And We're Off!

I did talk to some interesting people this morning. One woman who is an O/O brought in a load of beef from Canada. She helped us get into our door.

The gentleman in front of me in line asked how long I had been driving. When I said 3 days he congratulated me and said he is retiring on Tuesday after 29 years of driving. He going to live life: fishing, hunting, drinking and spending time with family. Very nice guy and very interesting to talk to!

Well this day keeps getting better... We made it to our second drop with only one wrong turn (address was wrong in the gps). Turns out this place was teeny tiny with only two doors. I didn't do this backing either because we had to pull out into the street, block four lanes of traffic and blindside offset into the door. But the guys in the warehouse were very nice and had us unloaded in less than 20 minutes.

Now we are in Colton CA at a DC waiting for a door to get loaded and head to New Mexico.

On a side note, got a question for Old School. I saw recently that he built signs before becoming a driver. He had posted a pic of a sign for a Peterbuilt dealership that had a tractor on it. Was that in Fontana? If so, I saw it on my way here!!

Sounds like your learning a lot! don't sweat not backing in tight spots, I think its best to let the trainer do it tell you feel comfortable to back. The main thing is if you feel you unsure as to where your trailer is with your backing, always G.O.A.L (Get.Out.And.Look)

enjoy the drive to NM

I swear we are getting sent to the places with the hardest backing! This DC is so tight and the way we had to come in was all screwed up so it was a monster to get in our spot. Our delivery is a Walmart DC so maybe I'll get to practice there. But maybe not. I am rapidly running out of hours on this day. But tomorrow is another day!

I am enjoying the driving part. It's definitely my happy place! LA was nerve racking simply because of all the construction and people who don't know how to merge! Even in a four wheeler, that's one of my pet peeves...

Merge is not a word in L.A. nor is Turn Signal. They just aim for a gap and go!

Merge is not a word in L.A. nor is Turn Signal. They just aim for a gap and go!

You can say that again!

Well 4 hours later we finally got out of that DC. We decided to shut down for the night in Barstow because I haven't really done much night driving and California makes me nervous anyway. So we are going to get some real food and showers and head out in the morning for New Mexico. Our load doesn't deliver until 0300 on Tuesday so we aren't in much of a hurry.

I have all these amazing thoughts while I'm driving that I want to post but by the time I get to it I have forgotten everything!

Santa Fe Springs!! I grew up "next door" in Downey.

Can't say there's much of interest there. Chris & Pitts BBQ is the local go-to for 'Que. SFS is the home of Laura Scudder potato chips. Ms. Scudder was the first to put chips in wax paper bags. You're in the middle of the vast suburbs stretching from Los Angeles to Disneyland.

Enjoy your trip over Cajon pass. (Hint: don't say "ka-john pass", locals will giggle. Say "ka-hone pass".)

My next load is going to the yrc in Downey ca

I do not miss the tight spots you have to back into sometimes running reefer. However Walmart dc's were always easy.

It still hasn't sunk in what is happening. I've drove a truck across multiple states, seen some amazingly beautiful things, drove through Las Vegas and Los Angeles, and learned a ton. It's amazing and terrifying all at the same time! I'm exhausted but can't sleep because I have all these things running through my head. I've drove 2 11 hour days and waited at shippers and receivers. I've learned about maintaining my lane and following distance. I've hit a couple of curbs which one was my own fault. The other was unavoidable; it was between the curb and the stop sign. I figured the curb could take it better than the stop sign! Backing is going to take some work but my driving has really improved. I've seen some beautiful trucks and cars on the highway and at truck stops.

Bottom line: I love my job! I have questioned whether or not I was going to like this. But now that I'm here really doing it, it's the coolest, most incredible and hardest thing I've ever done in my life!