Comments By Jimbo

Way to go MG! Keep up the great work!!

Here's another point that seems to have been bypassed: once upon a time, and not all that long ago either, corporations didn't just amass huge piles of liquid wealth and sit on it. Profits were re-invested back into the company, or shared out among the workers in the form of profit-sharing or annual bonuses, often to the tune of thousands of dollars per employee. Somewhere along about the mid to late 70s, however, somebody got the bright idea that, hey, why should we give our money to the little people when we can just keep it for ourselves? And just like that, profit sharing and bonuses began to go the way of the dinosaur. Now, the only way you're going to get in on any of that is either A) work for a small family-run business or for yourself, or B) somehow find yourself among the top-level executives of a major Fortune 500 company.

There was a time in this country when corporations recognized the fact that without their workforce, not only would they have no product to sell, but also no customers to sell their product to, and they compensated their workers accordingly. This was also the time when our economy was at its strongest and most sustainable. This is not a coincidence or an accident.

Fatsquatch.....I couldn't have said it better myself. You nailed it.

Greed....it's at the root of just about everything going on in this crazy world. You have those that are willing to work for a fair wage. You have those that want to sit on their ass and collect free stuff that we all basically pay for, and you have those who are positioned to make millions in the executive board rooms. And of course you have those who get elected to represent us....well...I wont even go there. It's all about balance. And in this day and age you won't find much of that.

If the trucking industry is ever going to change it's going to take one of two things. Trucking companies are going to get to the point that the empty seats kill their profits, bonuses for execs dwindle, and they become desperate to do whatever it takes to fill those seats; OR; truck drivers are going to have to find a way to unite to push for changes.

At this point...neither of the two items look like they'll ever happen.

Thanks everyone. I'll keep you all posted and I know where to come with questions.

Jimbo,

Good luck! I live in southern NY and just got my class A. My biggest advice would be to be patient with yourself. Having a few years of class B experience, I went in to school thinking I would have an advantage. To some degree, I did. However, it took a lot of practice to get used to the non-sychronized transmission (10 speed Eaton). But just keep practicing and be kind to yourself if you don't get certain things at first. And as the other folks here said, listen to your instructors. I also took the initiative to ask as many questions in order to clarify what I needed to do to get it down right. Before you know it your license will say class A!

All the best, Harish

Thanks Harish...great advice

Thanks everyone. I'll keep you all posted and I know where to come with questions.

Are you doing the private school or company sponsored school and which one....

Scott...I'm going to a private school. 10wk program. Today was alot of paperwork to start. Then started reviewing the cdl manual. Instructor is excellent. First written test is Wednesday. But thanks to the High Road I'm way ahead of the curve. Working on the memorizing the pre-trip info now. Will be ready to test for my permit the Monday after New Years. Long but good day.

Thanks everyone. I'll keep you all posted and I know where to come with questions.

You are going to make dumb looking mistakes for years and years to come every now and then, and someone is always going to be watching when you do so you got to make the best of it. I still look dumb backing sometimes and that is after a year of practice backing into places ten times a day sometimes.

At a receiver one time the gate guard told me to back up to the parking lot until he was ready to let me in. I was still in training so what should have been a simple maneuver I instead had to get out and contemplate for a few minutes before trying. During that time the guard gets out and starts throwing his hands up in frustration at me with a wtf look on his face. I just went and explained to him I was still new and if he did not want to lose his fence around the parking lot he was going to have to wait.

He started laughing and said Okay No Problem Then. Afterwards though when I was finally heading for the dock unload all the yard workers were gathered around to watch the show. It took me a couple tries but I finally got it pretty good and they all started clapping.

If you show them you can keep cool while they are laughing then they will give you a lot of respect as a rookie. If you lose it then that is just going to encourage them to laugh even more.

Great story..and I agree. If you don't learn to laugh at yourself a little you're in for a loooong ride. Hey...we all gotta start somewhere. Soak it all up and shoot for the best.

You're right Old School....I've been reading away. Definitely have a good start at the text book end thanks to the program.

Thanks to both of you for the well wishes. Looking forward to learning this trade....

Well...the big day has arrived. I officially start a 10 week CDL program with a local school. It's kinda funny, I'm 53 and have been through a variety of challenges throughout the years...but I'm as nervous as a kid getting ready for his first date! lol

Anyway...I'll try to hop on here and update what goes on, etc. for anyone that might be considering a career or who is signed up for training in the near future.

Just spent a couple days in NYC...drove through NJ to head back home. Insane....that's the only way I can describe it. And that was in an SUV! lol