DOUBTERS EVERYWHERE

Yeah, I like it. Sounds like a good way to avoid the same conversation over and over with small-minded folk who immediately ask zero questions about trucking, but who seem to know more about lot lizards than I ever care to based on their questions on that subject.

-Snappy

Ha! Too funny. If I just say I'm working for a shipping company, no one's going to guess I'm driving one of the trucks. It's not that I'm hiding it. I'm proud of it. It's just none of anyone's business and I'm learning to keep some things to myself so I can own them a little better.

I think everyone on here should own this. We've worked hard to get our CDLs and for a month's training, private or company trained, it's pricey. I was really touched when one of our CDL instructors said we should be proud of what we're doing because not everyone can drive a truck and frankly, this country can't run without us.

The best reaction I got was from my kids: they thought it was so cool. Actually, they were dumbfounded for a minute while they had these wide eyes staring at me over dinner; and then as it sank in, they started to say things, like they couldn't wait to tell their friends how cool their mom was. The second best reaction I got was from my best friend from prep school who told me she told her mother over the phone, to which her mom said, "GET ...OUT!"

I'm rolling with that one. If I ever get the chance, I'm taking her mom for a ride!

-mountain girl

Three words.

Product Relocation Engineer.

I haven't had as many doubters as some of you have, and I'm grateful for it. My friends and family have been incredibly supportive, save for a few whose reaction was "WHY would you want to do THAT?". Most of the people who reacted negatively were my coworkers; one guy, when I told him I was going to school to drive truck, just shook his head and walked off. Oh well! If people opened their minds more they would understand that there is never shame in honest work, whether it's driving a CMV , caring for the ill in a hospital, or cooking hamburgers at a fast food restaurant.

My go to for naysayers has become this site: Truckpocalypse

I find most people don't even realize how much of their everyday necessities and comfort are tied to trucking. They've never seen trucks as anything but a slow-moving nuisance. That page puts things in perspective, and is pretty and well-designed to boot.

Awesome link!

-mountain girl

Woody, I like it. I'm a trucker but yeah, I'm using product relocation engineer for all the annoying people.

-mountain girl

At least you have the support from your family. I told no one when I decide to go to the trucking school except one friend and the conversational teller at the credit union. While on the road, I met up with one of my girl friends in New York and that's how she found out. Other than that, my family and close friends still don't know what I'm doing. I've realized that over the years, some things aren't worth explaining. It all makes sense later on when you look back in retrospect.

I totally get it, Nomad Girl. Wow. You've been gone from here for a while. Welcome back.

I'd love to drive up to my siblings somewhere and watch them watch me hop out of my rig.

Yeah, my kids are cool about it. Without their support, I could not have done this at all. Plus, they have an ulterior motive: they want the fridge to be full.

-mountain girl

Yeah...since this is something I've been getting into, I've decided to tell my parents. Hey, mother is supportive. Father has a big concern I'll never have a family life or just end up being cheated on when I'm not home for so long. I don't really think or care about that, right now, but I guess some people just have priorities that they think should be yours. I can't lie though, it does suck when your family is all "Meh" about it - but I want to wake up and be happy knowing what I'm going to do is what makes me happy. Waking up being all "Aw dammnnn, workkk." is not my style.

Three words.

Product Relocation Engineer.

Awesome title, Woody!! :)

Darn the detractors, full steam ahead!