AJ's Truck Driving Journey

I've watched many a Super Bowl crammed into the driver's lounge at truckstops and that's is one of the most fun times of the year. There's a ton of energy in the room, everyone takes sides, and it's great. You get your big mouths (in a good, funny way) that like to yell at each other, the quiet ones that sit back and wait for the right opportunity to jump in, and a complete silence during the commercials just in case they're funny!

Have a blast! There are not a lot of occasions most of us would prefer to spend with a bunch of truckers, but the Super Bowl is one of em!

I've watched many a Super Bowl crammed into the driver's lounge at truckstops and that's is one of the most fun times of the year. There's a ton of energy in the room, everyone takes sides, and it's great. You get your big mouths (in a good, funny way) that like to yell at each other, the quiet ones that sit back and wait for the right opportunity to jump in, and a complete silence during the commercials just in case they're funny!

Have a blast! There are not a lot of occasions most of us would prefer to spend with a bunch of truckers, but the Super Bowl is one of em!

I'm getting fired up !! ... it's almost here !! Woo ! hoo !

I'm sitting at the farm typing this. It's the last day on my 3rd home time stint.

I'm getting used to the macro aspects of going on and coming off the road. My shifting and backing are progressing nicely with little distressing me when it comes to situations. If you look at it long enough, you will find a way.

I'm also learning to control my patience. It seems that everything in this business takes time. The second you get in a hurry, you will become frustrated. Things just don't move quickly. I try to keep a positive attitude and just keep moving forward. Usually, you will make the appointment time, but sometimes you can't.

The biggest frustration is getting to shippers / receivers efficiently on the first visit. It is easy to get irritated with sketchy directions and tight roads. Once I have the address in my GPS and some notes made, the return visits are a piece of cake.

It will be nice when I am with Roehl long enough to know a large portion of the client list.

Back on the road tomorrow. I will try to post my position so maybe I can run into some of you out there. I thought we had a map at one point to log your position as you move about the country? ... maybe that was somewhere else...

Drive safely

Here's where to find it:

Here's where to find it:

Thanks for the reminder...

I am going to try and update my position each morning...

Well, I shut myself down here in upstate NY, headed west bound, when I saw that weather system coming. I'm not messing with this one... too big. I have plenty of time for this load, so I'm taking no chances.

Things are progressing well. My backing and shifting are becoming second nature, with most of the stress in those areas are behind me.

I'm looking forward to spring

I'm shutdown at a Love's at I26 / Newberry , SC to reset my 70 clock. I ran out of hours mid trip ! ... completely snuck up on me... lol lesson learned. ... looked at the 70 hr countdown everyday ! Lucky for me, Roehl wasn't able to find a relay driver, so I am able to sit just long enough for the 34 reset and head out to Knoxville, TN and still make the new appt. time ... perfect. I hate dealing with hrs coming back off a spent 70 clock ... I usually need close to the 11 driving each day...

The run prior to this, took me from upstate NY, where there was easily 3-4 feet of standing snow on the ground , to Jacksonville, FL, where I actually got a bit overheated !! lol The trees were in bud, flowers were out ... amazing ... Spring is almost here.

My headaches have all but disappeared. Partly from dealing with the stress better and completely recovering from that sinus infection from hell I got in Roehl Phase II... man, that was a long, hard stretch. But I'm stronger for it.

My backing and shifting are still progressing well. I'm also able to do a bit more personal stuff at the end of each day, when before, I was so exhausted , I would try to eat something and go straight to the bunk. Rinse and repeat...

I'm starting to look at other trucks, shop around the truck stops and generally enjoy life out here more. It takes a certain personality type to thrive out here and I feel it suits me well. Being away from the wife and farm is the only hard part now. But the die is cast and we are finding our way.

carry on....

Progress update.

I am starting to float gears with regularity now. What an amazingly better way to shift. The cartilage in my clutch knee thanks me!! lol.

I have received a $.02 per mile raise and am getting steady miles. Average pay is around $700 weekly take home. The tuition reimbursement checks are coming in steadily.

Roehl has an incredible knowledge base call Roehl University. Anything you would want to know about trucking is in there, it seems. I try and take a course every month. My next course is called Master City Driver. I just finished Driving In Windy Conditions. It's about real world stuff like that. Roehl really does seem to care about safety and education.

Life back on the farm is difficult for my wife, as she is trying to hold down a job while having to feed the horses twice a day in Winter. That load will ease up a bit now, as she will only feed once a day, since the pastures are coming in. She became a little frazzled in the middle of this most horrible of Winters.

The adventure continues....