Memoirs Of CDL Training Add A Lil OTR

I am slowly nearing the end due to a rare blood disorder I have been diagnosed with. I hope to get this thread while I still feel up to it. I think I will go to "sleeper" for a few then I will discuss why my co-driver trainee though it was ok to dump hid bottles of golden fluid in a P-lot. Not sure why TA, Petro, and Flying J were not included. His trainer claimed Stevens trucks were not permitted to stop at Loves.

Lets talk about Jeff. A few years older than me, from Wilkesboro, NC. CNC machinist turned trucker. He had spent some time in the Navy. And now his justification for stinking up The Pilots w his p-jugs. He was a Veteran "by God"!!! This baffled me. I told him if I saw him do it again, he had better be prepared to fight. He just laughed, but he didnt do it in front of me. He was good at backing. I should have learned more from him but I was usually aggravated from hearing about his trainer. I cant verify any of this is true, but heres a few things Jeff told me about this guy. 1) was so nasty that Jeff strapped himself in the top bunk, while dude drove. Jeff was 250 pounds. 2) would crap in a bag and chuck it in traffic 3) had tons of "Stevens rules" that did not exist. Loves was a designated fuel stop not Petro. Told Jeff "No Loves" Petro designated overnight only. 4) Cat scales only or termination 5) Had a vendetta against 4 wheelers in rush hour traffic only. Would blast Ozzy and drive like a maniac.

At one point I felt like we were never going to leave California. We would get a load drive a few hrs, Repower. I do remember 115degrees Southern California then same say 33 and snowing near Oregon border. Bakersfield-just remembered good ole Bakersfield. Got a load made it three hours out. Repower back. Well I slipped into the ol bar at the truck stop, made some friends, a few too many later, I noisily get back to the truck. Woke up hurting the next morning in jump seat. Cb in my hand. Apparently I was calling lot lizards to random trucks in the parking lot till jeff pulled the plug. Whoops. He laughed for three days. For some reason we ended up a week later back in Bakersfield. Same truck stop. I just stayed put. Early eve I harassed a few lizards but that was it. Dumb and dumber comes to close. I have another adventurous bus ride heading home for a few days. Had to fight this dude who decided to claim my carry on bag. He pulled a knife, some worker for greyhound went to the dudes a&& pulled him off the bus, still whipping his a@$ as we pulled away. Jeff was on same bus, I ended up spending a day at his place. I wont share that story. Fainting goats not harmed. Next up

SOLO DRIVER

By the way, I would not ever drink and even think about driving a truck. I would not drive the next day. Jeff did the driving. I was shocked a bar was attached to a truck stop. I figured one would be fine, then I made friends.

By the way, I would not ever drink and even think about driving a truck. I would not drive the next day. Jeff did the driving. I was shocked a bar was attached to a truck stop. I figured one would be fine, then I made friends.

I'm still LOVING following along, Chris. Thanks so much for sharing!!!

~ Anne ~

ps: I sure hope your blood disorder malady resolves somehow, soon, good sir!

Fainting goats not harmed. Next up...

Ms. Laura (IDMtnGal) just 'educated me' on this!!!! Here's what 'I' learned today, from you & her:

"Their actual name is Myotonic Goats. When they are startled, their muscles seize up and they tip over briefly."

Holy WOW!

Everyday I learn something, anything . . . IS GREAT DAY!!

Carry on . . THANKS!

~ Anne ~

Hometime complete. I return to Stevens Yard to be issued my first truck. I was issued an 8 speed T680 . Near the end of its Stevens life. I really wished they would have cleaned the interior. I wiped human grease off every time I shut down for the day. I wanna say 40$ worth of cleaning supplies. I went thru a container of clorox wipes on the steering wheel alone. It was nasty. My first load was a drop and hook in Laredo. An hour from laredo a driver came over the cb letting me know half my trailer lights were out. No answer at Stevens. Some random trucker rigged something. I think I gave him 20$ Probably arrived around 10:30. Shut down at drop yard.

Although easy in easy out I never cared for Laredo. Luckily Stevens had sandy place to drop trailer and a small little building w a shower. I left Laredo with a load to Atlanta. Although I had to send in trip plan, Stevens would send the route it expected you to follow. And it was always US 59. Right thru good ol Houston. I decided to get close to Houston, park for awhile and drive thru Houston around 3:30am. I would miss the brutal traffic. Not a chance. As the highway grew to 4-5 lanes in the horizon was the good ol brutal traffic. I blazed thru fairly quick though. I remember I-10 seemed off in Louisiana, crap everywhere, debris etc. I found out around Alabama that a hurricane had came thru that evening. Not Katrina. Katrina hit later in October. Kind of freaked me out, realized I needed to pay attention to my surroundings. I was also still in shock by the fact I was given this massive vehicle all for me. All by myself. I just remembered about three hours out of Dallas I actually kind of freaked out. Had to pull into truck stop for a few. I kept thinking, I have no problem going forward, backing would probably do me in.

Hometime complete. I return to Stevens Yard to be issued my first truck. I was issued an 8 speed T680 . Near the end of its Stevens life. I really wished they would have cleaned the interior. I wiped human grease off every time I shut down for the day. I wanna say 40$ worth of cleaning supplies. I went thru a container of clorox wipes on the steering wheel alone. It was nasty. My first load was a drop and hook in Laredo. An hour from laredo a driver came over the cb letting me know half my trailer lights were out. No answer at Stevens. Some random trucker rigged something. I think I gave him 20$ Probably arrived around 10:30. Shut down at drop yard.

Be safe, man.

Pleae .. don't entertain a 'beer' .. not worth it! Been spoken of, on another thread!

Following still,

~ Anne (& Tom!) ~

The load from Laredo went to Atlanta. I pulled into the receiver, got my door number etc. Should have been an easy back, but I set it up way wrong. And a pumpkin head was ripping into me on the cb. I off course turned it down but I got all bent out of shape. Slightly bumped a trailer, yard dog said it was theres and old not to worry. Ended the statement with "No! I will not back your truck you!" Never even crossed my mind. Luckily an 10 year driver w Stevens was several doors down(all ten w Stevens) He ended up backing it for me, fussing at me the whole time. Nice guy, older black man from Houston. As my detailing of my cab was a ongoing process, he showed his nice shiny clean truck. Explaining how I needed to keep mine that way etc. Infinite Wisdom We parted ways, I offered to buy him breakfast but he had a load assignment. I did not. It was prob two hours before I received mine. However I was in truck stop chatting w drivers over breakfast so I didnt see the assignment for another hour or so. Deadhead to Chattanooga. Load to California. Around Modesto.