Comments By firemedic2816

Check with Millis Transfer up there. They are a good company and what you do on the weekends is up to you...IF you are talking about while IN CLASS, While you are with a Trainer ON a Truck probably NOT... Not gonna make much money OTR if you are home ever weekend.

Are there any of the big companies where you go out with the trainer (for several weeks) that will have you home on weekends during the training period? I'm in Wisconsin....

So your company doesn't use GPS Trackers? That sux, But for sure SECURE your truck and DON'T Abandoned Teddy. Call your creditors and explain to them what is going on, explain that you are trying to get things squared away and will get them money ASAP...The most important thing I ALWAYS Tell people the biggest MISTAKE they make is NOT TALKING to people you owe money to. ( I Use to work for a LARGE Credit Agency) they would rather hang out for a couple months and keep getting $ from you then to repo it because Repo's COST THEM $ they have to pay a company to track your car and then Repo it, then they have to turn around and sell it for a loss. (If you owe 8,000 on your car they are going to have to pay a company $1,000 or so for the repo storage fee, then pay the auction company to sell it and the most likely will only get 4000 out of it so they lose money) Plus even though THEY have it you still OWE the Difference....( Now if you KNEW all this I apologize for wasting your time.) Call YOUR CREDITORS, and Speak to a MANAGER...Not a supervisor a MANAGER....if I can help in any way email me kevinpoyser@yahoo.com Have you found another company to GO to? You do Refer? Look at Jim Palmer, I am looking at going to them soon. best wishes and keep us updated

Well after everything we've been through plus 26 hours on buses we made it to Ardmore.

The truck we are supposed to pick up ISN'T HERE!!!!!!

Supposedly someone picked it up Saturday. Dispatch can't find the truck and has no idea who picked it up.

I have patience. But I'm done. No more. I've had nothing but problems for the last two months with trucks, with miles, with horrible communication and failure to deliver on promises, both written and verbal.

I have no idea what we are going to do at this point. Teddy is still in Nebraska and there is no way I'm going to abandon equipment and destroy my chances of ever driving again. Our car is still in KC with a dead battery, we are 2 months behind on our rent and car payments and everything is rapidly spiraling down the drain.

Needless to say, I will be putting in my 2 weeks notice tomorrow. I've tried to be patient and understanding and roll with the punches but that only goes so far.

Before I read anymore of this thread, from what little I have "read" you did NOT have a TIA, several things can cause these type symptoms to occur. I will reserve my Diagnosis until I read the rest of the thread to see. Back to reading

Well, my primary doctor is referring me to a cardiologist and a neurologist for confirmation. I tried to get in touch with Swift's HR dept yesterday to find out what their guidelines might be and if there is any kind of options where I can still get paid something, but couldn't get through. According to everything I'm reading online, odds are I'm off work for a minimum of 3 months, possibly a year, and potentially will never get my CDL back. While I have other job skills, I will not find anything that pays me what I make as a driver. And I do not get paid for my time off.

What happened was I was just driving down the highway, about 5 miles from my pick up, and all of a sudden I got really light-headed and a vertigo feeling, and then my left side went numb, starting with my face but progressing all the way down my arm and leg. I guess I'm very lucky I didn't pass out and wreck. When I got to my pick up point I started making phone calls to my dispatcher, my doctor, etc. Apparently I should have immediately called 911 and went to the hospital. Swift sent a driver over to cover my load, and I rode the 90 minutes back to Topeka with him, and after he dropped the load off, he dropped me off at my house. Went to see the doctor the next day. The numbness wore off after about an hour, and I felt fine after that. Still feel fine, but I understand that a TIA is a warning signal, and a full stroke could be next.

I don't know if they will roto-rooter my arteries, or put me on meds, or what. And I don't know if I can be cleared to go back to driving. I'm trying really hard not to panic, since I don't really have any information yet anyway, aside from I can't go back to work until the doctor's say so, and I have no money coming in in the meantime. I have a little bit in savings, can maybe squeak by 3 months on that, but anything longer and I'm screwed.

And just because I'm venting anyway, my boyfriend of 2 years up and moved out on me March 1st, with no warning. So its already tough because I went from a two income household to a one income household. And then 2 weeks later my best friend passed away, sudden heart attack. Well, they say bad things happen in three's, so I guess that's my three. I hope so anyway, cuz I'm at my limit. Close the problem buffet, my plate is full.

Find Steven Neill on Youtube and listen to all the fun he has had since going O/O LOL.

I forgot to update this when I left.

No less than TEN DAYS after initially breaking down, I was finally back on the road.

Grand total for the repairs? About $7500 plus like $500 for the tow. Ten days of revenue lost, $8000 paid out of pocket, and another $1100 for the hotel. All because of one little hose that burst.

Just kidding, that didn't come out of my pocket. I'm not an owner/op, but can you imagine if I was??? That could be devastating!!!

Instead, I got paid $100 per day to sit in a hotel room with all the premium channels and my own private bathroom (a surprisingly welcome luxury when you're constantly on the road) while the company covered all my expenses except for food.

Not that I'm happy about it, I mean it really stinks that my company took such a hit. I'm merely pointing out the advantage in this scenario of being a company driver...

The end.

WOOO HOOO CONGRATS

Just wanna share the goodnews TT!! I'm now a CDL A holder from State of Oklahoma!! Took my test just one time and passed everything!! I am so happy!!

Thank you all for the help and advice!! 😍😍

I was use to backing LARGE Vehicles,and use to haul a goose neck trailer with our Belgian, the easiest thing for me to do was to NOT THINK but just hang my head out the window, and start backing. Put my hand at the bottom of the steering wheel and move it the direction I wanted the trailer to go, (easier then trying to remember if you want the trailer to go left you have to turn your wheel right) then just eased it on back making ever so slightly adjustments, also remember the closer your tandems are to YOU the tighter turning radius you have...PATIENCE and practice, and eventually you will be able to do them in your sleep

Kurt suggests:

Or maybe an app would help, like a game where you just back a trailer in over and over.

Then you would get very good at solving the app course.

There's only one way: sit in a truck, look out the window or open the door to see, then begin backing. The thing that's irreplaceable, and the most value, is the deadly fear that you might pull the fender off the Kenworth parked on the far side of your parking slot. So you Get Out And Look!

Sorry I just saw this and NO I am not a lady. But I did train and work with Millis if I can answer any questions if you are still looking feel free hit me up. kevinpoyser@yahoo.com

Thank you for the quick reply. I did a search on this site and googled them for employee reviews. I found very little compared to the other training schools which had some real horror stories. I'm leaning toward Millis as compared to the others.

Allie is working under a new format for her videos then she did 2 yrs ago when I first found her. She also did a video of Taylor Swift Shake it off that is pretty good. However one of those 2 videos got her in some HOT water with Corporate America I believe it was shake it off because I can't find it anymore. She has TONs of AWESOME Videos go back near the beginning Early part of 2014. You will learn A LOT from her. Happy Trails to you

I just discovered her yesterday, I'm loving her videos !

Welcome from a former HOOSIER NOW Transplanted proudly into the Bluegrass (only good thing that came out of Indiana is I-65 south bound and that Chicken Guy EVERYONE LOVES ) You will find Desiree is a bit of a drama queen and I wouldn't buy into a lot of crap she spits out. Yes this industry is MALE dominated, SADLY...I think we need more women IN Trucking, just not sure how to attract them to the life style, it is NOT for everyone but if you find a good school, and decent company to work for keep the left door shut and your eyes open. You will do just fine.

Hello fellow Okies, Bolt & Mindfreak!

Errol, every time I see your photo, for some reason I think it looks like what Beau Bridges would have looked like as a teen.

I wish there was a way to make things easier. I think we will adapt a little easier(I hope our family but never know), I spent 22+ yrs as a firefighter/medic and missed TONS of Birthdays, (ACTUALLY ONLY Reason I was there for my OWN Daughter's birth was because I had to bring in an infant in full arrest to the hospital where my daughter was born not 2 hrs later) Christmas, Holidays, they KNOW you love them and soon they will understand WHY you are doing this. My kids understood that DADDY had to be away to HELP others. No truck driver's don't rush into burning buildings, make split second life and death decisions. BUT IF THERE WHERE NO TRUCK DRIVERS, my last 4 Engines would never have gotten delivered. MY TURN OUT GEAR would have never been delivered. VITAL Medical supplies Hospitals need.. BROUGHT BY SEMI's I wish MORE people would understand WITH OUT THE BIG RIGS...THIS COUNTRY Will come to a Screeching resounding HAULT....Remember why you are out there and be as much a part of the family as you can be. Drivers TODAY have A LOT more technology available to them then truckers in the past. Skype and Face time, Face Book, Cellular devices. Have momma show the kiddos what daddy does. Watch trucking videos. Go to the stores and show them the big rigs in the back delivering things, "This is what daddy does" And Reach out to your brother and sister drivers out there. They are here to help.

Sorry to have rambled sometimes my fingers type faster then my brain registers

I call at least once a day and try to vidoe call once a day as well. I find out how my wife's day has gone and tell about anything interesting in mine I take a tone of photos and send them back to her. My wife has a map on the wall at home and shows my daughter were I am every day. You going to miss things will you are on the road, birthdays, anniversary, holiday s, etc. My wife and kid, don't worry about the date of things we celebrat when I come home. My wife runs the house will I am away and when, I come home I don't second guess her or try to take control. Remember communication, and don't forget why you are out there, it always helps when you and your wife have a comment goal. It's not easy but can be done. Good luck.

Thank you. I think that's the part I'm having the hardest time with. Missing important days. Not being part of those memories for my girls... and my wife. This is definitely the hardest part about driving. My wife and girls went camping/fishing this weekend and my girls caught their first ever fish.... missing these types of things is hard .