Memoirs Of CDL Training Add A Lil OTR

The load from Laredo went to Atlanta. I pulled into the receiver, got my door number etc. Should have been an easy back, but I set it up way wrong. And a pumpkin head was ripping into me on the cb. I off course turned it down but I got all bent out of shape. Slightly bumped a trailer, yard dog said it was theres and old not to worry. Ended the statement with "No! I will not back your truck you!" Never even crossed my mind. Luckily an 10 year driver w Stevens was several doors down(all ten w Stevens) He ended up backing it for me, fussing at me the whole time. Nice guy, older black man from Houston. As my detailing of my cab was a ongoing process, he showed his nice shiny clean truck. Explaining how I needed to keep mine that way etc. Infinite Wisdom We parted ways, I offered to buy him breakfast but he had a load assignment. I did not. It was prob two hours before I received mine. However I was in truck stop chatting w drivers over breakfast so I didnt see the assignment for another hour or so. Deadhead to Chattanooga. Load to California. Around Modesto.

You should pen a novel, Chris K. ~!!

These CLIFFHANGERS ... are ...cruel, haha ~!!

~ Anne ~

...and???? C'mon! So MUCH IN THE LURCH! (please?)

When doing my trip plan for this trip, as per Stevens I would arrive Sunday nite for Tuesday delivery. Stevens wanted trip plans calculated at 54 mPh. Im sure being a noob I was given extra time. And I was avg 58-60 mph trucks governed at 65. So about halfway I just slowed down. I drove to shut down by no later than 4pm. If truck stop on the empty side I would practice backing and some maneuvering. I would sit at the counter and bs w other drivers. Usually had fun learned a lot and of course encountered the "I hate everything" driver you could not get away from. Encountered a few lot lizards, a man in a dress, and driver on "high speed chicken feed"

Applebees. water shots, high speed chicken feed coming up

Somewhere in Nebraska, I shut down around 3:30pm. I go into the truck stop take a shower, look around for a few minutes, then decide to sleep for awhile. I wasn't thrilled w food choices, but I did notice an Applebee's across the highway. Figured I would nap then go have dinner. Besides pay had just been loaded on my card. Before I made it back to my truck I got to talking to another driver about his truck. He literally jumped out as I walked by to tell me about how it looked like crap but could top 120 when necessary. Didn't impress me sounded kind of dangerous. Finally I pry myself away and take my nap. Got up around 9pm and trekked four lanes of traffic to Applebee's. Place is packed so I sit at the bar. Order dinner. Just before dinner arrived I go to rest room come out and theres my new buddy from the 120 mph truck. He had got both of us a beer.(shh Anne) I was a lil weirded out by this. Did he follow me? Or I just didn't see him walk in?' Well I proceeded to eat and slowly drank on the beer. He just rambles on and on about company drivers, fast trucks. Etc He orders us shots of tequila(silver) and thank god he goes to rest room. I tell barkeep no no no tequila for me. He laughs and puts water in mine. Well by shot 5 dude was wasted. Got cut off. I hadnt taken my last water shot yet, he grabs it and is not happy. (By the way before he was too far gone he had offered me and bartender some "high speed chicken feed". I let y'all guess that one.) Well he storms out and I figured I would give him 15 min or so to get back. In case he was waiting. I head back scanning the area to make sure and yep I see him facedown in ditch water up to his ears. So I start shaking him, trying to wake him, cant get his face out of the water. Another driver comes and helps me get him up. He is coherent by time we get him to his truck. Talking junk about the dude at Applebees who stole from him(?!?!) Didnt recognize me. We leave him be. I get back to my truck its about 11:30. I fall asleep wake up around 2:30 thirsty and needing to go to br. As I am walking the lot out pulls my buddy looking all bright eyed heading out. Oh boy. This dude is going to wipe out 1/2 of Nebraska. Another driver walks up and said dude was singing, dancing about pre-trippin. I guess it must have been the high speed chicken feed. Funny part is I saw the dude in Bakersfield 6 months later while I was driving for Cooke. Next up CHP and Donners Pass

(Shhhh Anne....)

LoL, I'm following!

Good on you, re: the Tequila & the Chicken Feed, tho!!!

~ Anne ~

I had the tequila replaced w water. The chicken feed was only offered by my default buddy. At that time I actually had no idea what he was talking about. The driver who helped me get him to his truck made me aware of what that is. The number of times I was offered that while driving was absurd. A company in my area at that time went under because their drivers were hopped up on it. Luckily no one was seriously injured or killed. Enough on that subject.

Although a lot of my post reads fun and games, just so you know I was scared to the verge of quitting, walking away at any given time, leaving the old truck and hopping on a plane home. I made some stupid mistakes, ridiculed over cb, ridiculed by other drivers at truck stops. One morning as I was starting my day, I had just finished breakfast and was getting ready to hit the road. There was only one truck near me about 10 spots away. I did pre-trip of sorts. Started the truck, released the brakes. Then I went into sleeper to get some paperwork. Sat on bunk and waboom, boom, rumble what ever the hell else you can think of. I had very slowly crept forward across the lot and over the curb heading for drainage ditch. Jam the breaks and somehow just backed out of this with zero problem. I back into a spot do a quick check, calm down, look over the truck nearby the driver was in his seat glaring at me shaking his head. Oh how I didnt want to drive past him. Sit for a few, then slowly off I go. Well the jack... driver in nearby truck rolls out in front of me blocking my path. Oh boy! He proceeds to get out and jump up holding himself by my mirror cussing me, trying to get me out of the truck etc. I start to back up but set the brakes lurching the truck. Off he goes. Manages not to bust his a$$. I grab my mag lite trembling I get out of truck ready to rumble. For about 10 seconds we stare each other down. I am terrified but I just start laughing, prob half crying. He curses me for being a sorry a$$ trainee, turns to get back in his truck and collapses. Oh boy! I start to him and hes laughing so hard hes crying. We laughed until another driver was laying on the horn because we were in the way. Well he backs up, I start around but he said park it. We laughed ha ha! Yea yea! But I got a lesson in being prepared. Set a daily checklist. Etc. Once again I was off and running w my tail between my legs hoping for a successful day.

Although a lot of my post reads fun and games, just so you know I was scared to the verge of quitting, walking away at any given time, leaving the old truck and hopping on a plane home. I made some stupid mistakes, ridiculed over cb, ridiculed by other drivers at truck stops. One morning as I was starting my day, I had just finished breakfast and was getting ready to hit the road. There was only one truck near me about 10 spots away. I did pre-trip of sorts. Started the truck, released the brakes. Then I went into sleeper to get some paperwork. Sat on bunk and waboom, boom, rumble what ever the hell else you can think of. I had very slowly crept forward across the lot and over the curb heading for drainage ditch. Jam the breaks and somehow just backed out of this with zero problem. I back into a spot do a quick check, calm down, look over the truck nearby the driver was in his seat glaring at me shaking his head. Oh how I didnt want to drive past him. Sit for a few, then slowly off I go. Well the jack... driver in nearby truck rolls out in front of me blocking my path. Oh boy! He proceeds to get out and jump up holding himself by my mirror cussing me, trying to get me out of the truck etc. I start to back up but set the brakes lurching the truck. Off he goes. Manages not to bust his a$$. I grab my mag lite trembling I get out of truck ready to rumble. For about 10 seconds we stare each other down. I am terrified but I just start laughing, prob half crying. He curses me for being a sorry a$$ trainee, turns to get back in his truck and collapses. Oh boy! I start to him and hes laughing so hard hes crying. We laughed until another driver was laying on the horn because we were in the way. Well he backs up, I start around but he said park it. We laughed ha ha! Yea yea! But I got a lesson in being prepared. Set a daily checklist. Etc. Once again I was off and running w my tail between my legs hoping for a successful day.

... and ON TO, the fateful, successful DAY !!

>>>>>>>???????????

~ a ~

Well I am rumbling down the road everything is going smooth and I get stopped crossing into California. Road check. I was jarred out of my groove and stumbled over my words when asked what I was carrying. Pull over to the shoulder driver the CHP officer says. They cut the seal open the back and send in a dog. Damn dog doesnt return. CHP jumps up and beckons me up into trailer also. Looks at me and says "I am sure you are good but I need a witness!" Uh, hmmmm. No idea what hes talking about. We climb up on pallet he shines his light theres the dog resting atop of my load just chilling. "Lazy SOB " the officer laughs. " You see him right?" he says. Once again baffled wondering what the hell am I doing here. We shut the trailer he puts on another seal and off to Donners Pass I go. Lesson learned. Know what your load is. Keep bills of laden close. And be cooperative w law enforcement. Fast forward to a trip thru Atlanta w Cooke Trucking I had Ga Highway Patrol holding onto my door and mirror around 2am riding stop/go traffic. We bs'd for a few miles until he realized he had to figure out how to get back.

After my experience with the CHP my next lil bit of fun was Donners Pass. Left lane only as the right was under construction. There was prob a foot or two difference in the pavement level also. So if I accidentally go to right land roll over guaranteed. I was cruising down ok for the most part, I think my brakes w smoking a lil bit. Of course now over the CB "Careful Stevens you might saute' that spinach you are carrying" "Cut your flashers off, you are using up all the blinker fluid" "Lets follow Stevens boys, we will have baked potatoes at the bottom, if he makes it"! Fun fun. Well I make it no problem. I get to my receiver a full 24 hrs early and yes he will accept it. No? The trailer seals do not match"?? Ah I remembered CHP cut the seal and replaced. Dude looked it over "No problem". Drop trailer grab empty. I then messaged disp and was sent over to Foster Farms to drop empty grab loaded. Nice!!! Feeling good about everything. Decided to shut down after picking up load. Hung out at the truck stop w a few drivers. Once it started to cool down, I took a nap. I did not idle. I preferred to shut truck off. Next up---the beginning of the end w Stevens!!

Well I am rumbling down the road everything is going smooth and I get stopped crossing into California. Road check. I was jarred out of my groove and stumbled over my words when asked what I was carrying. Pull over to the shoulder driver the CHP officer says. They cut the seal open the back and send in a dog. Damn dog doesnt return. CHP jumps up and beckons me up into trailer also. Looks at me and says "I am sure you are good but I need a witness!" Uh, hmmmm. No idea what hes talking about. We climb up on pallet he shines his light theres the dog resting atop of my load just chilling. "Lazy SOB " the officer laughs. " You see him right?" he says. Once again baffled wondering what the hell am I doing here. We shut the trailer he puts on another seal and off to Donners Pass I go. Lesson learned. Know what your load is. Keep bills of laden close. And be cooperative w law enforcement. Fast forward to a trip thru Atlanta w Cooke Trucking I had Ga Highway Patrol holding onto my door and mirror around 2am riding stop/go traffic. We bs'd for a few miles until he realized he had to figure out how to get back.

LoLoL~!!!

Lemme guess . . . were you hauling a load for "Chewy?" (The pet food company ?!?) Hahahahaha!

~ Anne ~