Comments By Richard G.

Just finished the first day at the Caledon school in Gadsden. Pretty easy first day. Got all the packets, filled out some forms, went over all the information, then went for our physical...passed with flying colors. The class size is very small, we started out with 11 and ended the day with 9. Nobody popped positive on the whiz quiz, one person thought he was, so he was told that he needed to have a "family emergency". The other got sent home for falling the vision part of the physical. He will be able to come back in a week, after he gets his glasses.

I will say this, it's a very relaxed atmosphere, the classroom instructor is really good and quite funny. The rooms that they put students in are REALLY nice. They put you up in the Fairfield Inn, which is owned by Marriot and they are NICE. Unfortunately, I live here in town, so I get to miss out on that....lol. When Caledon tells you they will pay for everything, they mean it. You don't pay any of the fees for the permit or the cdl testing. At the beginning of each week, they give you an $80 prepaid credit card, even if you leave in town, which is pretty cool.

All in all, I believe that I made a great choice to go with Caledon. The school appears to be a little unorganized, but it has only been up and running for six months, so it's to be expected. We were told that we would have 4 driver-trainers for the time we spend on the driving range. We were given quite a bit of homework tonight, but I was expecting that.

To those that are worried about the whole sleep apnea fiasco.....apparently in Alabama, you don't have to worry about it. I was never weighed and my neck was never measured. They asked me my weight and I just guesstimated (I have weighed myself in years...lol) They just have you **** in a cup, check your blood pressure, and a quick exam by the doctor and I was given a two year card.

I will check back tomorrow after day two.

I will start school in Gadsden, Al for Caledon on the 26th of this month. I will do a daily post about it here, in case anyone is interested in it.

Who would have thunk it. Here I am, getting ready to start school on the 26th, the uber nerd....getting ready for a career.

Turning 40 in just a couple of days has caused me to reflect on my life...where it has taken me. I have been in the Navy and saw the world and I have been a business owner for the last 20 years. The thing is, I have never had a career. Yes, I had a small IT company...but that was never where my heart was.

I remember, at 4 years of age, watching Smokey and Bandit for the first time and falling in love with that truck. I didn't want to be the Bandit, screw that car....I wanted to be the Snowman! My parent would tell stories about me....in my little car....with my fake CB radio. The pastor of the local church came knocking on the door one day to tell my parents that I was in the front yard, talking into my CB radio, yelling..."Sum b**ch!"

I remember all those looong car rides, in the station wagon with the panels (got to love the early 80's), that my parents made my and siblings go on...ugh. I would spend my time looking out for truckers, trying to get them to honk their horn....you remember.

My love affair with trucks never stopped. All through high school, I remember driving to Peoria to go to the truck shows and truck rodeos....all the while. I joined the Navy at 17, got to drive forklifts all over the flightline and box trucks all over Spain....but never a "big rig". Got out the Navy, went to college, started an IT company, and started a family. I grew up. Now, here I am....business is no longer, kids grown or grown enough (youngest is 16), and I'm starting school to be a truck driver. I'm lucky to have a woman that is supportive of me following my dream. Who would have thunk it?

Sum b**ch....here's to you Snowman.

Yeah, just found out. I'm starting there on the 26th. I was orginally going with CR England, but since I live in Gadsden and Celadon appears to be a pretty good company...I'm going with them.

There is a driving school in Gadsden, Alabama???