Comments By Thomas M.

Congratulations and welcome to the trucking lifestyle. I wish you the best. Be safe out there.

While i have been out there and keep in mind i am still a rookie, i have noticed that a lot of people do not have their radio on. The CB is your best friend. Sure there is a lot of chatter at times but i use it as a source of what is happening in front of me as well as to warn others of potential hazards. Please use it!!

We are all out there doing the same job and need to look out for each other.

I just got home from being out on the road for 2 weeks and i really need to share a few things not to scare anyone, but to put things into perspective. When i left it probably wasn't the best time for heading to the Northeast but that was where the loads were headed.

The first issue of weather since it appeared that we were seeing the worst storm in who knows how many years. It started wit a run from Florida to Baton Rouge,LA. I picked up my load and was excited to get a decent run. What came next is ment to be a learning experience and a note of caution. I got up into the Florida Panhandle heading west on 10 and it seemed like all hell broke loose. I hit freezing rain and then all of a sudden broke traction. I had never really seen snow except on the TV and had no idea the true dangers of ice. I was running a really light load about 15K in the box and the next thing i know i look out of my mirror and my trailer is sliding into the other lane. You i know oh S**** so the only thing i could think of was slow down. That helped with traction a little and the trailer came back. I am now frantically looking for a safe haven when a truck about 2 truck lengths in front of me started swinging back and forth. I started to slow even more and just as i geared down to 6th, i see his trailer start sliding sideways and go over. Now i am really panicking. I was right there so i grabbed my cell and am dialing 911 as i am running fearing the worse. I get up there and thank god he is OK and just dazed and confused. The tractor is laying on the drivers side and reality hit home hard. I start thinking about my family back home and wondering if this is the best job for me.

The next day i was able to get going and the roads cleared a bit so i started heading to my delivery. As i am coming down the back side of the bridge on the 10 1 mile before the 12 cutoff i blow an inside drive tire. If you have ever heard on blow you know the first time you think your gonna have to change your shorts. I called my uncle and told him i blew my first tire and he laughed really hard then said how do you feel. (My uncle was a 38 year veteran driver) I was ok once i settled down and then i guess it was kinda funny.

I thought the worst of it was over and then my next load came. Baton Rougue, LA to Baltimore, MD. Sweet 1200 miles right? that's what i thought but the coming days would prove as a true test to what i was made of and if i could cut it. I ran into ice, snow, rain, freezing conditions, and greasy roads. I saw so many accident with both 4 wheelers and trucks that i was counting my blessings that i was still upright. There were 3 accidents bad enough that they said over the radio that the freeway was shut down so that the helicopter could land. I wasn't until they said that the road was closed due to fatalities that i really started thinking hard. I had a job to do though and i was going to do it the safest way i could regardless and just think about getting home. I got to Baltimore, delivered and picked up my next run. Cincinnati, OH supposedly out of the white stuff. I ran hard and got to Cincinnati and pulled into a TA thinking my appointment was not until 11pm so i had 7 hours to shower and power nap. All was well until i woke from my nap to see a blizzard and then freezing rain. Was someone sending me a message?

I called my dispatcher and told him to reschedule the load for the next day so this would pass. I stayed there that night and the next day i decided to bundle up and help guide others into spots in the mess. This was all good and i was back in my seat warming up when a young pup came around the corner and slid into 4 trucks. Let me tell you i thought they were gonna kill that kid at first. They got past the mad part and asked him what happened and more importantly made sure everyone was ok. Apparently this was his 1st solo load out of school and he was heavy. His load shifted and he lost traction. Truly an accident.

I made it through and continued to battle the horrible weather all the way down to almost North Carolina then i was pointed toward home. I made it safely and i would do it all over again if i had to. I met some of the most awesome people you could ever ask for in the worst of circumstances. People just kept their heads, did their best to help each other out and got some great advise from some old timers that was worth it's weight in gold.

For me, i love the job and will do it until i retire. It is not so much of a job as a way of life and the countryside in the Northeast is among the most beautiful i think i could ever imagine.

The only advise i can really offer is Slow down and be safe out there. No amount of money or freight is ever worth your life or someone else's. If the conditions are bad, stand your ground with your company! This is your life not theirs.

William,

Brett has put together a list of company sponsored schools here. If you are not stuck on Roadmaster then there are several good companies that will get you the schooling to get started out on the road.

I drive a 2012 Volvo at knight and i would not trade it for anything. Turning radius is awesome and for backing it is so much better than the 2014 Pro Star that i trained on.

I think Brett and Daniel hit it perfectly. We have several Husband/Wife teams at my company and also lots of wives that are just riders. Maybe look at companies that support teams. Whichever way you go good luck and be safe.

Swift, Schneider, or Knight.

It is more effective in 6th gear or below at 1100 to 1500 rpm's with a heavier load behind it on most trucks. Different trucks will act different with a Jake brake. The Volvo for example will kick in as soon as you let off the gas with the brake engaged where the new international Pro Star you need to push on the service brakes before it will kick in. The older trucks have a stronger Jake Brake than the newer rigs.

They have an orientation class that starts every Monday. Normally orientation is 3-4 days then the school starts the following monday at the same location. If you talk to Kristy Miller in recruiting tomorrow she may be able to get you started the following week. I called on a tuesday and was in class the following monday.

Kurt,

I went through the entire knight school in Olive Branch, MS. The people were awesome and i would absolutely recommend it as a #1 choice for anyone. My trainers at the school were awesome and were drivers for many years before becoming trainers. My OTR trainer was a 37 year veteran that taught me more in 1 week than i could have imagined. My local trainer was a 15 year veteran that taught me all i needed to know about city driving and tricks on backing. After i graduated school and got my CDL i went out for 3 weeks with another trainer and refined my skills so i could be on my own with confidence. Everyone was very supportive all the way through and i am completely happy. I am based out of Lakeland, FL if you need more help let me know. I am heading out for 2 weeks in the morning but you can PM me as i get e-mail on my phone.