Turnover

Joe Mo, I just went to the local unemployment office. With you being a veteran thank you for your service by the way sir your gi bill should cover it. Also thank you everyone for the comments. Espicalley brett I need someone to tell me how it is every now and then and most people don't do that now a days. Defintley feel better after reading this. I do plan to try and make it til I'm solo and see if with sitting my own schedule I can get in a routine

I do plan to try and make it til I'm solo and see if with sitting my own schedule I can get in a routine

Kyle, I'm not sure what you mean by that statement, but there's not much about driving a truck over the road that is routine. We work crazy long hours and I find myself constantly flipping my nights and days around so that I can maximize my efficiency as a driver.

This is not the type of job with much routine to it. It has a lot of challenges, and part of what defines a succesful productive driver is his ability to adapt and overcome on at least a daily basis, and often times on an hourly basis.

I wouldn't look long for much routine. It is a dynamic job with lots of curve balls thrown at you daily. Learn to read the stitches on the ball and you'll be okay out here. Expecting the same pitch every time your up at bat will have you training for another career prematurely.

In short: I started as a young man in EMS / Fire (Paramedic) and had a great 16 year run on the street. Turned that into remote medic work (offshore and land) which then turned into health and safety consulting within the international oil and gas arena taking me around the globe. Market crashed and it was time for another challenge / adventure.. Today: laying in top bunk of sleeper somewhere in Oklahoma as an apprentice for a top notch company and having a blast! Believe it or not all the past professional skins I've worn have fit naturally with this newfound trade craft I'm learning..... Plus, my wife couldn't have me hanging around 24/7 and I learned a long long time ago that a "regular" work type life was NOT for me (us)! P.S. I've been married over 20 years with 5 kids at home who I love with ALL my heart. Good luck....

I'm 58, have advanced degrees, founded, grew and sold my own business to a NYSE listed company...

What is the name of the company?

I don't think that level of detail is germane to this discussion.

I do plan to try and make it til I'm solo and see if with sitting my own schedule I can get in a routine

We always stress making it to the one year mark because the learning curve is very, very steep in the beginning. It's a struggle for everyone that first year, but it's most difficult in the beginning, and eases significantly over the first few months. As you develop your backing skills, navigating skills, time management skills, and even your ability to learn how to have fun during your downtime you will relax more, you'll make far fewer mistakes, you'll enjoy doing things that used to be stressful, and you'll feel that surge of pride as you become so much better at what you do.

Listen, I've always taken on difficult challenges my whole life. I really can't fathom a day where I'm not pushing my limits or expanding my horizons into things I've never known how to do or was never capable of doing. You have to learn to "be comfortable with being uncomfortable" and it's always at its worst in the beginning. You just have to stay positive and keep reminding yourself that soon a lot of this won't be uncomfortable, it will be fun. Soon you won't be a clumsy knucklehead trying to get that truck to do what you want it to do, you'll be a confident and experienced captain of that ship who knows how to get the job done out there.

And most importantly, you'll develop the ability to push past the hard stuff and get to the good parts where you achieve amazing things, create great memories for yourself, and inspire others to do the same.

Whether you want to be an EMT or go to college or any number of things available to you, you're going to have to understand how the learning process works and you're going to have to be able to dig deep and find it within yourself to push through the hard parts. Quitting only makes quitting easier, and a life worth having is never easy.

One year on the road will teach you lessons and create memories that will stay with you throughout your lifetime. You will tell stories and find inspiration and benefit from having a stronger character from this point forward. But you have to fight through this part to get there, and you'll do that time and time again throughout the years if you want to have anything worth having.

It's the beginning of summer. You get the opportunity to go solo during the prime months of the year. Enjoy it. It's a paid vacation in a sense if you'll have the right attitude toward it. Get through one full year and then go in whatever direction you want to take your life. It doesn't matter if you never drive a truck again after that, you'll forever benefit from it in so many ways.

And I do feel very strongly that you accepted a gift from the hard working people around you that gave you the opportunity to better yourself and your life. A man of character takes that very seriously, appreciates that opportunity, and makes the most of it. So for yourself, and for those who helped you get there, see this through for a year. Get all you can out of it. Then you can use this as a stepping stone to bigger things and it will all be a big win for everyone, especially you.

(raising right hand). I second everything that has been said here. This is one of those threads where several people hit the nail on the head and built a masterpiece. Brett's advice is so true and universal. I feel like we all just a big group hug.

Now get out there Kyle and kick some butt for the Gipper!