My Introduction As A New Member Of The Trucking Truth Forum!

Hello to Brett and everyone else here!

I'm really not that good at this introduction stuff, but I'll give it a try! (Sorry in advance if I ramble.)

First of all my name is Tarren, I am a boat mechanic in the Adirondack mountains of Upstate New York. I'm 40 years old, married to a wonderfully supportive woman, I have two awesome daughters, (one's mine, the other is my wife's) and two beautiful grandsons. I've always wanted to become a professional truck driver, ever since I was a little kid. I think it may have started with a certain red and white Kenworth K100! (just a little trivia for the younger members.) ;-) [insert Jeopardy theme music here!] Along with that, I had a cousin who was a driver that I absolutely idolized. Up until now there has always been one thing or another in my life that has steered me in a different direction. (See what I did there? Pun, completely intended) I was a live truck/satellite truck engineer in television for a number of years. Then I moved on to become a marine mechanic & service manager for the past 12 years. The only problem being, the boating season up here only lasts 6 months at most. I've tried working winters as a snowmobile mechanic, but the winters are so unpredictable here that it's never a steady gig and unemployment (even temporarily) just never seems to cover the bills. So, here I am. I've come full circle. Back to my first love, TRUCKS!!!! I once even had the chance to drive a friends tractor around an empty parking lot, and almost jumped at the chance back then! However, I was not in a very good place in my life at that point, so it was most likely for the best that I didn't try and make a go of it at that time.

I started doing my research and was getting very discouraged at the things I was finding all over the “interwebs”, until I happened across this amazing site! It's a breath of fresh air to find a site full of kind, caring people who just want to help others get off on the right foot. For that I thank you all. I've read tons of posts in the forum, I've started the High Road CDL training program, and I've been in contact with Sage Truck driving school in Rome, NY which is just about an hour from where I live. I've also been researching companies to try and find one that will best fit my needs. I won't be starting until sometime this fall, as I've already made the commitment to my boss to work this season at the marina. But, after that, we'll be off and running!

So, here we go!! I look forward to meeting and getting to know as many of you as I possibly can, picking your brains for knowledge and advice. And I fully intend to pay it forward as I start my journey toward getting my CDL-A and beyond.

God bless and stay safe out there!

Tarren J. Williams

Tarren...WELCOME TO TT !!!! I'm glad you found us...There's alot of bad press on the net about trucking...and most of it is lies. We try to keep it real here. We want the people who are considering trucking as a career to know exactly what they are getting into. It looks like you have a cdl school that will fit your needs, so that part is fixed. But since you live in an area that may not see alot of regular truck traffic, you will need to be very careful when you pick the company you go with. Home time is a big deal for truckers with families...its necessary for both the trucker and the family to stay connected emotionally. SO keep that in mind, unless you plan on moving. Take advantage of all the training on here...but also read some of the blogs, and diaries from drivers that have taken the time to contribute their adventures for those coming behind them. If you have questions, feel free, post when and where you want...and most of all....when you get out there on the road...MAKE US PROUD.

Welcome to the forum Tarren!

You'll find a lot of positive, helpful drivers and fellow prospective drivers on this site. You should be well prepared by the Fall if you're already studying the High Road! Glad you found us.

Welcome aboard Tarren!

Keep working at that High Road Training Program and go through our Truck Driver's Career Guide and The Free Online Version Of My Book. That will keep ya busy!

Don't be shy about asking questions. We're always happy to help out.

Thanks Starcar, Bill, & Brett!

@Starcar - I agree home time is very important. As I said, I have a very supportive wife and we've had extensive conversations about just that topic. However, we do have practice in this regard. For the first couple of years of our marriage, we lived 2 1/2 hours apart for half the year because my job was here in the Adirondacks, and her's was in Syracuse, NY. It wasn't always easy, and sometimes we didn't see each other for a month or two depending on her schedule. But, we made it work! and she's pretty confident that we can make it work again. Sometimes I think she just wants me out of her hair for a while! LOL - Also, I promise to do my best to make you all very proud!

@Bill W. - Glad I found you guys too! Like I said, it was getting a bit frustrating reading all the negativity on those other sites.

And Finally...

@Brett - Thank you so much for creating and maintaining this "diamond in the rough". I actually went ahead and bought your ebook on amazon so that i could read it on my iPad. Again, thank you for such a great resource! (BTW, I gave it a 5 star review!) I've been reading through the forums and I love the amount of honesty and encouragement you all give to each other!

...& Thank you in advance to all the other members of this site! I really look forward to getting to know you!

Tarren

Hey Tarren, glad to add my 2 cents (per mile) in terms of welcome! One thing you might have to do - if there is a lack of interest from employers due to your location - is use an address that is closer in to where the company terminals are located. I originally applied from a small town in California but was told "not hiring from there" due to the company's difficulty arranging for home time. I have a Reno address and Nevada license due to a prior job an that suited the companies just fine. I don't know if that will be a hurtle for you or not but this is a solution just in case. Not that Nevada would be a solution for you but be flexible in terms of meeting the company's requirements.

Jopa

Hey Tarren, glad to add my 2 cents (per mile) in terms of welcome! One thing you might have to do - if there is a lack of interest from employers due to your location - is use an address that is closer in to where the company terminals are located. I originally applied from a small town in California but was told "not hiring from there" due to the company's difficulty arranging for home time. I have a Reno address and Nevada license due to a prior job an that suited the companies just fine. I don't know if that will be a hurtle for you or not but this is a solution just in case. Not that Nevada would be a solution for you but be flexible in terms of meeting the company's requirements.

Jopa

Thanks Jopa! I have been looking into Swift as one of my possible choices because they have a facility in Syracuse, NY which is only an hour or so away from where I live. I used to know a guy that worked for them out of that location & lived farther way than I do now. Also, there is a possibility of moving out that way. Both my wife and I used to live out there, so we know the area pretty well.

Tarren

Tarren, don't forget that you do not have to live close to any facility of your employer. I live a thousand miles away from our main terminal. As long as you are in their hiring area, which is the areas where they have freight moving, then they should have no problem getting you home when needed. That opens up much more options for your search for an employer.

Also I noticed that you were home schooling your kids - we home schooled our three daughters and it was the greatest thing we ever did for them. My oldest two have now graduated college with honors and my third will be starting her senior year at home this fall. They are the most wonderful girls I know, of course I'm biased, but people who don't understand home schooling have no concept of how much better these kids are socially comfortable and ready to face the realities of life after being so well trained at home. And one of the greatest things that I enjoy is that they still enjoy being with me now that they are in their upper twenties - both of my oldest girls have taken time to ride with me and enjoyed it almost as much as I did.

Welcome to TT!

Tarren, don't forget that you do not have to live close to any facility of your employer. I live a thousand miles away from our main terminal. As long as you are in their hiring area, which is the areas where they have freight moving, then they should have no problem getting you home when needed. That opens up much more options for your search for an employer.

Also I noticed that you were home schooling your kids - we home schooled our three daughters and it was the greatest thing we ever did for them. My oldest two have now graduated college with honors and my third will be starting her senior year at home this fall. They are the most wonderful girls I know, of course I'm biased, but people who don't understand home schooling have no concept of how much better these kids are socially comfortable and ready to face the realities of life after being so well trained at home. And one of the greatest things that I enjoy is that they still enjoy being with me now that they are in their upper twenties - both of my oldest girls have taken time to ride with me and enjoyed it almost as much as I did.

Thanks Old School!!

That raises another question for me. How often do companies allow you to drive the truck home, if you don't live close to a terminal or a yard? Or do they require you to leave a vehicle at the terminal/yard to get home with? Or is that also one of those things that is different from company to company?

My daughter is 15, going on 30, LOL, and this is her first year homeschooling. But she's really thriving, much happier, and doing fantastic with it!! There are a bunch of parents in this area that have done it, and more that are doing it every year! It's becoming quite a trend. We are both looking forward to the idea of her going out on the road with me!

@Wine Taster - Thanks for the welcome!!

Tarren