Author Archives: JakeCat22

How Having A Great Attitude Earned Me A Second Chance

Posted on March 12, 2012 by JakeCat22

You hear a lot of horror stories about the large companies that hire students straight out of school. You hear they’ll use you, abuse you, and toss you aside. You hear they’ll scam you at the drop of a hat. Well my experience has been quite the opposite, even after a major mistake on my part. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Career Help, Tips, Advice, First Solo Months On The Road, Great Stories, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

What’s A Tough Day Like In The Trucking World?

Posted on October 17, 2011 by JakeCat22

So what’s a tough day like in the life of a trucker? Well, if you survive it, it’s not as bad as it could have been. But let me tell ya, sometimes everything seems to go wrong! Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, First Solo Months On The Road, Great Stories, Stories of the Road, truck driving lifestyle | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

My First Time Driving A Rig Through The Big Apple

Posted on October 14, 2011 by JakeCat22

I have only been on the road driving solo for a short time now and I had to go through New York City recently for the first time in a big rig – and what an adventure it was! Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, First Solo Months On The Road, Great Stories, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

My First Solo Run Went Better Than I Expected

Posted on August 31, 2011 by JakeCat22

Well, the time finally came for me to get issued my own truck and go solo. It’s a very exciting time, but rather stressful too. And of course, the problems and lessons learned started right away. Continue reading →

Posted in First Solo Months On The Road, Great Stories, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Training Time Is Over And It’s Time To Test

Posted on August 24, 2011 by JakeCat22

Well, after two weeks with my trainer, I got to go home for three days to relax and get ready for my company test. Before I can get assigned my own truck I had to go back to the operating center and take a series of tests so the company knows I am knowledgeable enough and safe enough to go out solo in my own truck. Here’s how it went… Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Great Stories, On The Road In Training, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

On The Road In Training: There’s Been A Lot Of Ups And Downs

Posted on August 10, 2011 by JakeCat22

Well, I have been out with my trainer for a week and a half now and it has definitely been a roller coaster ride. I am learning new things every day, and every day our trainer expects us to do more and more on our own with little or no guidance from him. I feel I have progressed quite a bit, but feel as tho I still have a long way to go, especially since I only have 3 more days with my trainer. Continue reading →

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On The Road In Training: Doing Things For The First Time

Posted on August 4, 2011 by JakeCat22

In my first few days out on the road with a trainer everything is going great. Everything is brand new to you at this point – even my first truck stop shower! I had no idea how that was gonna go! Continue reading →

Posted in Becoming A Truck Driver, Great Stories, On The Road In Training, Stories of the Road, truck driving lifestyle | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

My First Days On The Road With A Trainer

Posted on August 3, 2011 by JakeCat22

We completed orientation and I got a call from the company that there was a trainer available to take me so I headed out on the highway for the first time! Here’s how it went… Continue reading →

Posted in Becoming A Truck Driver, Great Stories, On The Road In Training, Stories of the Road, truck driving lifestyle | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Testing Time For Orientation Has Arrived

Posted on August 1, 2011 by JakeCat22

The time for learning is over. Well, at least as far as learning for the purposes of orientation. It’s time for testing and (hopefully) graduating from orientation so we can continue onto the next phase of our training. Continue reading →

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The Meat And Potatoes Of Orientation

Posted on August 1, 2011 by JakeCat22

We’re in the meat & potatoes of orientation now where we’re doing a lot of driving, backing, and paperwork. This will really separate those who make it from those who won’t. Continue reading →

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Our First Day Driving

Posted on July 29, 2011 by JakeCat22

We got our first chance to drive the trucks today at company orientation and it went pretty well. But there are a lot of things we have to do differently than we learned in truck driving school and the classroom work is becoming information overload. Continue reading →

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Judgment Day At Orientation

Posted on July 28, 2011 by JakeCat22

Today was judgment day at orientation – the day students usually begin being sent home for various reasons. I was nervous, as was everyone, and was quite surprised at how it all turned out. Continue reading →

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My First Day Of Orientation

Posted on July 26, 2011 by JakeCat22

Today was the first day of orientation at my new company and I was nervous! Here’s how it went. Continue reading →

Posted in Becoming A Truck Driver, Trucking Company Orientation | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

On My Way To Orientation

Posted on July 25, 2011 by JakeCat22

It’s the start of my trucking career and after graduating truck driving school I’ve just arrived for orientation at my first truck driving job. Continue reading →

Posted in Becoming A Truck Driver, Great Stories, Trucking Company Orientation | Tagged , , | 1 Comment