Heading To Dallas For Orientation

Any update ?

Hi Kyle M. and everyone else reading these rambles; if any? 😊

I was going to do a full summary of my experience in the road once I reached Dallas and 'Grad class'.

However; since you asked; I thought I'd jot down a few thoughts as we wait to be loaded in Irwindale, CA..... which appears to be going to take a while! lol

This will be the load that takes me back to Dallas; as I am only a few hours short of the required 240.

Overall; I've had a blast! Lots of great experience... snow, heavy nighttime fog (on 2 mountain passes!! lol). Windy - lightly or unloaded runs, city rush hours, LA lunacy, and -15° F temps in Minnesota! Plus the usual max load days, tight backing scenarios, multi-stop runs, beautiful clear desert nights.... a veritable cornucopia of valuable situational awareness lessons, driving techniques and general industry education.

Of course there were also the mind-numbingly boring times, frustrating situations with uncooperative DC or warehouse staff ( although few and far between - to be fair). My trainer, Paul, and I have basically gotten along very well. In fact; i believe we may end up with a pretty good 'company colleague' type friendship when all is said and done...even if not bosom-buddies...certainly worth keeping in touch with and even meeting up every so often for a coffee or a meal. Several of his previous students call fairly regularly not only for advice, but also sometimes just to chat. This says a lot to me and is, I believe, a positive indicator of basic character.

Having said all of that; has it been easy living with another guy in a tiny space for several weeks? Absolutely not!

Has there been friction? Absolutely!

Have there been times that I wanted to climb out of the truck and yell something not particularly nice? Oh heck yes! 😜

But; remember in one of my earlier posts, I wrote something to the effect of, "I'm going to check my ego at the door and learn, learn, learn". That's what I hope I have done and it has helped tremendously to get through the 'sticky patches'.... along with a somewhat twisted sense of humor!! lol

I would like to write some more of my thoughts on the underlying psuedo-psychology that I sort of used to deal with various situations that arose. And I will....once back at the yard, not so tired and with a little more time.

So; if y'all are interested; would you please bear with me a few more days? Then.... to quote Arnie...

"I'll be back!"

Keep on keeping it safe ladies and gents. 👍

Cheers,

Simon

Oh yes I'll defintley wait a few days to be updated stay safe driver