Comments By Gary A.

Well, I went to a Schneider "job fair" and spoke with the guy there and he said to hold off until about the 3rd or 4th week of class before getting pre-hire letters. At the tech school presentation, I asked the instructor about it and he said that the Schneider guy was right, because there was no point in moving ahead until you see how you do in class (?)-I'm assuming that there's a drop out rate and that's what they were talking about...I still have a few weeks before class starts anyway...

As I read the diaries, I see a lot of drivers go with the company training as opposed to tech school training, like I am. When my program is complete (7 weeks) I will be a fully qualified CDL class A driver. The school ensures that their graduates have all endorsements. SO I'm reading a lot of diaries that describe pretty much the same training at the company. I don't want to do everything TWICE!!! What happens to guys who graduate from schools like mine?

Luv the new format, but is it possible to move the facebook/twitter/email bar to the right side of the screen? can't really see some stuff the way it is now..other than that..LUV IT!!

WOW! great photos! THIS is one BIG reason why I want to get into trucking..can't see or experience these types of events sitting in a cube!!!!

That the Wal-Mart driver that hit Tracey Morgan had not slept in more than 24 hours? Do they not have Qualcomm or some other way of monitoring the driver?

Driver awake over 24 hours

If he hasn't been mentioned yet, I enjoy Trucker Josh's videos, too.

Agreed, he's fun to watch. How about the little "soap opera" thing he's got going with "Allie Knight"? As has been mentioned elsewhere, "it's cute", perhaps a little "Kanuk vs Yankee" trucker romance is in the works? LOL

LittleJoe

Oh, yeah! You can totally see that. She rode 500 miles on her day off to meet up with him. She was blushing, HE was blushing. Then he shows up unexpected next to her in a rest area?!?!? It's getting pretty interesting. Not to mention they both keep talking about the other in their videos.

The plot, as they say.... Thickens! LOL

Yep..He talks to her often too..In today's video he mentions that she's in Colorado, and had never been out there before..so they're keeping in touch. We'll have 'em married off before long!

I have been reading posts, watching videos and learning all I can about trucking. I have come to some 'revelations' about truckers as a result. As an I.T. professional, I considered myself an above-average intelligent individual, familiar with technology and my profession. Truckers, IMO (and many others) were sort of a "lower class', not too bright (or WHY would they be driving a TRUCK for crying out loud?) I knew a few 'truck drivers' who never really had training, just sort of jumped in a truck for a company, many without high school educations, just not too bright overall. Trucks were ANNOYING, slow, ALWAYS in the way and caused traffic issues EVERYDAY here in Atlanta...so WHY in the WORLD would I want to be a 'TRUCKER?' yet there was somewhat of an appeal-trucks were COOL, lots of travel, freedom, NO SUFFOCATING CUBICLE..etc....

After I lost my position in I.T. I looked for a job FOREVER- Saw a big tractor trailer student driver at my local technical college and had a funny thought (I remember laughing) about maybe becoming a trucker. "BUT I'm WAY more intelligent and skilled than THAT!" I thought to myself...but still, encountering constant frustration every day in trying to find a position in my career field, the notion stuck with me..Suddenly becoming a trucker wasn't such a BAD option after all..heck, I'm so SMART I'll be king of the road and top driver, after all, these ol' Georgia rednecks without any education can do it, so can I, and BETTER too!!! (sorry fellas, I did think that way for quite a while).so I figured it was worth a look..what the heck ELSE was I gonna do? My I.T.skills are out of date, I'm too OLD for I.T anymore (at 56)..not much choice...

After several months, and reading, watching, listening to all I can find, my eyes were OPENED! Thanks to Brett and the drivers here on Trucking Truth, I have discovered that the PROFESSIONAL American Trucker is one of the most HIGHLY intelligent, disciplined and hard working professionals in the WORLD! It's too bad John Q. Public has the same misconceptions I had..These jobs aren't about getting into a truck and driving all day. It's about dedication, hard work, organization, management and safety consciousness. SO MUCH KNOWLEDGE is required to do the job RIGHT, organization, scheduling and management are ALL vitally important. Add the skill required to operate a huge vehicle capable of killing people in the blink of an eye, with one slight error in judgement, and suddenly, trucking takes on an entire new meaning and respect. Brett and the Trucking Truth folks (and y'all) have turned my ENTIRE attitude around, and helped me to realize that becoming a highly trained professional trucker will become one of the BEST, most REWARDING and PROUDEST achievements in my life.

SO as I make this commitment of time, effort and energy, I realize NOW that once my training is complete (and I don't expect it to EVER be complete-always new rules, situations to learn from, etc) I will become FAR more professional and skilled than I was in my previous career. I will work HARD, but feel the reward that comes with that hard work. My priority will ALWAYS and FOREMOST be safety of my vehicle, my cargo, and safety of traffic or others around me..Most of all, I will feel a PRIDE of being an American Trucker..Look forward to joining the ranks!!!

(P.S.- was close to starting school earlier this year, and some of y'all may remember my questions and posts, and decided NOT to become a trucker after seeing ONE bad video, and being offered a position at my local hospital provider. That job was only temporary, and despite my efforts, they decided to let me go. SO LET"S GET GOING ALREADY!!!!!)

Hey y'all.. I was thinking that it would be COOL if some of y'all regular drivers could share some of the cool stuff about driving a truck, some of the places you've been, things you've seen-What do y'all LOVE about trucking???

I can't WAIT and hope to get a nice camera and document the places I go and see all across America..It would really give us beginners something to look forward to and get excited about...

Thanks! Gary

THANKS Randy! While I'm still a LONG ways off from training, at LEAST I can have the general idea and remember this when the time comes..CAN NOT imagine doing it from the 'blind' side!!!..looking forward to more tips!

Sweet, my favorite type of thread. Its nice helping out youngsters for a change instead of old.... oh nevermind.

you young whippersnappers......!