Start Date July 13

Well I am back at home with a quandary on my hands. My trainer is taking the week off and getting his own truck. He wants to go solo after this. Although It was implied that I would be team driving for the first year, it is looking like I am going to be thrown to the wolves. Then out of the blue, I get an email and 2 phone calls from Challenger, which is on the "Canada's 50 best managed companies" list. So I have fired off some emails and waiting for a call tomorrow. After watching some of the antics at the busier terminals, I am definitely receptive to a more structured training evolution. One thing I never got to practise was "chaining up" as we managed to avoid the adverse weather. We saw several dinged up vehicles in Eastern Pennsylvania on Wednesday night. The weather in that area can be quite similar to our west coast weather with the wet snow and rain. One of the things I was not planning on, was becoming that guy that goes from job to job with "grass is always greener" syndrome but when I look at the pay/training structure I have to act on it. It feels like we are in a plane and my trainer bailed out, the owner is ready to boot me out the door but there's Challenger standing there with a parachute and a set of airline tickets.

Well I am back at home with a quandary on my hands. My trainer is taking the week off and getting his own truck. He wants to go solo after this. Although It was implied that I would be team driving for the first year, it is looking like I am going to be thrown to the wolves. Then out of the blue, I get an email and 2 phone calls from Challenger, which is on the "Canada's 50 best managed companies" list. So I have fired off some emails and waiting for a call tomorrow. After watching some of the antics at the busier terminals, I am definitely receptive to a more structured training evolution. One thing I never got to practise was "chaining up" as we managed to avoid the adverse weather. We saw several dinged up vehicles in Eastern Pennsylvania on Wednesday night. The weather in that area can be quite similar to our west coast weather with the wet snow and rain. One of the things I was not planning on, was becoming that guy that goes from job to job with "grass is always greener" syndrome but when I look at the pay/training structure I have to act on it. It feels like we are in a plane and my trainer bailed out, the owner is ready to boot me out the door but there's Challenger standing there with a parachute and a set of airline tickets.

Oh wow, Glenn. Quandry, for sure. Conundrums, again. Being real near PA .. here in Ohio... I hear you. Crazy that they never taught you chaining!!!! Sheesh. Even watched the hubby, stateside.. do it. Not saying 'i' could, nor would I want to .. but being 'Norte' ' ... it's almost a given, methinks. Most / many US companies tell our guys/gals that if you need chains, park it. Not the same game up by you, probably. (Ever think of moving to the US?)

Hubby drove for a division of Bison back in ... idk... 2012 perhaps? Britton, maybe? He's asleep fixing to go work soon, or I'd ask. In and out of Canada. Sure wasn't fun; I didn't do ANY ride a longs, don't even know if I would've been allowed to. His OTR days ARE OVER thank gawd, after 14 years in... he's local/intrastate now. I've learned SO much... just not much about driving in reverse, pulling tanks w/him, LoL!

I hear Challenger is amazing, up by you! If they take your 'being jerked around' into consideration, and accept you wholly, why not? I know... this site says (and I believe it!) first company for a year, and then on .. but you didn't start in the conventional manner, anyhow. Might as well just ROLL with it, at this point.

Have you LOOKED into Bison, or any of their 'sister/daughter' companies?? They just acquired H.O. Wolding here in the states.

It's been a long while, and I don't remember the ones on the US side. . . .

Still following, fwiw. . . and wishing you well, good sir.

~ Anne ~

Sometimes you are your own worst enemy. This is my latest write up on how NOT to gain experience in this business. My last reply was during the first week of December. When I first started pounding the pavement looking for work in this racquet, the mantra was " Three years". That was the experience level required. The ads that were "Will train" would be companies that would send you out on a team and you would train with your off shift. The training and experience gained can have varying degrees of success. Early in December, I received several emails from one of the bigger companies announcing a new program, training drivers for runs down the "Western Seaboard". Due to trainers not panning out, the program was delayed until after Christmas break. Early in January, I was assured that I would be expecting a call "Early next week". Crickets. The new mantra became "Next week". So late January, I start firing off resumes again. I just took a drug test for one company and am awaiting the results. So after a slight 2 month delay, hopefully I will be team driving and getting some experience. So I will be learning to backup in Love's truck stops and when doing drops. Oh yeah and watching youtube videos. So my new mantra will be "Ignore the clutter". Once I hire on with my new prospective employer, I will stay there come hell or high water.

Sometimes you are your own worst enemy. This is my latest write up on how NOT to gain experience in this business. My last reply was during the first week of December. When I first started pounding the pavement looking for work in this racquet, the mantra was " Three years". That was the experience level required. The ads that were "Will train" would be companies that would send you out on a team and you would train with your off shift. The training and experience gained can have varying degrees of success. Early in December, I received several emails from one of the bigger companies announcing a new program, training drivers for runs down the "Western Seaboard". Due to trainers not panning out, the program was delayed until after Christmas break. Early in January, I was assured that I would be expecting a call "Early next week". Crickets. The new mantra became "Next week". So late January, I start firing off resumes again. I just took a drug test for one company and am awaiting the results. So after a slight 2 month delay, hopefully I will be team driving and getting some experience. So I will be learning to backup in Love's truck stops and when doing drops. Oh yeah and watching youtube videos. So my new mantra will be "Ignore the clutter". Once I hire on with my new prospective employer, I will stay there come hell or high water.

Kinda reminds me of the 'HURRY UP & WAIT' pretense, in trucking!!! Glad you are still in it to win it, Glenn~!!

~ Anne ~