Comments By Woody

Congratulations Adam! After the way you sounded in your first post I must say I am impressed that you were able to dig in and stick it out. That attitude will help you tremendously on the road.

Woody

If you have a smart phone you can download the transflo app. You take a picture of each page and send it in just like using the transflo machine.

I have heard guys say that they had issues from time to time with the paper work not being sent but I personally never had the issue. Although I kept very good records and held on to all paperwork until I was actually paid for the loads. I recommend doing so no matter what system you use.

Woody

Oh yeah, my girlfriend said she was breaking up with me about my decision also. Now that I have my cdl and I told her about the decent jobs I could get out there. She is now talking about getting back together and going out with me again. It was really sad how little support I had when I started school. Now it seems people are forgetting everything they had said before.

Screw that. I wouldn't get back with her at all. She left you because of your decision without even talking it through and now that she realizes you will be successful she wants back in (probably to steal them paychecks).

Id run for the hills and start looking for a girl who is more supportive and understanding. My wife is a truckers wife and she agreed with me after I told her what you just wrote. That's the wrong kind of women for a trucker.

Run away she will only hold you back!

Couldn't agree more with this post.

I had total support from everyone I discussed it with. But I only discussed it with my wife since she is the only one who's opinion matters to me. Well the opinions of my children matter but two are out of the house and my youngest will soon graduate high school. Once my wife and I had settled on it then my kids where informed and I received their support as well.

Trucking is exactly like Daniel said. Everyone looks down on it because no one understands what it takes to do it well. On one hand I understand it when you look at the way the majority of truckers present themselves. But on the other hand it baffles me how a profession that is so very important to virtually every aspect of the country is so widely hated.

Woody

Well once again I have to follow Old School who has already summed up exactly what I thought when I read the title of the thread LOL.

Attitude!

Attitude!

Attitude!

I am just now coming upon my first year in trucking but I can tell you I stood out very quickly to my DM. Why? Because of my attitude of course. I took every load he gave me with a sincere thank you. I delivered on time every time I could and when I couldn't he knew it was because I was assigned the load too late since another driver failed to get it done. I communicated well with him and everyone else in the company and if I saw an instance where I could go above and beyond I would. One example was we always seemed to have trouble finding empty trailers. I wasted one entire weekend chasing pipe dreams from other dispatchers about locations of empties. I finally hit a spot that had 12 trailers setting so I took the time to write down the number from each and every trailer and also made note of one that was on the lot and red tagged. I could have just grabbed my trailer and went on but felt the little time spent might help the company and other drivers. I can not tell you how many times my DM or other DM's that I had to speak to would say they wish they had more drivers like me.

Same thing when dealing with customers. These poor people get barked at all day long by drivers that think they are the only ones inconvenienced when they can't get loaded or unloaded quickly. They will get to you as quickly as they can and my experience told me that if there is a way they can get to someone quicker they will go to the driver that was polite, professional, and understanding.

Old School really hit the nail on the head, there is much more to being a true professional driver than just moving the truck from A to B.

Woody

First off welcome to the forum.

Go ahead and apply, if what you are saying is accurate I think far more companies are going to accept you than turn you down. There are a ton of drivers, and people in all other professions for that matter, that have ****ed off a previous employer at some point. Just fill in the apps to the companies you are interested in. Make your follow up phone calls and be honest and up front.

I know exactly where you are coming from. I spent most of my life in sales and hated almost every minute. Can't tell you how much happier I am now that I drive for a living. Not to mention I make considerably more now

Woody

Hey PJ its great to see you post!!!

I came back a few weeks ago to do some posting and try to catch up with how some of the drivers that started when I did are doing now. Bro I knew you were up for a challenge but I didn't know you wanted to lease

Glad to hear you are working hard on your relationship with your fiancee. A good supportive partner is hard to find, especially for us drivers. Don't know what I would do without my wife.

Woody

I went to private school then started with Knight. We were supposed to take a test early in orientation and then after being with the trainer. I say supposed to because I never did have to do the initial test in orientation. Just took a VERY short driving test after being with my trainer.

Woody

Hey Chris, good to see you posting. I've recently come back to the forum and it's great seeing those of us that started around the same time and how they are progressing.

Glad to hear things are going well. And I gotta say I'm extremely jealous of your ride!

Woody

Hi Charlie, welcome to the forum.

Your age won't be an issue when it comes to finding a job in trucking. Companies like the clear and responsible thinking that often only age and experience can teach.

Woody