Randy was SO excited the last time I talked to him because after a change of plans, he and his trainer are now going to Mira Loma, CA first. And they get to drive past Las Vegas at night, which sounds really cool! He knows he’s going to be working really hard and be busy learning new things, but there is a “vacation” element to this, for him.

I am writing this for anyone who, like I was, is wondering what it may be like to ride a Greyhound Bus to Truck Driving School. My first piece of advice would be to try to spend that last time that you have together relaxing and enjoying it.

After months of research, one month of CDL truck driving school, and 4 months of company training, I’m now going out on the open road as a solo company driver. Wow, sometimes I think back and it’s taken forever to get here, while other times I think back and it’s gone by in an instant.

It’s been a while since my last blog, and my on-the-road training is complete. Here’s a recap of what training was like, and the return home to my family.

In the past few months that I’ve been driving, I’ve learned one major thing. Trucking can destroy you if you let it. Truck driving can literally drive you to madness….if you let it. So don’t…..

There are some nights when you don’t want to be in the truck. Then there are some nights when you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world at that paticular moment.

After being away from home for about 10 weeks, I finally got home. What I did while I was there wasn’t as important as who I did it with….

Wow, it’s been two months since I hit the road with my trainer. I can’t believe it’s already been that long. Time is really flying out here. As I stated in one of my earlier posts, my training period is much longer than most companies, so I probably won’t be done for at least another 6 weeks or so. But since I’ve put in quite a bit of time with a trainer already, I thought I’d share a few of my thoughts on how to survive your company trainer.

In the movie classic “Wizard of Oz” the good witch Glenda tells Dorothy to click the heels of her red shoes together three times and say “There’s no place like home”. The movie ends with Dorothy waking up in her bed surrounded by worried family members…well, my training time is over, and I’m going home.

Basically, when going to orientation, prepared to be bombarded with videos, tested on your skills, and grilled about your past. I’m looking foreword to getting the heck out of this hotel, and getting on the open road. Hopefully, my trainer will show up in the next day or two. If not, it looks like I’m just going to have to wait…..

What should I pack? This has to be the number one question amongst newbies. First of all, pack as little as possible. Only the necessities….

It’s finally here! Time for me to hit the open road, see the country, and see how many people I know are shocked when they see me hauling ass in an eighteen wheeler.

This trip started out in Laredo, TX and we were heading near Pittsburgh, PA. It was adventurous, frustrating, difficult, and dangerous at times, and we even saw a few things we wish we hadn’t.

Well, it finally happened. My trainer and I are having truck problems. We are currently sitting at our company terminal while our truck gets worked on. What a mess. Here’s what went down…

Even though I enjoy what I am doing and am learning so much every day, there is a down side to trucking. This will not affect everyone, but I wouldn’t be honest with all of you if I didn’t cover the tough part of relationships while on the road. Let me try to explain what I mean.