Profile For ManInBlackTrucker

Why are you bummed?

G-Town -

Well this last year and a half, I wound up working for a best friend, but the work was not to my liking nor was it consistent nor was it financially rewarding. Actually, the whole experience has left me pretty unhappy with life in general; this is really alarming to me, as I am generally speaking a "glass half-full" positive guy. This experience has just worn me down and is probably the reason that I doubt my ability to drive a truck or anything else.

Portland/Vancouver area is home to me, so it's time to go home, regroup, and start kicking ass again.

MIB Trucker

If a 65 hour work week wore you out, trucking may not be for you.

Understood -

35 out of that 65 hours were the last two days of the workweek leading up to July 4th, our busiest day of the year. Sorry I wasn't clear on that point.

Thanks.

Prime Inc. has the best network due to their size,

Please explain the above comment, What network?

Hi G-town -

Well, Prime Inc. has - from what I gather - a pretty vast network to deal of terminals, drop off points, and things like places to go for medical and dental work all over the country. Some drivers have said that they can book appointments for you, even. Pretty handy if you are several hundred miles from home and have a root canal to deal with. As opposed to JP Trucking, which doesn't have that network, but is more personal.

Thanks.

Hey guys -

Thanks for the replies and assistance. I mainly posted this to see if there were any glaring things that would get me turned down. The rest may not matter, but I believe responsibility for a concealed firearm, credit score, etc. is important to judge character in a person.

I did leave out job history. I worked the last year and a half as a subcontractor for a friend of mine's business. However, I really don't like California or the work itself. Prior to that, I worked at a very busy Pacific NW resort for 17 years over three separate tours. In between tours, I worked at UPS and Town & Company Markets in Seattle, where I became a journeyman grocery worker.

I understand the need for flexibility in this business, and it'll be the hardest thing to get used to, as I am indeed a problem solver and Type A personality. But I consider that a plus, rather than a detriment. I'd rather be overly concerned and attentive, rather than uncaring or distracted.

Prime Inc. has the best network due to their size, Roehl starts paying on day 1, and JP Trucking has a small class size and one on one instruction that appeals to me. After that, they are relatively the same. Regarding any of them, I approach the first year or two years as a learning experience with company support, NOT a quick money grab. I have some debt and back taxes, but not a staggering amount. It would quickly get paid once going solo, rolling a solid 2000-2500 miles a week, and no rent.

I am driven, motivated, humble and not a know-it-all who can't be taught despite my age. I take the act of truck driving a very serious and potentially very dangerous situation. If I were to hit someone at 35 mph in my Honda Civic, it probably wouldn't be fatal. An 18-wheel, 80,000 with god knows what amount of freight load moving at 65 mph is very different story.

I am just a little bummed right now and wanted to reach out to some fellow truckers for advice and encouragement. You guys have been great, thanks!

MIB Trucker

• I am in my mid 40’s.
• My last accident/traffic infraction was in 2000, I banged up a UHaul truck by not seeing a low clearance sign at a hotel. Also, in 1998 – Negligent Driving 2 – I worked 65 hours that week. Going home, I feel asleep going into a turn and hit a cement mailbox.
• My only “criminal” infraction was in 2002 – Reckless Endangerment – A cab driver deviated from taking me home from a bar. After reaching up and touching his shoulder, he was obligated to report it to his dispatch.
• I have never been arrested (placed into handcuffs) for any reason
• I have been granted a concealed carry permit twice in Washington state
• I am currently in California, but am going home to the Vancouver, WA/Portland, OR area
• I am about 6” and weigh 145 pounds
• I have never had a serious illness. I’ve been to the hospital twice – to get stiches for a dog bite when I was about 7 and to get pain meds for two cracked ribs I suffered in the Bering Sea in Alaska
• I am a fiercely private and enjoy long periods of solitude.
• I am not married and have no children. Not even a girlfriend at the moment.
• I have a professional appearance. Clean shaven, no tattoos, no piercings, etc.
• I am unable to afford CDL school up front.
• I have a verifiable and tested high IQ.
• I am 100% unable to drive the truck – even with no trailer – to my home during home time. So terminal/drop-off/parking with my CDL training company has to take this into account.
• It is my plan to go home very rarely once I go solo. I’d like to do 8 weeks out/7 days home.
• I love a beer and a whiskey, but only plan on enjoying these during a 34 hour reset or during home time. Just not conducive to the truck lifestyle, like barbecue.
• I truthfully do not do drugs of any kind. Not weed, hard, prescription, nothing except nicotine. And I am trying to quit that as well.
• I am clean, organized and punctual and anyone who isn’t drives me nuts.
• I live by the golden rule – I treat people like I want to be treated, with kindness and respect – until THEY give me a reason to downgrade them.
• I have a 750 credit score.
• I do not have a home mortgage. I rent a room from my best friend and his family.
• I do not have a car payment.
• I am skinny but years of throwing freight has made me pretty strong.
• I require both manual and automatic endorsements for shifting and would like to get hazmat, doubles/triples, and tanker from school if I can.
• As far as I know, I don’t suffer from sleep apnea.
• The companies I am interested in are Roehl, Prime Inc. and Jim Palmer Trucking.