Its Been A Year!

Its been a year here at TT for me. :D

Last year during this time I joined the forum. I was 1 month away from my 21st birthday and I was studying the forum along with the High Road CDL Training Program. Its been a great year. So many people have come and gone. I remember asking questions about Central and sending a few questions as private messages to James. I would always get the best advice and you guys really helped me out a lot back then, those that are still around anyway haha.

So much can happen and so much can be accomplished in just a year! Thank you for a great year TruckingTruth and I hope for many more years of trucking education!

Hey i am 20yrs old and 3 Months away from my 21st!! Ive been reading and studying on here for about 4 or 5 months now. sence you were in my position you have any advice that really stands out? ....and P.S. just to let everyone know im from springfield, Missouri and this month (sept) on the 27th and 28th just down the road from me in JOPLIN, missouri the CHROME SHOP MAFIA is putting on there GUILTY BY ASSOCIATION truck show here in a couple weeks if anyone is in the area!

Hey that's awesome Daniel!!! I sure hope you stick around for a long time. You've been a ton of help for so many people and cool to have around!

Curtis, I was 21 when I started driving (back in '93) and there's really nothing different about getting started when you're younger. The average age out there is like 48 so you'll be young enough to be a child of most of the drivers out there - and some will let you know it in a fun way - but other than that it's just a matter of safely navigating that rig around the country. Doesn't matter if you're 21 or 81 as long as you can keep those wheels turning safely.

Thank you Brett!

The only thing that I noticed when it comes to being young is that you get stares from time to time. Youll have drivers asking you if you're even old enough to drive on a consistent basis. I've even had a driver confuse me for a warehouse worker at the facility we were in because he didnt think I was even 21. It's mostly just good chatting though. Nothing to get offended about, just laugh and tell them your story and then listen to them tell you crazy trucker stories from the ancient days.

Another thing is that people our age tend to sometimes think "oh that can't happen to us". Young people often subconsciously think that they are immune to disasters and mistakes. Before you begin trucking, let go of your pride because this job is going to kick your butt. I came into trucking knowing a lot more than the average person thanks to TT and my best friends dad who drives a doubles tanker and has been driving for 15 years. His lectures were the best. But when it came to driving, it didnt help me all that much. Remember that you need to always stay vigilant and to never get comfortable even if you think you know it already.

Your goal is to get a year of safe driving then do what you want to do, whether it be local or regional or staying OTR. Never take risks to jeopardize your future. When it's snowing, take even more precautions and go even slower just to be safe. No freight is worth your job and/or your life. You'll be starting and you'll be learning how to drive in the winter. I did that last year and it was not fun. Don't ever think to yourself when you see someone in the ditch "oh that can't happen to me". It can easily happen to you and the chances are even greater that it will since you basically don't know what you're doing.

Don't ever underestimate a backing or the weather conditions.

So, Daniel....what ya gonna do for your anniversary ??????? Inquiring minds want to know !!!! And I'm right there with Brett... you have been a great asset to TT, both by keeping us in touch as you went thru school, trainer terrors, and then your solo trucking life. Its been both heartbreaking, hilarious, and educational to follow you thu the last year. I am glad that you have stuck around So you have been on the road ALMOST long enough to be able to take the "rookie" off your name. But it won't be right until ya get up here and meet up with TSB and Starcar....I5 runs north ya know...and we won't even hold it against ya that your from CA

Brett this boy is going places. Many places. I can see you all have taught him some good stuff, but more importantly he has been wise enough to learn it.

Daniel, don't let those old guys get your goat. They did the same to me when I was out there back in the early eighties. They often forget that they were young too or they are just jealous because they realize they aren't anymore. They know that you are experiencing something we all do and then one day it's kind of gone. It's the innocence of driving. Life is new and big and everything around you is an amazement indescribable. Its awesome. But it does kind of disappear, if you let it. Many drivers do. They just wish they could have what you have right now. But, some of it too is just that good-hearted welcome to the family.

I remember meeting an older guy in a black 52 Pete. Boy what a truck the was. Beautiful. Well he was pulling up as some guys were ragging me about being so young. He parked, got out to fuel and I could see he was paying attention to what they were saying. He walked over and said, "don't let that bother you boy, they just don't know any better". I told him he had a nice truck and he said I could check it out. I did. What was strange though was the fact that their was NO clutch or brake pedal. That's because the man had only one leg. He probably had the nicest truck most men had ever seen and had been in the business for almost 50 years. They all knew him and when he let me get in his truck and had spent time with me you could kind of see this look on their face. It made me feel cool. The controls for the truck were on the steering wheel by the way. But he was a true trucker. Their are good ones and bad ones. It's just how life is.

I hope to meet up with you one day. Because I always like meeting, "THE GOOD ONES".

So, Daniel....what ya gonna do for your anniversary ??????? Inquiring minds want to know !!!! And I'm right there with Brett... you have been a great asset to TT, both by keeping us in touch as you went thru school, trainer terrors, and then your solo trucking life. Its been both heartbreaking, hilarious, and educational to follow you thu the last year. I am glad that you have stuck around So you have been on the road ALMOST long enough to be able to take the "rookie" off your name. But it won't be right until ya get up here and meet up with TSB and Starcar....I5 runs north ya know...and we won't even hold it against ya that your from CA

I've actually drove down I82 South and saw the exit for Plymouth on my right one time. But I had no time on the load to stop :(

And I seriously can't wait to take that 'Rookie Solo Driver' off of my profile. Its irritating to look at

Thanks Tracey!

Yeah gotta love those guys who have been driving longer than I have been alive haha. Everytime I talk to one its always filled with great stories and everytime I learn something new. They definitely know the tricks of the trade and are happy to spread the information.

One day Daniel im gonna be just like you;) Im better over the phone then all the typing. Im just lazy lol. congrats on your year. I joined at the end of Sept myself so Im right behind you;)

Congrats on your first year Daniel! I can tell you have many good years ahead of you. If you join Roehl I look forward to meeting you and having a few beers!

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