Profile For MiniMegs

Hey drivers,

I'm thinking very seriously of becoming an advocate for truckers. Is this something my fellow drivers would be interested in? No cost (I'm not a lawyer), just an organization that fights poor regulation that benefits companies and leaves the drivers out in the dust. Any takers? Thanks y'all!

As I type this, I'm sitting at my desk job, wishing I was behind the wheel instead. Desk jobs... ugh.

I joined the US Army straight outta high school, but was only in for 7 months, having become pregnant with my daughter. She was a blessing for sure; I wasn't much of soldier, though I'll continue to uphold my oath if the need should arise.

After being honorably discharged from the Army and having my baby girl, I worked as an office admin for a pharmeceutical company, but I was contracted with Pitney Bowes. That lasted 7 months. Again, desk jobs don't work out well for me. After that was some college; only 3 semesters before I dropped out/ burned out. Academics just ain't my thang.

I got a part-time job delivering with Pizza Hut (which I LOVED!), then started working at Kragen Auto Parts (now O'Reilly), mostly because I had plans to attend UTI to learn about wrenchin on diesel trucks and restoring classic cars. But I got pregnant with my son and that dream was derailed. I worked for Kragen & Pizza Hut simultaneously until I was 7-1/2 months pregnant. Yup, I worked 65 hours a week into my third trimester. I'm kind of a badass like that :D

After my son was born, I was brought onto Countrywide as a temp mailroom clerk, then hired as an admin assistant. That lasted about 6 months before I was laid off.

10 months of unemployment ended when I was hired to a call center job. I was the best on the floor of 30 agents and moved up to the help desk spot- techincally a promotion, just without a pay raise, but it meant I didn't have to sit in the queue and wait for calls! I was then recruited into a higher paying team of elite agents, which I took, but the management in that department was so awful I was done with it in less than 6 months.

15 months of unemployment followed. The economy had collapsed, nobody was hiring. I had no job, no money, no car, and nothing to lose. So I moved to Colorado on a crazy dare. It ended up being the best decision of my life.

It took a few months to find a job, but I picked up a temp gig working on a research assignment for a consulting company. Sadly, that ended rather abruptly (even the agency was shocked at how sudden it was; 12 of 30 people on the assignment were cut in the same day, 5 others the day after). With no job and no money, I had no rent. So no more Colorado. Goodbye Boulder, hello (again) Los Angeles. Sigh.

3 weeks after coming home, I got a temp assignment as an order entry clerk for a local tool company. 8 months later I was hired on, and 2-1/2 years after that I became the department manager. What a thankless position: barely a raise, 3 times the responsibility, and less than half the support from my boss. I quit 9 months later.

Within 3 weeks I had another temp gig, but I had graduated from a health coach training program, so temping was ideal- I was gonna use it as a bankroll to fund my coaching biz. Sadly, having a lot more money than I'd ever had before got the better of me, and when the assignment ended 6 months later, I was in deeper debt than when I'd started.

I drove for Uber for 4 months (which I also LOVED!) until I qualified for unemployment. Turns out working AND collecting unemployment meant I came in under every week (unemployment deducted 75% of my Uber earnings from the payouts, but I had to spend more than the difference to keep my car gassed up), so I stopped driving for Uber. Unemployment kept me afloat until it ran out 6 months later, so I applied for the job I have now, where I've been since this February. And once again, I'm slowly losing my mind with the monotony, the predictability, and the total lack of anything resembling advancement or opportunity.

My husband was a trucker back before we met, and he & I know a couple who ride together (he drives, she navs). Both he (my husband) & our friends have suggested we do the same thing- ride as a couple, if not a team- and it got me thinking: why couldn't I become a driver? Why can't I be a trucker?

And the only answer I had was... why not?! :D I've loved every job I've ever had as a driver (pizza delivery, auto parts delivery, people delivery lol), I've always wanted to travel, I prefer working alone, I love having a new challenge every day, and I have the full support of my husband, so... it's time for a change.

I'm working with a company-sponsored program right now; application is in and my interview is this Monday. I'm SUPER stoked and can't wait to get started!!!

Now, how do I tell my boss?