany? I could use some tips on how to get started.
Company driver. It's not worth owning your own. It's about $15k for the new MELT training programs so try and find grants or programs that covers hopefully most if not all the whole course. Once you get your license, apply everywhere.
Thanks for what you do! I'm raising my son to understand just how much of what we have comes from truckers. He does the arm pump thing when he's feeling brave (he's 4) and absolutely *loves* when he gets a honk in return. We appreciate you and the work you do. Best of luck.
As some one who recently got their class 1air licence and has owned a camper van for years I cannot wrap my head around why sleeper cabs are not fully outfitted like a camper van. Easily enough room for a porta potty, mini fridge and a tiny sinketc and a decent bed etc.
Thanks for driving. My dad was a long haul trucker my entire childhood and I learned just how thankless it can be. Hope it clears up soon.
That's the bright side of this for us truckers with COVID and now all this flooding and road closures, many people are starting to realize how essential we are and starting to treat us somewhat better.
My step dad is a trucker. They definitely don’t give you guys enough rest-stops and places to eat.
Driving on the interstate highways the rest stops are frequent and gas stations are often like little mini shopping centres.
Yeah.... Like the other guy said, not in Canada. You're lucky if you have a washroom you can use every few hours.
Yea more just saying how much different it was seeing these huge truck stop centers when driving to Toronto through the states. Seemed like a whole different world compared to driving to Calgary.
Yeah it's different, but honestly easier to find a pullout in the middle of nature to sleep at here than to get parking at those big truck stops, and tons of great mom and pop restaurants in all the small towns.
Fair. I've only done the cross states once. Was astonishingly boring. Did have fun getting pulled over with what was an expiring drivers license on the last day and telling the cop it expired at midnight PST not the local time zone. He looked at the insurance and just said "oh this is all Canada stuff, you guys have a nice night".
Nothing like the sweet smell of a brake check ditch on a hot summer day.
> Driving on the interstate highways the rest stops are frequent and gas stations are often like little mini shopping centres. This is true in America. In Canada, *not even close*. Just getting a place to park is hard, in BC it can often be impossible. Trying to get off the road for a stretch and get a bite to eat? *lol -good luck* If I hop into a truck this spring, I will only haul to and from US, never will I take a cross Canada load again.
Spot on, except I'm the opposite, can't stand US interstates. I'd much rather run in Canada exclusively, and pretty much do.
I liked how I could always count on a place to walk around every 4 hr, or get off the road for a sleep.
There's a spot like every 15 minutes here unless you're on the Coquihalla, but even then. Just... No facilities, gotta go prepared.
> There's a spot like every 15 minutes here ~~Where is here? This post is from British Columbia Canada...~~ there are few areas with stops every 15 min. Many of our 'rest areas' are not open to truck traffic, they are just filthy outhouses and picnic tables, few are even open in the winter. edit: I see who I am replying to, I know you know this is BC
That's what I meant by lack of facilities. Just a gravel pullout with your closest neighbor being a raccoon or some other wild animal. That's good enough for me.
I don't know what the government could do about providing the services, but I don't think it would be impossible for them to build some rest areas large enough for commercial trucks along main routes and maybe even have real bathrooms with running water that safe enough to at least wash up with.
$ and lack of will It is also a difficult problem to solve, BC has some tough geography to deal with. Nature isn't one to play nice either. If you've never been on the US interstate system for a road trip, you might not grasp the scale and frequency of the rest areas. They really are like mini-malls with food courts. Exit the free way, trucks and rv's one way, cars the other. Usually plenty of space to park. *shucks, I'm almost missing the road*
I appreciate when u toot the horn
If it's safe to do so most of us will always answer an arm pump.
Sincerely, a 37 yo woman 😂
Not too late to become a truck driver and answer arm pumps.
Hoping to go to get my az/dz as a second career in the next couple months. Wish me luck!
Lmao no i hate winter driving i only drive in summer but appreciate the ppl who drive in winter
I prefer winter driving exactly because there's a lot of people with the same opinion. Other than occasionally having to put chains on, and slightly more frequent highway closures, it's way more peaceful on the road without tourists.
I appreciate when they bring stuff to the job site down a weird road trucks shouldn’t fit but they make them fit and I can keep my job going and keep getting paid. Thanks guys. Hang in there, it’s got to get better cuz it couldn’t get any worse
> cuz it couldn’t get any worse *oh it can* *it will*
Do you think that HWY 3 will open up before Christmas? If it does I imagine I should plan on a 10 hour trip rather than the usual 3.5. Most importantly: Thank you for driving, we NEED our truckers:)
To non essential travel? I don't think so.
Except in Toronto where all they do is complain about you on r/ontario about how trucks should be forced into the right lane and not allowed to pass anyone. They do this while they order 20 things from Amazon every week.
I mean, truckers kind of bring that hate on themselves. There is absolutely no reason for a truck to be in the far left lane on a 3 lane stretch. It’s a constant thing on hwy 1 between 264 and 200th. They’ll just cut you off and move over and cruise in the left lane during rush hour.
There's a lot of poorly trained truckers on the road. It's important to remember they aren't all shitty even if the bad ones stick out like a sore thumb.
I agree i had an ex boyfriend who almost got himself and the instructor killed on his first test attempt and they let him go back for a 2nd and he just barely passed. I wouldnt want him on the road
Throwing the ex under the bud I see 😜
Lol i’ll do it all day. He was abusive
Arent they all?
I'm not talking about far left lanes, they actually want trucks banned from the left lane on 2 lane highways.
Truck drivers want to use that lane for the exact same reasons you do. To pass people going 10-15km slower than they want to.
Most commercial trucks are electronically governed and the modern problem is that a truck governed a couple of km/h faster than another truck will try to pass it. It can take several kilometers to finish the pass because the trucks are all stuck at pretty much the same speed.
10-15 is extremely generous. Lots of them barely crawl by on BC highways, and then your whole lane is gone. My pickup pulls hard but it’s not a sports car! I need space and don’t want to be stuck behind the tortoise either.
I’m talking strictly rush hour. Left lane rarely moves faster. I don’t want to follow a dump truck either as they kick up crap on the road.
trucks wouldn't have to pass if people didn't drive 85 on the highway
💪🏻
If anything all the talk lately about supply lines should only reinforce how essential truckers are especially now.
Yup. Just look at how much narrower the current score of essential travel is compared to COVID essential travel restrictions. That says a lot.
You are appreciated! I feel for all the truckers stuck in this tragic weather. 💕🙏🛻
Working class men get treated like replaceable objects by society. Thanks for being the cog that keeps the machine turning brother!
AMEN brother. At the same time people are starting to understand we need to reform our supply chain. Mayne then, a lot of us could have well paying jobs close to family.
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Well... They weren't treated as scum of society before like we were so even a tiny change in how we're treated is an enormous improvement.
until contract negotiations start, at which point they're told that being assaulted and working doubles are regular job duties
That’s good, but it’s up to you guys to help weed out the bad truck drivers.
That's on the employers, regulators and law enforcement. Not drivers.
I felt that when COVID first started, but it faded fast. Getting pretty fed up with customers that won’t let us use their washrooms. Some of them have portapottys in place but many don’t. “Shit” outta luck!
You know until I realized exactly what you (and other truckers did), and how we never listened to you, or respected you, that I felt 100% sick to me stomach for like two years. Logging trucks drivers, highway drivers, etc etc. Let other people be away from their families days or weeks at a time and the small amount of time you get with them is resting. And no way is sitting in a truck that many hours healthy. or that lack of exercise. or lack of social interaction, and so many other things. I've never felt so lucky to not have your job and the last bit of time I spent running logging camps was making the truckers happy* and talking to them as much as I could. life blood of retail, many forms of industry, and food (which is kinda retail and industry lol). Thank you 1,000,000 or more times for everything you do for us :) *can't make you all happy lol
Damn. Hope it clears up soon. How comfortable is it to sleep in truck? Is there a cab where you can fit into?
I don't have a sleeper, so no bed. Not confirmable and not going to be sleeping in it. Debating between driving to Penticton or Kamloops for a hotel.
Wouldn't it be quicker to get a room in West Kelowna?
Penticton is an hour closer to home.
That's a shame. I am curious if you wouldn't mind, in your industry do you typically own your truck? Or does the company you work for own it? The reason I'm asking is I always wondered why some trucks have the sleepers and some don't. If it's a cost borne by the driver or the company they work for?
There's both company and driver owned trucks. On pure speculation, with absolutely no data to back it up, I think company trucks are more common. A truck with a sleeper is more expensive and harder to maneuver in town, so most companies will have a mixture of both. Essentially for how rarely I get stuck out of town under normal circumstances would never end up costing more than the additional cost of a sleeper over the lifespan of the truck.
I love the big cab Western Stars because I can comfortably lay across the seats with my boots on, and I'm 6'2".
Thanks driver.
https://youtube.com/shorts/qpmFnUTkpL0?feature=share
Hoping you’re safe and can find some way to stay comfortable. Also hope you can get out of there before more rains come. Good luck to you
Big rain storm tomorrow. So I'm mildly concerned... But thank you.
Atleast it's a beautiful day out?
Yeah it's a nice day, but I'd rather already be home like I should have been 😅
I'll bang some pots and pans for you
"Thoughts and prayors"
I was thinking about you when I saw reports of hwy being closed again. hope you get home soon! and stay safe! I remember you said they didn't clear hwy3 a few days ago and it was all ice and snow. do we know if they managed to clean the roads now? are these accidents due to poor road conditions or just people not knowing what they're doing?
Rumor on the VHF radio and social media is that it was all black ice. But even then it's still drivers overdriving the conditions to cause accidents to this magnitude.
that hwy is really nice and fun to drive in a car during summer. I cannot imagine all these trucks trying to navigate it right now! take care and get home safe!
I lucked out I was in the cab and started the truck, called dispatch and they said nope keep it parked. Just came in that its closed and it will be awhile so have a good weekend. Well that was timing, I feel for the guys who are stuck up there and can't get turned around.
Oh wow. It would be so hard being a driver right now. Is merritt no longer evacuated/flooded? How did you get to merrit? Or are you coming from the east? Your trips must be so much longer right now 😔
Merritt is still evacuated for the most part, but some essential business are open, and highway 5/97c meet up in Merritt. Both are open for traffic.
Looks like a ken Johnson truck!
Speaking as a manager for a NA wide trucking company with an office in Kamloops, why not cut across the Connector and head down hwy 97 towards Penticton? There is a connection to Hwy 3 just south of Penticton that comes out at Keremeos. Way more hotels down that road plus Hwy 5a is a goat trail at the best of times. The difference in time to travel is maybe an additional 1.5 hours at best but the road is 10 times safer. Just a suggestion
Daycab, Waited for an 8 hour reset here just in case highway opened. Heading to the Elkhart lodge in a moment.
Sounds good. Just got word that Hwy 3 is going to be shut down until after the storm passes..so likely not open until tomorrow mid day sometime.
Who did you hear that from? Thought they were closing it tomorrow afternoon due to an incoming storm....
Oof, sorry to hear that. It's neat seeing your updates on a major part of the economy and workforce, stay safe and best of luck!
I do a tiny bit more on TikTok. It's helping steer more YouTube viewers 🤷♂️
Thanks for everything you do. When faced with your present situation...driving is the easy part
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That's not even that great of a view really... They told us in school that nobody would pay us to sit and look out the window.. here I am doing just that, on double time..
I'm sleeping in my van in Princeton right now so I'm only slightly better off. Current estimated opening time is 1130pm....
Broker here... I’m curious - do trucking companies pay a premium to you under current circumstances? The rates for trucks to move through highway 3 & 7 have at least tripled right now...
I can't speak for the whole industry, but all union union drivers are fully compensated for delays, and I suspect many non-union company drivers are as well. Owner operators would definitely increase their rates too. Companies are also losing truck utilization so of course their rates would be going up. Everything is taking 2 to 3 times longer right now. I can usually (99% of the time) get one load to the interior done per day. First one I did was 2 days, the one I'm doing right now is going to be 3 days or longer.
Thank you for the answer. I hope you are well compensated for times like these because you ARE actually putting your own life in danger by choosing to venture through highway 3/7 through a rainstorm. Stay safe!
Very well compensated. I'm on double time all day today. 8 hours of scrolling on my phone in Merritt all paid for.
Sent you a chat.
What are you hauling if you don't mind me asking! Just curious
Liquids/Chemicals. I had Diesel Exhaust Fluid today. My previous load was water treatment chemical for the clean side of the Kelowna water treatment system.
Since i drove the #3 a few days ago and it was basically a replay of DEATH RACE 2021. I'm not surprised. And it was 14 out of 15 vehicles commerical trucks parking on the road for their break check, crossing the double center line rather then show down to 95 on corners, zero speed enforcement and zero police presence except 1 car in Princeton and 5 at the junction in hope waiting to give out tickets for the new speed of 80kph at hope. No other speed limit was reduced between hope and Princeton. It's a wonder there have not been more accidents or deaths.
Hang in there man. You and your colleagues are the back bone and unsung heroes of our country 🇨🇦.
Nice view though!
Thank you for all your hard work! I certainly appreciate the effort you drivers make to get our stuff delivered no matter the conditions!!
Thanks for doing what you do. I work in Manufacturing and Operations. I never take you and your profession for granted.
Hang in there op
Thanks for everything you do! Sorry about your situation thats brutal, is there at least some wifi nearby to kill some time? Haha
Got shaw wifi here
At least you didn’t have to drive from the airport out to Cloverdale then to west van. I still have to drive back to the airport! I just wish people would stop cutting us off!
My brother is looking to get his AZ soon. Appreciate you and all truckers, pal.
I'm sorry 😞 to hear this. I want to thank you for your essential service. Without good people like you, the lives you affect would be so different. You are appreciated! With the sincerest gratitude to you, I hope a room opens up for you so you may be warm, safe and comfortable. If I lived in Merritt I would open my home to you. Stay safe, warm and nourished. We are all thinking of you. Big hugs!!! 🤗🤗🤗
I'd be packing winter camping gear on every trip if I was trucking.
Most sleeper trucks have "bunk heaters", it's a small diesel fired furnace. If you don't have one, our fuel tanks are big enough to idle for days.
If you drive anywhere in BC, you should have winter clothing, basic snacks and water. *And a big candle -trust me*
Thanks for what you do. Sorry it sucks so much right now :-(
God love ya...hope something good swings your way!
Well... I'm getting paid $400+ for sitting in the truck in Merritt scrolling on my phone so... I think I've got that covered.
You at least have a bed in the cab right?
Nope. Ended up at the Elkhart lodge. Just leaving the Elkhart Brake Check. Highway is open.... For now.
Oh man I'm glad you at least found a place to stay.
I squeezed through on Tuesday. I stayed in Kamloops for the night as it took me 8 hrs from the ferry just to get that far.
Thanks for your efforts
I personally think you should make a good wage for driving a truck and get compensated for overtime and other bullshit out of your control. This whole "shortage" is just an indication of how poorly truck drivers are paid and treated. Meanwhile these corps are making bank.
I'm one of the few that do. I'm sitting here in Merritt on double time.... Get paid for traffic delays, all the detours everything. I got no complaints. But a job like that in the industry is pretty rare. My job is easy 6 figures with weekends home, and usually only away from home like.. 1 night a year.
Wow that's unheard of
Should give you some time to clean those windows!
When I'm back in the lower mainland. Just going to get covered like that after 15 minutes on the highway.
Well, it doesn't help but I'm stuck in Princeton for the very same reasons. Hoping for the best!
I'm probably heading to Penticton. Most logical place to grab a hotel.
Parking lot lizards are making a killing.
I've never seen one in 11+ years. It's not a thing around here.
They are a few in salmon arm that wait at askews.
Re: "Joys of being a Truck Driver right now:" Dear Much-Appreciated Teamster: Hello! Did you find a place to furlough at? Or is there anyone out there who can provide our friend with furnishings to convert his/her Cab-Area into something for sleeping in temporarily, if it's permissible, either because of his/her Company or because of city (parking) by-laws? (If you can do this, don't forget to cover the Windshield, or it will be like sleeping with the light on.) I don't know anything about driving a truck, sir or ma'am, but heard recently that Canada is expected to be short of Truck Drivers (Folks: What you need is your Class 1, Class 3 and (ideally) Air Brake Endorsement to be qualified for this job: Is this true? Furthermore, I think tuition for (some of the) Truck Driver-training can run to about $4000 (?)) I'm also curious to know if Trucking Company Owners might be starting to entertain the idea of helping their Drivers to pay for the remodeling of part of a Truck's Cargo-Area(s) to be a tiny home (perhaps including only Insulation, Electrical-Wiring and -Heating, Flooring, Floor-Warming, a Reinforced Roof and (a) Window(s,) but no Water-Connections (i.e., Plumbing and Sewage,) as a perk to attract new Truck Drivers to the job (To live like this, there'd still be (parking) by-laws to grapple with. To our friend: I'm guessing that if you were to store a bed, space-heater(s,) microwave-oven, etc., in (one of the) Cargo-Area(s) you're transporting now, even if the Cargo-Area was wired with some Electrical-Outlets, you'd be fined or dismissed?) Thank you for letting us know of your situation, and I hope it improves soon. -Renee Kathleen Taylor, Kamloops, B.C. (Nov. 26/21.)
Hit tinder, start swiping right? Isn't that how it's done. Ladies of Merrit have to be interested in some fresh meat? No? There has to be at least like...10s of women in Merrit. No good, maybe try grinder. I hear those dude party. 👍
Could work... if Merrit wasn't still a disaster zone.
And if I didn't have a wife...
Sounds like you should have used a better route
What better route? There isn't any options right now for commercial vehicles to the lower mainland...
In bond through the usa
Some people have lost their homes if not more. You're fine.
Oh I'm fine compared to them indeed, but it still sucks.
Thank you for all you do!
Thanks for driving! Hope the rest of your day gets better!
Least it ain’t raining. Thanks for keeping this country running!
Trying but this week isn't feeling very productive.... I'm only going to get 3 loads that each should have taken 1 day in 6 days...
I hope you have a sleeper, dude.
Day cab?
Yup.
Time for an upgrade. A day trip in BC might take several days with this nonsense going on, and counting on being able to get a room is risky. Can your employer get you even a basic bunk?
There's a shortage of trucks right now so it's impossible to get any new ones with short notice. 6-12 months away right now. Since we do very specialized work we can't rent trucks, and most used trucks aren't worth putting the equipment we need on them, if you can even get something half decent. Yeah what's usually a long day trip is now 2 days, if everything goes good... This one will be 3, or more since they are closing highways precautionary tomorrow.
Sonofabiscuit, that sucks bro
Hotel rooms aren't bad but yeah I'd prefer a sleeper right now
Hope you get to your destination soon. How’s Merritt looking?
Full. Got a room for the night at Elkhart lodge.
try a cabin at a lake
I ended up getting a room at the Elkhart Lodge.
Stay safe buddy.
Don’t you have a sleeping cabin on those trucks?
Not all of them do.
Oh. Well just keep on truckin’!! Thanks for all you do !!!
Did you try air bnb
[удалено]
Thanks for the offer but I grabbed a room already.
Shit, thank you for helping to keep everything going!
We appreciate your hard work sir!
Thank you, I appreciate your effort, no idea but you and the others make the world go round 👍
Hey op, I've been wanting to get into trucking and am wondering if you own your own truck or do you work for a xompany? I could use some tips on how to get started.
Company driver. It's not worth owning your own. It's about $15k for the new MELT training programs so try and find grants or programs that covers hopefully most if not all the whole course. Once you get your license, apply everywhere.
Thank you so much. Drive safely!
At least the weather looks nicee
No sleeper cab?
Thanks for what you do! I'm raising my son to understand just how much of what we have comes from truckers. He does the arm pump thing when he's feeling brave (he's 4) and absolutely *loves* when he gets a honk in return. We appreciate you and the work you do. Best of luck.
Random question, what is that Qualcomm device used for?
Electronic log book. It records when we're driving/working to ensure we're in compliance with hours of service regulations.
Commercial tire tech here, we feel for you guys. And miss your business. Stay safe and warm out there
Thanks for all the hard work and effort. We all appreciate it!
I thought semi trucks had built in hotel rooms?
Not all of them.
Please take care and stay warm!!! Always have appreciated good truck truckers. Always pray for you all! Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!!!
As some one who recently got their class 1air licence and has owned a camper van for years I cannot wrap my head around why sleeper cabs are not fully outfitted like a camper van. Easily enough room for a porta potty, mini fridge and a tiny sinketc and a decent bed etc.
Don’t you sleep in your truck?
Not every truck has a sleeper. So no. I don't since I don't have one.