Comments By Tracee W.

Tracee...good to have you here on TT !!! We are a great bunch...and you can post on any forum on this site !!! Us lady drivers kinda need to iron out some issues that we have that the guys don't ..so Brett was kind enough to give us our own spot !!! We know the guys lurk...but its no different than grade school, and the holes in the walls of the girl's locker room... You need to get yourself into High Road Training Program, if you haven't already....I think you will breeze thru it...but it will help you alot... You are welcome to hollar anywhere you feel the need...and we are very glad to have you, your experience, and your imput !!!!

Rhoel sounds like a standup company for women drivers !!! And I share your opinion of CRE....my brother had one of their unfortunate experiences...

I am excited to start this new adventure. It is also nice to be able to talk to fellow women who are driving trucks. As it has been said on here, we women do have many more things to deal with than men. We have to be tougher than men, but I 've been doing that for years! LOL Like Betty Wihte says, "Why does every one say to grow a pair of balls? They are soft and sensitive. Grow a ****** those things can take a pounding!!!" HAHAHAHAHA Question, is there a way to flag on here so I can keep up with the chit chat ladies???

Whew!!! What a day WT! Glad you made it safe and sound. Like everyone on here says, time will teach you a lot. We can't expect to know everything! I really do enjoy your posts especially when you make me laugh. I have 2 weeks and 2 days left at my current job and right now everything is looking up. Just going to concentrate on studying CDL manual and try to absorb as much as I can before I get to school!

Be careful, be safe and know we are all pulling for you!

How many times do I gots to tell ya! STUDY the High Road Training Program! It is all you will need. I promise!

I am I am!

I mix the apple cider vinegar with honey (which is also good for you)....makes it tolerable...and the porta potty is the ones you can buy at Wally World..they are small, efficient, and better than peein' in a jar...or...for Redgator...a big gulp cup...

I am new to this site, but not to the BIG GULP cup as I used to ride with husband...LOL Don't laugh they work!!

I am going to be a student for Roehl in Wisconsin starting May 5th...just 2 weeks 2 days left at my under paid factory job and I can hardly wait. Going to be in the National Flatbed curtain side division running all 48 and Canada when its all said and done. Have talked to several of the trainers, all of them men, they have to take a special class if they are to train women and the company doesn't put up with any crap from what other drivers have told me. Couple women drivers say they really had a great experience and no complaints. Always good to hear.

A few years back my husband and I had a really bad experience with CR England and I will steer anyone away from them...it's just not worth the heart ache when you loose everything to their uncaring attitude towards drivers. I'm sure everyone has heard horror stories...but just go to CR England complaints...and you will see the 10,000's similar complaints from them all showing they aren't special. Anyways, enough of that I am really looking forward to this new start!!

Some great advice on here, and as I have 6 months experience living in 'the truck OTR' there are all sorts of help I may be able to bring. The first for you newbies...learn to stay away from truck stop food!! Get a crock pot and learn how to use it. It will save your pants from splitting. As for those that have to pee frequently, start drinking a ton of water now to get your bladder used to it, unless you do have a medical condition it really does help. And every time you do stop even if you don't feel the need to pee...go anyway! Cider vinegar does help as well to keep the pipes clean and your over all health!

And it is true, truck driving can be as good or as bad you want to make it with any company. This time it's all in and success for me!!!

Looking forward to talking to everyone and getting feed back from y'all! Be safe and maybe we will see each other down the road! Have a great night y'all!

Whew!!! What a day WT! Glad you made it safe and sound. Like everyone on here says, time will teach you a lot. We can't expect to know everything! I really do enjoy your posts especially when you make me laugh. I have 2 weeks and 2 days left at my current job and right now everything is looking up. Just going to concentrate on studying CDL manual and try to absorb as much as I can before I get to school!

Be careful, be safe and know we are all pulling for you!

WT, Well I got my permit today...only had to take combinations since I have a class B with Air brakes, P, and S already...so I figured I would take the hazmat, tankers, etc later. Knock em off one at a time so to speak. I hope you are enjoying getting the feel of your very own truck and will soon be home to show the wife and kids!!

<~ Me doing the I can't wait dance! OF course the boss will frown upon that as I keep laughing when all h##L breaks loose at work and say, "Only 2.5 weeks to go!" LOL Counting down the days...Be safe and stay in touch! T

WT, THAT IS AWESOME!!! I will be sure to check drivers boxn for supplies...good tip! LOL Enjoy your truck you deserve it buddy! Be safe, be careful and breathe!! Hope to see you soon!

Hey WT! Hoping today went awesome for you and you got your own truck today! I was talking to the DMV here in Michigan and all I have to take in the COMBINATION TEST since I already have endorsements on my CLASS B, for AIR BRAKES, PASSENGER AND SCHOOL BUS (the latter two I am going to drop because if I can help it I will never drive school bus again) SO that means less $$$ when I get my CLASS A CDL. They recommended I not get enhanced until I get my CLASS A, as I will have to transfer it back to Michigan from Wisconsin once I get back here after I pass my tests. Even if I get it now and pay for it now, I will have to pay extra when I get Wisconsin Enhanced, and then pay again to have it transferred back to Michigan! AAAAAGH! That is just a little too rich for my wallet...LOL Anyway, I am pinging off the walls with excitement to get going...it is going to take forever to get to May 5th! I know I am not alone from the others in the truckers report waiting for their turns to head to school. Good luck, or better yet CONGRATULATIONS on getting your truck today! Fingers crossed! Keep in touch and let us all know how it goes!!

Good luck WT,

I think you are going to do great... Sounds like you have been on the road! You will have to let us all know what truck you are in as soon as you pass the final! Then you will be headed home to your babies! Just breathe...and hope to see you soon!

WT, I am so enjoying your daily log! I just got confirmation from Kim today that I was set up for National Curtain-side flatbed and I can't hardly wait! I also told my boss, who is a great guy and unfortunately doesn't hold the purse strings at the company where I work, that my last day is May 2nd because I AM STARTING TRUCKING SCHOOL MAY 5TH!!! WOOHOO! Okay, I may be a little excited, but your daily log is really great for those of us that will be following in your footsteps to being on the road soon! We definitely will have to get a cup of coffee and trade stories of our training! Keep up the great work and be safe! Dragonfly619

Day 5 of training:

Today started out just like the past few days. Alarm goes off at 0500. In the bay doing truck pre trip by 0630. When we got to the bay, it was kind of different. They were moving trucks around to get ready for the testing today. Each Friday, the week two students do their final test to get their full CDL - A. Kind of scary when I think that in 7 days, I will be testing. As you can see each day above, you will get a LOT of repetition in. You cover the pre trip inspections at least twice a day. That is a good thing so when it comes to testing, you will be like doing it sleep walking.

Anyway, we did our pre trip inspections and hit the road. In the driver seat, I was up first after we had coupled the trailer and did all inspections. My shifting was so much more comfortable today. It really felt like I did not have to think about it as much. I still missed some gears and grinded some but it was much better. It started to rain. The temperature was a balmy 31 degrees. Then we started to get ice on the backs of the mirrors. Time to slow down. Freezing rain. I drove for about two hours. Kevin had us drive through the downtown area. We took some tight turns and roundabouts. I had to deal with trash trucks, other trucks pulling out in front of me, and pedestrians. All in all, it went well. I made some mistakes but once I settled in, it went pretty good. I went as well as it could for a guy driving a big truck with only 4 days experience. Mike and Bill drove and they did well. We had a lunch break and pre trip inspections just like the previous days. Mike drove after lunch. After he was done, we went to the range and did the serpentine backing just to practice backing and to kill the last hour before we went into the classroom. Time for the weekly written test. It was 30 questions and we were allowed to use our books. I missed one question. It really wasn't that hard. I knew all the information from studying on here.

Made it through day 5. It still seems a little crazy to think that one week from today, I will be in a truck with someone testing me. Hopefully, I will be proficient enough by then to pass. It takes time to learn the feel of the shifting. Then you have to add the wide turns, railroad crossings, cars, trucks, people, and everything else that comes along on the road. It has been a fun ride so far. Looking forward to Sunday so I can just chill out.

This is great info Wine Taster! Thank you so much for you efforts. I am really looking forward to May 5th and I may even be thinking about the curtained flatbed. I believe it pays better than van which is what I was originally thinking about running... Will keep reading and again thank you for your knowledge about what the rest of us newbies can expect in a few weeks!