Job Hopper Taking A Look At Her Life

Hello Trucker Family,

I signed up here 4 years ago to utilize the tools to take my hazardous endorsement test and get a general refresher. Thanks Brett, your site really helped to ease my transition back into this industry. This is only my 2nd forum post, because I was always too busy running around making a living to stop and post. I wanted to document my return to trucking on the fly, but that never happened. It's a heck of a lot easier to lurk in forums, get your fill and fall asleep in the bunk. Most of the time I was too beat to compose a coherent thought. Right now I'm in between jobs, hoping to stay local. I've had time to relax, regroup and really think about my life, staying put in one place, back home with family. I needed to get the roller skates off and clear my head for a bit.

I got my CDL A back in 1987, worked for less than 6 months trucking and was offered another job in a different industry (bookselling.) At 21 years old I was NOT ready in any shape or fashion to stay out on the road and stare at a dotted white line all day, every day. I had living to do and I did!

I didn't drive anything larger than a 26' box truck for the next 26 years. I'm 50 years old and 3 years is the longest I've worked anywhere. I spent 12 years on SSDI. I had multiple health problems, but the main one was heavy metals poisoning that made me sick physically and weak mentally. I got treatment and recovered slowly.

Fast forward to 2013... I made the decision to go back on the road to drive long haul. My partner was supposed to go to school, get her CDL and drive with me. We chose CRST as our company and fully intended to stay on with them for 2 years and then reassess. I did my refresher in Albany GA at a small company sanctioned school called "Career in Gear." I drove almost a month with my trainer. My partner followed me a couple months behind, Ace-ing her schooling. I endured 6 months with a series of co-drivers, as CRST is a team company. When she was finally ready, we drove together for a total of 2 months. Then the worst happened, she had a stroke while driving. I drove her to the nearest VA hospital, then got clear to drive us home. That was her last run ever. She is now a full-time disabled vet. I finished out my contract with CRST and quit because they would not run me solo. Teaming with anyone else just wasn't working for me. I then got a job with Celadon for 6 months. I worked for Carroll Fulmer having a year under my belt, quit them for a small 10 truck operation out of Florida to team with a friend, quit them for a local fuel hauler out of Tampa Bay because teaming drove me crazy, and quit them for Indian River Transport in 2016.

I stay with IRT until November, then moved back to the Northeast from Florida. I worked my butt off for the last 4 years and have less than nothing to show for it. I didn't work for more than a year for any one of those jobs. It didn't help that some of my trucker friends job hopped worse than I did.

I'm currently working on settling my finances and thinking about settling down with a company that will keep me local.

The kinds of articles Brett has been writing lately have really hit home. I have been guilty of complaining about trucking companies after allowing myself to become poisoned by indulging in too many of those toxic conversations. I threw away a good job with Indian River because I let thoughts of not being reimbursed for detention and down time eat me up. I admit to being a victim and perpetrator of negative talk, to the point where I was hurting myself the worst.

My driving record is in good shape, but I have to face the fact now that my job hopping doesn't look so great on a resume or application. I have commitment issues! I've quit so many jobs and just recently my lax attitude caused me to be let go from a decent local job for a series of stupid mistakes. I'm looking over my life from every possible angle and trying not to be too hard on myself but still kicking myself a little. I'm still admittedly depressed. I'm not writing because I need anything, Just wanting to share a little bit of my story as a relevant and down to earth introduction without any super-trucker boasting.

Hello again, Trucker Family, thanks for being there!

I honestly don't know if FedEx would invite you for an interview or not given your job hopping past.

But try this link and apply for any of the driver positions and see what happens :)

FedEx Freight Jobs in MA

Booknut, THANK YOU for such an honest post. It is very refreshing to hear people own their $#!?. I am almost 57 years old and it took me many years to learn to OWN MINE. Good luck to you. With your own self imposed attitude adjustment, you will accomplish great things!

Thanks for the tip Auggie69, I'll look into FedEx.

Thanks Tractor Man. I'm ready to give it my all. This really is a great country, even with all the conflict currently going on, it is still the land of opportunity. While I'm taking that hard look at myself, I'm thankful for all that I have and all that I have been offered over the years. The word "entitlement" springs to mind, when I start to complain for one minute. Time for a lasting, grateful outlook.

Hello my friend thanks for the input i have similar thoughts myself been away so long get that been left behind feelin, never been a job hopper butt i was a driver kinda and very illegal im sure way back when---also spent 3 or more years as a runaway minor hungout in sleepers of many a serious nice butt firm drivers so --many many towns miles adventures butt was only tollerated for unloading,, washin etc,learned the industry learned trucks alas all pre 80s,,now what does it amount to NOTHIN i mean i am greener then an avocado i know nothing so lost i feel horrible about it so behind everyone i am actually trying to get into a school and i am afraid to get behind the wheel again,,maybe its better this way as i discovered that any of my credintials from years ago amount to NOTHING again hmmmm ,,starting over ? got a couple years on you so wish us all luck i do to you pal!! just never give up youll see hoopla mano

Hello Trucker Family,

I signed up here 4 years ago to utilize the tools to take my hazardous endorsement test and get a general refresher. Thanks Brett, your site really helped to ease my transition back into this industry. This is only my 2nd forum post, because I was always too busy running around making a living to stop and post. I wanted to document my return to trucking on the fly, but that never happened. It's a heck of a lot easier to lurk in forums, get your fill and fall asleep in the bunk. Most of the time I was too beat to compose a coherent thought. Right now I'm in between jobs, hoping to stay local. I've had time to relax, regroup and really think about my life, staying put in one place, back home with family. I needed to get the roller skates off and clear my head for a bit.

I got my CDL A back in 1987, worked for less than 6 months trucking and was offered another job in a different industry (bookselling.) At 21 years old I was NOT ready in any shape or fashion to stay out on the road and stare at a dotted white line all day, every day. I had living to do and I did!

I didn't drive anything larger than a 26' box truck for the next 26 years. I'm 50 years old and 3 years is the longest I've worked anywhere. I spent 12 years on SSDI. I had multiple health problems, but the main one was heavy metals poisoning that made me sick physically and weak mentally. I got treatment and recovered slowly.

Fast forward to 2013... I made the decision to go back on the road to drive long haul. My partner was supposed to go to school, get her CDL and drive with me. We chose CRST as our company and fully intended to stay on with them for 2 years and then reassess. I did my refresher in Albany GA at a small company sanctioned school called "Career in Gear." I drove almost a month with my trainer. My partner followed me a couple months behind, Ace-ing her schooling. I endured 6 months with a series of co-drivers, as CRST is a team company. When she was finally ready, we drove together for a total of 2 months. Then the worst happened, she had a stroke while driving. I drove her to the nearest VA hospital, then got clear to drive us home. That was her last run ever. She is now a full-time disabled vet. I finished out my contract with CRST and quit because they would not run me solo. Teaming with anyone else just wasn't working for me. I then got a job with Celadon for 6 months. I worked for Carroll Fulmer having a year under my belt, quit them for a small 10 truck operation out of Florida to team with a friend, quit them for a local fuel hauler out of Tampa Bay because teaming drove me crazy, and quit them for Indian River Transport in 2016.

I stay with IRT until November, then moved back to the Northeast from Florida. I worked my butt off for the last 4 years and have less than nothing to show for it. I didn't work for more than a year for any one of those jobs. It didn't help that some of my trucker friends job hopped worse than I did.

I'm currently working on settling my finances and thinking about settling down with a company that will keep me local.

The kinds of articles Brett has been writing lately have really hit home. I have been guilty of complaining about trucking companies after allowing myself to become poisoned by indulging in too many of those toxic conversations. I threw away a good job with Indian River because I let thoughts of not being reimbursed for detention and down time eat me up. I admit to being a victim and perpetrator of negative talk, to the point where I was hurting myself the worst.

My driving record is in good shape, but I have to face the fact now that my job hopping doesn't look so great on a resume or application. I have commitment issues! I've quit so many jobs and just recently my lax attitude caused me to be let go from a decent local job for a series of stupid mistakes. I'm looking over my life from every possible angle and trying not to be too hard on myself but still kicking myself a little. I'm still admittedly depressed. I'm not writing because I need anything, Just wanting to share a little bit of my story as a relevant and down to earth introduction without any super-trucker boasting.

Hello again, Trucker Family, thanks for being there!

Hey Tim,

Thanks for connecting. Good luck with your schooling. Apply yourself, take your time. You've got this. Keep us posted on your progress.

Hey Tim, But only has one "T" , unless you are sitting on it!

Just a bit of humor for Saturday morning.😂

I got a new local job paid by the hour with a company called Supply Chain Solutions in Foxboro MA. When I went to the interview, my new boss asked about my job hopping ways. I acknowledged my tendency to move from company to company and said I had realized the grass isn't always greener. He appreciated my honesty and hired me, letting me know that he wished to be a long term employer for me. The prospect of being tied down both scares and delights me. I got a warm reception from this small company, I pledge to do my best.

When I went to the interview, my new boss asked about my job hopping ways. I acknowledged my tendency to move from company to company and said I had realized the grass isn't always greener.

When you start to think about looking for a different company, post your thoughts here. We'll set you straight!

Booknut, thanks for your story! I can't consider myself jobhopper yet, but I have already changed 5 jobs these past 6 years... Currently I'm working as an engineer in SVAYA and probably I'm going to stay here for longer than anyone. Working for a company is not always something bad, though it's hard to find a decent one. I'm going to Ukraine soon and I'm so excited!