Comments By K.R.

Kianan, keep us posted. I love reading the CDL Training Diaries and living vicariously through you guys/gals.

You could vicariously get my splitting headache, too. That'd be fun.

Today was just paperwork and such things and a few videos. No big deal. Unfortunately for me between the travel and the adjustments to my sleep schedule including getting up far earlier than I necessarily needed to this morning— and probably also from not drinking enough water today— I have a splitting headache. Other than that the first day was fine. I'm enjoying the dynamic of the various people in my class and the conversations that I'm having, even if being around so many people smoking makes me kind of want a cigarette (despite that I do not currently smoke and have no plans of picking it up again).

Going to drink more water, take a nap, and then figure out dinner or something like that.

And I think that spending some time in the jacuzzi to relax the stress out is warranted too. It was very nice last night and seems like a good way to wind down the day.

And of course at some point I'll get around to reading the various handouts we received today, on things such as the pre-trip and the air brake test. I'm kind of surprised that it seems that on the rigs the air brake test is somewhat simpler than the one which we had on the buses. Mostly the same except that since it's not a passenger vehicle it doesn't have all of the interlocks that passenger buses have. Anyway. Now to get some rest (without going to sleep too early because that would feck up my sleep schedule as well).

Some companies have refresher courses for people in similar positions, if I recall correctly?

Well, here goes!

I start Swift academy in Fontana tomorrow morning.

I had a lovely dinner at the Indian restaurant down the block. Number of folks there from a number of companies, nice conversation across a few tables. Admittedly, this will probably be the only time I eat at that restaurant for the rest of the time as it's not in my budget, but I definitely don't regret it, very good food and a nice way to start out the whole experience of coming to trucking school feeling positive about it.

After that, I went grocery shopping at the Stater Bros, got water and some fruit to have for breakfasts and some yoghurt, and such.

I got my clothing all set for tomorrow, my backpack ready (some things like the power strip and such that I brought for the hotel room that I don't need to be bringing with me), and I'm working on winding down and getting some sleep because I know that tomorrow is going to be a long day and an early start, even if it isn't as early as it would be if I were taking the shuttle. But honestly, I'm just excited and pretty wound up at the moment and it doesn't feel like sleep is happening quite yet.

(If I'm still wound up in ten-fifteen minutes, I'm going to go down and soak in the jacuzzi for a while and hope that that helps me settle down. So glad I brought my bathing suit!)

Sure, you have to deal with other people at shippers, you have to deal with other people at truck stops or while fueling or whatever.

These types of contacts only go for a few minutes. Any introvert can handle these. Extroverts, too.

The big part of your life will be the aloneness. If you can handle solitude during your work day, you'll be that much happier.

I wouldn't say any introvert— I have met some who legitimately couldn't handle even a few minutes of contact and interaction, and who were so damn socially awkward that when they did have to handle it they messed up. But most? Most I'll go with. (Yes, I'm pedantic about my wording sometimes! but hey, being pedantic is fun, right? Right?)

And yeah. For myself, I not only can handle solitude but I prefer it and enjoy it.

Well, here goes.

Got from where I was staying Sunday night in Whittier to the motel, got checked in, got things settled. Motel staff were very nice and helpful— although they gave their last accessible room earlier today before I got here, they'll move me when one opens up (as although I don't require an accessible shower it makes a helluva difference in the overall and every little bit helps).

Got my stuff as settled as I need to given that.

Given that the shuttle is at five in the morning I think I'll simply be taking my own car over to class tomorrow. For now, now that I've posted here and checked in with the people who needed to know that I arrived safely, I'm going to head back down and out and go find dinner and then get some simple grocery shopping done so that most of the time I'm not eating dinner out.

I'm excited, and admittedly also a little bit nervous. It's been just over a month of unemployment since I've driven anything big, and I know that it'll be another few days of classroom and other bureaucratic necessity before we're actually driving.

I really appreciate all the support that I've gotten from this forum so far— it's been incredible in making the decision to move in this direction with my career. So thanks, and here's to tomorrow.

Kianan

Being an introvert is one of the major reasons that I'm going into trucking.

Sure, you have to deal with other people at shippers, you have to deal with other people at truck stops or while fueling or whatever.

And you have to be able to deal with other people during training, classmates and instructors and your mentor. But it's a lot more solitude than you get in many other fields. And you have to be okay with that sort of solitude to some degree.

Thanks G- Town. I will take you up on that if our paths cross.

Kianan I just hope the parking is secure if you have to leave it while on the mentor's truck. I'm probably going to take mine home before I head out.

Big T & Kianan,...when you have a chance I wrote some data-points to Victor in his diary thread. He is starting Swift Mentoring, so it will eventually (hopefully) be relevant to you both. Good luck! G

Thanks. I appreciate it!

Well, you're managing to pack lighter than I am. I have a second, 24 inch duffel that's going to be staying in my car with clothing that I'm not sure I'll need— but I'm certainly going to need it if I leave it 90+ miles away in Los Angeles. The first duffel is stuffed nearly full as it is. Plus the regular duffel, 2 sweatshirt/outer shirts, plus backpack (computer, iPad, binder and folder of important documents, etc), sleeping bag and pillow (and stuffed animal, I'll admit I can't sleep without it). And my purse, cowboy hat, toiletries bag.

Here goes. See you there.

One of the other things that I'm having to prepare myself for/to cope with is the potential of constant misgendering when I get there.

As I said at the beginning of this thread, I'm genderqweer (let's see if THAT triggers the filters dang it all), and I use they/them pronouns. I tend to wear a mix of men's and women's clothing, but the biggest point being that since I have forgone wearing bras or other things, people tend to see my breasts and treat me as female.

I'm hoping that once I get out with a trainer (who, I will probably be requesting a female trainer from Swift— for my own safety), and then once I get out on my own, it'll be less, as only dealing with a few people.

I will say that despite knowing my legally assigned gender, my recruiter was wonderful and made every effort to use the correct pronouns and not reference gender.