An Amazing Brithday! Had A Small Bump In The Road At The End Of The Day But All Turned Out Good!

Yesterday I woke up on my birthday morning, still facing having to tarp a load that I had told the shipper multiple times it had to be tarped and they insisted it did not need it and they would not let me tarp on their premises; but God gave me a huge gift out of it all! I have been so underconfident and despairing in a lot of things but especially trucking and flatbed that I have considered applying to Fentons Weilding Transportation and driving water bottles and sand box trucks for the gas wells. They also pay better. Well God gave me my first birthday gift, a huge confidence booster, I was able to tarp the whole load of wire coils on my own and even make it look real good. I even was driving with traffic and was moving right along. I checked my straps 3 or 4 times as I travelled down to Mount Airy, North Carolina! Im still headed there. All in all I drove 438 miles in 9 hours ans 40 minutes. Thats good because I hit three really bad traffic jamms. Also I did the tarping in an hour and a half and then at breakfast moved the fifth wheel to get legal and reweighed correct on my first time back on the scale! Happy happy happy.

It was a fantastic day. God did incredible glory reveals in the heavens and some look royal too. Wow what a birthday. I was less worried about health insurance cause I am now 26, and I started really listening to the Bible and Gods Word and it really spoke volumes to me. I was able to talk with both Grandparents and Mom and it was amazing too.

I found a few days ago that tea with the natural caffeine actually works for me really well too. I can drink right up to about 3 or more a day. I am also finding I have better alertness overall even without the tea. On my birthday night, though, I was backing into a slanted parking spot because my hours were mostly up and I did not see anymore truck stops on my route down, well I had to do it off sided and I was doing alright and then I asked for help and the man could not yell to save his life. I was grateful for the help but ya know, like it would have helped. I was backing up to his pointers and then he comes running up to my cab and says hey you went to far I guess you cant hear me. Well there was my first parking spot incident. Ugh. But he still helped me in. We exchanged info and I reported it and then today called safety. It was not the funniest way to end a birthday but I would say God was watching to see how I reacted to it. I was severely disappointed. But i was greatly encouraged to hear from safety that this was not a big deal at all and that they would not even report this to DAC just its in the companies system as a minor backing incident. He even gave me pointers about getting more practice while driving. Also I was doing a whole lot of goal last night until I got help so maybe next time I will still get out and look even if I get help. I see this as just a small bump in the road and I am still on my way to being a top tier driver! Also I thank you all for supporting me! Talk to you soon!

Happy birthday! I'd strongly suggest sticking with Western Express atleast for your year. You were so excited to be able to pull a flatbed, dont give in so quickly my friend. Job stability will also help you with your dream of being a fighter pilot. I'm sure the challenges you'll face in school and flying a plane will be stressful as well. Use the experiences you're facing as a way of digging in deep and finding ways to overcome your obstacles. If you join the military you aren't able to just quit when the going gets tough.

What you experienced with your backing incident is why I've never asked another driver for help guiding me into a spot. Unfortunately we never know what the other drivers intentions are. They could be some jack*** wanting to snap a pic of a mega carrier goofing up to get likes on social media, or they could be a professional wanting to help someone struggling and pass along their knowledge. If you do use a spotter always rely on hand signals and make sure you both understand what STOP means before proceeding. I've had someone try to guide me into a spot before without me asking and they just stood their pretending they're turning a steering wheel. Were they trying to tell me to turn my wheel the same way they were, or that's where I needed the trailer to go? I told them I appreciate the help but unfortunately they wont be there everytime to help so I'd prefer to do it myself to get the practice in. When I first got my license my trainer would sit in the passenger seat telling me which way to turn the wheel. It allowed me to get backed in but it wasnt helping me figure out what I needed to do on my own. As you experienced even though your spotter may have not helped preventing you from hitting something YOU are still responsible because you were behind the wheel. If you do rely on a spotter don't be afraid to still G.O.A.L.

I totally agree about that spotter Rob, it just does not help a whole lot when you already working on getting better at backing into a slanted spot and then scrape a truck because you could not hear him. Your right I will do it on my own for now on.

I am definitely working with difficult and all, and your right I was and sometimes even am excited to see my next load with flatbed. Im just wore out a little cause you know, my man guns are not quite 37mm yet, their like 15mm. I have got to say though the places us flatbedders go are sometimes just amazing. The only bone I have with otr is that it takes a week for a day off. Thats also why I have cconsidered Fenton Weilding Transport. 12 hour days, 5 days a week, home around 4 if you get on day shift and 4 in the morning if at night. 4-4 basically. I would be pulling a sand box or water bottle. Course I would need the endorsement. Im not certain how I would do it though since I have a virginia license and would be hauling in PA. I did not realize though that job security actually helps when trying to get into the Airforce.

Happy birthday! I'd strongly suggest sticking with Western Express atleast for your year. You were so excited to be able to pull a flatbed, dont give in so quickly my friend. Job stability will also help you with your dream of being a fighter pilot. I'm sure the challenges you'll face in school and flying a plane will be stressful as well. Use the experiences you're facing as a way of digging in deep and finding ways to overcome your obstacles. If you join the military you aren't able to just quit when the going gets tough.

What you experienced with your backing incident is why I've never asked another driver for help guiding me into a spot. Unfortunately we never know what the other drivers intentions are. They could be some jack*** wanting to snap a pic of a mega carrier goofing up to get likes on social media, or they could be a professional wanting to help someone struggling and pass along their knowledge. If you do use a spotter always rely on hand signals and make sure you both understand what STOP means before proceeding. I've had someone try to guide me into a spot before without me asking and they just stood their pretending they're turning a steering wheel. Were they trying to tell me to turn my wheel the same way they were, or that's where I needed the trailer to go? I told them I appreciate the help but unfortunately they wont be there everytime to help so I'd prefer to do it myself to get the practice in. When I first got my license my trainer would sit in the passenger seat telling me which way to turn the wheel. It allowed me to get backed in but it wasnt helping me figure out what I needed to do on my own. As you experienced even though your spotter may have not helped preventing you from hitting something YOU are still responsible because you were behind the wheel. If you do rely on a spotter don't be afraid to still G.O.A.L.

I did not realize though that job security actually helps when trying to get into the Airforce

I don't know for sure if it does or not but with the program you're trying to get into it wouldn't hurt. I can't remember what the statistics were that were posted about fighter pilots but if you can make yourself stand out in a positive way i would assume it would raise your odds of being accepted into that select group of air force. I haven't served so I cant speak from personal experience, but I would think if they only had 1 spot available in their program and they had 2 candidates they would give the person who seems more stable the spot. If you appear to be a job hopper they may interpret it as you are afraid to commit, or that you take off when it gets rough. It may be different for the military, I honestly don't know but that's how it works in the civilian world. We all want you to succeed in whatever you do, you need to find the confidence in yourself to stop beating yourself up. You're still pretty new at flatbedding. It should take you longer than an experienced driver to strap and tarp your load. I'd hate to see you give up on flatbedding because you lack the confidence. Similiar to backing it doesnt matter how long it takes as long as it's done right. Speed will come with practice. You're doing a great job, keep it up

Thank you for your encouragement! I can see them wanting the more stable person thats for sure.

I did not realize though that job security actually helps when trying to get into the Airforce

I don't know for sure if it does or not but with the program you're trying to get into it wouldn't hurt. I can't remember what the statistics were that were posted about fighter pilots but if you can make yourself stand out in a positive way i would assume it would raise your odds of being accepted into that select group of air force. I haven't served so I cant speak from personal experience, but I would think if they only had 1 spot available in their program and they had 2 candidates they would give the person who seems more stable the spot. If you appear to be a job hopper they may interpret it as you are afraid to commit, or that you take off when it gets rough. It may be different for the military, I honestly don't know but that's how it works in the civilian world. We all want you to succeed in whatever you do, you need to find the confidence in yourself to stop beating yourself up. You're still pretty new at flatbedding. It should take you longer than an experienced driver to strap and tarp your load. I'd hate to see you give up on flatbedding because you lack the confidence. Similiar to backing it doesnt matter how long it takes as long as it's done right. Speed will come with practice. You're doing a great job, keep it up

Happy belated birthday Victor.

You need to focus less on the grass in other pastures and start really focusing on just mastering your craft.

Remember companies do not usually report things until you leave them. This may be your first parking lot incident, but its your fifth bump in the road. Its at least your second backing accident.

What could/should you have done differently? How can you prevent future "bumps" in the road?

Thank you so much Big T! I really do appreciate it and your advice and Rob T's advice is sinking in. I am learning that God is breaking me of my own will and making and molding me into his will and many times it is frustrating. This short start to possibly bigger possibities is my biggest endeavor I many times get discouraged and home sick which is something I must break myself of with God helping because I wont be able to come running home during school or serving in the military

Happy belated birthday Victor.

You need to focus less on the grass in other pastures and start really focusing on just mastering your craft.

Remember companies do not usually report things until you leave them. This may be your first parking lot incident, but its your fifth bump in the road. Its at least your second backing accident.

What could/should you have done differently? How can you prevent future "bumps" in the road?

Happy belated Birthday!!!

Keep that Faith! When “the world” says you can’t, It’ll tell you that YOU CAN!

Enjoy the blessings each day brings. 👍😎

Thank you steve! I sure will. I think that this truck would sound much nicer with no muffler. Just saying a detroit sounds REALLY good.

Happy belated Birthday!!!

Keep that Faith! When “the world” says you can’t, It’ll tell you that YOU CAN!

Enjoy the blessings each day brings. 👍😎