Profile For Keith S.

No offense intended to anyone reading this, but I don't think any of us here is qualified to say whether trucking will be a good or bad occupation for you with regard to your past mental health issues. There are plenty of drivers working today who have some kind of mental health issue.

If I were you, I would ask a counselor or therapist, preferably one who already knows you. An occupational counselor might also be a good resource.

Regarding work history, PJ already gave you a great answer.

Regarding your health history, including mental health, don't volunteer information but do answer any direct questions honestly. You didn't say anything about medications, so all I will say is that there are some medications that will disqualify you from getting a CDL job. You can do an internet search pretty easily that will help you figure out whether that would be an issue.

As far as stress goes, one man's freakout stress is another man's garden of groove. Some people thrive on chaos, and trucking offers plenty of that, especially the first year or two. Personally, dealing with trucking chaos is far preferable to dealing with the chaos of personalities when working closely with a bunch of strangers in other kinds of jobs. I've been driving for 15 years and can't imagine going back to that.

Hope this helps. Please keep us informed on what you decide.

That bike looks awesome. I'm glad you remembered to get out and ride it!

I rode dirt bikes many years ago, and street bikes more recently but still many years ago. My favorite dirt bike was a Yamaha 400 thumper, yellow and black, heavy too, over 400 lbs I think. I used to ride some trails that had a half mile stretch of gravel road on one of the boundaries. Sometimes guys would come out with their newer, lighter dirt bikes and kick my butt on the twisties and jumps, but then when we got back to the gravel road I'd fly past them at 85 only to have them pass me soon again. I bent a few brake and clutch levers on saplings trying to keep up lol.

I haven't ridden now for over 30 years, but sometimes I have these awesome dreams where I open my garage and there are three or four different motorcycles sitting there and I can ride whichever one I want. I go riding for a while, then pick a different one. Then I wake up haha.

I hope you keep riding!

That's a yamaha dt400. Legendary two stroke. I had a dt100 and a dt250 when I was a kid

Yeah, I loved that bike. Accelerated like a rocket but handled turns like a dump truck.

That bike looks awesome. I'm glad you remembered to get out and ride it!

I rode dirt bikes many years ago, and street bikes more recently but still many years ago. My favorite dirt bike was a Yamaha 400 thumper, yellow and black, heavy too, over 400 lbs I think. I used to ride some trails that had a half mile stretch of gravel road on one of the boundaries. Sometimes guys would come out with their newer, lighter dirt bikes and kick my butt on the twisties and jumps, but then when we got back to the gravel road I'd fly past them at 85 only to have them pass me soon again. I bent a few brake and clutch levers on saplings trying to keep up lol.

I haven't ridden now for over 30 years, but sometimes I have these awesome dreams where I open my garage and there are three or four different motorcycles sitting there and I can ride whichever one I want. I go riding for a while, then pick a different one. Then I wake up haha.

I hope you keep riding!

Just because I find it very interesting, TMC called and denied my application that I submitted over a month ago. No reason why, just said no. They told me I could reapply, but they would not look at it.

It's interesting because I have a perfect background of Marines and Law Enforcement + 10 years in management. As well as a perfect driving history and work history.

They said if I wanted them to look again, I would need to send a written letter. lol

TMC turned me down twice over the years, once when I was a newbie and once when I had two or three years of spotless flatbed experience. I've been turned down by a couple of others when I had experience too. I always figured it was for the best, and I've been making a good living without them.

Your background in the Marines would be perfect for TMC, though, since TMC stands for "Two Marines Cuddling."

There's always a way to make time to add endorsements once you're employed. And almost no one is going to offer you a job pulling tankers, doubles, and/or hazmat until you have a year of experience.

Bison has already told you that you meet their basic requirements. For all you know, Bison will help make arrangements for you to get back home to add the endorsements once you successfully complete their training. Either way, you should be happy that they're interested enough to call you and basically beg you to apply as a brand new driver in the current conditions.

You might be surprised how much less attractive your shiny new CDL will be at six weeks old than it is at nine days old. There must be a reason you want to change careers. You have gotten over the first hurdle but there's not much room to the next one. Now is the time to jump.

Yes, it is normal for a company to want you to finish and submit your application as soon as possible. Why would you wait? Do you need endorsements more than a job?

You have already figured out that you're in a difficult area to find work as a rookie. You can always add the endorsements later. I would get started as soon as possible especially since CDL training ages like milk. You need actual experience more than anything.

You would not believe how many drivers do not pay attention to their mirrors.

We once had a veteran driver in here years ago say, "I don't worry about my mirrors going down the highway. You can't do anything about what's behind you."

I thought I was gonna die when I read that. I must have read it five times thinking I've missed a key word or something. But nope, even a driver with several years of experience saw no value in watching their mirrors while you're driving. I can promise you I avoided numerous wrecks over the years because I was aware of what was going on behind me and was able to compensate for those vehicles when making decisions in a tough spot.

That is crazy talk. I remember an old movie about a car race across the country (can't remember the name of it) where one of the drivers gets in his car and tears out the rear-view mirror. He says, "The first-a rule of Italian driving is, what's-a behind you isn't important!" Maybe that's where that driver got the idea. Was he Italian?

I will share a story about one prospective client and the importance of rear view mirrors: while walking on trying to get some insurance because he was getting cancelled by current company meaning cancellation of DOT authority, I noticed a 1 million dollars claim that was paid out. when I asked him what happened to that claim? he explained to me that an employee was guiding him from behind the truck and he was using his voice to follow the directions being giving. I said you were at least monitoring your mirrors right? he said no I was going by his voice and then suddenly he stopped hearing him. I asked and? he said when he did stop hearing him he got out of the truck and the guy was dead under his wheel.... I don't want to put all the gruesome claims I see on here but please : USE YOUR MIRRORS ..... ALL DAY EVERY DAY... I LOVE MY TRUCKERS

You would not believe how many drivers do not pay attention to their mirrors.

We once had a veteran driver in here years ago say, "I don't worry about my mirrors going down the highway. You can't do anything about what's behind you."

I thought I was gonna die when I read that. I must have read it five times thinking I've missed a key word or something. But nope, even a driver with several years of experience saw no value in watching their mirrors while you're driving. I can promise you I avoided numerous wrecks over the years because I was aware of what was going on behind me and was able to compensate for those vehicles when making decisions in a tough spot.

I will take this one step further; I do not allow anyone that close to my truck when backing it. No one! Not monitoring the mirrors while backing is totally unacceptable, the guy you were working with should be required to go back to school, very basic stuff.

There is one particular store (underground warehouse and dock), where I have pulled the brakes and requested the employees attempting to direct me (which was not requested or even needed), to please step to the side, until I safely docked.

Number one rule; the driver is 100% responsible and accountable for managing the spaces around their truck.

Totally agree. My rule is if you are guiding me, please don't. I can back my truck without your help, thanks. I know you're trying to be helpful, but you're not. I'm not trying to be rude, but please get out of the way of my truck. I will pull my brakes and get out to come looking for you and to ask you to move if you try to guide me.

If I'm not sure I'm going to clear something, I'll stop and get out and look (GOAL). My truck can only have one driver, and you're not it. If I know you're back there somewhere but I can't see you (off to the side or in my mirrors), then my truck is not going to move backwards.

There have been a lot of people who have been killed by tracks that are being backed. I don't ever want to be the driver who runs someone over or the one who gets run over.

Sometimes you have to say all of this to someone so they don't get mad at you, because they've been "helping" drivers for years and no one has ever refused their help. Sometimes they stay mad at you. Better mad than dead.

I have been lurking here for a while, but this one made me sign up to reply. Buddy, you've gotten some real good advice here but you just keep yammering on about how you hope it turns out. No one here can tell you how this Wadhams company is going to work out for you.

Stop talking and start listening. You need to drive for a while and learn something. Good luck with your new job.