Hanging Up My Shears!!! I Want To Drive A Big Truck!!!

I have been a cosmetologist for 32 years. I absolutely hate it. I have continued doing it for so long because I am actually very good at it. My youngest is now 21 and I feel that I can finally do what I want. I turned 52 in May, I have no husband, no relationship, no home (I have been staying at my mothers for the past 6 months). I have been researching truck driving for a couple months and think that I am very suited for the lifestyle. I am a good driver but I have never driven a truck. I have enjoyed reading all the posts on this forum, so much so, that I have one more week at work and then I am going to apply for company paid CDL school. I have been studying for the exam, and hitting the gym as much as I can. I am totally sold on Prime. I really like that they are so picky about who they hire. I also like the one on one training and that it is pretty lengthy. Roehl would be my second choice. I have bought my work boots, new prescription transitions glasses for driving, work gloves and a water resistant flashlight. I have a Northface sleeping bag so I wont freeze in the winter and I am in the mental head space of sharing a "closet" with another human being for months on end. I quit smoking, quit drinking and lost a little weight so my BP has come down close to normal ( the bottom number is still a bit high, but I think it has to do with my job). I take no medications and have no criminal history (except for the reckless operation 22 years ago). I have worked for Great Clips for the last 10 years except for the two years I took off to go to college, get my AA degree and my GED. Failure is not an option for me. I think I will do well driving a truck. I have been told that I have good hand eye coordination by my psychiatrist client because I cut hair very fast and precise. I also have all the paperwork that will be required in order. I don't have a passport though, but I don't see any reason why I wont be able to obtain one. Should I apply for one now? Well, I wanted to properly introduce myself, even though Rainy D answered a question for me a couple weeks back about paperwork needed, and thank you, BTW. So hello everyone. I hope to be on here more often in the near future. If anyone has any advice for me please feel free to give it to me. I am worried about the physical requirements. I have read that I will have to lift really heavy weights. I DO NOT want to drive flatbed trucks so I am not sure if the physical requirement test is different if you are not driving flatbed. I am only 5' 1 1/2" but not a snowflake. I hope everyone has a wonderful day.

Hi Stephanie. Once you put in your application and have all your ducks in a row it will go quickly. I put my application in last week and we decided my tentative start date is the 20th...because I want to wait until my daughter moves into her dorm on the 9th. They only keep applications on file for three weeks so I have to resubmit it on the 1st.

This site is amazing and I’ve learned quite a bit from everyone.

Good luck and please let us know how you are doing.

Thank you. I will. I am so very excited to start this new life. I want to have a couple weeks of not working before I go so I can really study, work out and get everything set to be gone for a few months. I am so thankful for this site as well. Good luck to you as well, but I guess it's not really luck. It's skill, determination and just plain dedication.

Hi Stephanie. Once you put in your application and have all your ducks in a row it will go quickly. I put my application in last week and we decided my tentative start date is the 20th...because I want to wait until my daughter moves into her dorm on the 9th. They only keep applications on file for three weeks so I have to resubmit it on the 1st.

This site is amazing and I’ve learned quite a bit from everyone.

Good luck and please let us know how you are doing.

Stephanie K., What a great post! You have such a great attitude and work ethic that you would be successful at anything you want to do. If you keep your plans in order and never lose your dreams you will go far in this occupation. Be sure to watch and read the posts from Rainy D. and other women here on TT that are some of the smartest and knowledgable people I have had the pleasure of talking with here on TT. I am of course not a woman and can not answer any questions pertaining to the feminine aspects of driving but I can surely appreciate your concerns and everyone here on TT can be a great support in your future. Good luck to you.

Thank you sir, your encouraging words mean alot to me. I will continue to post as I go through this journey. Have a wonderful day!

Stephanie K., What a great post! You have such a great attitude and work ethic that you would be successful at anything you want to do. If you keep your plans in order and never lose your dreams you will go far in this occupation. Be sure to watch and read the posts from Rainy D. and other women here on TT that are some of the smartest and knowledgable people I have had the pleasure of talking with here on TT. I am of course not a woman and can not answer any questions pertaining to the feminine aspects of driving but I can surely appreciate your concerns and everyone here on TT can be a great support in your future. Good luck to you.