Earning My Stripes ☺

I'm proud to announce I became a certified Class A CDL driver 1 year ago today! Out of 40 students in my class (we keep in touch via a Facebook group) fewer than 10 of us made it through our Rookie year.

A lot of my colleagues had winter incidents. Jack-knifes, black ice skids, following to closely, fender-benders at truck stops when they were tired from driving all day & didn't GOAL just 1 time. Some just missed their families to much.

I'm not saying I'm perfect... I cracked another drivers headlight at a truck stop once (early morning, May 19th @ a Flying J in Oklahoma...I'll never forget). I was straight-line backing into a hole to take a shower after driving all night. Another driver (on my blind-side) was starting their day...decided to pull out of the hole next to me while I was adjusting my angle. Took just a second & I failed to notice them pulling forward as I was backing in. I GOAL'ed... but it was too late. The plastic shield covering their headlamp was in pieces all over the ground.

But I took my lumps, learned from my mistake & moved forward. I'm mighty proud to have made it this far & not a day goes by I take this for granted. It can all end in a split second!

Just last week I was coming over a bridge in Terre Haute, IN on I-70 & traffic was at full-stop on the other side of the bridge. I had +40k in the box and thank god I didn't panic. I threw my Jake on high & applied steady pressure to the service brake, coming to full stop about 6 feet from the bumper of a Honda Civic.

3/4 folks in my class didn't make it this far. I'm proud to change my status from "Rookie solo driver" to "Experienced driver" today...but I've got a lot more to learn.

Stay safe friends & KEEP THE SHINY SIDE UP! ☝

Nice Job!

Man that's awesome! It's great to see you back here. It's been 3 months. That's way too long. Ya gotta help out the newbies now that you have that first year under your belt.

Congrats on the one year anniversary. That's always a very big deal. Honestly, I'm surprised even 1/4 of your class is still in the industry a year later. It's a ton of work and a great accomplishment for anyone, I don't care who you are.

Congrats Charlie! It's good to see you still going strong!

Charlie that's really great, good for you! Congratulations.

Heck Charlie, I still remember your first preventable accident.

Remember when you tried to jump over the diesel hose while fueling your truck? Yep, you got all tangled up and skinned your knee!

Fuel Island = 1 Charlie Mac = 0

To quote Stewie from family guy "excelllenttt!" First year is so difficult for some yet so rewarding for others. Glad to hear your in the latter. It's sad to say that I haven't seen a single driver from my class of over a 100 in more than a year.

The group of us that supported each other from that class have all moved on to other things. Here's to your achievement and future success. Cheers

Congratulations!!! Keep up the good work. And like Brett said, don't be a stranger.

Thanks guys! 😁

Heck Charlie, I still remember your first preventable accident.

Remember when you tried to jump over the diesel hose while fueling your truck? Yep, you got all tangled up and skinned your knee!

Fuel Island = 1 Charlie Mac = 0

Rofl! Ah, the dangers of the fuel island are many. 😂

I'll try to pop in more often & warn the greenhorns against playing jump rope with the fuel hoses. 😇

Just found out the misses & I are expecting a second child in November! Fingers crossed it's a boy this time! I don't know if my heart can handle living with 3 women 😉

Thanks guys! 😁

Heck Charlie, I still remember your first preventable accident.

Remember when you tried to jump over the diesel hose while fueling your truck? Yep, you got all tangled up and skinned your knee!

Fuel Island = 1 Charlie Mac = 0

Rofl! Ah, the dangers of the fuel island are many. 😂

I'll try to pop in more often & warn the greenhorns against playing jump rope with the fuel hoses. 😇

Just found out the misses & I are expecting a second child in November! Fingers crossed it's a boy this time! I don't know if my heart can handle living with 3 women 😉

Be careful my friend. My wife likes to occasionally browse the forums to make sure that I'm behaving like an adult. I don't want you to land in hot water with your wife like me about something you said on TT!