Location:
Grand Rapids, MI
Driving Status:
Preparing For School
Social Link:
I'm looking to get started in the trucking industry. I have been driving private (personal) vehicles (operator's license) over long distances for various companies for several years now, including a 6-month stint as a courier. I know I can handle the lifestyle, and nothing else appeals to me for a career more than this.
And now I'm on my way! I've been accepted by C.R. England, and they're sending me to school. Stuff just got real.
Posted: 10 years, 1 month ago
View Topic:
Hired at Con-Way ... Everything was great!
But you said absolutely nothing wrong and I wasn't directing any of my last two posts at you personally. I just spotted a generally applicable teaching moment and ran with it til I ran out of gas. Such is my style.
And it's appreciated, believe me. I don't speak up much, but I do read most everything, and I can use all the perspective I can get from those with experience.
And congrats, Mountain Girl!
Posted: 10 years, 2 months ago
View Topic:
Well I passed my CDL test today at Prime! Very happy to pass, even though I didn't trifecta. I passed my pre-trip and backing test no problem yesterday, but nerves got to me on the road test when we hit a confusing road construction area with vested guys controlling the traffic and I illegally turned through an oncoming lane of traffic making my turn (no traffic was coming).
But that's all behind me as I passed the road test easy today. Now the real training begins. It will be nice to start collecting that paycheck and really learning to drive now that I have the basics down. I should be in my own truck by the end of summer, woot.
Excellent! Congratulations!
Posted: 10 years, 2 months ago
View Topic:
Lebanon vet sues; claims he was knocked out, hurt when nearby tractor-trailer blew tire
I can potentially believe it. Check out what happens to this idiot who tries to knife another trucker's tire: Linked so people need not see it if they don't want to. It's not graphic, but it's pretty painful-looking.
Posted: 10 years, 2 months ago
View Topic:
[Video] Truck Driver Busts Cop On His Cellphone, Speeding
I'm going to pile in with my two cents: I believe that the trucker in this case did everything exactly correct. Every single thing. Everything he did, and everything he said. I do not ever say "fn©k the police'; that's not my way. But I will say that everything that this driver did and said was exactly what should have been done and said.
That's my opinion only.
Posted: 10 years, 2 months ago
View Topic:
Question on studying for CDL permit (air brakes)
There's no thread on TT existence that goes into that much detail on the pretrip inspection, so I think calling it (or me) legendary is well deserved.
Now, "humble" on the other hand...
All seriousness aside, I too want to thank you for taking the time and effort to put together that thread. That is extremely helpful, for until I'm out there at the school able to go over it in person for myself.
Posted: 10 years, 2 months ago
View Topic:
This is not a "set back." This is a new door that just opened for you, to way-better lifelong health that you didn't even know you were missing out on.
-mountain girl
I'm seconding Mountain Girl on all of this, these are excellent words of wisdom. I particularly recommend meditation; I do it myself.
Posted: 10 years, 2 months ago
View Topic:
Howdy all. I've been reading and learning tons off this website, thankyou. Into wk2 with my mentor at Swift. For trip planning we've been using the road atlas, Qualcomm and his garmin trucking GPS. I've only ever used garmin products on the ocean but before I spend nearly $300 I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the Rand McNally or Cobra options?
Thanks!
There was a great thread on here that points readers to http://www.dieselboss.com/truck_gps_review_features.htm which compares the specs and features of three different makes of trucker GPS's, including Rand McNally's 500s and 700s models, and the Garmin Dezi 560 (along with something I've never heard of before, 'PC Miler'). Going by that, I'm personally sold on the McNally 720, and I believe it's Guyjax who's got an older model McNally and absolutely loves it. But I also don't have any personal experience with any of them (back when I was a courier, I just used Sprint Navigate on my phone, and that was it), so take my words with a few mines of salt.
Posted: 9 years, 9 months ago
View Topic:
Transform and roll out!
Sorry I haven't been very active for a while, it's been a hell of a year. I spent a few months in a mission just to have a place to live. But I've been accepted by C.R. England (pending my acquisition of my CDL), and I leave tomorrow to go to U.S. Truck Driving School over on the other side of the state (Michigan).
I'm nervous as hell... piloting a 40-ton building around is one hell of a responsibility, but I'm confident I can do this. And TruckingTruth.com is what gives me that confidence. I've completed the High Road training course. All I really need (aside from getting a refresher on everything) is time behind the wheel.
Just wanted to share that with all of you. Back to lurking, now. Drive safe!