Comments By Tyler B.

I remember a Phrase from the Service "Don't thank me, thank your recruiter"... I had a feeling, but I put trust in what this person told me to do. I have yet to hear from anyone from "The Company". Going to get dispatches Number from my Boy in a minute.

I atleast want to figure out if I have a Ride to Orientation.

First thing that comes to my mind is... recruiters don't work on the weekends.

I am at a Greyhound station in Charlotte NC. I have not heard from my Company Recruiter since I briefed her on my Travel arrangements & was told "She'd come and get me at the Greyhound Station". Long story short, I am preparing to eat a Philly Cheese with Fries @ the Greyhound bus station I have been waiting at for 2 hours... & was already told I might also be spending the night here, by a friend who contacted dispatch as he is already driving for the company. I remind myself I am here to do a Job. I have a military background & know what it is to ruff it for duty. I am just really Disappointed the bar is being set so low already, as what I can expect from my company.

How were you "Welcomed to the Industry"? Where did your first company "Set the Bar" as far as what you could expect?

If the Pooch can't come with me, I probably Don't want to be going their either! #DogLife Pooches are great judges of character... if you won't let my Buddy of Buddy's in, than I can find a Bone to Pick somewhere Else! 😋😼🐶

Having a dog along is great company, but to be honest, it does complicate things at times. Some of our trucks have apus, the rest, we are allowed to use opti-idle, although the company wants us to keep it at a minimum. If there is any problem with the regen equipment, Freightliner will pull the idle percentage records, and if they consider it too high, will void the warranty. That being said, Wolding is very understanding about keeping us comfortable, they just ask us to use common sense. When I go in for shower, etc., I set the opti-idle, turn on my little truck stop fan, and pull the curtains. My dog is quiet unless she sees things going on outside. I try to be as quick as possible, because I worry that something will go wrong and cause the AC to stop working. As long as the truck is really cool inside to begin with, it stays tolerable for 20-30 minutes with the curtains pulled. Being out west in the extreme summer temps, I need to be aware of hot blacktop burning her feet, because my little 65 lb. girl is too much for me to carry across a parking lot. I try to park as close to the side as possible. If there is ANY grass available, and maybe a tree, we go sit under it for a while just to give her some out of the truck time. As for watching a movie, that would be a video on my computer in the truck. I am not comfortable being away from the truck for long, I am paranoid about someone stealing her because she is a pit bull. We have gone hiking together on 34 hour resets. Pretty much, if the dog can't come with me, then I don't go there either.

I was discharged from the USCG on less than honorable terms, got burned by the system really. I Worked as a Travel Agent, making vacation sales. There was no Up in the industry, & the man who I worked for was a Snakeoil Salesman... try to sell you on a Bill of Goods that you know Down in your gut is flawed. I was burned out on working for People. Getting used to either get someone promoted or get someone else rich while I struggled & just worked hard cause I know nothing else. I was in a Spot, my father had asked me to leave his house by the end of March... I made some calls, marketed myself... with a record, everyone was under the thinking that I was done, pigeon holed to work for Peanuts for the rest of my life. By the end of the third week in the Month, I had 2 hard Job offers, & also only needed to show up on the following Monday for CDL Class if I wanted to Truck. I made my choice, based on what I felt God had spoken into my heart. A lifestyle I am already accustomed to due to 9 years in the Service... & a hunger to Work with no Glass Ceiling to where I can truly develops & grow into the industry based on my own desire to work hard & excel. I will hopefully own my own company in a couple years, a few trucks & some trailers. I can work for it.

Add to that, I'm a dog guy. For YEARS I have seen the holy Grail of a Job being something that I can get paid & have a Dog 🐶... well, I have the Phoenix Bassett Hound Rescue on my Phone, & once I get my own independent Truck, I am getting a Furry "Co-Driver". That was really the Deal Maker... you put a Dog in my Future & I am ALL ABOUT DAT! Don't tell anyone... last thing I need is some woman knowing the way to my heart is Through my Dog!

There is a need to educate the public on how we work, & the lives we live. I came out of a Military background; I am more a fan of solutions and answers, than trying to cry about what's wrong.

There's a Drivers shortage; it's those YouTubers who inspired me by sharing their experiences, to join the industry. There's a Issue with Pay & Benefits; They publicize our stories & give voice to the topics, on a forum through which we can as a Community Come together & work for change. The image of the Trucker of old, some lone wolf fellow hauling freight & getting away from his demons at home (be they warrants or other problems) is progressively being Put to Bed thanks to the YouTube generation.

There was a Video of a fellow, who was told to Drive when he was MicroSleeping. I am not saying how he set the stage for running was right, that's on Him... but his carrier would not have fixed a serious problem with their Night dispatch or their safety department if he had not taken the steps to make it Public. As a Solo Driver we have little power. But These folks are giving us a Zetgeist, a United Public Persona & voice.

If you have no issue with meager pay & being seen as a dreg, ok... or even if you just complacent & happy with where your at, alright. But I will say YouTube is helping our industry More than its hurting. When someone brings up automated Trucks, I show them the videos of Backing, of Driving in New York Traffic, of Trucker Josh & Allie Knight, of Trucker Brown & J. Canell... I show them what we do daily as reason I am secure in myself & in my industry.

If your here to Player Hate, cool, do you Boo Boo. But I am here to Move Freight & congratulate. As a Philosopher once said "I'm here to Kick Ass & Chew Bubble Gum, & I am all out of Bubblelicious".

Big Ups to my YouTubers. Who's Driving Hard? #Cheers

Angel, I feel you on this end. My background is still fresh as well. This is a forgiving industry, but often times that forgiveness often does not come with a willingness to sponsor a training program, atleast not before 5 years or 7 years from conviction date. But all hope is not necessarily lost. Now, yes, if your willing to take out loans often times a driving college will attempt to link you with a second chance employer. Yes, your looking at student loans, but 7 or 9 G's in debt, in exchange for an opportunity in a career where you have a far more open glass ceiling, I find it worth it. I recommend American Institute for Trucking; they have a Campus in Vegas by the way. they linked me with a second change carrier that was willing to overlook my criminal background. Starting, first 6 months your not really looking at making a ton of money, but after 6 months, you have a proven work history that you can either use to develop as a solo driver, or you can use that to jump to another company that might be williing to take another look at you once you have made it through the initial honeymoon period of the industry.

Don't ever give up hope or think that your locked out due to your background. But, I do recommend that you need to put on the armor of god and get ready to go to battle for your future. If you want this, its here. You just have to Really want it. I will be praying for you. Cheers

I'm trying to find out if there is anyone out there who has heard of a violent offender obtaining a trucking job. I have 2 felonies. Aggravated assault & person not to possess firearms. The conviction is 5 years old. I have been out for 4 years & I have been employed as a machine operator ever since my release. So I have 4 years of consistent work history since my release. I finished my parole/probation 2 months ago. I can't find a company sponsored CDL program to give me a chance. I am willing to take a loan out & pay for the training myself but I'm trying to figure out if it is even possible to get hired with a violent gun crime. Please, any response will help. Does anybody know of a friend or associate who has been hired as a violent offender?

"try to Take Over the 🌎 World"

The same thing we do everyday, Pinky...

How much do you Want it? that's the question. is it worth it to you to pay your dues with a second chance company that is willing to give you a go? I have a Felony. I am also someone that is not going to let my history of bad decisions hold me back. with any career your going to have to pay dues. You do it in the service painting air castles and grinding running rust... you do it in the Trucking industry proving that your willing to Run. Yes the company is a second chance company, but I am one of those that is Thankful for the second chance. I have an offer as well from Carolina Cargo. and I am thankful for the opportunity to prove myself. Down the line I will see about finding something better; but you can't walk 1000 miles without someone giving you a pair of shoes to start walking those first steps in this industry. Thanks Carolina Cargo for giving me a Go . and Thanks All for the support guys, as I did my due diligence on a career in the Trucking Industry. #Cheers~ I just want to Run

Would any of these companies or schools give a go to a guy with a criminal background? Schnider, Swift, or Werner? if its a situation where you can pay for the training program, would they take on a Driver at the end of the program in spite of the fact that he had a criminal conviction?

With the way that the industry is going, due to safety regulations and security concerns, the Trucking industry is going the way that the Military has gone for years... That being incentive's folks for taking care of themselves. Everything from being able to qualify for a longer version of a Health Card, to the fact that if your Big (I am 6'2" 270 heavy set muscular build) you end up getting tagged for Sleep Apnea screening; the test is going to run you around $400-600 bucks and if you end up with a positive test your looking at $500-$1000 for the machine.

I work out twice a day, Cardio in the morning with weights in the afternoon after I clock out from the office. I am looking into Trucking as my next career as I am just getting burned out of working the office life in a dead end job where I am hard under the poverty. I was in the service before this & appreciated the job security & the paycheck... I find that working out really helps me to maintain my productivity. If I use the C-PAP, I wake up refreshed vs. waking up still groggy and tired. I watched a trucking "Vlog" the other day where they questioned is it worth paying a little more for quality food. I respond to that with this: You put in #RealJunk, and your going to feel like Real Junk. Your Body is a more expensive machine than your Rig (really your health is priceless); If you wash & fuel your truck well, why are you going to allow the most critical piece of that truck to get fueled with Junkfood... in case its not obvious the most critical part on that Rig is YOU, the Driver.

Firefighters are not the only ones that should have calendars! I mean, they call them "Trucker Arms" for a Reason! 💪

I am betting we are a rare new breed. Trucker that exercises daily? Really? ROFL! I am going to try and do it! Baby steps first. I have got to decide which school to go to. Then once I get through the training, figure out how to exercise. Wonder what would happen if you were on a truck with a fat trainer and you hop out and go for a run?