Profile For Z

Hey I just wanted to say thanks. Your PTSD comment got me doing some research. I'm fairly certain I do have a form of PTSD due to some recurring traumatic experiences in childhood. It actually explains a lot of the problems I've had in life. The symptoms just hadn't come to an obvious head until I got out here alone. You don't know how much your offhand comment may have helped me.

My next question is, when do the sobbing and the nightmares stop?

That all depends on what is causing it. If it's just a little debt and some homesickness, then I say, in my best Walter Sobchak voice, "You have got to buck up, man. You cannot drag this negative energy in to the tournament!"

You've got a job, you're on the right track, and you've got people you can count on to tell you the truth. It's going to be better soon.

If it's something more serious, like PTSD, then I have no idea.

That's good. I did orientation and parked my car at Lancaster.

Millionmiler24: my driver leader is in Lewiston idaho, though I've mostly been driving around my home state of Texas.

Thanks for all your advice, everyone Ill take it to heart. My next question is, when do the sobbing and the nightmares stop?

Ok. I was out of the Lancaster TX terminal when I drove for Swift. I never had the chance to visit the Lewiston Terminal, however, I have heard its a very nice place to be.

Haha thanks man. Its more than a little debt, about 120k. Its also more than just homesickness. To be honest, I thought trucking would be a way to get my life back on track, but I'm worried I'm just making things worse. If I wanted to get fancy Id call it 'existential anxiety.'

Ill do my best to just suck it up and soldier through. To be honest I feel pretty great when I'm driving. Its when I shut down and lie down in the sleeper and the walls start closing in and I kinda freak out.

My next question is, when do the sobbing and the nightmares stop?

That all depends on what is causing it. If it's just a little debt and some homesickness, then I say, in my best Walter Sobchak voice, "You have got to buck up, man. You cannot drag this negative energy in to the tournament!"

You've got a job, you're on the right track, and you've got people you can count on to tell you the truth. It's going to be better soon.

If it's something more serious, like PTSD, then I have no idea.

Millionmiler24: my driver leader is in Lewiston idaho, though I've mostly been driving around my home state of Texas.

Thanks for all your advice, everyone Ill take it to heart. My next question is, when do the sobbing and the nightmares stop?

Two weeks isn't very long. You just started, barely on their radar.

Are you using all of the available Qualcomm Macros indicating and documenting your status (empty call)? Setting your PTA accurately, requesting the next load? Are you proactively calling your DM in advance of completing a delivery, requesting a pre-plan? Review all of your Macros and understand how to best utilize them to your advantage.

When you talk to your DM; reiterate your desire to keep moving and ask the question what must you do to improve, be considered for longer runs, etc. Let them know in frank yet professional way that it's difficult to meet your financial commitments clearing $350 per week. Keep the conversation positive and express gratitude for your job (even though you are frustrated). When ever you are at your home terminal, go out of your way to talk with your DM. This is a learning process...learn to work on that relationship. Remember, they are getting paid to keep you loaded and moving.

It takes time to get visible and establish a solid, professional relationship with your DM. Way too early to panic. Just keep working the system...and maintain a positive attitude. Take a moment to review the contents of this link for further information that can help with your situation: Building a Relationship With Your Dispatcher

Ok thanks for the info. I'm doing good on the macros, and ill start calling like you said. Ill also review the link. Thanks for the help.

Ill admit its only been two weeks, but still, my bills don't care. This is net, and they only thing they've taken out is the money to repay my academy tuition. I signed up for health insurance, so now they'll start taking out 35 for that. I dont burn my clock at shippers. I go off duty whenever possible. I keep getting these short low velocity runs. Like the run I'm on now was only 350 miles, but Ill be sitting here with the walls closing in for 17 hours before I make my delivery tonight. I tried to see if I could deliver early but it was a no go.

I talked to a friend from the academy and he is getting two long loads at the beginning of the week, then gets a few short ones to run out his 70, does a 34 hour reset, then does it all over again. He said he makes about 700-1000 a week doing this. Which is the same as I was expecting to make.

I talked to my driver leader about all this, and she tried to assuage my fears, but I fear she is just blowing smoke.

I spent lots of time researching trucking here and elsewhere. I studied with the high road training program and got my CLP. Trucking seemed like something I'd enjoy and be able to make money at. I went to The Swift academy and felt the same way. I went out with my mentor for a month, and felt the same way, but my mentor was on the target dedicated account. He said he thought is be great at this, and that I should be able to make 700-1000 bucks a week OTR.

Now I'm out here solo OTR, and I'm running as hard as I can, not turning down loads, and I'm making like 350 a week. That's less than the hourly pay I made as a trainee. What am I doing wrong?

Half of college graduates can't find work in their field, and I'm one of them. I'm drowning in student loan debt and I needed a job with decent pay. Before this I was working as a front desk clerk at a hotel and living at home. I could barely pay my bills.Now all my stuff is in storage and I basically live in the truck.

Sorry to ramble I'm just really frustrated with this, and feel like I bought a pig in a poke. Even if in were to decide to leave trucking I don't really have anywhere else to go. Is it normal to be making this kind of money at the beginning?

Well. I passed all my written tests and got my CLP with a Tanker endorsement. Once I get my CDL I plan on getting doubles triples and hazmat right away, so I have all my bases covered if/when I look for a new company. I was a bit worried about the special requirements portion, as a good chunk of it isn't covered in The High Road, but I aced that too. I missed no more than two on any test, and got a perfect score one my tankers endorsement test. It was a long wait at the driver's license office. I couldn't have done it without Trucking Truth and The High Road training program.

It was a longest wait I've ever had at the driver's license office, but this step is finally done.

And Old School, I'm near San Antonio. I'd prefer to leave it at that.

Yup. I'm going with Swift. Going to get my CLP Monday, and should be at the school in Corsicana, TX the Monday after that. I've actually been lurking here since December, and was intending to start school in January. I had to wait an extra month to use my new CPAP to log a month of usage data for my physical, then it turned out I had high bloop pressure at the physical, and my family Dr. was super busy. It took almost an extra month to get him to fix my BP and do the paperwork. I've got my medical certification in hand, and am ready to get things moving.

Yes, I used The High Road Training Program. I've reset it and am working through it again, backwards this time. I want to make sure I get my doubles/triples, tanker, and hazmat endorsements.

My Reading of http://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/commerciallicense.htm says there is no longer a written pre-trip exam in Texas (or anywhere.) Yet I've noticed every single website offering practice tests has a written pre-trip test. Its not something I need to worry about to get my CLP, right?