Profile For Old School

Kit, you may see me as a coward and a crony. I can accept that. Here's the difference between you and me...

I am content. I am always striving to do a better job, and be more efficient, but I am happy with my results. You've basically admitted to us that you have struggled with these philosophical ideas since your very early working days. So, I ask you... What has this struggle you've endured all these years accomplished in you? It's obviously found a vent and is escaping through your communications, but how has this struggle improved your life? You claim to know how to raise the tide for everyone, yet you still seem to be bitter about your own circumstances, or maybe it's just that you want us to realize that we should be unhappy with ours.

I teach people to succeed on their own merits. That can be done no matter who you're working for. We are not slaves to our society. Fortunately we can exercise our own mastery with our own productivity.

Kit, here's what really bothers me. I'm a competitive guy who enjoys his work immensely. I have a home, several automobiles, put three kids through college, and a wife who stayed at home to raise them. I could easily retire from working today, yet you keep trying to convince me I'm a fool for not believing my life and efforts are less enjoyable than my forefathers. I say bunk!

There are plenty of truck drivers who would agree with you simply because they haven't been achievers. Your ideas ultimately bring everyone down to a common denominator. I would rather lead by example so that others can see what kind of achievement it takes to live at a higher level of satisfaction. In life, as in trucking, your performance is what gets rewarded.

I've been leading for years. As far as following goes, you are following dreams that are not based in reality. I work for a big company because they treat me fairly, pay me extremely well, and keep me in good safe equipment. Nobody is attacking you, we find your arguments to be void of substance and filled with the kind of stuff that comes from thinkers not doers. We know how to get things done and be compensated fairly for it. You disagree with our ideas and I guess that's okay, but your platitudes are not very convincing to me.

Kit, I had a little "Banty" rooster in my flock who used to kick up a lot of dust in the yard and had an air about himself that made him seem quite brilliant and dominant if you were merely an uninformed observer. But anyone who knew how the eggs got fertilized knew which rooster was really getting the job done.

You remind me of that little rooster who thought himself so important. You speak in platitudes. You do it so well that you've convinced yourself we need you to teach us something. I've got some news for ya. Those lofty ideas of yours may sound brilliant to your students, or some youngsters who've never accomplished anything on their own, but I've got a long list of accomplishments that recommend me to my employer, my fellow workers, and even my customers who oftentimes request me, by name, to be the person delivering their goods.

These arguments of yours are just like this nonproductive strike you're excited about. For us it's kicking up dust, bringing attention to yourselves, and will never move one simple stone toward building your utopian ideas. If you want to garner respect from hard working individuals like American truck drivers, you'll do it with results, not attention grabbing tactics.

That was great Turtle! It reminded me of how you promised me a home cooked steak, grilled on the deck of your flat bed, whenever our paths cross. Man, I'm looking forward to that day!

FYI... I'll be in Cressona, PA tomorrow night. At your favorite shipper!

The CDL driving test is not do or die. You'll get another chance if you mess up. Some of us tested three or four times. You get the same CDL on your third time as the guy who passes it the first time. It's what takes place over that next year that will separate those who accomplish something from those who don't.

Welcome aboard Pastor B!

We spend a lot of time teaching in here, and since I'm not sure how familiar you are with our resources I recommend you hit that three bar menu at the top of this page and do some exploring. I really recommend you listen to some of the podcasts and read some of the articles in in the blog section. You'll find all that stuff really helpful.

Once you get into school make sure and bring any questions you have to our attention. We will be more than glad to help you with anything you need. I am curious... are you going to pastor a church while driving a truck? That sounds like a real challenge in itself! We will do what we can to help you with the truck driving, but you'll need much better help than we can give for your other job.

Again, welcome to our forum!

I just don't understand why all the "Black Smoke Matters" drivers aren't clamoring to get into those $140,000 dollar mining jobs. If the wages there were forced into existence by a shortage, perhaps they should put all this energy into meeting the demands of that shortage.

That would be far more logical than trying to force their illogical square pegged economic views into a round hole. Of course that doesn't give them the chance to puff out their chest and feel they really gave "the man" what he had coming. This very inconsequential movement is not really about better wages, but more about bragging rights and feeling good about themselves because they dare to be activists. Activism is good if it accomplishes something good. But ill-spent efforts, with no results but pride that you garnered five minutes of fame on YouTube, are completely wasted efforts with no honorable respect from those of us who are out here accomplishing our economic goals with each day's efforts.

I agree, I am I seriously interested in what you found.

According to Tim's ideas, I'm pretty sure I have these syndromes, but they are what motivates me to get up and start my day like I did today at about 0200. I love this life, and I'm interested in hearing more from King Pin about this.

Mac, we've had some other people with similar concerns. You'll get it figured out, but you're gonna have to spend some time with a trainer. Schneider may be worth looking into simply for the shorter duration of actual time shared in a truck. Sometimes they can provide a local trainer who gets you back to the terminal each night. In that case it's possible the trainer goes home for their ten hour break while you sleep in the truck. Somebody will work with you. Try looking into Roehl and Knight also. I think both of those companies have a few trainers that are local drivers. I'm not guaranteeing anything, just giving you avenues to explore.

Mac, it's fine if you prefer to keep the subject quiet, but you'll have to discuss it with recruiters. We can't help much if we don't know what we're dealing with.

I don't know of any companies that don't require you to ride/drive in a truck with a trainer. These trainers have seen it all, and are making considerable sacrifices to invite new drivers into their living space. I am sure you can work it out, but you are going to have to discuss it with a recruiter before getting a job.

Mac, here's the way it works. You go to school first. Typically that is four weeks, and you obtain a 160 hour training certificate and your CDL. Basically they get you to the point where you can pass the driving test in a tractor/trailer. Then you get a job. They will assign you a trainer. Typically that is a four week time period of you staying on their truck with them. They are training you for the job. It's an essential step in the process.

This job is way too complex to just turn a new driver loose on the interstates with no training. It would be completely unfair to you, and absolutely irresponsible of the company to throw you to the wolves like that.

You've got some research to do before you decide if this is for you. Here's some links that should help you.

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road CDL Training Program
• CDL Practice Tests

Schneider has the absolute shortest training period, yet it is thorough. If this is just an insurmountable issue, you might consider them. I don't want you to be so short sighted in your approach to this though. The training period is a very small time period when considering your career. It's a small blip on the screen. Don't let such a short sighted view keep you from enjoying a rewarding career. I believe Schneider is one week training/orientation in a classroom followed by one week on a truck with a mentor.

Check out these two articles...

Are You Scared Of That Creepy Trainer?

What Should I Expect To Learn From My Trainer?

Oh wow! I just woke up, and this news was a great way to start my day. Welcome back sir!

Yeah, I think most drivers have no idea how much pressure their dispatchers are under. They are trying to juggle an incredible amount of things all at once. That's why they love having drivers that seem to need little or no attention. It's incredible how one little failure or mistake by one driver can snowball into 10 more problems for the dispatcher. That happens regularly/daily for them, and it's usually 10 - 20 drivers that are having issues. Each of those just keeps multiplying the problems the dispatcher has to handle.

Congratulations sir! Keep us posted.

I recommend you read this article. I think you may find it helpful. Almost all of us are driving automatic transmissions.

Do Real Truckers Drive Automatic Transmissions?

Congratulations! You're on your way now!

We need pics! You know what they say... without pics, it didn't happen!

Congratulations!

I remember once hauling an oversized load through Pennsylvania and due to construction on the interstate my permits routed me through some state highways and small towns. I got stuck behind an Amish family in their buggy on a two lane road. For a good while I was stuck behind them driving a 500 horsepower rig, but moving at a one horse powered pace. I was unable to squeeze around them, and they couldn't really get out of the way. Eventually they came to a spot where they could pull off the road and allow me passage.

There was a young boy in the buggy, who was probably six or seven years old, who made the delay completely enjoyable. He had his head out the back window of the buggy watching my every move. He was grinning from ear to ear and waving at me. Sometimes I'd ease up a little closer and just watch his eyes almost pop out of his head. I'm not sure which one of us was enjoying that unique encounter more. It may have been the "kid" driving the rig - I haven't forgotten that experience yet.