Comments By December Hopeful

A day late, but same here. Grew up in military town. Wright-Patterson AFB. Our men & women and their families deserve our love and respect for all their sacrifice.

Wow! I lived in Denver for nine years. We would see heavy snow in the morning and by noon the melt off was so drastic, you could wear your street or office clothes with only a sweater! Living in Ohio, with no intention on driving that far west after getting with a company, but who knows what routes the month with a training will involve? Love this site for all the support and thanks for the warning, Mountain Girl! Everybody be safe.

Robo, I have thoroughly enjoyed your detailed diary and all the honesty & humor contained within! I am also training for my CDL at Roadmaster in your neighboring state, Ohio. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences so far, and look forward to additional entries.

First thing I think I would do would be get memory foam mattresses for the beds, bring in plenty of fresh linens and your favorite blankets and comforters. If you can purchase properly-sized area rug for right in front of the bed, those things all combined would immediately cozy it up! Along with that you know you're going to need your flat-screen, your mini-fridge and ample stock of fast-fix foods along with fresh fruits for healthy snacking. Be sure to get a digital pic or two after you cozy it all up for the two of you, and share them here with us!

You said the question was for everyone. I'm a student at a CDL school. So I can only give you what I know so far and hopefully when the seasoned trucker ladies get time they will give you far more experienced feedback.

You asked if the testing was very hard. My answer is, "Yes". I have found it to be so for me. But I did not grow up on a farm driving at age 14 on private land vehicles that have a trailer attached and learning under the wings of a dad or older brothers. There are guys at my school who have driven for the military, and some have been raised with a monkey wrench in their hands, and they are very comfortable around all the equipment. But, there are guys in there who can't double-clutch as well as me, who have stalled the rig on railroad tracks, and didn't know what a "YIELD" sign meant. One guy knew the Pre-Trip Inspection word-for-word and you know he passed that but he's back on Friday because he didn't pass the road test. I tested first and went home right after, so I don't know if he passed road on Friday or not. Hopefully he did, but he's determined, so I know he would train again this week and try again on Friday. (State law requires you wait seven days before testing again.)

I also know that the life of truckers, male or female, is very challenging. I'm like you in that I don't need office politics and I can't stand catty women who form cliques and won't welcome me for months on end because they have some snooty chip on their shoulder. Pink collar jobs have been for me, a complete dead end. All that being said, I am about to go into my 5th week at school because the 3rd week I was not ready to take the test, so I went home and rescheduled for week 4, Friday. I just passed Pre-Trip Inspection part of CDL testing on Friday, and I'm going back for more backing practice because Lane Change kicked my butt good at 7:30 in the morning. I had spent all day before test in constant rain and wind on the concrete training pad and getting in and out of trucks for my turns on all three backing maneuvers. My body felt like lead jello next morning.

Every morning I wake up thinking about the backing maneuvers. I just am very pressured to get this license. I'm running out of cash. I want to get it all right this time. I don't want to come back a 3rd time to test. I just want that CDL and to move onto the company training. Will it all be for me in the end? I don't know. But I know I have worked very hard in my life and want to try. I want to work hard on this and see where it goes for me. I think I have the mental and emotional stamina, but of course, hope to develop the physical strength and endurance as I go on the road. Working hard in the yard all day at my little rental house for six years cost me over $30,000. I could have paid for that house and the land it sits on for that price. Now I have no home and my stuff is in storage. Staying with friends and family is getting old. I want that CDL and to see what the road has to offer. I'm scared and excited and challenged. Hey, isn't that life?

Soon, you will get some more replies from nice people here on the boards. Let's see what they say about testing, training and driving on the road.

I should never have expressed my observations about any of it. However, I would not go in the direction of comparing professional driving to finding medical cures or becoming an astronaut.

Why not? All are worthy, useful, honest careers. If you'd prefer a different comparison, there are plenty of women in construction, plumbing, automotive technology, and many other "blue collar" professions. I'm not trying to argue; it's clear you don't want to. But people who are transgender shouldn't be made to feel like they don't belong, especially on a website billed as "the most friendly and helpful trucker's forum anywhere".

Again, I should never have been expressed my thoughts on this subject. I have had enough. Thank you for letting me alone over it now. I am truly sorry for participating in this discussion. Really very sorry.

I start Roehl's CDL school on October 13th! I will get started a week before my 53rd birthday and will get to spend it with them!!! I am excited and extremely freaked out at the same time!!!!

Belated "Happy Birthday!" Hope to hear all about training and how you like it.

I should never have expressed my observations about any of it. However, I would not go in the direction of comparing professional driving to finding medical cures or becoming an astronaut.

I would rather have a non-smoker as a trainer than a woman trainer. Not judging here, but I really have problems with smoke of all kinds.

I would want the same. I don't smoke and when I leave my relative's place, my hair, coat and clothes reek of cigarette smoke! I don't want the wait for the female driver-trainer, and just hope snoring in the truck isn't a problem. His or possibly mine! I think the place I'm hoping to sign with has the driver awake during all the trainee driving time. Still waiting to retest next week for skills and road, so this whole thing is a new world to me.

I guess I am wondering why people want to complicate their already complex decisions by entering a field that is filled with men who will NEVER on earth respect them. I was born female, am female and will stay female. I am not protected class. I am not lesbian. My mature age and gender are not given any special consideration at all by 98% of the male students at trucker school. Why should you or anyone with such an issue with gender identity expect BETTER treatment than those of us born and bred female by openly proclaiming your transgender status? Seems like the only place you would want to be open about it would be on the physical exam in privacy of doctor-patient relationship. All the laws on the books aren't going to change reality of the overwhelming majority of men driving the goods in this country or any other. Just being real with you.