Profile For Mike B.

I was retired for 3 plus years when I applied at Werner. They accepted my tax returns for the last 3 years as proof of my status.

I'm took retirement from my IT job of 27 years, I'm 55.

I have my permit and health card (no criminal or driving offenses) and was going to go to a self paid CDL school but thought maybe I'd look into Prime and just go with them so I could save my money for home emergencies and such.

But the recruiter (after filling out a lengthy application) said that because I don't show employment for the last 1.5 years I am disqualified even though I'm retired.

Ain't that a kick in the pants...

I'm emailing others to see if that is their policy also.

Cheers.

Looking forward to the series.

Congratulations!

It feels great when you get that accomplished doesn't it. I remember watching others when I went through truck driving school. Everyone just stresses out over that final driving test and pre-trip. Part of the problem is that in reality we lack the skills at that point to be very good at it, and we're quite aware of it. There's still a long ways to go for all of us at that point. I still remember my excitement after passing my state finals. It was much the same when I got handed the keys to my first solo truck and got my first load assignment. I was pumped. I was scared. I was proud. I was about to start a great journey. I still get those same feelings almost everytime I crank my diesel engine and put this rig out on the interstate. It's an awesome job we have!

Take care driver. Now, go get that job and show 'em how it's done!

Old School, your description of finishing school and going solo for the first time is awe-inspiring! I love this site and the wonderful and positive comments from members like you!

Thanks for sharing all of that Aaron. You've certainly experienced a lot and learned a lot your first year in the industry. Getting your trucking career underway as a company driver a really steep learning curve. Trying to lease a truck that first year is really throwing a lot of gasoline on the fire.

One thought I had was about this:

I honestly couldn't see that with them unless I started kissing some butt and I have no interest in that.

When I started trucking I was 21. I'm Italian, I'm from New York, and I was raised in a family of steelworkers, carpenters, mechanics, and soldiers. We are not quiet, shy people to say the least.

Now I have never worked in an office in my life. I'm used to blue collar jobs and sports locker rooms where people interact in the complete opposite way they do in offices. In the offices people are mostly terrified of upsetting each other. In locker rooms and blue collar jobs it's everyone's favorite pastime to see how much hell they can raise with each other. Nothing is funnier than teasing someone until they flip out and throw a fit or pull a great prank on someone to embarrass the life out of them. If you don't like someone or you don't like something they're doing you tell em that directly to their face. You confront them about it. That's just how it's done.

Well early in my trucking career I did an awesome job as a driver but I ruffled some feathers at first, and to be honest I had no idea what the problem was. I just spoke my mind plainly and the office personnel just seemed to be super sensitive. I felt like I had to speak to them like they were kindergarteners.

I learned quickly that there's a huge paradox in trucking. You spend 95% of your time alone in that truck, but you desperately need the cooperation of those around you to be successful in this industry. We have no authority as drivers. None. We're at the bottom of the totem pole everywhere we go. So we have to learn to get along with people and get them on our side, make them want to do nice things for us. Because let's face it, there are a ton of people out there who can make our lives miserable and cost us a ton of time and money and there isn't anything we can do about it.

When I hear you say you have no interest in kissing butt I think about my own career early on and how I inadvertently made life difficult on myself by not interacting with people the way they expected me to interact with them. When you're at the bottom of the totem pole you don't get to make the rules, you don't get to play on your home turf. When I came across a situation I didn't like it was far more natural for me to give someone the finger and tell em to kiss my (you know what) than it was to have a civil, quiet, easy going conversation because steelworkers, athletes, and soldiers aren't exactly known for their sensitive, compassionate approach to people, ya know what I mean? We don't sit down quietly and discuss our feelings in a politically correct way, to say the least!

You have a lot of freedom to make choices about your trucking career - the type of freight you want to haul, the regions of the country you want to run, how often you get home, etc. The two things you will never have a choice with in this industry is whether or not you're in charge, and whether or not you'll need the cooperation of those around you to make great money. You're not in charge and you will need the people around you to want to cooperate with you. That's a fact.

I'm a super nice guy 99% of the time but I still struggle sometimes with certain types of people and certain situations. To be honest, I don't tolerate BS very well, ya know what I mean? Well unfortunately this is trucking and there's a lot of people who talk a lot of BS and I still lose my cool sometimes.

The better you learn to get along with people the more money you're going to make, the more favors you're going to get, and the easier your life is gonna be. I'm not saying you have to compromise your integrity or crawl around like a worm. I'm just saying you have to learn to keep your cool and keep it professional when you're dealing with people in this industry. It's hard sometimes, trust me I know. But in the end that's just how it is.

Brett, your point about getting along with people and being a team player applies to all industries. Its a lesson I had to learn early in my career as well. I started in a blue collar job and went into a office environment in the latter half of my working years. Getting along with coworkers and management in order to be more successful has nothing to do with "kissing butt" its just smart! Like you said, you don't have to be a worm, but you do have to fit in and get along with others, even people you don't like. Its just common sense, if you're problem for management , they aren't going to go out of their way to help you. And, why should they?

Thanks for the info.

Where do you find the app for a Android?

It's not an app. Just log in to the we site. It's mobile friendly.

Where do you find the app for a Android? The only app I can find on "play store" is TruckingTruth CLD quiz only?

Hi Keith G.

I access this site from my Android quite often. Hit the menu button and then scroll down. The login option is near the very bottom.

Stay safe out there, Colin K.

Suferjohn, that is awesome advice! I know it will help me in the future. I am going to copy and paste it to my phone so I can read it in the future when I am in a jam and/or panicking...thanks again!

There is no law against conceal carry in a CMV. The same carry laws DO apply. You need to make sure your permit covers you in any state you travel into because laws are different in every state. Also, you need to check company policy.

The House of Reps just passed a bill making any Conceal Carry Permit legal in all states. It has to go thru the Senate, then onto the President, I would expect that it makes it thru both with approval. But, if it were me, I'd check with my company to make sure it does not violate company policy...

There is enough room for that. People walk, ride bikes, use exercise bands, and more.

Ride bikes, are you suggesting they take bikes with them? If yes, where do they store the bikes when traveling? I can't imagine it would be inside the cab? I ride and would love to take my bike.

You're quite welcome!

The harder you prepare ahead of time the better off you'll be. You'll be thanking yourself endlessly for preparing well ahead of time while your classmates stay up all night in a panic trying to cram that information into their brains.

Keep in touch between now and then, ask a lot of questions. We're always happy to help out.

I also want to say thanks to Brett for creating this website and to all those who contribute and help those of us who know nothing about the Trucking Industry. And, I agree with those that say they would never go to CDL school without studying CDL here first, its just too much to try and cram into a week's time! I have to admit, since my wife found this website, I spend more time here than any other site, and love learning about the industry.