And Another "baby Trucker" Spreads Her Wings!

I've mentioned this in other posts around the forum, but after much consideration, I decided to go with Prime for my CDL training and employment. I've been back and forth with my recruiter over the past week or so and I had to jump through a few paperwork hoops, but as of right now, my recruiter's setting me up for orientation on June 4. I haven't gotten 100% confirmation of this yet, but I hope to get the final word this week. I'd like to leave sooner, but this will give me time to finish my college classes (which end on the 13th), celebrate my 28th birthday (the 23rd), and chill for a bit before I venture off into this crazy new life I've chosen.

I plan to take the tests for my CDL permit and endorsements in two weeks or so. I'll let you guys know how that goes.

My goal with Prime is to be a company driver in their reefer division, and then eventually (after I've gotten a few years under my belt) I'd like to become a trainer. As a woman, I've become increasingly aware of the shortage of female trainers in the industry. This sucks, because it means that unless you're really lucky and one of the rare female trainers is available at the time that you need her, you're forced to choose between either delaying your career for weeks or months while you await a woman trainer, or suck it up and endure the awkwardness of coed training (which, for the record, I am fully willing to do for the sake of getting on the road, but this isn't an option for all women).

I want to be as safe and smart a driver as I can be so that someday I can be there for other women.

I've been a graphic designer since I got out of high school in 2003. Now, I'm going into trucking. I'm both excited and scared half to death. Who knows? Maybe I'll love it, maybe I'll hate it. Everyone seems to know what they want to do with the rest of their life. I don't. I started college for a medical career and two years into it, I'm already disenchanted and bored. I've always been a fiercely independent free spirit with a zany creativity and an insatiable wanderlust. Medicine doesn't really fit anywhere into that spectrum. Trucking? Maybe.

So please follow along with me, friends. I have no illusions about the road that lies ahead -- I'm going to need all the support I can get, I'm sure.

P.S. -- Fun fact: Want to know how serious I am about learning everything I possibly can? I've spent the past few weeks reading through the old TT forum. All of it. 157 pages. Almost every thread. I've learned A LOT! And I feel like I've gotten to know several of you guys pretty intimately without ever having spoken to you before. I've been watching tons of YouTube videos about various aspects of trucking (I really like YourBoyE TheTrucker's videos). My roommate is a driver for Schneider and I grill him with questions and pick his brain every time he comes in for home time. I'm planning to hitch a ride-along with him sometime in the next couple of weeks once I'm finished with college.

I'm about 40% of the way through the High Road program and I love it. Brett, I will never be able to thank you enough for the good you've done for me and other newbies by providing us with such a wonderful tool...but if I ever have the privilege of meeting you, I'd like to buy you lunch. :)

Congratulations Houkie! I'll enjoy following along with you on your new adventure. I too have a background in graphic design, I was in the sign business for 30 years before I decided to embark on this crazy new lifestyle of trucking. I wish you the best.

That's awesome! Almost all of my graphic design experience has been in the sign business too! I absolutely love it. If it paid better, I would make signs for the rest of my life. But a person can't live on $10/hour, sadly. My boyfriend is an installer at a big sign shop here in Charlotte too. :)

've been watching tons of YouTube videos about various aspects of trucking (I really like YourBoyE TheTrucker's videos).

Hey Houkie, I LOVED E's videos. I Learned a LOT just from watching them..too bad he retired from driving..he looked like a great trainer..anyway, you go out there and show em how it's done..and if things work out, I might be joining you at Prime in few months as well..in the meantime, stay safe and knock it outta the park..

Good luck! I am pretty satisfied with my choice of prime so far.

I've mentioned this in other posts around the forum, but after much consideration, I decided to go with Prime for my CDL training and employment. I've been back and forth with my recruiter over the past week or so and I had to jump through a few paperwork hoops, but as of right now, my recruiter's setting me up for orientation on June 4. I haven't gotten 100% confirmation of this yet, but I hope to get the final word this week. I'd like to leave sooner, but this will give me time to finish my college classes (which end on the 13th), celebrate my 28th birthday (the 23rd), and chill for a bit before I venture off into this crazy new life I've chosen.

I plan to take the tests for my CDL permit and endorsements in two weeks or so. I'll let you guys know how that goes.

My goal with Prime is to be a company driver in their reefer division, and then eventually (after I've gotten a few years under my belt) I'd like to become a trainer. As a woman, I've become increasingly aware of the shortage of female trainers in the industry. This sucks, because it means that unless you're really lucky and one of the rare female trainers is available at the time that you need her, you're forced to choose between either delaying your career for weeks or months while you await a woman trainer, or suck it up and endure the awkwardness of coed training (which, for the record, I am fully willing to do for the sake of getting on the road, but this isn't an option for all women).

I want to be as safe and smart a driver as I can be so that someday I can be there for other women.

I've been a graphic designer since I got out of high school in 2003. Now, I'm going into trucking. I'm both excited and scared half to death. Who knows? Maybe I'll love it, maybe I'll hate it. Everyone seems to know what they want to do with the rest of their life. I don't. I started college for a medical career and two years into it, I'm already disenchanted and bored. I've always been a fiercely independent free spirit with a zany creativity and an insatiable wanderlust. Medicine doesn't really fit anywhere into that spectrum. Trucking? Maybe.

So please follow along with me, friends. I have no illusions about the road that lies ahead -- I'm going to need all the support I can get, I'm sure.

P.S. -- Fun fact: Want to know how serious I am about learning everything I possibly can? I've spent the past few weeks reading through the old TT forum. All of it. 157 pages. Almost every thread. I've learned A LOT! And I feel like I've gotten to know several of you guys pretty intimately without ever having spoken to you before. I've been watching tons of YouTube videos about various aspects of trucking (I really like YourBoyE TheTrucker's videos). My roommate is a driver for Schneider and I grill him with questions and pick his brain every time he comes in for home time. I'm planning to hitch a ride-along with him sometime in the next couple of weeks once I'm finished with college.

I'm about 40% of the way through the High Road program and I love it. Brett, I will never be able to thank you enough for the good you've done for me and other newbies by providing us with such a wonderful tool...but if I ever have the privilege of meeting you, I'd like to buy you lunch. :)

Welcome Aboard!! I agree that there is a shortage of women trainers and that really is sad. I am also willing to go coed but as Celadon doesnt allow it I will have to just wait and see what happens. Keep studying and you will do just fine! I am here if you need someone to chat with!

Really looking forward to following along with ya and I'm sure glad we've been able to help you get prepared for the open road! From the way you describe yourself I think trucking might be a great career for ya.

Guy: I agree -- it's too bad YourBoyE retired from trucking, but at least he left his videos up for everyone to enjoy and benefit from. I have no doubt that those will be helpful to me as I get into this career. YouTube is awesome, lol.

Allan: Good to know! Thanks for your comment. :)

Carolina: Thanks girl! It's been cool connecting with you here and on Facebook. I'm really excited to follow along with your training too!

Brett: My instincts tell me trucking will indeed be a good fit, and to hear it from a veteran puts a smile on my face. Thanks for all you do here on TT for us. I feel so well-prepared now; it's almost scary to think of how blind I might have gone into this had I not stumbled upon this website before going to training.

My recruiter at Prime confirmed my orientation date of June 4 today. She also emailed me a bunch of harassment-related info to read and sign. I'll be faxing that back to her tomorrow. I'm testing for my CDL permit on the 16th. I've got college finals from now until Monday so I don't have much time to spend studying, but after that, it's going to be cram time until test day.

Good luck! I am pretty satisfied with my choice of prime so far.

well, don't just keep it to ya'self..let us all know how it's goin'...