Comments By KaTow

Like I said, in 27 years of living in my homeland (Québec), I never heard of the word Canuck, until I came to the US.

That's like, I never heard of "cow tipping" till I went to Massachusetts...

People are judgmental, not so friendly, and self entitled.

Right! And we're trying to keep it that way!

... kidding.

I know that the few compaines I talked to, all based out there somewhere, acted like New England is a dead end... "No, we don't run up there. I guess the periodic SWIFT, OD, or Schneider truck is just lost. I know there are bonuses for running NYC; any for running thru New England!

Vermont doesn't do anything for trucking, or even the tourist, industries... you could knock your own teeth out driving the smaller state highways. Potholes, missing pavement, ruts worn into the lanes, and no shoulders. I can't blame anyone for not coming up here!

And I can't wait to get out and see what it's like driving somewhere other than here.

Wow, this has been an encouraging thread! You each rock!

I finished CDL school last week, but don't have anything lined up. I still have a bookkeeping business with a couple of clients, and I need to finish out the year with them ("year"=March!). Even if a company has a regional opening, the orientation is longer than I should be gone. Oh well, that's my muddle.

I'm looking a TMC, but have gotten slothful in middle-age. They require one be able to "lift 80 pounds overhead." Hum, gotta find a bag of horse grain and try it.

Roehl really looks great to work for, but Vermont's like a dead end street and they don't have much around here.

I have had a couple jobs driving tow trucks...and Becca, the thought of working in the cold is much worse than doing it. Once you're there, you're focused on the task. Get good coveralls, and make sure you can reach up without giving yourself a wedgie! Don't run your cab heater at 90 and go back and forth to 10 degrees. Have a strong bladder, because even if there is a bathroom, it's a major effort! (This is a women's forum, right?)

Thanks for sharing. I look forward to hearing more about one's progress and experience.

Thanks all. A few hours after I posted, I realized I probably do mean Nat'l Gas. Good place to start would be knowing what they really are running! It's a back-and-forth 30-mile haul, so there shouldn't be any searching for fuel-ups.

Got my Class A on Monday. I'm looking to gain some experience with local companies, and one runs new, propane, Kenworths (I think). What should a newbie know about operation and safety--different from diesels--so i don't feel like an idiot when i first talk with someone?

Thanks!

Wow. This is really helpful to me, too. I could never get the hang of downshifting, but now it's making more sense. The guy teaching me was too used to doing it to tell me what to do.

Thanks for posting all the info.

VT law is that those speed limits are in effect whether or not the work zone is active.

(Certified Traffic Flagger, 15 years)

Just caught up with former B'vance driver: urine only. But he left a couple years ago.

Went for my physical Friday, but I'm "disqualified" until the Doc gets a letter back from my Psych saying meds won't interfere with driving. I take an MAOI anti-depressant, and lithium. I knew it would me an issue, but I don't belive it disqualifies me permanently.

I'm scheduled for my permit Tues, but don't know if I can take the test without the med card. Calling DMV first thing Mon, then my Psych!

Hey, thanks for checking in. I'm so glad you got another job lined up! That's great. Good luck!