IMPORTANT Update: Another LEGENDARY Goal Of Mine Met, Plus An Explanation.....

I am now on a much needed "hometime" here at our main HQ in Cedar Rapids, IA because my co driver is on hometime in his hometown. Well, I get back, call my DM and let him know I have safely arrived at the terminal. A couple of hours goes by and I have to call my DM back to ask him something else that I had forgot to ask him earlier and he said that he was glad I called back because he was going to call me. Anyway, I found out that he spoke to my co driver and offered him a solo dedicated route that would get him home more often and he accepted it. The timing couldn't have been better for this to happen because for the last month, I had been inquiring about becoming a Lead Driver (which is CRST's version of a trainer) and my DM also told me that he got an instant approval from our Safety Department to allow me to take the 1.5 day certification class to become a Lead Driver. I start that class on Thursday January 11th and then I would be able to take out my first student as soon as Saturday January 13th. So as of 01/04/2018, I have now met another goal of mine and that is to be able to teach new drivers what I have learned in this industry. Today, 01/06/2018 happens to be my 6 month anniversary here at CRST and so far I still love it just as much as when I restarted my journey. I can't believe that with only 6 mos exp with CRST that I get to become a trainer. This is truly a surreal moment for me. I have always wanted to teach people how to be safe out there and also teach them the RIGHT way of doin things that I have learned through NADTA, CRST and TT. Thank you all for helping me reach a LEGENDARY milestone here. I owe you all a lot.

Speakin of owin yall: I must explain my new status change on my profile here. Even though on this restart of my journey, in other words on this run through truckin, I haven't yet reaquired my first full year yet with CRST, Brett has given me formal permission via E-Mail to change my status on here to Experienced Driver. I put in the request to him in an e-mail because the way I see it with the 2.5 yrs of OTR experience I had prior to restarting my journey and now that I have an immaculate safety record here at CRST after only 6 months and now CRST believes in me enough that they think I am good enough to be a Lead Driver I thought a change of status was in order. So thanks Brett for letting me change that and thanks again to you all for believin in me and supporting me on this journey that I am on. I look forward to the future and hopefully some new drivers can benefit from my experience and what all I can teach them. I have always wanted to help others. That is my mission in life and now I can truly fulfill that mission by training the Next Generation of truck drivers that come through the doors here at CRST.

Now its time to engage and Make it SO as Captain Picard says on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Thank you all for this. I am so ELATED right now Its truly surreal. I love you all and thanks again.

Hey Brett, we need a Driver Trainer status option on the site also so we can identify the driver trainers on here also.

Big step How about a Day book on How it goes, no names, etc. just do you understand what the guy / lady, is doing in there life to trust you to train them. I hope you do

Hey Brett, we need a Driver Trainer status option on the site also so we can identify the driver trainers on here also.

Big step How about a Day book on How it go no names etc just do you understand what the guy / lady, is doing in there life to trust you to train Them ,, i hope you do

Hey Brett, we need a Driver Trainer status option on the site also so we can identify the driver trainers on here also.

I might consider that in the future. I am going to be really busy, even more so than I am now so I dont know how I will find the time to keep something like that updated, however I will post something on here if one of my students ends up doin somethin noteworthy.

MillionMiler I offer congratulations and best wishes for success.

I think you realize the level of responsibility you are about to undertake. I know you take your job very seriously and I believe your reasons for wanting this are the "right ones". Learn well during the certification training.

Safe travels!

MillionMiler I offer congratulations and best wishes for success.

I think you realize the level of responsibility you are about to undertake. I know you take your job very seriously and I believe your reasons for wanting this are the "right ones". Learn well during the certification training.

Safe travels!

I sure will, G-Town and thanks so much for your continued support. As I have said before, you have played a VERY big part in my success with the restart of my journey and I owe you so much right now, I just wish I could meet you in person and start payin ya back by at least buyin ya a really good steak. Maybe if I am up in your area we can eat at that 83 diner we talked about in my diary. That diner is in York, PA.

MM wrote:

Maybe if I am up in your area we can eat at that 83 diner we talked about in my diary. That diner is in York, PA.

That's a very thoughtful gesture and one I appreciate. A coffee will do... The absolute best way to pay me back (not that it's necessary or expected) is to teach your students to be excellent truck drivers. That'd be the best gift any of us could ask for! One I am sure you are capable of delivering repeatedly.

I only know where the next day's route takes me 12-24 hours in advance. However there are two Wally*Shacks in York, so you'll have to let me know when you are on HT fir a while and I'll request a route that runs me to York as a last stop.

Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Sure...and that there is the only "B-S" you'll ever get out of me!!!

MM wrote:

Maybe if I am up in your area we can eat at that 83 diner we talked about in my diary. That diner is in York, PA.

That's a very thoughtful gesture and one I appreciate. A coffee will do... The absolute best way to pay me back (not that it's necessary or expected) is to teach your students to be excellent truck drivers. That'd be the best gift any of us could ask for! One I am sure you are capable of delivering repeatedly.

I only know where the next day's route takes me 12-24 hours in advance. However there are two Wally*Shacks in York, so you'll have to let me know when you are on HT fir a while and I'll request a route that runs me to York as a last stop.

Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Sure...and that there is the only "B-S" you'll ever get out of me!!!

I'll certainly take ya up on that sir. :)

That's fantastic man! Congrats to you in a big way.

This is going to be a tough gig for sure. You're definitely going to have to be super attentive now, even when someone else is driving. You're also in the dead of winter and I know you guys run coast to coast a lot so you're going to have to make some tough calls. Like G-Town said I know you take your job super seriously and you've always had a fantastic attitude so I think your students are going to be lucky to have someone who genuinely cares about training them the right way.

Kudos to you man! Your story has been remarkable one and it's definitely one of the most memorable ones we've had over the years. Definitely looking forward to watching the next step unfold. I certainly hope you find the time to stop in here and let us know how things go.

That's fantastic man! Congrats to you in a big way.

This is going to be a tough gig for sure. You're definitely going to have to be super attentive now, even when someone else is driving. You're also in the dead of winter and I know you guys run coast to coast a lot so you're going to have to make some tough calls. Like G-Town said I know you take your job super seriously and you've always had a fantastic attitude so I think your students are going to be lucky to have someone who genuinely cares about training them the right way.

Kudos to you man! Your story has been remarkable one and it's definitely one of the most memorable ones we've had over the years. Definitely looking forward to watching the next step unfold. I certainly hope you find the time to stop in here and let us know how things go.

I will most certainly try to stop in here whenever I can. Sometimes reading these forums along with watching ChickieMonster's daily vlogs really helps me unwind after a long day. As I have stated before, I owe yall more than I can imagine, You Brett, G-Town, Old School and all the Moderators and members on here who have helped me out and helped me get to where I am today. I love you all and now with me becoming a Lead Driver, we hopefully will have many more new members come in here and share their stories also. I promise to let my students know that after their training is done that if I am not available to help them out then they should come in here to this forum and hopefully obtain the answers they seek. The dead of winter thing believe it or not don't bother me as much with CRST as with other companies I have driven for in the past because of CRST's Comfort Zone, Absolute Zero policy. This is one of the few companies that will shut YOU down even if you feel safe continuing on (hence why I was on Mandatory Shutdown in Wamsutter, WY over Christmas). CRST TRULY cares about their drivers, their success, and above ALL else, their safety and the safety of the ones around us. I would love to hear from the other trainers in here also about how well yall enjoy training people and some of yalls experiences with students yall have had. Hey Brett, that just gave me an idea.......I will be right back. LOL.