On My Way To Training: Optimistic With A Touch Of OMG...what Did I Just Sign Up For?

Hello Ladies and Gents (if you're reading),

I must say I am so glad I found this website, I've been on here just about all day, studying and preparing to leave for training in a week.

I have a good friend that suggested I check out truck driving school with the company he use to work for. He has nothing but great things to say about the company and makes it sound like it will be the most awesome experience ever. He is even considering working for the company again. With his encouragement and support from my family, I decided to resign from bus driving and take the challenge. By the way, I also ride motorcycles, so I'm all about adventure and facing challenges. School bus driving was nice but I'm bored very easily and the money just wasn't enough (even with the adorable kids :-)).

However, as I've been researching online all day, I found that the company and many big OTR training companies have horrible reputations and complaints against them, especially concerning women in the industry. That started to freak me out and made me question if I have made the right decision...I'm praying that I'm not too "girlie" or "high maintenance", that I will find a compatible female trainer that I can get along with and that I can master this skill as a woman in a male dominated industry.

So with all that being said, I've been reading the stories, the blogs and tips on this site and I feel encouraged and optimistic again. I will stay in touch and hopefully all will go successfully.

Yours truly, Exquizit 1

I hear you. School bus driving was great but just did not pay enough. I could not find a summer job to hold me over during the summer months. Good luck in your new adventure.

Thanks Linda and best wishes to you as well. I will miss the little tikes though lol.

Excuse me...Cynthia thank you, so sorry for the name mixup...I'm on info overload already :-)

Well if your too girlie or high maintenance then I must not need to be a truck driver. I roll up to the nail salon in my rig lol. What company have you decided on? Life out here is different for everyone especially woman. You have to be 10xs better than a man and still only get half the respect. Your attitude and your outlook will determine how your truck driving career unfolds for you. There are many things out here that will make you or break you. If you have never read my training diary check it out. Its a little jumbled cause it was pulled off the old blog by another member but its my first 3 months on the job. Good luck out there.

Thanks for the input RedGator! I'm going with Prime, Inc. I'm still a little freaked out by the complaints but I'm hopeful.

I will see if I can find your training diary on here. And I am glad to see you out here doing your thing!!! Not cool about the lack of respect, but I guess that is in so many areas of life and work, not just the trucking industry.

You have no idea how elated that makes me with the visual of pulling the rig up to the nail salon...that is soooo me

What's the point of having ten extra dollars if you can't spend it on you, right? Nail salon here I come! LOL Have a wonderful day! As one driver said in an earlier post "Be Smart Out There". Document everything and cover your own "A".

Redgaotor...you soooo spoil yourself !!!!! But if I was girly girl...I guess I"d do the same....Flatbedding doesn't allow for long nails...unless they are stickin' out of an oak board !!! EX...glad to hear you are a lady biker....I'm a member of the Christian Motorcyclist Association...hope to see ya on the road !!!

NEVER BELIEVE what you hear on those whiney, btichy, they all dun me wrong truckin' sites !!!! I swear...theres nothing more pathetic than a trucker who thinks they have been wronged.....or fired.... or found out for the lay-around that they must be. Thats why TT is here...we don't whine,...well...not much...but we don't whine about trucking companies...cuz its mostly the driver who did themselves in....they just need to pull up their big boy/girl undies and get on with life....and LEARN from the mistake...whoever it belongs to.

Prime is a wonderful company....but it has a VERY intense training program...and there is no room for failure. They won't let you slide, or give you light work cuz you are a girl....So get ready to be"one of the guys".....But if I were to choose a company to drive for, Prime would be in my top 3....of course, I'd probably go with WEL.....so Redgator could train me !!

Hi Starcar,

Lady Bikers rule!!! Maybe once I finish with training, I will be able to find time to ride again...I am already missing it. And meeting other bikers is always nice.

I'll remember your advice and see what trucking and the company is like for myself. I am optimistic and will stay positive. So please have the Christian Motorcyle Assoc. send a prayer up for me.

EX....because I"m a trucker, a biker, and a Christian, I put all the truckers in my prayers. I know how bad it can be out there... The only thing tougher than a biker is a trucker ....lol Hang in there...you can do this...you got this...you are tougher than you think.....This is your time for your adventure !!!!!!