Comments By Joshua R.

Well, after getting started on the wrong foot with a local company and getting terminated for.... Im still confused as to why. Then waiting for a good bit for said company to send employment verification. I am finally going to start this trucking career. Well as long as orientation and 5 weeks of training go well. Headed down to dallas soon to begin on Sunday with Stevens Transport. Excited.

Just an update. So now I have applied to 3 companies. Stevens, CR England and Interstate. Just waiting on employment verification. Problem now is, the company I was with is not replying and it is holding me up. The recruiter from Stevens let me know she sent the for twice now. This is keeping me from a job and causing an issue. What do I do now? Drive over there my damn self and get it? I want to get back to driving.

Remember how I made the wise decision of not going to boise? Well... Just got fired for it lol what a crock

Here's the thread where this was discussed:

Yea, I may be lookin for new company. My dispatcher was mad when i told him in the office. Said "ok, I guess whenever it snows here or bad weather I will give you the day off" I told him its not the snow. Its the factt that im inexperienced, its mountains, and snow and ice. I asked him if he could just send me with an experienced driver. Just at least 1 time. After that I would be fine, I learn quick no problem. But he told me he will never send 2 drivers on an overnight. So its obvious I wont get the training and I know the same problem will arise in the future.

Well, i made my decision after all of yalls adivice, and speaking with my grandpa who has driven most his life and my dad who currently drives I am not gonna do it. Unless they send me with an experienced driver and he drives through the mountains and I take over after I will not go. I may also be rethinking my company choice... If they are willing to try to get me to go like that, what else will they do? Your correct, it is irresponsible. Its down right stupid. Thank you all. This forum is great. Helped me stop and not make a dumb decision. As my dad said "the blue mountains in the winter with no training???!! Are you fricken stupid son!!! Hell no" lol

Yes g town this will be a first for me. I will heed your advice, I do that anyway lol. I drive normally around 55-60 mph sometimes 50 depending on weather. I try to be really safe, I stay a good wase away from the people in front of me. Trucks are always passin me lol. Im more worried about the varios downgrades through eastern washington and oregon. Going up im not worried. I just know that i dont want to screw up selecting the proper gear for the downgrades as i am not sure about using the jake in rainy/snowy weather and I dont want to burn up my brakes.

From were i am in washington to boise is not really across the country. I have driven to boise multiple times in my pickup in the winter as i have family there. Just never in a combo vehicle like this. So I know the route really well. Also there will be 2 other drivers with thier trucks with me, 1 a prior cdl instructor and another really experienced guy. So not completely alone just nobody sittin next to me lol. Its just that 1 pass im nervouse about.

So, I am still really new to driving and went local/some linehaul right out of school. Because of that I drive solo right away and never had a trainer. Sunday i will be driving from washington to boise idaho and I am a bit nervous. I have never driven a big rig before a couple months ago (month of school and month with my current company) let alone through the mountains than snow, alone lol.... Any advice from the more experienced?

Baby wipes work wonders. Im prior military and a guy so that may not work for some of you. I got used to it during deployment in Afghanistan and field excersises in the US for weeks at a time. As an infantryman I didnt have the luxury of showers all the time so its not a big deal if I shower once every 2 or 3 days although 3 days is pushin it lol. I would use sented baby wipes or take a wet cloth with soap on it and wipe myself down. Then a wet cloth with no soap and then towel myself down and feel quite nice. Thats just me though and my opinion.

There's no actual rule as long as the passenger is over 18 years of age. It's just a crappy job on your CDL training company to team you up with a trainer that smokes/doesn't smoke like you.

Honestly, a lot of truckers smoke (more than not it seems) so it's a difficult job and sometimes it just can't be helped. Now if that's the worst thing your trainer does than you might be lucky.

Smoking is a nasty, disgusting habit and non-smoking students should not have to tolerate trainers who smoke. Smokers are literally a dying breed, get with the 21st century! There are a lot of employers that perform nicotine testing and will not hire anyone who tests positive...

Yea... Good luck with all that nonsense.