Profile For Chris A.

Alright Ladies and gents... An unusual happening but I was fortunate enough to land a local job straight out of driving school. I have worked said such driving job throughout the state of Washington including the ever so loved Seattle. Any how Nine months later...A problem evolved and I found myself wrongfully terminated, "in my opinion". That part is well "whatever" .Now i'm ready to go over the road Regional . I'm just curious , Family men, "I'm a single father of two little boys four and six. What does it take to bust through and just commit? The reason I ask that type of question is, I've been out of the truck going on twenty days now. I dream of it, I CRAVE it. I have an indescribable longing for the road. As would any single father twenty days into daddy daycare. I'm just nervous. I know with all that is me I can drive a truck and that's what i'm supposed to do . .I feel guilty but this burning inside me to take on the road is more than I can handle. I've checked out the "local" gig's. But I want all that is trucking I feel , I'm longing for a love affair , and feel guilty. I guess my issue is do I continue to flood the local scene , or feed this desire to break out into the open road and just be with my OTR fatuation? I feel guilty and just cant make a decision. This seems like a ridiculous situation, but it is my reality for now...Damn It!

Chris A,

Where do you call home? I was born in Chehalis, graduated HS in Toledo. Nice to see a few more folks in the resent past from the PNW....

Ernie

Tenino

Thank you Gentlemen. I feel a quite a bit better about my driving style. Bret, It was kind of funny to learn you haven't double clutched since test day, as I haven't either. On another personal yet some what comical side note , I originally attained my CDL to satisfy a pre requisite requirement to join an electrical line-man apprenticeship program. I was offered a Local gig straight out of school and have been bitten by this fever. This has been the most mentally tiring , sink or swim , personal battle I've ever had to endure aside from being a single dad to my little boys, BUT I love this. On my days off all I think about is being in the rig. My personal vehicle is an Automatic and there are times I roll up to a stop and my left foot goes fishing for a third pedal that's not there. Anyone ever sitting at a stop feel like perhaps there rolling back when there not? It's complete madness at times but its something I can't get enough of...

Curious to know floats gears vs double clutching and why?

When I was with my trainer he called them day riders

I think after my probationary period , instead of my name on the side of the truck i'll have the Mechanic put "Day Rider". I like it.

Hello All,

This last Thursday while on my local route, I noticed a fellow about to take a right hand turn onto a restricted over pass. The fine that comes along with the violation is kind of steep, and once you commit 80' in that direction its nearly impossible to get out. So I have an attack of good conscience and grab the left lane beside the guy, get his attention and let him know. I tell him ill wait and let you in ahead of me, this guy kind of grunts , shakes his head and implies i mind my own business. I let it go, go 6 miles out of my way to turn around being as i hopped out of my lane to warn him. Get to my appt. handle my business , about 45 minutes later as I'm traveling back through this particular area traffic is wicked thick and there's about five or six cop's directing traffic. Low and behold who do i see stuck on the other side of the bridge crunched up in a fashion i wouldnt wish on my worst enemy. So , I'm curious is it just common knowledge that all local drivers are full of ...., and don't know what their talking about? I've sort of gotten the same vibe at other terminals. The vibe that there's some unspoken beef between local drivers and long haulers. Sometimes It seems as though us local guys aren't considered "real drivers" because we don't sleep in our trucks and get paid by the hour. That last one was a joke.. Even though i tried to warn him, and he didn't listen, I still really felt bad for the guy.

I really appreciate the advice. Professional view points in my stage of the game are pure Gold! It's funny in a sense that even with conditions of the equipment , I stay anxious to get back behind the wheel. Guess that's just part of the rookie "bug". I look forward to getting my assigned truck next week, and just making the best of it. I'm curious Turbo Dan, is there a way to stay on the good side of my mechanic? Thanks again gentleman.

Hey folks Rookie driver here just started my first gig. First off, I'm a single father of two young boys, so when seeking a job it was imperative that it be local. As i'm sure you all know finding a local company willing to hire without some established experience is like trying to buy a cassette tape. Being nearly ready to give up, I found one. Not at all a very prestigious carrier , but an opportunity none the less.

I go in for my road test one morning excited and nervous. I meet the gentleman doing the ride along, he tosses me the keys to the rig and say's "Lets see what ya know". As i'm approaching a 99 model International 9200 day cab, It looks pretty rough and abused. I tell myself " warm it up, get your pre-trip done". As i'm sitting in the cab I notice the Tachometer isn't working, the temp gauge needle is pointed at the floor board and holding. Naturally I mention it to the co driver, and he grins and says" yeah you dont need em".

Now I know i'm screwed. I kill the truck open the hood to continue on with my pre-trip. The coolants dry , oil isn't reading on the stick and the hub seals are dry. I'm getting a bit more worried not by the minute but by the component. He proceeds to tell me his rig is in the best shape of the 14. I get the fluids back where they should be and we hook up to a mangled 53' box. I bungie the airlines on to the dangling glad hands, and ask about maybe doing some air leak checks. Just as I thought, it "wasn't necessary".

As we're making our way out of the yard, I'm feeling my way around this ten speed as I learned in a thirteen in school. I'm driving this truck against my better judgment. We make our first drop, hook up and head back. I found, down shifting to be a little challenging without a tach. I mention it, "you'll learn to drive by sound", and by the way " your using the clutch too much". He suggested I just slip shift, so I did. We make it back to the yard, he tells the powers that be I can drive and am very trainable. I get hired on and started my week with a trainer. My trainer is a great guy and a driving Mofo with 32 years experience. I'm CONFLICTED folks, I mean yes it's a start and opportunity to get "experience" Every one of the tractors and trailers are in horrible almost uncomfortable condition.

Do I just suck it up get my six months or more experience and move on , or start looking to move on now?? Thanks .

Just curious if anyone know's the specifics of Swifts Western Regional service area, and the home time to be more or less expected. Thanks in advance .