Profile For Jerry Escondido

Wow, that really sucks. Do you have any other backup plan companies that you have looked at?

Maybe they were just jealous that they don't live in Escondido!

Dan, thank you for the support. It is always nice when at least someone seems to care. Even though I have never met you.

Thank You,

Oh, and yes, I have already contacted the 2 other companies I was going to go with.

The crappiest part about all of this is they flew to Spokane - 5 hours.

Me and 2 others are going home by the " most cost affective mode avaiable, BUS back to Escondido.

Leave Spokane at 1:30am 10Dec15and arrive in Escondido 4:30pm 11Dec15. Just 39 hours.

Hello to everyone out there,

Well, the news is bad. I am being sent home do to having a hernia.

Now, I have, A VALID, DOT LONG FORM, MEDICAL CERTIFICATION FORM, APPROVED AND SIGNED BY A NATIONALLY REGISTERED PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANT. ON MY DMV MVR MY MEDICAL CERTIFICATION CURRENT AND VALID UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2017.

Well, this was not acceptable to TWT's medical clearance people over at OHS in Spokane.

So, even though I have a signed, approved, and valid medical cert., TRANS SYSTEMS OF SPOKANE WASHINGTON DOES NOT FEEL I COULD BE A DRIVER FOR THEM.

BY BEING TOTALLY HONEST, AND DISCLOSING THAT I HAD A SMALL UMBILICAL HERNIA, BUT THAT THE DOCTOR THAT SIGNED MY MEDICAL CERT., FELT I WAS STILL QUALIFIED TO OPERATE A COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE HAS SHOWN ME ONLY ONE THING,

WHEN I APPLY TO THE NEXT TRUCKING FIRM, IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T DISCLOSE IT.

DON'T DISCLOSE ANYTHING AT ORIENTATION.

I'LL WAIT AND SEE WHAT THE FUTURE BRINGS.

Hi Folks, This is just a quick note. Finished first day of TWT Reefer Services. In class from 7:00am until 5:00pm. I am going to clean up and get dinner now. I'll update you in a few hours. Thanks for the patience, JerryEscondido

Me Again, It is now T-Minus 2.4 hours until I begin the latest chapter in my life as a Professional Trucker.

Just woke up from a solid night of sleep here at the Fair Bridge Inn, in beautiful Spokane WA. The flight from San Diego to Spokane on board Southwest Airlines was a lot of fun. The last time I flew was over 25 years ago. So far the only thing negative thing I have to report is that when I arrive at the Spokane airport, I called the hotel 4 times 10 minutes apart but no one ever answered. That was ok though, I just decided to rent a car for the week. This way I am not relying on the shuttle, but not everyone has money to blow on a rental. The hotel should answer their phones.

OK, it is shower time and then off to orientation.

Updates to follow.

Me Again, It is now T-Minus 24 hours until I begin the latest chapter in my life as a Professional Trucker.

i will be flying on Southwest Airlines from San Diego, CA to Spokane WA with 1 stop in Phoenix, AZ. I leave San Diego at 11:35 this morning and I am supposed to arrive in Spokane at 4:40 this afternoon. I just checked in online and I am in boarding Group B-6. Funny side note, Southwest Airlines offers an upgrade to its passengers online to "Business Select". That would move me from boarding Group B-6 to boarding Group A-(1-30). Now that sounded cool until I found out it cost, wait for it, wait for it, $ 2 2 0 . 0 0 more!! For $220.00, I will sit with the rest of the cattle.

I posted above what I packed in my duffel bags.

Below is what I packed in my carry on Laptop Computer case::::

LIST:::: CDL Class A license and Med.Card / Signed Medical Long Form / Passport / Bank Direct Deposit Form / DMV print out / Full Resume Birth Certificate / Cell & charger / Medications / Recruiters list of what to do when I get to Spokane and important phone numbers. Oh, and yes, my Laptop and charger.

Have a nice Sunday, and I'll update you when I get settled into the "Fair Bridge Inn", a 5 Star hotel, I hope???

I keep reading about how truckers don't shower every day...is it by choice/laziness/lack of hygiene or because rare are the truck stops with shower facilities??? This is a big issue for me. I shower every single morning to start my day, do my hair and simple quick make up, then I feel like a million bucks. It takes me 40 minutes or less to do all of it, being in the shower 5 to 10 minutes, depending if I'm shaving (I shave every other day). Only times I don't shower is because I'm very sick or occasionally spending a lazy day at home.

Personal hygiene is very important to me. I'm not feeling myself otherwise. Having access to a shower, even if for 10 minutes, is essential. I can dress and do my hair elsewhere to free up the shower for someone else.

I know this might anger some readers, but personal hygiene is a choice. I believe truckers are a very ingenuous group of folks. I have scene truck drivers fix the unfix-able. As Winston Churchill once said, "Never was so much owed by so many to so few."

We drivers(THE FEW) get the job done one way or another?(FOR THE MANY). So I believe:

IF ONE WANTS TO SHOWER, ONE WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN. I personally take a shower every morning. That shower is to me like coffee is to others. Once, twice, or possibly 3 times in my life, taking a morning shower caused me to be late for some event or something. I never felt a single bit of guilt.

But the choice is up to the person.

I start orientation with Veriha, same times and dates. Monday through Thursday, 7:00-5:00 this coming week. I also will keep people posted through a thread here. AND, we can compare notes to what each orientation does alike and/or differently. Since I know absolutely NO ONE in Marinette, WI, I will have plenty of time for updates here.

Funny you said that, same with me, I don't know anyone in the entire state of Washington. I will have plenty of time for updates as well. Good luck starting your new career. For me, I'm starting a new career at 54 years old. How young are you? Jerry Escondido.

Hello to Everyone Out There,

It is now, T-Minus 43 hours until my TWT Refrigerated Services Orientation, up in cold Spokane WA, begins.

I just finished filling my 2 duffel bags for the Orientation and my first dispatch with my mentor/trainer. Here is a list of what I packed.

FIRST, if any of the experienced drivers see something I forgot or won't need, I would really appreciate the heads up.

SECOND, maybe this will help others that are not sure what they will need to pack for their Orientation.

This is what I packed in the duffel bag I checked at luggage::: LIST:::: 3 - dress shirts / 7 - short sleeve t shirts / 5 - long sleeve t shirt / 2 - sweat shirts / 5 - long sleeve flannel shirts / 1 - full body thermal underwear / 1 - heavy jacket / 2 - belts / 2 - dress pants / 4 - denim pants / 4 - sweat pants / 2 - Pajama Pants / 1 - laundry bag ! - Boots 1 - tennis shoes / 1 - sleeping bag / 1 - shower bag / 1 - Electric shaver / Razors / tooth paste / tooth brush / Cologne

This is what is going with me in my carry on::::: LIST:::: Passport / Birth certificate / Medical Long Form and My Med. Card / Class A License / DMV MVR Printout / Direct Deposit form from bank / Full Resume / Cell Phone and Charger / Medication / Lap Top Computer

So what do you experience guys think, did I forget anything? Thanks for your time, I hope this helps some new Drivers.

Hello everyone,

A little bit about me:

14 years+ dispatcher and operations manager experience in the industry. Class A cdl for the last 8 years. Past fleet owner running reefers from Chicago to Texas. I lost everything in the past. As my family is growing being in an office is just not paying the bills anymore. I have 2 months otr experience but that was 4 years ago. I have a friend of mine that hired me and I have orientation next week. Dedicated run drop hook on one side live load on the other 3500 miles weekly. I feel comfortable driving, but scared. I feel safe. I need practice still backing up, but something inside me still makes me nervous and scared. Please don't laugh at me, but I'm being honest. I'm really scared to leave my job with benefits, dedicated time, 40 hours a week, etc. How can I get over this?

My friend, I Kind of know just what you are feeling. From reading your post, if I understand it correctly, your worrying about what the future will could bring.

This may sound stupid, but this thought, has got me through more than one rough spot in my life;

Things are bad where your are at, you have the basic skills to begin a new career, so don't worry, it can only get better from here.

Throw yourself all in. Learn all you can from other drivers. READ BRETT'S BOOK. Things will be better because they can't get worse.

I am back, but no more stupid posts.

Hey, lighten up! What stupid posts? I for one think you're a fun person!

I am beginning this thread, so that it might calm the fears of other drivers, out there, that are worried about starting their orientation.

I have no idea what is coming up, but at the end of each day, I will post what we did that day.

TWT's orientation is Monday thru Thursday, 7:00am-5:00pm.

Sounds good!

Only truthful and honest commentary, from now on.

We'll be monitoring that!

Thank you for the kind words. I will do my best to post items that will help the truckers heading for orientation.