Comments By Adam F.

Like the title says, I'm 52, retired at the first of the year from 30 years in the IT industry, and have been mulling around the idea of trucking for most of the year. I've been lurking around here for a few months and decided to make a post.

My pluses are: I have a clean MVR, like to drive and see new places, have a strong work ethic, get along well with people, but prefer to work alone without a boss hanging over me, very detail oriented, healthy (passed my recent physical), strong, and ready to work. I'm 6'1" and 260, a bit overweight, but it don't bother me. BP is normal, and I don't think I have sleep apnea, although I do get up in the middle of the night to go pee.

My minuses are: Have a misdemeanor conviction that is around 30 years old, in the middle of a bankruptcy, haven't worked in about a year, not hugely mechanically inclined (but I used to work on my mower when I owned my house). I'm a bit of a spoiled home-body, so OTR might be a bit of a shock, but for some reason it really interests me. Never had a job where I worked with my hands, just only worked in an office environment.

I like the idea of being challenged to do something other than working in an office which near the end of my career was really bugging the crap outta me. For some reason, my brain keeps nagging me "Do this. Do it, do it!"

I was thinking on Monday to start calling some companies. I live in Carbondale IL, so there is Beelman Trucking right over in Marion. I was also going to call Earl Henderson, Prime, and maybe a couple others. Are there other companies that hire in this area that you all know of? I see ads for Beelman in the paper all the time.

I was thinking of attending the CDL program at Rend Lake College rather than a company program, so that when I complete it, companies would think I was ready to go, rather than be some yahoo who's been outta work for a year saying "well, um, I'm thinking 'bout being a trucker, can I come to your school, please?" I just think having a fresh CDL in hand would make a better impression and make me more hireable.

So what do you guys think?

TNT stands for Trainer aNd Trainee.