Question:
I have enjoied reading about being on the road from all u cats and I do look forward to finding out more from you folks. i am 57 and i know when you stop learning you will be smelling dirt. would like to think i am old enough to realize that that as far as the trucking world is I DONT KNOW JACK S@%I(&*(^&*%^& and I am looking forward to the old salts telling me what they have gone thru keep it up, God bless and any advice you give will be appreciated . I feel like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. school is 3 weeks then here I go,i would like to be gone 5 to 6 days then home for 2 days till me and my wife get use to it, I have a wonderfull home life dut need to work been out of work for 3 monthes. was in sheet metal fab. but found out i am in the wrong need to mve to China or Mexico NOT so I must change horses as much as I dont waht to. Looking forward to your help Thanks oh i hope i get an instructor like joe again THANKS please keep it up ...jim

Answer:
Originally posted by kin746:
i am 57 and i know when you stop learning you will be smelling dirt.
Or in this business, when you stop learning, you will be put in a Petercar and called Billy Bigrigger, and what you will be smelling is the nasty arses of the other bigriggers, because it isn't their month for a shower.
would like to think i am old enough to realize that that as far as the trucking world is I DONT KNOW JACK S@%I(&*(^&*%^&
Retain that mindset. When you think you do know jack ****, it is time to find another line of work.
i would like to be gone 5 to 6 days then home for 2 days till me and my wife get use to it,
Good luck. Many of the training companies will keep rookies out minimum 14 days, with 2 at home (i day off for 7 on). You may have to bear that until you oget some experience and can afford to be more picky. I personally wont stay out any weekend or holiday. If I can't get it done Monday thru friday, it won't get done. But I have enough experience behind me that i can tell my dispatcher to go **** himself and if he fires me no big deal.
As for getting used to it, that ain't a good thing. Some people never get used to it, myself included. It is all I can do to stay out a few days anymore. I just don't see the point in being gone all the time anymore. The money surely aint it. My ex wife makes more money than I do and all she does is work 45 hours a week installing light bulbs into automotive lighting at the local factory.
I have a wonderfull home life
I did too until I started driving. 2/3 of the year away from home is a tad difficult to have a home life with.
But my negativity aside, if this is what you really want to do, good luck and have fun.
@#*!%$^@!
Answer:
kin746 I hope it all works out for you. Unfortunatly it does not for most. Often what a new peron wants and needs is never fulfilled. Things like wanting to be home every 5-6 days. It wont happen with the bigger training companies. Your wonderful home life will suffer quite a bit. Just try to remember when you get home that you have been traveling all over the country but your family hasn't. They have been right there doing the same old thing everyday. Make your home time the best it can be, every single time you get back.
Good luck and ask as many questions as you want.
"There is just something about fresh winter snow and a river. The day is bright even if it is cloudy, the water is friendly even if it is cold and the fish are there even if they are not biting."

Answer:
There are 2 hard parts to starting with something new for older folks...
The first is getting used to starting at the bottom with something new.
The second is getting used to the new physical requirements of the new career.