Finally Solo

After a much longer training period than I anticipated do to weather and trainer shortages, I finally finished ! I road tested Friday and got assigned a truck. The adventure begins and the learning continues at 9am Monday ! Add me to the ranks of rookie solo drivers. Now into the real world and as always .....

"Take it Slow and Dont Hit Anything "

That's awesome Doug! Congrats!!!!

Awesome job Doug. I can't remember. Was it you who had a devilishly awful time getting a trainer out of orientation and were considering leaving or someone else? If it was then the patience the experience drivers are always talking about payed off. See you a year from now buddy. We should be updating our statuses again pretty close the same time.

Yes, that was me. I got pretty discouraged when it seemed like I may have chosen the wrong training program with all the delays. In the end, with the encouragement here and patience I stuck it out and now it will just be a funny story to tell of all I had to go through to get to this point. Im glad I stuck it out.

Congratulations Doug!!

All the best, be safe!

Hey,

Awesome! Last week when I started heading out with my first load solo, it was so surreal. Did they really just allow me to have the keys to a huge truck? Any day that you walk away without hitting anything and without a ticket, it is a good day. Remain calm and don't forget you got that big trailer behind you.

Exactly what Wine Taster said!

Take it one day at a time, keep an open mind. Don't get into a rush and think every decision through. Its great to be solo finally, however, this will be the toughest chapter in your career. If you get get past these first few months scratch free then give yourself a pat on the back! Good luck!

Thanks guys ! After retiring from a job where I was responsible for treating the drinking water for 140,000 people, budgets, and 30 employees, Im looking forward to only having to manage me ! Taking my time and getting it right the first time is nothing new although I realize this is a whole new ballgame.

Im getting old enough now that getting in a hurry is almost not an option even if I wanted to

Gratz, Doug! I can't wait to get to that point and beyond. Soon. Really soon, though.

Doug...Your story shows the exact attributes that a person who goes in to trucking HAS to have. Tenacity.....PATIENCE......Maturity,....and an independent attitude. You will do well...and don't worry about being older and not wanting to be in a hurry...in trucking...thats a GOOD thing !!

Its interesting that you worked in providing drinking water.....I'm a commissioner of our local water district....and I'm hatin' it....I never knew so many assumed adults could whine like 3 year olds...I am counting the says until my term is over.....