Question:
After lurking here for several years, i decided to jump in. Going to Central Voc Tech in Drumright, Ok the 25th of Oct. Moved to Ok & tried to retire & found too much month & not enough $, Wife has been after me to get my CDL for a long time, this will be a new career for me. I have spent considerable seat time hauling a race car, firewood, scrap metal,friends & familys stuff all over 15 western states & BC Canada in a 1 ton cube van w 16 & 20ft trailers, the van was rigged w/a bunk behind the cab, so living in a truck is nothing new.
I was self employed for 25 years in the boat business(Mechanic) got some what burned out doing that, so want something a bit different to do, like to drive.
Get to see the country & let somebody else pay for it.
WIZARD TOO

Answer:
Hi there and welcome!
Dive right on in and join us!
There are a lot of knowledgeable people here, (if you have been lurking then you already know that, as well as the other things you will find here! ) and hopefully you will get the answers you are looking for.
Answer:
Wizard,
Central Tech is a nice decent school to attend to. Not only are the staff members helpful and good to work with, they are also a funny bunch of characters.
If you listen to them, they will teach. Mr Brown was my instructor and was a great guy. Mr Sarge was a great guy to kick me in the rear when I thought "what the heck am I doing?" Or "what the heck am I not doing right?" If you get the instructor that talks like, Eyore off of Winnie The Pooh disregard his jokes. They are lame, but he is there to make things easier for you.
The road tests are very good ( my views). You will have day and night driving. Mr. Brown doesn't believe in alot of class room work. He likes the driver to get down right dirty into his/her new profession. You will have right turns, left turns. two lane and 4 lane driving. You will either go on a nice long trip down to Texas or to Big Cabin, OK and to Tulsa (through rushhour). You will have to carry a average of 90% or better to graduate. They prefer higher then 90%.
If you are needing extra help, they are there to do it. Mr Brown made it his main priority to help me when I needed more. Not only did he help me, but Boom Boom ( name given by Mr Brown) needed help with his shifting and received the help. To this day Boom Boom is still driving and is doing good.
The tests are not at all difficult,if you study like every good student should. Do your daily pti's, enroutes and post trips and you shouldn't have a lick of problems when it comes to testing on pretrips. The airbrake, backing test and the actual CDL test comes with alot of studying and focusing. Stay focused and things slide together like a fifth wheel and king pin.
I'm not sure if this helped you much, but I thought I'd throw my 2 cents in.
Tell Mr Brown, I'll be coming through town and to get ready for Sweet Whiskey. If he looks at you weird, just say the class pet or troublemaker from October 2002 to November 2002. He'll know what you mean .
Sweet WhiskeySweet Whiskey

Answer:
Sweet Whiskey: Thanks for the reply & the heads up, I dont think I will have much trouble with any of it, I moved here from the Seattle area, lots of traffic, I have driven just about every thing but a class 8, the longer trailer doesnt get out of shape as quick as a short one. I am actually looking forward to a new adventure! Choclit Snda had recomended the school to some one else some time ago so I checked it out. I have also operated up Yachts up to 65ft, propellers, no wheels! Try parking one of them!
WIZARD TOO

Answer:

Why does she want to get rid of you?

Just be really sure you know as much as you can about what you are getting into - trucking isn't any of the stereotypical glamour that those outside of the business think it is.
Answer:
Wife really doesnt want to get rid of me, she has always supported me in what I do, besides she is my best friend, in the last 28 years we have been through a lot together, we have 9 adult kids with the problems they have had over the years(me 3 her 6) eventually she will ride w/me. I am aware of the problems involved w/ going OTR, I am very independent & resourseful, having been self employed for 25 years, I dont know it all (mark that down for future reference)not stupid enough to buy/lease a tractor at this point. I am sure that I have a lot to learn & will do so. FWIW: 9 adult kids,21 Grand kids,5 great Grand kids, what do you do for a hobby? I am not making any $ just sitting here & am going to do something I have wanted to do for a long time.
I also have the mechanical skills to fix anything but a catastrofic failure in the field. Thanks for the reply.
WIZARD TOO

Answer:

Not to mention those "inside" the business
Answer:
Wizard Too,
Welcome. I think we wonder about those who stay in the background. I actually hope not too many of them decide to drive truck...... ...but if you just can't help yourself, welcome to the club. You're in for a major advanture.

Answer:

Glamour ? Care to give an example ? I know the trucking bunch has their take on many things usually far different than a normal person. Only the too far gone would consider the 'lifestyle', glamourus. Glamour ?______
|l ,[____],
l---L –OlllllO-
()_) ()_)-(-)_)
I'd rather die on my feet like a man than live on my azz hiding in a truck.........Sir James Brown

Answer:
Fred, by the looks of your sport jacket and that little Rambler, you may very well be trucknets' authority on "glamour".

Answer:
Looks like your into boats. Maybe you should find a company that takes newbies and will train them on boat hauling. Might be more fun and you will see alot more of the country. Just dress clean of you do it.

Answer:
Heck Wizard....if you lived in Florida, I'd hire you to re-wire my 23' boat.
Something about it sinking...wire all corroded...