Profile For Mackerel (Mike D.)

Horn battle with a train.

You be careful with that, if you had a train horn you mighty have scared him, thinking there's another train coming!!!

This is a replica of the golden spike Train. It is so small that our W900 KW won this easily. If you zoom in you can see the engineer playing along and waving

Horn battle with a train.

If the clutch is holding you, you don't need to be on the brakes. If the engine starts to lug try giving just a tiny bit of throttle.

Congrats on your prehire. I went to orientation in Lithia Springs (Atlanta). They generally will rent you a car. Werner has been a pretty good company for me. No complaints at all. I am currently still on the va gi bill appreniceship program , if you have any questions about that or tuition reimbursement just let me know.

Papa Pig, I used my post 9/11 to pay for my school. Do they really give back money that I never paid out of pocket for? In order to get that reimbursement did you sign a contract? If so, for what length of time?

I would go to Omaha because that's where the company is based. Phoenix is already in the triple digit temps, and I try to do nothing in California.

My thoughts exactly. If no rental cars are available I might be able to use Amtrak. There is a train from SLC to Omaha.

Omaha is ~14 hours, Fontana is 10-11 hours drive and I might have time to visit my family. But I am still leaning toward Omaha.

Yes I am pretty keen, I haven't discussed, in detail anyways, accounts, it will likely be OTR, or if and when available the PODS account. It's solo, it's advertised as home bi-weekly. The tipping point was the GI Bill apprenticeship pay. The first year pay, learning the ropes, getting familiar with the job, can take some extra time, so the pay isn't what it might be in the second year and beyond. I think the PODS account might be a "soft" way to get flatbed experience without breaking my body too badly.

Physical address vs. living on the road. I wanted to go full Nomad, but all statesrequire an address. It took me a few weeks to figure it out, I tracked down an old friend/former Navy shipmate, and now have a permanent address and cheap rent (that really feels like not paying rent after leaving my last apartment). It can be done. It takes some paperwork but it can be done.

I know that Utah likes to rewrite the questions. Read the question very carefully. They like to write questions that say “which of these is not “ so read carefully and go slowly.

Brand new driver. I got pre approved by Werner. A couple weeks before I test for my license. I live in Northern Utah and their orientation sites are all about equidistant from me. Omaha, Phoenix, or Fontana. I really have no desire to go to Phoenix in July. “Fontucky” or Omaha?Suggestions? Now about getting to the location. They will get a rental car, if any are available. We will see how this works out.

Does it move? Yes. Is it supposed to? No. Duct tape. Does it move? No. Is it supposed to? Yes. WD-40.

Many of usn's here just GAF, and wish you the best!

It's not like your screen name is revealing, either ... LoL! (Nor the bridge, tbh!)

I've been following your plight also, good sir. I'll be 'waiting in the wings,' as well!! Best wishes~!

~ Anne ~

Thank you Anne (Shipmate)

It's not about being secretive... I have set high expectations before and when they didn't turn out "OkeyDokie" I get the blues. So I have become accustomed to holding back a bit. And no it's not for the CIA, although that would be cool.

You can also eat soup as a sandwich

Thank you Gabe, and yes I ran across your story when I was looking for other tales of woe. It helped, my roommate, also a driver, suggested that I call back. I did not call, but wrote an email, respectfully asking that my file be given a second look. And Voila I got a look and here I go. I will let everyone know the company and my start date after I graduate. Not wanting to "Jinx" myself LOL. I will say that it is a Mega, but the first year can be tough on the wallet, so I chose a company that offers the Military Apprenticeship program in order to prop up my finances while I am learning the ropes. Stay tuned.

Just got the call, I got, Officially, the pre-hire authorization. I still have 3 1/2 weeks before I test out and then I will get scheduled for orientation. Thanx everyone for your kind words. My past was discussed at length and moving beyond my spotty past shows me that being human and making mistakes won't destroy you as long as you own up to it, learn from those mistakes, and most importantly don't make the same mistake more than once.

Well my bad...it turns out that the sky is not falling. I was persistent and sent an email giving some explanation of that REALLY OLD charge. It was taken to some secret review board and I got the pre-approval after all. Thanks to everyone who chimed in and told me to be persistent, I persisted and was rewarded.

OK OK OK...it is set up to be put in...I just got off the phone...the review board didn't get to it today. Should know by tomorrow or Thursday...regardless it is a weight off my neck and I can proceed as normal

Well my bad...it turns out that the sky is not falling. I was persistent and sent an email giving some explanation of that REALLY OLD charge. It was taken to some secret review board and I got the pre-approval after all. Thanks to everyone who chimed in and told me to be persistent, I persisted and was rewarded.

Well Don, I never had it expunged because I didn't know it would follow me for 30 years. I have had lots of other jobs, I was hired by a trucking company 9 years ago without issue, one with the Railroad and their background check went through, and I was hired. I may have to go back to that first company???

Old school. I have put my info into the Apply for trucking jobs. I did that I think, before I even made my first post on TT.