Profile For Tracy M.

I got my CDL in May of 2014 hoping to do OTR, but found out that was not for me. Did get a job hauling grain in Northeastern Montana and loving it. Get the outside activity of flat bedding and home everynite. Year round work and there are farmers that will take a newbie. Have gotten some great driving experience taking a semi out of fields, through grain elevators tight spaces, hills with heavy loads and winter driving. The tests are a great source for refreshers. Had to use the HazMat moving from one state to another. Keep up the great work. I went to Sage and was a great experience. Happy Trucking. Be Safe where ever the road takes you

Best feeling you can have. Congratulations

Sorry to hear about all the family problems and pray that things have gotten better. You were a big help to me and I thank you. Just remember you always have a family on TT to vent at. Remind friends and family that just because you drive does not mean that you don't exist and there is a phone and Skype if you can get service, and there is always the mail. People still like to get mail not just the junk. Have a safe trip where ever the road takes you and know you have friends on the road with you.

May pays .32 by the end of your first year and they do have an idle policy effects your fuel consumption and the dock you, I have a friend that drives for May their reefer div likes them, he has a dog so the idle policy does not affect him. I would have gone with May as they pay better than some, but no female trainer for at least a month, so I went with Werner they pay .25cents to start and finish at .29 at the end of 12 months, they allow pets and have a rider policy, they run dry, reefer and flat. Told you get to take the truck home if not in a terminal range. Will know more after next Wednesday headed for orientation. Will let you know. Look at System, Melton or TMC they are flat bedders, no pets though. Have a great time in school

I had to learn to double clutch and was a new experience, agree now that I am out of school would be so much easier to float the gears. Is a requirement to get your CDL. Happy trucking

I start Werner Orientation on the 28th so maybe we will run into each other. I'm looking to team for a while. I know they run harder, but figured the extra person who has a bit more drive time then me would be a benefit even after training, as long as we are compatible. My dog will just have to be patient for a while.

Slowed down knowing I did not have to do the Pre-Trip or In-Cab was such a relief. Home for a bit and gearing up to travel.

Happy trucking and Best wishes to you with Werner too.

Passed my Skills test now on to a new adventure.

Woman make up 8% of the trucking industry from the last article read and truck companies like seeing woman apply and encourage them to do so. The only problem is there is a shortage of woman trainers to train new drivers, so I have been told and the wait can be a bit when trying to get started. Perseverance and staying in contact with your recruiter. Your sister will do great.

Erik - I will be returning in the next week to finish up. Like you frustration level just got the better of me and needed some time to regroup, had some issues at home that did not help either, but such is life. Happy to hear that you passed and will keep my an eye out for you.

Most truck companies will take you from sage. The only draw back is not enough drive time and backing if you have never done any. They prepare you to take your written exam and then prep you for your skills test. Driving is 4 hours and backing on the 90 degree and the 45 degree or Cross over as they call it is two hours each, consists of 8 days total. For me I had an instructor conflict being a woman and on LOA for a few weeks to see if I can obtain some additional drive and back time on my own as I can not afford the additional fees required for more time with Sage. Just did not feel comfortable taking my skills test without having confidence in my 90 and 45. The street traffic driving I did fine. There may be some benefit to a Company school as some require that you have your permit before attending and then all of your training time is on driving and backing. Best of luck and you will do fine.

On my last week. Mostly driving and backing and then the skills test on Saturday. Need some work on my in-cab and learning to take my down shifting at a slower pace. Most will come with experience I hope. Winetaster the chaining up is not to hard and if you chain up you own vehicle think of it with two tires. Our instructor showed us some ideas so as not have to lay on the ground when pulling through. Me personally if don't have to sit it out.

First two days you spend reviewing practices tests and then take all six tests for your permit. Once done they put you in class with the instructor who goes over the book in more detail and you start getting ready for the Pre-Trip Inspection portion of the driving side. The third day we went out and did coupling and uncoupling, fourth day worked on the Pre-Trip Inspection Sequence along with the Air Brake Test Sequence, Fifth day class room and then out to learn chaining up. Learned a few new ways to that, although I hope I never have to do. Looking forward to the coming week.

First Day at Sage. Practice tests and written tests. Like trucking truths better they have been such a big help and just referred a fellow student to the site to help him feel more comfortable with his new career choice. Tomorrows another day of reading.

I start school on Monday with Sage in Coeur d'Alene, ID. I have spoke to a recruiter at the school from Werner and looking for some input on the training side and spoke to one for May Trucking. Looking into a couple others once I get through school.

Looking at possibly driving for Werner after school, what does the training involve-duration-drive time-elogs-paperwork-miles. Do you like the company? Do drive dry or flat? If I go with Werner my training will take place in Fontana, CA. Any input is greatly appreciated.

See you on Monday

Petro in Salina, KS was my favorite. Clean and extra towels. But that has been a few years. Most of the truck stop showers are clean and yes remember to take flip flops or shower shoes. The most interesting one was in Van Horn, TX-separate showers for men and women. My ex and I always shared the shower so that was a first, there was only room for one person and you had to take a fast shower or you were taking a cold shower was interesting. Have to keep your sense of humor. Happy trucking

No Twitter. Do use FB once in awhile to keep up with family and check in on TT's page , but go to the source is far better than all the links.

The video is a classic and yes they should make one for truckers. I raise my cows for the same purpose as Brett and hate to see them go, but that is what they were raised for. Have a friend who hauls livestock and loves it, went with him once to see if it was something I would like to do, the only draw back is your load moves around alot, but would do if I could find someone to take on a soon to be a new driver. Just remember you have to wash that trailer out after most loads before you reload, specially if you don't just haul cows. Good Luck

After reading and trying to understand government language - The jest is that you need to have a PM filter installed on your truck if your Engine is not a 2010, not the truck, but the Engine. You need to have registered your truck Engine with CARB by January of last year. You had to January 31, 2014 to have met the compliance to be allowed into CA. But as with all government you may file an exemption form requesting an extension, which would allow you time to become compliant. Go to www.arb.ca.gov - click on Registration/Permits in the left hand column- then go to Truck & Bus Regulations. There are some tabs at the top that will help also in the body of the page gives some explanation on the good faith forms. I had to do this with my ex's 1993 Freightliner and again with his 2010 Freightliner, mind you his 2010 has a 2004 Engine and is not compliant with the state of CA. He has to file a good faith form. All trucks have to have a 2010 Engine or newer by 2023 to run the state, unless someone can come up with action to rescind this hindering piece of truck legislation. Or - do what a lot are doing just don't run the state. PM filters start at 2500 and up and does not include the labor to have it installed on your truck when I did some looking for the 1993 FrtLiner. Also a side note they also have a prevision regarding the type of tires that can be run on trailers in the state, although I have not seen or read much on that lately. You might also be able to get some information from OOIDA's web page. Do your reading and call the CARB office if you do not understand and really need to run CA. Hope this helps a bit, is still confusing to me, but got the forms filled out. Good Luck