Author Archives: Philosopher Paul

The Science of Truck Driving

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Philosopher Paul

From truck driving school to orientation to working with two different finishers and getting out on my own, I am not saying that I am anywhere close to understanding this complex science, but this familiarity was the place I was hoping to reach when I set out to become a truck driver in early April. I wanted to be alone and feel like I had some kind of base to work from. Now I am finally alone and I am very glad to be here. But there’s been a lot of tough lessons learned and near misses. Continue reading →

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My First Ever Solo Run!

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Philosopher Paul

I finished my training and finally got my own truck and off I went…solo for the first time in a big rig. I was nervous as can be but excited at the same time. This is how my solo career started out. Continue reading →

Posted in Becoming A Truck Driver, First Solo Months On The Road, Great Stories, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Showdown With “The Colonel” – Handling My Trainer’s Tirades

Posted on June 2, 2011 by Philosopher Paul

3200 miles with colonel Kurtz and still going surprisingly well. I needed to keep things light with this guy because I still had two or three weeks left with him. When it seemed like he wasn’t going to let up on me, I knew we were going to have a showdown. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Great Stories, On The Road In Training, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dealing With Some Crazy Personalities During Training

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Philosopher Paul

I’ve been really happy with my fortune so far but the first day I met my finisher, I got a little concerned. The first thing he told me was “Forget everything you learned at your school.” And it got much crazier from there. 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 , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

One New Driver Sent Home, The Rest Of Us To The Skid Pad

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Philosopher Paul

One of the students was let go today because she just wasn’t safe when it came to handling a rig. The rest of us got to go on the skid pad and practice recovering from dangerous situations. Continue reading →

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The Completion Of CDL Training (After A Lot Of Stress!)

Posted on May 16, 2011 by Philosopher Paul

I completed my truck driver training last week and got my CDL. I also got hired by the two best companies that were recruiting from my school. Overall it went well but there were some really tough teachers to deal with and not everyone made it through. Continue reading →

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A Teacher, A Writer, A Philosopher, Now A Truck Driver!

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Philosopher Paul

After a life of travelling, writing, teaching, and schooling, my teenage dream of becoming a truck driver is finally about to happen and I’m ready to start schooling. Continue reading →

Posted in Becoming A Truck Driver, Great Stories | Tagged , , | 5 Comments