Comments By Jerry Escondido

I am back, but no more stupid posts. I am taking a driver position with TWT Refrigerated Services.

I am beginning this thread, so that it might calm the fears of other drivers, out there, that are worried about starting their orientation.

I have no idea what is coming up, but at the end of each day, I will post what we did that day.

TWT's orientation is Monday thru Thursday, 7:00am-5:00pm.

Only truthful and honest commentary, from now on.

Welcome back Jerry!!!

Looking forward to your, commentary. I missed having you around. But I am one of those ppl that have a weird and twisted, sarcastic, and sometimes extremely dry humor.

Glad you are giving it another go.

Could you give me a little more information on TWT? I love learning about the many many many companies out there.

Stay Safe

Thank you for the kind words. This is all I have been told so far by Roxanne , my recruiter. She has been very professional. : There are three companies under the Trans System Company, TWT Refrigerated Services, Systems Transport Flatbed, and J.J. Williams Bulk materials. They are based near Spokane, WA, Their flatbed division runs all 48. Their reefer division runs runs the west. And their chemical/bulk trans port Division goes in the us and Canada. I chose Reefer because it would be the easiest trucking so I can get back into the swing of things, Just got a phone call, gotta go. Jerry

I am back, but no more stupid posts. I am taking a driver position with TWT Refrigerated Services.

I am beginning this thread, so that it might calm the fears of other drivers, out there, that are worried about starting their orientation.

I have no idea what is coming up, but at the end of each day, I will post what we did that day.

TWT's orientation is Monday thru Thursday, 7:00am-5:00pm.

Only truthful and honest commentary, from now on.

Jerry Escondido didn't reply to me...snif. :(

My deepest apologies, Princess. So when do you start CDL school? Are you excited at the prospect of being a a Big Rig Semi-Truck Driver? To be honest, you seem a little too feminine for the task ahead. I mean no disrespect but I am a 54 year old, US Navy veteran, now 20+ year Truck Driver with old time values and beliefs. Don't get me wrong, I believe in all women having the opportunity to pursue what ever career they choose. I have a 20 year old daughter, and I don't want anyone standing in the way of her dreams. Then again, this Dad could not except my daughter choosing to become, say, a stripper or professional call girl. I think I am safe here though, she loves women's apparel, retail and she is a great sale lady. So call me old fashioned if you must, just be careful out there. Seems quite a few men don't have the respect for women that men once had.

Now that I got that off my chest, so to speak, do you know who you will be driving for once you finish school? What type of trailer do you want to pull? Do you plan to go OTR or Regional, closer to home?

Oh just as a side note, You listed "Vamp" with your avatar.

I hope you realize, Vampires are real....

Zombies are make believe but not Vampires. Scary huh?

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?

Welcome to TT You are in the prime of your life, and most of the "old timers" here will be a great source of information.

You can always take a look at How To Choose A School, and Truck Driving Schools. As far as choosing a company, you may also want to look at Company-Sponsored Training. Recruiters value honesty, so if you are open about your situation, they will not see you as some yahoo.

As far as companies go, How To Choose A Company and Trucking Companies is a great place to start.

Brett's Book, is an excellent read, to get you started, and the High Road Training Program is a tremendous help to preparing you for a school.

Good luck with your search.

I second everything Dan said above. Age, no prob. 30 year old minor brush with the law, no problem. Read Brett's book, A MUST.

Never forget what Brett's book says and the facts support, Individual companies need us more than we need them. You get you Class A

and you will be in the driver's seat, so to speak. Good luck and welcome a bored.

You know what, ANYWHERE in the USA is a good place! You don't know how good you have it.

God Bless America!

I say, " Nay, Nay my good nature friend".

During my life, so far, thanks in great part to the US Navy, I have been to the following places:

Nevada, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina,

Italy, Sicily(they think they are their own country), Germany, Spain, Portugal, The Rock of Gibraltar, Mexico, Guatemala, Panama

And my own Fatherland, The Great Sovereign Sub-Nation of California.

I know exactly how good I have it.

I served my country for 7 years.

I have paid the membership dues required to enjoy this lifestyle.

God has Bless My United States of America.

You need a little breather from the real world,

Hang in there,

Now remember the following piece of advice I am about to impart to you:

10s, 100s, 1000s, 100,000s of good folks have become truckers. With the level if devotion you are exhibiting, working while going to school, you will preserver in the end.

Keep On Keeping On and best of luck,

Jerry I know you mean well, but some of your posts can come off as awfully pretentious and condescending...

That being said, I was born and raised in Burlingame, a small town I'm sure you're familiar with, having lived in San Mateo. After I joined the navy I moved around a lot. I've lived in South Carolina, New York, Missouri, Texas, Washington, and now finally Idaho where I believe I will spend the rest of my life.

I have to strongly disagree with your perception of Montana as a lonely, barren place, and with your portrayal of the majority of Californians as intelligent and caring people. In my experience you've got it backwards.

I felt lonelier in California than I ever felt living up here in the Idaho/Montana area. The quality of life is so much better, the people are much kinder and generous and knowledgeable about what this country and the federal government were intended to be, the freedoms are plentiful and tangible, and the land itself has a beauty that is unrivaled anywhere else. I'm sorry you can't recognize it from the photos your friend has sent you.

Having lived in California for 2 decades, I feel I have some authority to say this: it is not the greatest place on earth. It might have nice weather, but it is way too overpopulated, expensive and "progressive" for my tastes.

Give me all 4 seasons, reasonably priced homes, good old fashioned hospitality and my God-given freedom to shoot stuff and use my natural resources as I see fit!

well, it did not take long for someone to sh&$ on my day. Thanks a lot, Pal.

Please read the first line of my post,

"Too many serious posts just after Thanksgiving. Please allow me to lighten things up a little. Where do all you USA citizens from? I'll start....

If you missed the the first 16 words, I'll print them again

Too many serious posts just after Thanksgiving. Please allow me to lighten things up a little. Where do all you USA citizens from? I'll start....

Yeah I do come off as pretentious and condescending. That is my intent. You can be the serious one. You be the by the book, know it all. I'll stick to being the guy that puts a smile on the face of the hard working American Trucker. I'll stick to being the one that makes them chuckle when they think back on some of the outlandish stuff I have posted. It is not my lot in life to always be Mr. Right, Mr. Morally absolute correct. I'm the guy you want to have at your party to break the Ice when no one else will say a word.

Don't forget, you NEVER have to respond to any post I have made.

Now, I will go inside and cry myself to sleep....

In 1770, Southwick, Massachusetts was granted independence from Westfield, Massachusetts. In May 1774, residents in southern Southwick also petitioned Connecticut for entry and secession from northern Southwick, on the grounds they were south of the royally approved border of the Massachusetts Bay Colony (three miles south of the Charles River). The part west of Congamond Lake joined Simsbury, and the part east of the lake joined Suffield.[98]

In 1791 and 1793, commissioners were sent from both states to survey the boundary line yet again, but were unable to agree until a compromise was reached in 1803–04. Massachusetts accepted the nullification of the 1713 compromise and the loss of the border towns, but regained the portion of southern Southwick west of the lake. This resulted in the modern boundary with Connecticut, which is a relatively straight east-west line, except for the "Southwick jog", a small, mostly rectangular piece of Massachusetts surrounded by Connecticut on three sides.

Google Maps

, (little shout out to my faves). I looked up Southwick, MA. I checked the satellite image and I have one burning question,

WHY?

Why did Massachusetts feel the need to scoop out that small section of Connecticut? I mean come on, your border with Connecticut could have been a continuous straight line. You could have share that pond. We here in,

So what was in that small pouch that MA just had to have????

I won't be able to sleep tonight until I know.....

Shawn, Thank you for that information. I just could not for the life of me figure out why the jog in the border. Stay safe out there.

Jerry, I lived in Encinitas for fifteen years. How on earth could you think Escondido is the best part of California? Beaches Jerry, Escondido has none.

First of all, welcome my fellow countryman. Now with that said, the reasons I prefer Escondido over any other placed to be, in caparison to a place such as Encinitas, are too long and too many for this shot forum. I'll leave it at this, MARINE LAYER. Encinitas, is often, if not always, overcast with that marine layer. In Escondido, by City Charter, we are only allowed 8 overcast days per calendar year. When I first wake up in the morning to the gentle songs of the Morning Doves that awaken all Escondido residents, I check my little thermometer, and it always reads, great weather today, sunny and warm. Yeah, that's it. My thermometer has no numbers, it only speaks the truth.

So now, I extend to you, My Olive Branch of Peace. Remember, we both live in the

Greatest Nation On This Planet, THE NATION OF CALIFORNIA

PEACE AND GOOD FORTUNE, My Brother Trucker

AGAIN, UUUUGH, "COMPARISON", NOT "CAPARISON" MEA CULPA

Jerry, I lived in Encinitas for fifteen years. How on earth could you think Escondido is the best part of California? Beaches Jerry, Escondido has none.

First of all, welcome my fellow countryman. Now with that said, the reasons I prefer Escondido over any other placed to be, in caparison to a place such as Encinitas, are too long and too many for this shot forum. I'll leave it at this, MARINE LAYER. Encinitas, is often, if not always, overcast with that marine layer. In Escondido, by City Charter, we are only allowed 8 overcast days per calendar year. When I first wake up in the morning to the gentle songs of the Morning Doves that awaken all Escondido residents, I check my little thermometer, and it always reads, great weather today, sunny and warm. Yeah, that's it. My thermometer has no numbers, it only speaks the truth.

So now, I extend to you, My Olive Branch of Peace. Remember, we both live in the

Greatest Nation On This Planet, THE NATION OF CALIFORNIA

PEACE AND GOOD FORTUNE, My Brother Trucker