Profile For Dash of all Trades

Although I don't agree or see the need for the expletives, the instructor is absolutely correct and must also set a tone of discipline for other people in the class.

You're absolutely right. It was just unexpected, is all & I definitely knew it was not a good time to have an upset stomach but there wasn't much that I could do about it. Today was much better. I've definitely been putting my best foot forward and have been soaking up everything that I'm taught and told. I got a new nickname today: Over-achiever, haha! I've breezed through my tests thus far, with an 89% average. I've learned the teacher's personality now & he rips on lots of people in the class. Don't worry, though, I'm not getting a fat head. There's always a lot to learn and I definitely don't know it all. I took a trip in the simulator and grinded gears plenty- even missed a few gears.

I passed my CLP exam and am excited and ready to see where this month will take me. I know this month will be incredibly hard but it will most definitely be worth it. I think it may be one of the most rewarding months of my adult life.

Day Zero:

My journey began on Saturday at 4 in the afternoon. I was picked up from my home in Houston, TX by two other TMC potentials- one already had his CDL and the other had just gotten his permit. Me? I wasn't able to get my permit before we left, unfortunately. My recruiter says it's not too big a problem, though, so I still have high hopes!

The drive was long and tiresome and even a bit dangerous at times. We ran into a storm along the way, somewhere in Oklahoma and received some pretty torrential rain. Nonetheless, we pushed forward. I got to know my two car mates, well. One, a military vet who had already gotten his feet wet in the trucking world but didn't have a very pleasant experience. The other, completely new to trucking, just like me.

We stopped to eat dinner at a sit-down restaurant, since we had plenty of time. Well, 16 hours later we arrived at our destination: Des Moines, Iowa- home of TMC Transportation! We were let into our rooms well before check-in, which we were grateful for, after such a long and tiresome drive. As it turns out, TMC owns and operates a hotel out here. We all got roommates; I ended up rooming with one of my driving partners! We checked in at around 11am and spent the day mostly napping and exploring our surroundings.

Day One:

My day started at 5:30am. We had a light breakfast and went to wait for the shuttle to the training center. This is where my day started off on the wrong foot. We were told to be at the shuttle pickup by 6:45 and not a minute later, as the bus would be departing shortly after it arrives and if we miss it, we are responsible for finding our own ride to the training center. Well, 6:30 rolls around and I start to realize that my breakfast wasn't quite sitting well with me. I had to go, but didn't want to miss the incredibly punctual bus, so I decided to wait it out. 6:45 comes and goes and then 7:00. I'm certain that our shuttle is right around the corner! It doesn't arrive until about 7:15.

By the time we arrive at the training center, I have to go! We're told to wait in the cafeteria and our teachers would come out shortly and take us to our rooms. I make a b-line straight for the restroom and by the time I get out, the room is empty. Uh-oh. I ask the closest person wearing the TMC brand and they direct me to my room. I walk in embarrassed to be late and my teacher teases me, in what came off as a playful manner, about showing up late. I apologized & said I was in the restroom with a nervous chuckle under my breath. "Oh yeah, laugh it up!" he says, "showing up late on the first day." I apologize again with another quiet, nervous laugh. "That sh*t's f*cking funny?" He says with a dead-pan look on his face. "You're here for a f*cking job, aren't you?" I'm taken aback. This is my first impression of this person and I have no way of knowing how serious he is. I just lower my head and try to melt into my chair. This was how my first day started; getting chewed out by the teacher.

The rest of the day was better, though tiring. We went and had our physicals done, took an "agility test" where we had to lift a 130 lbs. tarp up, onto our shoulder then onto the flatbed. We then climbed up, lifted it again and placed it onto the load, shimmied across and brought it back down. Our day was long. We started at around 7:30am and finished at 8pm. Tomorrow will be just as long and tomorrow I go for my CLP. I will update tomorrow to let you know how day 2 goes- wish me luck!

When I arrived in class the first question the group asked me is would I like to have class on Fridays. My response was it is up to the class. I didn't know that out of the 7 students the majority had already voted to skip classes on Friday. However the instructor stated that If we wanted to still show up we could. I found this kind of odd but at then again we do have a total of 12 weeks to learn the material, shifting, backing, and basic control of the vehicle. I just want to make sure that I focus while I'm there and learn as much as possible.

That is odd. Was class originally scheduled on Fridays, or was that going to be added on as an extra day? Sure, you have plenty of time to learn the material but I still wouldn't take it too lightly when they start taking away precious learning time. That's just my two cents.

I guess you can tell I am extremely sleepy by the grammar of my last post lol I just reread it and I apologize I don't know how to edit a post I have already submitted. Tomorrow I will be better thanks goodnight

I'll bet you're tired! That's quite the dedication taking evening classes after work. Good on you, I know it'll be worth it in the end, once you're on the road going solo (or team, if that's what you prefer). I'm taking time after work doing some of the Highroad Training until I head out for my own training and even that is tiring!

Congrats on your journey and I will be following as soon as you start posting!! What school are you attending if you don't mind me asking? Lonestar? Steven's Transport? 12 months is not so bad. Have you ever driven a commercial vehicle before? manual shift vehicle? I wanna know details:)

I don't mind at all! I was considering Lonestar, since I live within a few miles of the CyFair location, but I decided it would be best to go the sponsored route, instead. I'm going to do training up in Iowa with TMC at their own training facility. They only do flatbed, which I hear is harder than dry van, but I figure that if I take a more difficult path my first year, I can make it with more confidence moving forward!

I've never driven a commercial vehicle but I have driven many manual shift vehicles and actually prefer them to automatics. It's been awhile, so I'm sure that I'm a bit rusty but I'll shake that rust off in no time. Heck, my car now doesn't even have gears to switch to! It's a single-gear eCTV transmission.

What about you? Have you ever driven a commercial vehicle or a manual transmission?

Congrats, Danielle! I'm from Houston, too, and am set to start CDL classes in about two weeks! I took the company sponsored route but I think I found a pretty good thing. $300 deposit, of which I get half back and I don't have to repay any tuition, just sign on the dotted line for a 12-month contract. The only downside is that I have to get my own permit before starting.

Anyway, good luck! I'll be following your story and will post mine once things get rolling!