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How do you get experience with Doubles?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by lfod14, Jul 30, 2014.

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  1. Jul 30, 2014 #1
    lfod14

    lfod14 Road Train Member

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    I'm right outside of Richmond, VA. I'm in my first year of driving and I'm on with a Beer Dist doing bulk Grocery delivery. I see a completely insane amount of doubles every day, many of them pulled by day cabs so it seems there's a lot to move around in this area (or close to it) I figure when I hit my year mark and more people will look at me that's something I'd like (among other things) but How the hell do you get experience pulling them? Back when I towed (trucks) There was a handful of times when I'd tow a truck that had a trailer so the concept isn't foreign to me but seems like one of those things that carriers would want you to have experience with already.
     
    lfod14, Jul 30, 2014
    lfod14, Jul 30, 2014
    #1
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  3. Jul 30, 2014 #2
    HalpinUout

    HalpinUout Road Train Member

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    The majority of companies that haul doubles/triples are LTL company's and they do not require you to have experience pulling them they will train you... It's not much different then pulling a 53 foot trailer with the exception that If you make a wrong turn ( like down a one way street ) your going to find your self in a nasty bind having to unhook each trailer and get re-positioned in the correct way and then having to re-hook... The LTL company I used to work for had a couple of driver's do this...Learning to get the dolly hooked up takes a little practice but like anything else practice makes perfect... As for driving down the road it's easier than a 53ft due to the fact that whatever the first trailer does the second trailer does the exact same so making turns are easier than if you had a 53... On a side not you have more things that can go wrong like connections with pig tails ect ect.... and winter driving can be a little challenging...
     
    HalpinUout, Jul 30, 2014
    HalpinUout, Jul 30, 2014
    #2
    browndawg Thanks this.
  4. Jul 30, 2014 #3
    HotH2o

    HotH2o Road Train Member

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    The only way to get experience pulling doubles is to pull doubles. Doubles are a lot easier than a 53 footer. Gotta be careful not to get in a spot where you need to back up though. I've only seen a handful of drivers that can back a set of doubles. I am not one of them.
     
    HotH2o, Jul 30, 2014
    HotH2o, Jul 30, 2014
    #3
  5. Jul 30, 2014 #4
    Jabber1990

    Jabber1990 Road Train Member

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    Jackson, MO
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    are there any doubles/triples OTR positions? I would like to look into pulling them but I don't want to go home every night
     
    Jabber1990, Jul 30, 2014
    Jabber1990, Jul 30, 2014
    #4
  7. Jul 30, 2014 #5
    HalpinUout

    HalpinUout Road Train Member

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    Fed-ex ground, I've also seen Knight pulling double's out west.... YRC, ABF, Old Dominion and a few other company"s have sleeper bid's which mean's you'll be home around every other day...
     
    HalpinUout, Jul 30, 2014
    HalpinUout, Jul 30, 2014
    #5
  8. Jul 30, 2014 #6
    Jabber1990

    Jabber1990 Road Train Member

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    I don't want to go home that often either

    also, isn't fedex ground Owner ops? I don't want to be an owner-Op
     
    Jabber1990, Jul 30, 2014
    Jabber1990, Jul 30, 2014
    #6
  9. Jul 30, 2014 #7
    flybynight1

    flybynight1 Light Load Member

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    Jun 23, 2014
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    what he said but some hiring managers frown upon the no exp and most double comp your gunna be home every day to 3 days
     
    flybynight1, Jul 30, 2014
    flybynight1, Jul 30, 2014
    #7
  10. Jul 30, 2014 #8
    ShortBusKid

    ShortBusKid Heavy Load Member

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    Saia and Old Dominion have sleeper trucks running doubles. Not sure how often they get home. I'm sure it's not EVERY team but I've talked to a few Old Dominion teams at Sky City and they were all husband wife teams.
     
    ShortBusKid, Jul 30, 2014
    ShortBusKid, Jul 30, 2014
    #8
  11. Jul 30, 2014 #9
    POINTDEXTER

    POINTDEXTER Light Load Member

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    Mar 6, 2008
    Virginia Beach, Virginia
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    Old Dominion has a terminal in Chesapeake Va. They only pull doubles with day cabs. They have a handful of company sleepers but they only pull containers.
     
    POINTDEXTER, Jul 30, 2014
    POINTDEXTER, Jul 30, 2014
    #9
  12. Jul 30, 2014 #10
    Jabber1990

    Jabber1990 Road Train Member

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    Jackson, MO
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    i've seen OD trucks with sleepers hauling doubles

    usually just single-axle trucks, and no idea if i've seen those with triples
     
    Jabber1990, Jul 30, 2014
    Jabber1990, Jul 30, 2014
    #10
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