Comments By Anne A. (and sometimes Tom)

Hey all it has been awhile. But things Re going good...except for my backing. Still having some issues on set up and hitting the hole. But my trainer is patient and my last back of the week was the bomb... home time has been a blessing. I have been home the last 2 weekends. Our FM has been great about getting us home a day early.

I go back out tomorrow and starting my 5 solo loads this week. Hopefully all goes well and I get my own truck end of the week or next week. Can't believe this trip so far. It has been fun, exciting, challenging, frightening, amazing.

Can't wait to get on to making real money. It has been tough and the bills are piling up. But that is only temporary.

Dingo

Hope all is well, Dingo!

It has been fun, exciting, challenging, frightening, amazing.

(All at ONCE!)

Ya got some of us 'nail biters' here, haha!!! Did you get your own truck? How's the solo loads going??

Sure hope all is well; miss your updates!

~ Anne ~

What’s happening Victor?

So I graduated on the 1 and wawas flown out to Pittsburg, PA to get my rig but then snow, ice was not nice, so I said the hotel will suffice till Monday and ta da I got my first load. Tcall to Connecticut. Dont know if I want to do that again haha. Tight as an acute angle. Sheesh. Then my second load which is an untarped load is lumber from Petersborough, New Hamshire. 48000 lbs almost. Pictures are coming...

Yeah, hun! Enough with the pix & selfies, haha!!!

WE WANT UPDATES, MAN!!!!

Wish you well,

~ Anne ~ (and ALL of TT!)

Had a great 2wks with my trainer. Logged right at 4,400 miles behind the wheel in 8 days. Set to take test at the terminal on Monday. Hopefully, truck assignment at the same time. Still a little concerned about tarping loads. Not from a doing it point but the physical aspect of lifting above shoulder high. I’ve had a bad right should for a number of years related to my military service. I can handle shoulder high just not above. Worst comes to worst I guess there is always dry van. Any way I’ll cross that bridge if it becomes a issue.

How DID that test go, GlenBob?!? I'm betting you nailed it!!

Any pix of the truck ?!?

I tore my rotator cuff about 6 months ago, and believe it or not, it's STILL on the mend. I can LIFT stuff, just don't have full ROM. Hope that all worked out for ya, man!

Let us know~

~ Anne ~

Thanks Momma Anne. I appreciate you and Tom. I do hope Ohio is clear and warmer by Monday lol. Didn't feel more comfortable driving the van, everything about it felt weird to me lol. Glad I can still back it with no problems but that didn't do me any good. Just confirms the fact I'm still trying to back the spread axle like tandems.

Davy, I'm still stuck in the habit of backing the skateboard like a van. With the van I look at the back of the trailer, not the axles. That's something that works for me. I'm doing the same thing with the skateboard, looking at the trailer. I was told to look at the pivot point which is between the two axles on the trailer. My eyes start out looking at the middle and back of the trailer to see if my arc is correct, then between the axles for a moment, then get fixated on the tail end of the trailer for the remainder of the back.

I know my eye placement and set up is wrong, I just can't fix it lol. I guess it's muscle memory with the tandems that's keeping me from backing the spreads correctly.

Well, this Ohio weather FINALLY broke, yay! How are things going with YOU, TwoSides?!?!? It's been awhile.

Sure hope all is still A'Okay with ya, man! Stop back~!!!

~ Anne & Tom ~ (and ALL the TT gang!)

Thanks, Anne. I have read Matt's diary. Have not read Tim's or Vicki's yet. And yes it will. Flying out to Missouri a week from tomorrow (Saturday). I am definitely getting excited.

It's coming up quick, Jerry!!

Have a safe flight, and study up, best you can!

• Trucker's Wiki: Items To Bring To CDL School, Training, and OTR
• Forum Topics Tagged "Items To Bring To CDL School"
• Forum Topics Tagged "Items To Bring On The Road"

• Pre-Trip Inspection Study Guide
• Daniel's Pre-Trip Inspection
• Pre-Trip Inspection Checklist
• Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Questions

Learn The Logbook Rules (HOS)

We'll be following; best wishes!

~ Anne ~

Thank you Packrat and Bill. Really excited and looking forward to training

Realized that I didn’t include some information in my previous posts. ABF has a great reputation and holds their employees to a very high standard and strives for excellence in customer satisfaction. That being said, their background check goes quite a bit deeper then other companies to ensure they are only bringing top prospects and drivers onto the team. I have read here at TT that most companies usually only look at your last 3 years work history and MVR for training. ABF wants to see 10 years of consistent work history and 10 years incident free MVR. I have no criminal background so I can’t elaborate on that.

They provide you with uniforms that are maintained by Cintas and you are expected take care of them as best you can. Always be in uniform on duty, and always present yourself in a friendly, professional manner.

I'm following too, Dave! It's finally HERE!!! YaY!

Sidebar: I had a customer, ABF driver, when I bartended at Red Lobster in Florida, and he ALWAYS stopped in, just to grab a burger & a tea, at the bar. Plus, he could fit the set alongside the building, haha! Always polished & pressed in his uniform. Respectful; I'll always remember that. Image IS important!

Wow, about the 10 years! (Actually, Tom's company does that, too...which I thought odd.) Picky CAN BE a good thing!!!

Following, Best Wishes!

~ Anne ~

I wondered what happened there. 😆

It's all good, Bill !! I'm kinda the 'Momma Anne' (trucker's wife) of the site, haha! I'll get my OWN wings sometime soon, tho!

That's a great stack'o'pack sir! I'll be following this diary, for sure!!! Great choice with Veriha, man. Awesome VIP program they have for vets; I love that stuff.

Be safe, stay focused, best wishes!

~ Anne ~

Trainer said he had a 36" X 36" X 18" storage area for trainee personal items. Ny gear will fit in a 24" X 27" X 13". Most of it is necessities. But believe me, there's a lot in there. I'm used to traveling with the military. Lol The item on the top right is my sleeping bag which is not included in the measurements because it will be on the bunk.

Remember, when posting photos ... you have to hit the 'GO!' .. and then wait for it to say 'Success!' and then you'll see a thumbnail, right to the right in that upper box, as well as in your actual post!

I'm excited for you; following as well!

Try again?!?

~ Anne ~

Day 31 continues

It is now 11:50 and still waiting for a trailer. I can see why my trainer prefers working at night because access to equipment is better.

All trailers are tied up in morning either for CDL exams and other trainers.

It's all just 'readying you' for the 'real world,' haha!! The ELUSIVE trailers ... transitory trailer syndrome!!!

Your diary is EPIC. I'm sure this will help SO MANY future grasshoppers; more than you'll ever know! You can look back at it a year from now, too, and be like: "HAH!" .... LoL !

Best always,

~ Anne ~

I missed your post by 2 minutes...SORRY!!! Haha!

YAY for you, though!!!!

Glad to hear you'll probably go COMPANY, good sir. . . for many reasons:

Why I Prefer Paid CDL Training

Busting the Free Agent Myth

Nothing AGAINST Swift, however and whatsoever! The 3 on your 'go to' list.. are awesome; and IMHO, exactly in that order.

Best wishes on your journey!!

~ Anne ~