Oct 22

I successfully fulfilled my contract with CRST. Out of 18 people who started the school with us, 3 of us worked to the finish. I am home right now, going out again tomorrow. I know everyone recommends that we stay a year, but I am actively looking to find a solo position. If I do make that switch, I plan to do things right, giving notice and returning the truck to where CRST wants it.

If anyone is considering CRST as a way to go to school, they have just done a lot to increase driver pay, with across the board raises, instituted a bonus program based on miles driven in 90 days, and are now paying extra for HAZMAT loads.

The bottom line with me is the team situation is not the best. It is not getting along or anything like that. It is primarily that I really dont get any good rest. I wake up in the sleeper all the time and toward the end of my stints out, I am pretty tired all the time, and that concerns me about driving.

Congratulations my friend! I'm very proud of you. It's a tough task, as is evidenced by the fact that only 3 of you made it all the way through. I wish you every success, and if you ever need someone as a reference you can feel free to use me. I'm still looking forward to meeting you one day, and now that we can track each other I'm certain that will be easier to make it happen. Of course you know if you need any advice or help you can always private message me, and I'll do my best to help out any way I can.

My friend, you have encouraged me from the start, and I have tried to keep up with your story too. I really hope everything is well for you. I would love to meet you. I will look into Bretts new app soon, but......... to much going on this home time, and enough to think about. But it is not lost on me that he has that app.

Just a lot on my plate at the moment. But, YES, I will sign on and lets meet. I would love that. Ya know, you are a bit of a hero of mine, sticking to your vision, and going where you wanted to go. I often reference this site at CRST terminals when I do get in there, and get a chance to talk to students. I always reference you by screen name to tell them of someone who had the idea what they wanted and worked hard to get there.

This home time, we have got our house in order, so I felt confident to borrow against my retirement, which means a LOW interest rate. I bought a 2005 Mazda Mini Van for a personal car when I come home, and had enough left over to pick up a new lap top, That means I will be connected again on the road. I have my phone, but I am an old man and my thumbs are too big to really work on that phone. Just always frustrates me. I need the laptop. And the bonus is, once I go solo, I can start working on my music again, and even use the new laptop to record new material.

Never linked it here, but I have a couple of truck driving songs I have written in my head, that I want to get done.

Any of you guys want to hear my stuff.....Henry Harrington's Music

Hope this is alright with Brett. This stuff is my passion. Both Acoustic Americana and Electronica. Once I go solo, I have a ton of new material, I just need time to sit down and work on. It's all in my head at the moment, but.......... I just need the time, and that is what solo will give me.

Kind of funny, when you are involved in this kind of thing, song writing. If you dont do it and write it. it comes out in other ways, and people thing you are strange because you start singing at any moment.

Hey congrats on making it through Troubador222! As you know full well there aren't a lot of people that do. People always ask why turnover is so high in trucking. Well, not all people. Just people who never tried making a living doing it. It's a brutal industry at times, and that entire first year is one of those times!

There isn't anyone who found success in trucking that could honestly say it was easy. In fact, it's not even close to easy. It's a big accomplishment to get to where you're at and it's something to be incredibly proud of!

Never linked it here, but I have a couple of truck driving songs I have written in my head, that I want to get done. Hope this is alright with Brett.

Of course it is! In fact I'm listening to it now while I'm working through the forum. Great stuff!!!