One Year Over The Road

Congrats Old School! You have worked hard to get where you are. On top of that, I know you have enjoyed the work, which is an important part of any job. Your posts are inspirational, too. May your second year be better than your first!

Congrats OS. I've already spoken with you on the phone so that was enough for you!

Congrats Old School! The big anniversary - that's awesome!

It really is true what Brett has always told us. You will be the deciding factor in your success at this career. I'm proud to be working at Western Express, one of the most maligned companies you can find on the trucking reviews. I've had great success here and I see no reason for it to change in this coming year. I will continue to push all the limits and do my best to outperform my fellow employees - that is the key to success in this business - You've got to be on top of your game no matter what the odds are against you. If you can wake up every day and conquer the stuff that defeats everyone else, then you will enjoy success at this most rewarding career.

I wish we could bottle that up and serve it to everyone before they ever get started in this industry. For all the years this site has been around I think that message right there is the most important one there is and yet it's the toughest sell. People just don't believe it. They think their fate lies in the hands of the company they work for, but that's almost never the case. Your fate lies in your own hands.

If you can wake up every day and conquer the stuff that defeats everyone else, then you will enjoy success at this most rewarding career.

That is priceless!

Congrats to you Old School! I feel fortunate to read your wise advice and see that it has brought you success with your company!

Congratulations and job well done!

I always look forward to reading your posts. Hope our paths cross soon and I get a chance to meet you, sir.

Congratulations Old School!!

I can only say "ditto" to all of the wonderful and well-intentioned thoughts above. You are an inspirational and most of all positive person and I thank you for that!

I raise my pint glass with the rest and salute you sir; "Slainte'!!"

Congrats Old School ! You are the perfect example of hard work, dedication and taking pride in what you do. Thank you for all you do around here sharing your knowledge and experience. Be safe out there and here's to you for continued success !

Congrats Old School.

Do you have raw numbers for the last year?

I.E.-- how many miles you ran?, how many states did you visit?, how many days out and how many days off?

I've been busy and hadn't realized how many of you had responded to this. Wow, many thanks to all of you - I'm humbled by your remarks about hard work and commitment. If you knew how much I enjoyed what I'm doing you'd never think I was working all that hard. It's a great career with an intriguing lifestyle bundled up with the package. It's definitely as challenging as it is rewarding, but you've got to take the whole package as it is and manage to enjoy the benefits while overcoming the challenges - for me overcoming the challenges is a reward in itself, but I'm kind of wired that way.

Double Cutter, to answer your question, I ran about 130,000 miles my rookie year. In the first three months of my career I had hit every state with the exception of Montana and Washington (which I still have not ventured into). I usually ran my schedule with 6 - 10 weeks on the road and then 3 - 5 days at home. I chose this schedule after a little bit of experimenting with it. I was involved in business for 30 years before I started this as a second career, and I tend to look at things from a perspective of how to operate in the most profitable way. This schedule worked well for me and my family, it may not be the best thing for others, but it's the way I liked to run it.

Way to go old school. I look forward to echoing your sentiments in another 6 months myself. Thanks for all your words if wisdom. Keep on truckin'