3 To 4 To 28 Years Later

I put 3 to 4 to 28 Years later because, I originally got my class A back in 1994 I believe. Went to trucking school and everything. I don't think they had paid training back then.

My roommate and I worked as janitors at the school to make extra cash while attentending. That was funny, he mentioned doing janitorial work and I perked up and said, 'hold on a minute, how do I get in on that?'.

I lasted a whole year driving OTR for JBHunt. Those were crazy times. I decide it best to come home and try something local.

Anyyyyway, I ended up with a few different companies throughout my driving career which has been fun and joy, 1.8 million miles of fun and joy, blood, sweat and tears.

I drove a bucket truck and goose neck for one company, a straight truck, box truck, regular 4 wheeler trucks, cars and vans for another company. I drove independent 4 wheeler for another company. After all of this I started having problems hanging on to my license, life in the fast lane, ya know. After this everything slowed wayyyy down for me.

I ended up taking a short or long'sh break from the driving career, and I ended up letting my Class A go. I figured I'd had enough, after 25 years. But, as my discussion with God went, " I don't ever want to drive again", he evidently had different plans.

I ended up going back to trucking school (paid or pay as you go) and then going to work for Swift Transportation.

Everything went really well with Swift. I mean, ups and downs, but over all well. I have a clean record and 4 Years total OTR experience, not to mention 28 Years total driving experience.

Ok, so, which brings me close to the end of this piece.

My mother had been needing hip surgery for a few years so, I figured I would kill two birds with one stone. I would take a short vaca while caring for my mother after her surgery and look for a local gig ( which had been the plan all along). I actually went 2 years and 8 months with Swift, which was a whole lot longer than I had intended to.

I ended up getting hooked up with a local company, with my nieces husbands help and off we went. Ha ha, it was right after the snow and ice came through. Four of us stuck in traffic backed up for miles. It took us 8 hours to go 120 miles.

That job ended a few months later with my mother saying, " I told you so. " I was hoping that it would work out, but the company was, how do you say, sketchy.

SO, back to square 1. I'm giving going back to Swift somewhat serious thought, I'm just not hooked on the whole idea.

The money was good running local, which is something I liked. Don't get me wrong, I did pretty well running for Swift, but it wasn't quite as much.

Anyway, so, here I am, taking a hiatus or going on hiatus or whatever proper grammar would be. I'm hiatus y'all.

I was hell bent on going fishing and have been doing just that. It's been 4 years since I've been fishing and I was going. Not to mention, I had a load of stuff needing to be done around here which I've been doing.

So, it's all good, I guess.

I have family and a good hobby here at home which is one reason I'm dragging my feet a bit getting back to work. I could somewhat do my hobby while driving OTR, but the whole "leaving family" sucks. Not sure if I'm willing to do that again for months at a time.

I tried running dedicated with Swift, but that wasn't for me. I was told I could run local because, I'm within a 150 mile radius of where I'd be running local from. I'm just not sure running local would make the money I need to be making right now.

Anyway, decisions, decisions.

I put 3 to 4 to 28 Years later because, I originally got my class A back in 1994 I believe. Went to trucking school and everything. I don't think they had paid training back then.

My roommate and I worked as janitors at the school to make extra cash while attentending. That was funny, he mentioned doing janitorial work and I perked up and said, 'hold on a minute, how do I get in on that?'.

I lasted a whole year driving OTR for JBHunt. Those were crazy times. I decide it best to come home and try something local.

Anyyyyway, I ended up with a few different companies throughout my driving career which has been fun and joy, 1.8 million miles of fun and joy, blood, sweat and tears.

I drove a bucket truck and goose neck for one company, a straight truck, box truck, regular 4 wheeler trucks, cars and vans for another company. I drove independent 4 wheeler for another company. After all of this I started having problems hanging on to my license, life in the fast lane, ya know. After this everything slowed wayyyy down for me.

I ended up taking a short or long'sh break from the driving career, and I ended up letting my Class A go. I figured I'd had enough, after 25 years. But, as my discussion with God went, " I don't ever want to drive again", he evidently had different plans.

I ended up going back to trucking school (paid or pay as you go) and then going to work for Swift Transportation.

Everything went really well with Swift. I mean, ups and downs, but over all well. I have a clean record and 4 Years total OTR experience, not to mention 28 Years total driving experience.

Ok, so, which brings me close to the end of this piece.

My mother had been needing hip surgery for a few years so, I figured I would kill two birds with one stone. I would take a short vaca while caring for my mother after her surgery and look for a local gig ( which had been the plan all along). I actually went 2 years and 8 months with Swift, which was a whole lot longer than I had intended to.

I ended up getting hooked up with a local company, with my nieces husbands help and off we went. Ha ha, it was right after the snow and ice came through. Four of us stuck in traffic backed up for miles. It took us 8 hours to go 120 miles.

That job ended a few months later with my mother saying, " I told you so. " I was hoping that it would work out, but the company was, how do you say, sketchy.

SO, back to square 1. I'm giving going back to Swift somewhat serious thought, I'm just not hooked on the whole idea.

The money was good running local, which is something I liked. Don't get me wrong, I did pretty well running for Swift, but it wasn't quite as much.

Anyway, so, here I am, taking a hiatus or going on hiatus or whatever proper grammar would be. I'm hiatus y'all.

I was hell bent on going fishing and have been doing just that. It's been 4 years since I've been fishing and I was going. Not to mention, I had a load of stuff needing to be done around here which I've been doing.

So, it's all good, I guess.

I have family and a good hobby here at home which is one reason I'm dragging my feet a bit getting back to work. I could somewhat do my hobby while driving OTR, but the whole "leaving family" sucks. Not sure if I'm willing to do that again for months at a time.

I tried running dedicated with Swift, but that wasn't for me. I was told I could run local because, I'm within a 150 mile radius of where I'd be running local from. I'm just not sure running local would make the money I need to be making right now.

Anyway, decisions, decisions.

Nice read, Greg H.

You sound somewhat like my guy. He drove 'random/rogue' in the late 1990's .. and got 'legal' in 2003. Got burnt out on OTR with Transport America, FX/LH, and got an intrastate tanker gig almost 'handed' to him.

When 'that' folded, he got in with a local/intrastate Ohio company, FAB Express...and will probably retire there. The liberties & the pay are pretty much perfect for his (our) needs. He's got a mom in an aftercare home, too.

Only YOU know which route to take, but I sure wish you well, and hope you update as to what you decide! Have you looked into LTL? It's the 'rave' around here lately; might be what you need/want?

Pretty sure Swift would take you SOOOOOO back, with little to no 'kerfuffle' .. IMHO!!!

Wish you well, good sir.

~ Anne & Tom ~

Nice read, Greg H.

You sound somewhat like my guy. He drove 'random/rogue' in the late 1990's .. and got 'legal' in 2003. Got burnt out on OTR with Transport America, FX/LH, and got an intrastate tanker gig almost 'handed' to him.

When 'that' folded, he got in with a local/intrastate Ohio company, FAB Express...and will probably retire there. The liberties & the pay are pretty much perfect for his (our) needs. He's got a mom in an aftercare home, too.

Only YOU know which route to take, but I sure wish you well, and hope you update as to what you decide! Have you looked into LTL? It's the 'rave' around here lately; might be what you need/want?

Pretty sure Swift would take you SOOOOOO back, with little to no 'kerfuffle' .. IMHO!!!

Wish you well, good sir.

~ Anne & Tom ~

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I'm a bit concerned about my next step. I don't want to be jumping from job to job trying to *figure things out*. I honestly was planning on retiring at this last job, but it just didn't work out that way.

There's a lot going on in my life right now and like I mentioned before * a load of things* that need to be done. I made a lot of headway in that department lately. So, yaaaa....

And, thanks for the input, I'll take it under advisement.

Ha ha about Swift. Swift isn't so bad, not near as bad as people try to make them out to be. I explain Swift to people this way. They have a really great foundation that needs work. And, perhaps good employees to get in there and help make it happen.

On a side note, I made a lot of good friends at Swift.

Anyway, :)

Well, looks like I'm headed back to Swift on August 9th, they just called.

I've pretty much wrapped things things up around here. It took an arm and a leg to get it all done but, it's done. Well, I only have one thing left to do, working on it now.

I told someone that I would start a thread on backing. Well, I did start writing it one night, but I'm not use to using my laptop and I let my paws hang out all over the place, I hit some hot key or something and back we went to the previous page. I frowned and said, forget it, at least for now.

I'm not sure that I actually have anything to add to the backing, but I think maybe I do and a new thread on backing probably wouldn't kill anyone. lol

This was brought on because of a thread that had been started about someone having trouble backing and also because of my previous experience at my last employer. Lots and lots and lots and lots of backing at that company and in tight places. Well, it was actually brought on for more reasons so, it's been on my mind for awhile.

Anyway, I'm off to Lowe's to pick up supplies I need.

Well, looks like I'm headed back to Swift on August 9th, they just called.

I've pretty much wrapped things things up around here. It took an arm and a leg to get it all done but, it's done. Well, I only have one thing left to do, working on it now.

I told someone that I would start a thread on backing. Well, I did start writing it one night, but I'm not use to using my laptop and I let my paws hang out all over the place, I hit some hot key or something and back we went to the previous page. I frowned and said, forget it, at least for now.

I'm not sure that I actually have anything to add to the backing, but I think maybe I do and a new thread on backing probably wouldn't kill anyone. lol

This was brought on because of a thread that had been started about someone having trouble backing and also because of my previous experience at my last employer. Lots and lots and lots and lots of backing at that company and in tight places. Well, it was actually brought on for more reasons so, it's been on my mind for awhile.

Anyway, I'm off to Lowe's to pick up supplies I need.

Greg, that's awesome to hear!! Go do Swift proud.

Do a 'backing' post after you get back in the saddle; we ALWAYS can use more backing practice threads!!

Erroll V. used to do about 1 x month.... we miss them!

Best wishes to you; will look forward to a Swift Diary, soon~!!

~ Anne ~

lol, well, everything just sort of took a loopa ti loop.

Sorry, so late getting back to this, I've been super busy.

I did get hired back on with Swift, but we had a minor set back because they were still trying to verify my previous employer. That was fine with me because, I needed to bring my vehicle back home so someone here would have it to drive while I'd be gone.

Anyway, while waiting on that, my previous employer is contacting me trying to get me to come back to work for him.

At first, I told him that I couldn't because I was previously committed to Swift. A little more time passes and I decide to give him a call and we end up coming to an agreement or two.

So, there you have it then.

Good thing is that I did get a call from Swift and it was my DM from before I quit the first time. That was really cool hearing from him, we have history.

We got to talking and it seems that he agreed with what everyone else had been telling me, 'you need to be around for your mother', and, I guess I agree. I mean, she's not completely helpless so, I wasn't to much concerned with it, but still a little concerned.

I'm hoping all of this will work out. I'm sort of worn out just because of the changes. And, I have that unknowing feeling which can be unnerving.

Here's to changes, I guess. 🙂

Well, looks like I'm headed back to Swift on August 9th, they just called.

I've pretty much wrapped things things up around here. It took an arm and a leg to get it all done but, it's done. Well, I only have one thing left to do, working on it now.

I told someone that I would start a thread on backing. Well, I did start writing it one night, but I'm not use to using my laptop and I let my paws hang out all over the place, I hit some hot key or something and back we went to the previous page. I frowned and said, forget it, at least for now.

I'm not sure that I actually have anything to add to the backing, but I think maybe I do and a new thread on backing probably wouldn't kill anyone. lol

This was brought on because of a thread that had been started about someone having trouble backing and also because of my previous experience at my last employer. Lots and lots and lots and lots of backing at that company and in tight places. Well, it was actually brought on for more reasons so, it's been on my mind for awhile.

Anyway, I'm off to Lowe's to pick up supplies I need.

Greg, that's awesome to hear!! Go do Swift proud.

Do a 'backing' post after you get back in the saddle; we ALWAYS can use more backing practice threads!!

Erroll V. used to do about 1 x month.... we miss them!

Best wishes to you; will look forward to a Swift Diary, soon~!!

~ Anne ~

lol, well, everything just sort of took a loopa ti loop.

Sorry, so late getting back to this, I've been super busy.

I did get hired back on with Swift, but we had a minor set back because they were still trying to verify my previous employer. That was fine with me because, I needed to bring my vehicle back home so someone here would have it to drive while I'd be gone.

Anyway, while waiting on that, my previous employer is contacting me trying to get me to come back to work for him.

At first, I told him that I couldn't because I was previously committed to Swift. A little more time passes and I decide to give him a call and we end up coming to an agreement or two.

So, there you have it then.

Good thing is that I did get a call from Swift and it was my DM from before I quit the first time. That was really cool hearing from him, we have history.

We got to talking and it seems that he agreed with what everyone else had been telling me, 'you need to be around for your mother', and, I guess I agree. I mean, she's not completely helpless so, I wasn't to much concerned with it, but still a little concerned.

I'm hoping all of this will work out. I'm sort of worn out just because of the changes. And, I have that unknowing feeling which can be unnerving.

Here's to changes, I guess. 🙂

Well, looks like I'm headed back to Swift on August 9th, they just called.

I've pretty much wrapped things things up around here. It took an arm and a leg to get it all done but, it's done. Well, I only have one thing left to do, working on it now.

I told someone that I would start a thread on backing. Well, I did start writing it one night, but I'm not use to using my laptop and I let my paws hang out all over the place, I hit some hot key or something and back we went to the previous page. I frowned and said, forget it, at least for now.

I'm not sure that I actually have anything to add to the backing, but I think maybe I do and a new thread on backing probably wouldn't kill anyone. lol

This was brought on because of a thread that had been started about someone having trouble backing and also because of my previous experience at my last employer. Lots and lots and lots and lots of backing at that company and in tight places. Well, it was actually brought on for more reasons so, it's been on my mind for awhile.

Anyway, I'm off to Lowe's to pick up supplies I need.

Greg, that's awesome to hear!! Go do Swift proud.

Do a 'backing' post after you get back in the saddle; we ALWAYS can use more backing practice threads!!

Erroll V. used to do about 1 x month.... we miss them!

Best wishes to you; will look forward to a Swift Diary, soon~!!

~ Anne ~

Family always first, good sir. I'm happy to hear that Swift is understanding this 'kerfuffle' called life, as well!!

Be safe, best wishes!

~ Anne ~