Comments By Tom C.

Alright, I start classes Monday, June 4th, Headed to Philadelphia for training through Driver Solutions, I live near Scranton PA, about a 2 hour drive and Ill be staying in a hotel on the NJ side, daily $5 toll to get to the PA side where the school is. I am almost finished getting packed and stuff ready for the first week ( will be coming home on the weekends ). I will do my best to keep posting here to let everyone know how it goes and for others behind me to know what to expect.

Downloaded to my phone, I am sure it will help me in school.

I haven't even been to school yet, starting next week, I know that I will be in for a massive uphill climb. The time away from home is going to stink, the pay will seem to be poor at first, I will have challenges I am not comfortable with coming at me. I know I will be stressed, Ill get sick of turning a wheel, I know I will get ticked off at my DM and may get my DM ticked off at me in turn (Ill try NOT to make such a situation permanent). I know I will have to deal with ignorant people in cars looking for a cash out on my front bumper, traffic that comes to a complete stop, possible sights of a lethal accident, bad weather and so much more that I don't even realize I will see/experience. I can't just walk out of the truck like a regular job in a rage quit. I have my wife, my father-in-law, 2 friends from when I was barely into my 20s that are in the industry and my grandfather who was also in the industry I can communicate with.

I have been told I can earn up to $55k a year, going in, I am aiming to do the best I can, I know I more than likely will NOT make $55K, I am aiming towards at least $45K and won't get too fussed if I don't make even that. My first year will be purely learning, improving, adjusting (not just for myself but my family as well) and making money that will keep my head above water.

I will keep my hopes up, ignore the naysayers ( terminal rats? ) do my job, and do what I can to get better as I said before, I will keep in touch with the people on this forum as well, ask for advice from those more experienced and not jaded. It will take time before I become a top earner and I know this.

I better wrap this up before I look like a rambling idiot

I guess what I am trying to boil it down to is I am walking in knowing I know VERY little, not expecting $50K+ yearly off the bat and knowing some parts of it is going to seriously have me question my sanity but, the potential for this becoming something I will come to love is there.

Short story, I hadn't worked in years, poked around this site for years, and then the '17 holiday season, I get a seasonal position offer, took it, enjoyed it and then the seasonal position ended. 5 months later, get a job at Fed Ex package handler first week..... was decent. 3 weeks into the job, I finally had it, walked out and almost immediately when I get home, I remembered this site, I had gone over the Highroad program, sorta played with it, learning just to learn for a couple of years.

So first thing I do, after letting my wife know I quit that horrible job, ( I had been tempted to walk out almost every day after the first week) and got grouched at, (Bad timing for telling her) I immediately came to the driving schools portion and hit that big green button. I may have floundered with actually getting my CDL, but now I think its just time to do something other than bang my head against the wall and feeling useless.

I don't post often but here's my 2¢.

Prostitution is not a pretty thing. Remember that most are hooked on heroin and the only way for them to keep from the withdrawal symptoms is to turn tricks so their pimp will give them more. The thought of getting out and away to them means more pain or disfigurement, or even death in a few cases.

Even a single person rescued from such a life is a huge worthwhile accomplishment, someone's life is made better.

As for the trafficking, that completely and utterly disgusts me, and I am at a loss on how ANYONE can run such an operation. The depravity of some people baffles me completely and utterly.

Problem is if you get it repaired there, the reefer unit will be shut down so they can work on it, thus the temperature will rise.... bad joo joo for the load, so I'd say crank the temp down a bit and make your delevery.

Lemme guess PJ.... most of the ships you served on were Spruance class? Both parents were in the navy, my father went a full 20 and retired. I decided to join as well, lets say that at the time I was an idiot and I didn't mesh in with the lifestyle at the time ( I was too damned immature ) and got a general under honorable just short of a full year. Looking back I am a little regretful of how I was but realize; I would have been absolutely miserable for those 5 years.

I mostly lurk and I have to say this is the best behaved community i have encountered on the internet. The training program is VERY well thought out and I have learned more and its stuck in my head longer than just reading from a book. Yes I am taking my sweet time with the High Road to make sure all of it is sticking.

I may mostly lurk on these forums, but I agree with Pat, make sure you have a home to come home to before anything else. Then stash a but away as an 'oh ****!' fund

I don't think I would be that desperate for money that I would attempt blackmailing the company I work for in the future with my load....

I'm crying foul! (you know SOMEONE was gonna say it )

Personally I would check the room behind the tractor to the landing gear, if there is enough room I would slide the fifth wheel forward 1 maybe 2 notches. then re-scale to check if I am legal.