Comments By Seminole Wind

A drawstring backpack maybe . . . Some merchandise for the ladies other than pink . . . ( Bracelets, ear warmer headbands, dog tag style necklaces, etc. ) Beach or bath sheets . . . You know the big ones that actually go AROUND you . . .

Congrats on passing Teach !!!

Found this write up & thought I would share to help everyone see both sides : By A.H. Bosley

Being home can be just as, if not more, stressful than being out on the road.

Some company drivers only get 3, maybe 4 days off after being out on the road for 28 days or more. You have some owner operator’s or lease operator’s that can’t afford to be home more than a couple of days.

This is all totally unacceptable, but is the way of the road warrior.

For those of you who don’t drive for a living think of how you feel after visiting friends or family members for a few weeks, in their homes – never really able to relax. It’s not your kitchen, it’s not you bed, and certainly not your bathroom.

You get home and you feel like you need a vacation from your vacation. You have to clean the car, do all that laundry, and all you really want to do is take a nice hot shower in your own bathroom, where you don’t have to make sure you have all your shower stuff with you. You can shower in comfort, door-open so it’s not all humid, and all your stuff is right where you put it – and where it shall remain. – Then sit in your recliner or favorite couch and turn on AND CONTROL your T.V.

You can fix anything you want in your kitchen where the refrigerator isn’t the size of a cooler and you have an actual stove and oven. Those that stay out more than a day or so know exactly what I’m talking about.

Since I have been on both sides of this scenario, maybe this can help your loved ones understand how you feel when getting home. I like to be left alone, as in: No demands the first day I’m at home. I just ramble around the house in some comfortable clothes. I don’t want to eat out, go for a ride, or entertain anyone. I don’t want to make decisions for anyone or be responsible for anything. I have been on the job away from home and camping in a tin box for 28 days. I just want to enjoy my house, my stuff, and in my space. Whether I’m mowing the grass or laying on the couch – it has nothing to do with how I feel for my family and friends. I just need to decompress.

Sometimes this takes more than a day.

I have also have been on the other side of the coin – being at home all the time. No one there to help with anything as the honey-do list grows. Responsible for making all those calls, for the appointments, repairs, scheduling, planning, deciding, cleaning, handling all the day-to-day humdrum. Then for those that have children there is the discipline, homework, ballgames, the list is never-ending. All you can think about is: “When is he coming home?” and “What/where are we going to go?” – Which is the total opposite of what he has planned. Thus, the family feud begins.

The life of a trucker or a truckers wife is a hard life, a very different life, with different pressure and responsibilities than most couples have to deal with. There is very little family time and it is the hardest to deal with. The person who stays home has everything heaped-up on his/her shoulders and the one on the road is feeling detached at times, never being able to go to the children’s games, plays, award ceremonies, etc.

– Maybe feeling like he/she is just a paycheck that passes through.

RESPECT each other and try to give and to understand each other’s roles. There are always two sides to every story, neither one more important than the other – but it only works when both halves come together as a whole.

That is why trucking is a way of life not just a profession

Teach . . please hang in there. Youve been thru so much & its not permanent. I agree with the others, you need to speak with someone about the unacceptable conditions your trainer seems to think is ok. He/she is there to train you, not reap the benefits of having you on the truck & not doing the job they signed up for. PLEASE, please keep us posted. I'm sending good mojo & keeping you in my thoughts for better conditions for you.

Thank you for the well wishes & congrats from everyone . .

Rainy D- Thanks for the supportive words.

Patrick- My start date is the 21st of Jan, but the narrowing down of companies just keeps getting bigger . . lol. I'm still leaning heavily toward Werner, but walking into the school & actually sitting down with them & talking about different companies, its like Ive started my list all over again.

I want to thank everyone that keeps this site going, current & full of invaluable information. Thank you from the deepest part of my being ! . .

So I got up this morning & was tired of waiting for my career coach to contact me after jumping thru every hoop she put in front of me. I understand its a long process when you get assistance from the workforce program, but Ive been thru everything they asked of me since september, & the last classes I finished 3 weeks ago & havent heard squat. So I made it a point to go up there to the office, politely put my point across & sit until I received an answer one way or the other. After shuffling me around for almost 3 hrs the director of the facility came out & spoke with me. We sat down, I explained what was going on & he told me wait right here. Came back after about 20 mins handed me a paper with my start date & apologized for the lack of communication & waiting to hear from his staff. When I got out in the parking lot, I sat down in my car & cried . . Happy tears . . I thought "he!! yeah, I made it to school"

Just thought I would share . . .

Way ta go Patrick !! You earned your $$ today

Problem I see is that you are training for stick. You could drive an automatic, of course, but would you want to? If you hate automatics, then you will be unhappy driving what your wife was trained to drive, if she got an automatic-only limitation on her license.

Is there a company that would hire just with the auto endorsement ?

You guys are just "awesome sauce" . . . thank you !

So Im cruising the VA state cdl test for tankers and run across a question about "cladding". What in the world? This is the 1st time of hearing about it let alone knowing what it is or what it does . . . . Help??