Profile For Bill R.
Bill R.'s Info
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Location:
Nashville, TN -
Driving Status:
In CDL School -
Social Link:
Bill R. On The Web -
Joined Us:
6 years, 8 months ago
Bill R.'s Bio
I'm winding down a 40 year career in health care. Planning to start driving in the next few weeks. Just started training. Doing the ELDT this week. Background: Grew up on a farm in north Mississippi. Learned how to work and take responsibility for what I had to do. Hard work at times, but good memories. Started college...not really knowing what I wanted to do. Started in "Pre - "insert major here)". Wound up switching to registered nursing and haven't looked back. I've worked just about every job in a hospital for a nurse, mostly ICU of some kind or in the Emergency Rooms, I did both Adult and Pediatrics. Moved to Nashville in 1987 and I've been at the same hospital since then, with one break when my schedule needs changed and my wife (she's a nurse, too) said "Well mine isn't, so you'll have to find a new job"...got back in 1999. I've been married to the most wonderful woman I know for 35 years...(hey, she puts up with me). 4 children (2 boys and 2 girls) and 2 grand-daughters.
Why did I decide to look into Trucking... I do have some experience second hand from my teens/early twenty's. My high-school girl-friend's Dad drove a team rig OTR for Kimberly Clark out of Memphis, TN. Weekly trips, usually home every weekend. He really enjoyed his work. Friend of mine's family raised beef cattle. They had a cab-over Mack and trailer. I rode on several trips with him, hauling cattle. Never got to drive but took it all in. Drove a school bus during college for 2 years, 5 speed granny with air brakes. I had a 67 mile one way trip, longest one they ran.
So here I sit one day talking with the kids about what I would like to do when I slow down from working healthcare. Do I want to do retail (Home Depot or Publix)?...Just something to keep me busy and make a bit of money. I really want to travel and see the country, but that could get expensive.... One of the boys says "Heck, Dad, as much as you like driving on trips, why don't you drive a truck!??.... Ding, Ding, Ding....!!! "Road Trip" is one of my favorite terms...I frequently take 500 mile "day" rides on my motorcycle. I drive instead of flying by choice. So here I am, reading everything I can find on trucking and making it a new career. I'm learning a lot and some of my ideas on how this might go have been confirmed and squashed...good things.
Comments By Bill R.
Posted: 4 years, 10 months ago
View Topic:
Papa Pigs Zainy Rookie Solo Adventures
Had a little bit of time today to film a little bit of my unload. The sound quality isn’t the beat but if you turn up the volume you can hear my hillbilly voice lol.
https://youtu.be/-rz_wxCPDqo
Thanks for the video. Brought back memories of my jobs I had in my teens when I was working merchandise.
Bill
Posted: 5 years, 5 months ago
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Thanks for the follow-up, Turtle.
Sounds like you've got another good gig going. Be safe and enjoy those grandbabies...
Bill R
Posted: 5 years, 5 months ago
View Topic:
PackRat's 2020 Daily Driving Diary
29 January 2020
I stopped in Mississippi for a little over an hour for a nap and a break.
PackRat,
Enjoying the trips. Great read.
Did you run up I-22/Hwy 78 in to Memphis?
If so, you went right through the town where I grew up...New Albany, MS. There's a nice Pilot at the state Hwy 15 intersection.
Bill
Posted: 5 years, 5 months ago
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My only concern with any device that is not secured to the drive wheel is that has the potential to become a projectile.
You must have helped someone out of a mudhole a time or two....give it a little gas and out the back it goes...
Dodged a few planks in my days on the farm.
Bill
Posted: 5 years, 5 months ago
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There was about four of us all different races and nationalities helping each other out. From what I hear that was the norm in the day but is now rare.
Way to go.
No time like the present to start a new trend. If we all did more of this, wouldn't be nearly as much trouble in the world...IMHO.
Bill
Posted: 5 years, 6 months ago
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What's the strangest "rule" you've encountered at customer?
Not while trucking, but in my previous life I did a job at a milk bone factory. Had to wear a hair net.
I said I’ve seen my dog eat his own crap, I’m pretty sure a hair wouldn’t phase him.
They weren’t amused
My wife asks what the heck I giggling about...as she is lying on the couch with our set of "butt lickers"...
Bill
Posted: 5 years, 6 months ago
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Views From the Office Window (Post Yours Please!)
It's 1964 and the British Invasion is HIP!
This is on I-57 south near MM 72 in southern Illinois. I have no idea why George Harrison is in a field strumming his Fender.....?
I see that sign every time we drive up to Madison, WI to see the granddaughter (and her parents...). Wondered about it first time I saw.
Here's some of the skinny..
Bill R
Posted: 5 years, 6 months ago
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David,
These last 2 posts are prime examples of the great advice and mentoring we can get on this site (as well as the others that are here). I'm not out on the road, yet, but every teaching point like these i write down in my little book of helpful things to remember and strive for.
Good luck on your new journey. Hoping you can make it a positive, great experience.
Bill R.
Posted: 5 years, 6 months ago
View Topic:
Congratulations. I know a weight is gone now that you have that license.
Way to go!!
Bill R
on the rest of your new career. Shiny side up!
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Posted: 4 years, 7 months ago
View Topic:
Seized Morgan box ubolt nut
Similar problems working on farm equipment when I was growing up.
If you have room, pair of Vise Grips on the U-bolt shaft, as close to the nut as possible. Clamp 'em on and wrench away. Might have to replace the U-bolt if the Grips chew it up any.
And fully agree with the anti-seize when tightening it back up.
Good luck, Bill R.