Dipping My Toes In And The Water Seems Fine.

I envy those who have a clue where to begin with their background story.

As it relates to trucking, I picked up a lot from my extended family. I was born and raised in Brigham City, Utah. Most of my Mom's side works for Whitaker Construction. I have friends/family who drive for Francis, Val Kotter, ABC, and Staker-Parson.

Personally, I went with Electronics and Computers. This was in the 80s/90s (when reverse-engineering a fried circuit was still possible). I used to dumpster-dive the Brigham City Deseret Industries (Utah's version of Goodwill and Salvation Army thrift stores; Mormon stuff) on Sundays (when you're not supposed to drop stuff off) for trash to fix. My motivation was using what I had learned to have fun stuff like a "hi-fi" sound system, a TV, game systems (Atari when the Super NES and Genesis were king), and stuff like that I could never afford otherwise. We... were poor AF into the early 90s. That feeling never left me.

Necessity is the mother of invention.

I went to college for Electronics after high school. ITT Tech. Yeah. That late-night-commercial not-college that doesn't even exist anymore. Didn't learn a thing from the curriculum, but learned a lot from my classmates, many of whom where former active-duty military, truck drivers, a teenage Vegas thug who referred to everyone as "Bit...ch" (yes, he said it like that), and one kid (Gumball Tony) who was building psychedelic gumball machines with impressive light shows.

I think the closest work I ever did relative to CDL trucking was in the 2008-2012 era where I was the lead tech for Inthinc's Waysmart 820 trucker-snitch-boxen. I remember the handheld units coming in with knuckle marks on the shattered LCD screens with the RMA (Return to Manufacturer Authorization) statement saying "Fell from mount". Having listened to thousands of those being function-tested a few yards/meters from my station, I could never blame anyone for socking those terminals in the gob. The voice they belched out was the same as the stock croaking-Dalek Windows XP text-to-speech voice. I had some fun with that, but that's another story. "Aggressive Driving!"

The Tiwi units were no different in terms of function and behavior, just smaller.

Steve Jobs said something like "You can't connect the dots going forward." I'm not an Apple guy (#righttorepair), but Steve was correct. You can only see what led to where and what you are today, not where that state of being will lead.

I've always loved driving. It's how I relieve stress (the scenery changes). Corner office? How about the panorama of a cab? Loneliness? I prefer to be alone. Always have. Home time? I have no home. Still trying to decide where to root. Confined space? I'm a gamer. That's my element. Haters/bullies? I don't mind; they don't matter. [But I'd still help them if they're in a jam.] Boredom? Every load is a new mission/level in the Game of Life. Recharge/reset and get right back at it like an Automatic. Money? No mortgage/rent, for now. Run safe, run hard, and stack that coin.

Every video I've seen about the cons of trucking failed to contrast the "rotting in a cubicle for years while despising the status-quo the whole time" situation I strongly-dislike (hate is the wrong word) to my core. So you're a trucker and don't get along with someone? Wait five minutes--like Utah weather. Onward and upward. Mañana.

I'm considering Swift and Prime, like plenty. Swift is in first place for now because I'd like to have a lot of terminals available. The rule is to stay with a company for at least a year and Swift's 2-year contract doesn't bother me at all.

Right now I'm working on getting in shape. My blood pressure needs a bit of work because I'm borderline at this point. I need to lose weight to avoid the CPAP because my neck is too big. I've never committed to anything this hard in my life. It just feels right.

If I'm seeing things through rose-colored glasses, I appreciate all rude awakenings. This isn't my wheelhouse, yet. I'm hungry and gung-ho, but it's a feeling that has been building for years. I can't not do this.

Thanks for having me and keep it zesty you Twisted Transistors.

I envy those who have a clue where to begin with their background story.

As it relates to trucking, I picked up a lot from my extended family. I was born and raised in Brigham City, Utah. Most of my Mom's side works for Whitaker Construction. I have friends/family who drive for Francis, Val Kotter, ABC, and Staker-Parson.

Personally, I went with Electronics and Computers. This was in the 80s/90s (when reverse-engineering a fried circuit was still possible). I used to dumpster-dive the Brigham City Deseret Industries (Utah's version of Goodwill and Salvation Army thrift stores; Mormon stuff) on Sundays (when you're not supposed to drop stuff off) for trash to fix. My motivation was using what I had learned to have fun stuff like a "hi-fi" sound system, a TV, game systems (Atari when the Super NES and Genesis were king), and stuff like that I could never afford otherwise. We... were poor AF into the early 90s. That feeling never left me.

Necessity is the mother of invention.

I went to college for Electronics after high school. ITT Tech. Yeah. That late-night-commercial not-college that doesn't even exist anymore. Didn't learn a thing from the curriculum, but learned a lot from my classmates, many of whom where former active-duty military, truck drivers, a teenage Vegas thug who referred to everyone as "Bit...ch" (yes, he said it like that), and one kid (Gumball Tony) who was building psychedelic gumball machines with impressive light shows.

I think the closest work I ever did relative to CDL trucking was in the 2008-2012 era where I was the lead tech for Inthinc's Waysmart 820 trucker-snitch-boxen. I remember the handheld units coming in with knuckle marks on the shattered LCD screens with the RMA (Return to Manufacturer Authorization) statement saying "Fell from mount". Having listened to thousands of those being function-tested a few yards/meters from my station, I could never blame anyone for socking those terminals in the gob. The voice they belched out was the same as the stock croaking-Dalek Windows XP text-to-speech voice. I had some fun with that, but that's another story. "Aggressive Driving!"

The Tiwi units were no different in terms of function and behavior, just smaller.

Steve Jobs said something like "You can't connect the dots going forward." I'm not an Apple guy (#righttorepair), but Steve was correct. You can only see what led to where and what you are today, not where that state of being will lead.

Every video I've seen about the cons of trucking failed to contrast the "rotting in a cubicle for years while despising the status-quo the whole time" situation I strongly-dislike (hate is the wrong word) to my core. So you're a trucker and don't get along with someone? Wait five minutes--like Utah weather. Onward and upward. Mañana.

I'm considering Swift and Prime, like plenty. Swift is in first place for now because I'd like to have a lot of terminals available. The rule is to stay with a company for at least a year and Swift's 2-year contract doesn't bother me at all.

Right now I'm working on getting in shape. My blood pressure needs a bit of work because I'm borderline at this point. I need to lose weight to avoid the CPAP because my neck is too big. I've never committed to anything this hard in my life. It just feels right.

If I'm seeing things through rose-colored glasses, I appreciate all rude awakenings. This isn't my wheelhouse, yet. I'm hungry and gung-ho, but it's a feeling that has been building for years. I can't not do this.

Thanks for having me and keep it zesty you Twisted Transistors.

Derek, I totally LOVE your intro!! (Fryode! LoLoL!)

Quite an impeccable list of accomplishments, man! My husband guy got RIF'd out of the IT industry over 20 years ago; he was a Switchman and prior to that, an OPS2 tech. I feel your pain, and your ambition / drive .. all at once! (Pun intended!)

Not sure how much you 'have/have not' read, but knowing about the CPAP and all the 'other' fun tricks of the trade (tirade? charade? just kidding!) seems like you've been doing some research.

For what it's worth, read these links, and PLEASE ask away; stay involved, comment on others' threads, et al !!!!

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road CDL Training Program
• CDL Practice Tests

Welcome to Trucking Truth; the veterans and mods will be around shortly, to welcome ya. You'll fit in just FINE right up in here!

Best wishes!!

~ Anne ~ (& Tom, the fat guy in my avi!)

Welcome Derek,,,lol my best friend of 54 years went to ITT tech after his wasted 4 yr Navy gig. He's been a Canon Copier tech nearly 40 yrs now.....

The 18inch neck comment, got my attn, as mines 18" too. Last physical, the nurse starts to measure mine....I told "Oh no you don't, we ain't goin there" She asked huh? Told her I've had big neck since my early teens, I don't have any sleep problems" nipped that right in the bud.....

Joked with her about it for a minute, how I could never find a button up shirt that didn't choke me if I tried closing the top button...My wedding tux shirt, was a real PITA..

Todd is working on his creative writing again.

Todd is working on his creative writing again.

Can YOU check DuckDuckGO this time?!?! I'm beat . . . . (Dunno, though. Highly probable!)

~ The Girl with the Curls aka; me... ~

Todd is working on his creative writing again.

I think it's a different person.

Annie, you shouldn't be bustin' tom's, "you know what's", callin' him the "Fat Guy" I LAMO seeing that twice now.....Bad Wifey ! lol

Annie, you shouldn't be bustin' tom's, "you know what's", callin' him the "Fat Guy" I LAMO seeing that twice now.....Bad Wifey ! lol

HAHAHAHAHA!

All in fun, StevoReno . . . (You 'may' be right, tho!!) LoL !!

~ Annie ~ << GOOD wifey!! :)

Todd is working on his creative writing again.

I think it's a different person.

True, PackRat. You've got the 'best' Troll Spray out here, ... then again, time will reveal!

~ Anne ~

Who's Todd? Every forum has "those" people. As in clowns who aren't funny. I appreciate the warning.

My Father's middle name is Todd. He's not a trucker, though. He writes website backend code. Shopping carts and such.

Thanks for the warm welcome, Anne! It means a lot to me.

Annie, you shouldn't be bustin' tom's, "you know what's", callin' him the "Fat Guy" I LAMO seeing that twice now.....Bad Wifey ! lol

HAHAHAHAHA!

All in fun, StevoReno . . . (You 'may' be right, tho!!) LoL !!

~ Annie ~ << GOOD wifey!! :)

Todd is working on his creative writing again.

I think it's a different person.

True, PackRat. You've got the 'best' Troll Spray out here, ... then again, time will reveal!

~ Anne ~

I'm considering Swift and Prime, like plenty. Swift is in first place for now because I'd like to have a lot of terminals available. The rule is to stay with a company for at least a year and Swift's 2-year contract doesn't bother me at all.

Two year contract? When did they start that?