Do It Like Sonny Pruitt

When I was growing up, there was a TV show called Movin' On. It starred Claude Akins and some other dude driving a two-tone green Kenworth across America.

I loved that truck. It's corny and hokey and a bit cliché, but I've always wanted to be a truck driver.

Even back then, with the oil crisis and other disruptions of the 70s, I remember people saying that trucking wasn't what is used to be, all the rules and government regulations were killing the industry. I guess people have been saying that for a long time now.

I ended up pursuing other interests. I went to college, got my Bachelors Degree, and held many different jobs over the years. The truth is, I've never had a job that I've felt comfortable in. I have made several attempts to try to find my true "vocation", with varying degrees of success. So, at 47 years old, I'm preparing to change careers completely. Again.

I'm going to go back to school, get my Class A CDL , and become truck driver. I'll start my school here in Vegas on the 22nd, be finished by mid March, and employed (hopefully) by the end of the month.

I'm not saying that I've finally found what I was meant to do. This won't be the magic bullet that will cure my occupational wanderlust. But after decades of bookkeeping and office administration work, I am looking forward to a change. And, again, it's something I've always wanted to do.

Yes, I understand the work is hard, much harder than what I'm probably used to. I envision old time truckers looking at me they way Robert Shaw looked at Richard Dreyfuss in Jaws ("You have city hands, Mr. Hooper. You been countin' money all your life.") That's a good thing. I'm at my best when people underestimate me.

Yes, I'm reading up on all the doom and gloom, all the complaints people have about the trucking industry these days. Here's the thing, there isn't an industry out there that's not going through some kind of flux because of emerging technology, invasive monitoring and increased regulation. It's hard all over.

So, if I can at least look out my window and see an open road and wide expanse of prairie, or mountains, instead of the same lifeless office block, that alone will be an improvement. I don't mind working hard for a paycheck. It'd be nice to get a paycheck, and a nice view for a change.

I'm ready to try and do it like Sonny Pruitt used to do it.

I'll try to keep everyone posted. Wish me luck.

Frank Converse as Will Chandler, former lawyer turned trucker.

Opening titles. Theme song written and sung by Merle Haggard:

Movin' On (1974)

Frank Converse as Will Chandler, former lawyer turned trucker.

When I was just reading up on the show, I found out they both did their own driving during filming. Very cool.

The series is available on you tube if you want to reminisce.

First day of class. It's the 160 hour course, 2 weeks in the classroom and 2 weeks in the trucks.

A couple guys got removed from class almost immediately for failing the drug test. I knew this industry attracted it's fair share of chuckleheads, but My God, people, they told us a dozen times they were going to drug test us first thing in the morning. Wow.

Anyways.

My initial impression of the course is that I am supremely thankful for the The High Road Online CDL Training Program. I spent all last week going though it and I can't express how much of a difference it's made. The classroom is set up as the most basic rote memorization, "Highlight this, it's going to be on the test. Highlight that, it's going to be on the test." Going through the High Road course has given me a much more comprehensive exposure and understanding of the material.

I questioned why I was even taking the course because, obviously, I could have done this part online. However, I began to appreciate how different people approach the material, how they bring up different questions that I would never have thought about. Never dismiss the benefits of learning as a group.

The class. All guys. One is over 21 by, I would guess, a couple of days, because he looks 17. One guy looks like he's in his 30s or so, and the rest of us are all 40s to late 50s. I'm talking late 50s. Late.

Why does trucking seem to attract a more mature workforce? Discuss.

Lastly, finally being in a classroom made this all seem real. I made the decision to become a truck driver only about three weeks ago. It's been a whirlwind of planning, budgeting, and worrying if this was the right decision. Watching other drivers YouTube channels, doing online CDL testing, it was all abstract.

Being around real trucks, hearing real people tell their stories, smelling grease and bad coffee, it all solidified the decision for me.

This is really happening. And it's going to be great. Hopefully.

We'll see what tomorrow is like.

Code Red asks a question:

Why does trucking seem to attract a more mature workforce?

I'm 64. When I took my class last year (Swift) it was mostly 20-30 year olds. I often see new classes coming in on Mondays, and they have the same mix. Too many reasons to list. Economy/what jobs are available, ageing population, etc.

Like Errol I attended a Swift School. I was the elder of the group at 53. Most of the folks were late 20's - early 30's. And yes, we lost 4 on day one due to a positive drug/alcohol screen.

Day 2 of class. The scores from the written tests so far:

Backing: 25 questions, got one wrong General Knowledge: 50 questions, got one wrong Air Brakes: 25 questions, 100% right.

This has no bearing on whether or not I'll be a good driver, it only means I'm really great at taking tests.

For the 3rd exam, one of the questions was utterly nonsensical, and had no relation to any material we studied. Most everyone got it wrong. I argued my case, and eventually the instructor brought the big boss in and he said we were right. When he left, the instructor just looked at me and said, "There's one in every class."

I didn't care. I wanted my 100%.

Over the last two days, we've had various people wander into class, other instructors and former students, and just tell us their stories. That's been the best.

When I first began to research this industry, I wanted to keep a level head and not get too excited. So to make sure I got the scoop on the "real world" of trucking, I focused only on the doom and gloom reports, negative reviews of companies and thinking that any positive stories from people were just spin. Or hyperbole. However, it's been refreshing to hear people actually happy with their work, and their companies.

Tonight, I'm doing more research on companies because I want to start sending out applications this weekend.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

When I first began to research this industry, I wanted to keep a level head and not get too excited. So to make sure I got the scoop on the "real world" of trucking, I focused only on the doom and gloom reports, negative reviews of companies and thinking that any positive stories from people were just spin. Or hyperbole.

It's in most cases the opposite; the negative information is typically posted by a former disgruntled driver or something juicy overheard at the "truck stop water-cooler". And typically embellished for effect. When considering the source(s), much of the "doom and gloom" you read is nothing more than shallow, chest t*******, and self-centered venting. Failure is often blamed on the former employer, holding them solely responsible for said driver's demise. Almost always not the case, with the root cause of the posted problems falling squarely on the shoulders of the driver.