Question:
Well, I finally made it. I am a Professonal Truck Driver. After 5 weeks on the road and 1 time at home for 16 hours, I'm done.
Last Saturday, my trainer is like,"Hey, We got to take a load down to the main terminal", even though we origionally had a load lined up for Clearwater Flordia. I was like ok. So go down to the terminal, my trainer is like, would you feel alright to take your road test? I was like I guess, he's like what about today right now? I was like "Right Now, WTF are you thinking". He's like, "I feel you are ready". I was like, "What happens if I fail"? He's like "If you do you just go with me for 2 more weeks, but you will". So I get out of my trainers truck and go with him in the terminal with my duffel bag. So, I end up putting my bag in the safety directors office and walk out with him to a older century class, while my trainer waited back at the terminal.
So, we start out. First, the pretrip. I pass that with 100% grade. Then turns out no one told me my road test was close to 2 hours just driving. So when we finally get back from circling Dallas TX for a better part of the afternoon, the safety director is like, see that dock back into it. mind you this dock is 55 feet deep and 12 feet wide. So if you screw up, you will pay dearly. I get out when I have the truck about 10 feet away and look, looked really tight. Get back in and start to back in very slowly using both mirrors every other second. After the longest 4 minutes of my life I get the truck in perfectly. After that he's like ok take me over to my office in back of the terminal and park the rig near the bobtails by the fuel island.
So, I do that and go into his office. I go in and he's sitting there at his desk and tells me to shut the door and sit down. He's like, "how do you think you did"? I'm like, "I probably failed". He's like, "I would say that, but I would be lying to you". He's like, "Look out the office window, see those 12 trucks, we are going to go down and pick one, so you can go back by Thursday". I was like, "I thought failed". LOL I go out of the office to look for my "former" trainer and he's gone. I ask the safety director where he went and he's like he left when we were on the finale leg of the road test. That would have been nice if I would have failed my backing test.
Finally go down to the 12 trucks and he's like, "there's 4 Freightliner Centurys from 2001 to 2003 with low miles, 3 2002 T600s, 3 2003 T2000's or 2 Volvo 770 trucks one 2001 and one 2003, that where husband and wife tean trucks so they got around 300,000 miles on them." He's Like" Which one you want?" By this time I am so Happy I didn't care what I got. I was like I don't care give me the 2003 Volvo, At least i wont get stuck with a high mileage truck for a year or 2. Never seen the inside of the truck or anything, just took anything to get out of there. Went back in signed a bunch of papers and got the keys. I hooked up a 53' Reefer that was headed for Pittsburgh, PA 50 miles from where I live. Then I got to go home for 7 days from there
So, now I am home and found out a day latter that my truck was a husband/wife team truck for a year and they just got a new one 2 days ago. It is fully loaded. It's a 2003 Volvo 770, with every option, including the sink. I didn't even know it had it until I talked to Randy in the Chat Room and they said to look in one of the drawers. LOL. But, for now I am home and loving it after putting in 14200 miles in 5 weeks, you really get worn down and start to relize how demanding trucking is. I still wont know if I am out of the woods until one year has past. I still am scared when passing in high traffic or going 75 miles an hour (where these limits are posted) on a western interstate highway, but I think over time I will get confortable to it. I still hold both hands on the wheel till my knukles turn white in high wind areas but, the safety director said that is good to be cautious and will be natural for a few months.
Anyone, ever thinking about trucking think again. The 5 weeks I was out I got $400 a week while my trainer got all the miles that the truck turned over which sorta p*ssed me off, especially when he was sleeping at 4 in the morning and I was going into long island or canada. Plus, team driving sucks really bad. No sleep for your first week at all. Just something for you all to look forward to. Have Fun, I am being very sarcastic when I say that.
Hey, if life throws you a curve ball, try and take a swing at it. Who knows what might happen

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Roll on midnight.
Arguing with a truck driver is like wrestling with a pig in the mud;Sooner or later you figure out the pig enjoys it.
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You're the man!!!!
I wish my trainer had been willing to let me road test after 5 weeks. I think he would have kept me for a year so that he could continue making the big bucks. I felt like I would never be "qualified" because the truck was being used for every hot load there was.
Once again, congratulations. Enjoy your home time, get on the road, then follow your dreams.

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WOOOHOO congrats! So what is your truck number we see alot of ffe on the road. Would love to meet up for coffee.
Am so happy for you!

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Way to go!
Congrats!
Who are you drving for?

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WHOOP WHOOP!!!! Truckem' Up
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Midnightrunner.
Congratulations. If you get a minute check your email I sent. How much did you spend on other gadgets besides the "Truck Copilot"
When time permits, send me a quick note.
Later,
xmtnman2

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midnightrunner, when you say that you wont sleep for a week when you run team with your trainer, what are you talk about.

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Good job midnight, nice truck also. Have fun when you can.
Kenworth007 he's talking about how long it takes most people to get use to sleeping in a moving truck. One week is pretty good. Took me about 2 weeks. He's right teaming aint no fun.
"There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot."

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Like......like.......congrats Dude!!!!!!!!!
Ya know when my trainer released me,he handed me 2 c-notes(yes $100 dollar bills) and said,"thanx for the miles and thanx for the company" and off into the sunset he went. Too bad other "trainers" dont acknowledge the "help" that a trainee gives their bank account
CD
If you think education is hard......try ignorance recovering dweller..........oilfield trash division

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Hey Mid ..you get that Volvo all polished up yet . By the way credit on locating the sink goes to eaglefreak he mentioned looking in the drawer.
Enjoy the ride Bud ..keep it clean and keep yourself safe ..oh and let me know when your coming into Oakland maybe you can buy me a cup of coffee !
Have a good week drivers ...keep it safe!
Randy

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Like I am like totally excited for you. You will like notice there is like way more room now that it will be like just you in the truck.
Prepare your self to like just collect like a ton of stuff. Like when I first went out on my own (like day 1) all I had was like my duffle bag. Now it takes like all day to like unload my truck when I am home.
On a more serious note........
Congratulations.....nothing will terrify you more, or give you more satisfaction than when the paperwork is signed after your first run.
What company are you working for?

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Congrats!!! You did'nt do bad for truck choices. I would have chosen the T600 personally, because the last one I had was one of the best tractors I ever drove. But I hear the 770 is also pretty roomy. Hopefully it has a Cummins, and not a bulldozer engine. Again, just my preference. Good luck/take care of it AND you.
Better to have it and not need it as need it and not have it!Just remember:If the world did'nt suck, you'd fall off!
The more I see and read about Republicans and Democrats, the more I wish we had an Independent Party.
IMPEACH BUSH!!!!!!!!!!

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I thank everyone for their support. It has been hard, but I can honestly say I love my job. I am on my first load tomarrow, so I hope all goes well. I am still in need of a hard drive for my computer which should be in by tomarrow before I leave, so I will try to post often.
Hey, if life throws you a curve ball, try and take a swing at it. Who knows what might happen

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When you yell and scream for joy, after having gotten off your trainer's truck, remember it was NO PIECE OF CAKE for him either. While he may have been getting a little snooze at 4 in the morning while you were driving, he probably has been suffering from sleep deprivation the entire month. And even at 4 am, while you're piztoff that your trainer gets all the miles while he's sleeping and you're driving, remember this: he's sleeping with one eye open, being aware for any unusual activity or noises. He's sleeping behind a rank rookie, who he has to trust with his life. He has already put in his time to get to the position he holds. He knows a lot more than you at this point, and has opened up his personal space to allow you the privilege of learning the ropes. Do you really think it's right to expect more than what you got? $400/week is not too bad for training pay.
I'm in the middle of training a new driver now. We both are on home time; she lives about 200 miles from me. When we return, I will be sleep deprived again, I will be crowded in my own space, I will be giving her the best information and instruction I can give. And when the company sanctions us to run more like a team, I'm gonna try to sleep a little. Yes, while she's driving.
According to Charles Kuralt, "Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything."
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