Time Away From My Truck

I'm working on the dock just like the other dock guys, driving a forklift and moving freight. It's going to end up being a 5-week wait to get road-tested again, in order to get back into my truck because the regional safety guy is so busy, traveling to other terminals, etc. I could push and ask the terminal to let me catch a ride to Salt Lake City on linehaul runs, to meet up for a road test rather than wait till he gets here; but I've decided to just chill and let this "off period" run its course.

I'm taking the time to learn as much as I can on the dock (as the dockworkers' jobs are some of the toughest to master in the terminal) and to learn/review as much as possible from the High Road Training Program, while I have the time, away from the pressures of P & D driving. Everything I do to increase my knowledge and skills, loading, unloading on the dock, practicing my forklift skills, learning how the terminal manages the flow, studying the High Road, weights/balances, securing cargo, etc., will make me a better driver. None of this is a bad thing. This is my sabbatical.

-mountain girl

This is my sabbatical.

.... or is it your wandering in the wilderness?

Yes.

As long as you're learning and moving forward then all is well. That's the key - keep learning. And of course having a great attitude about everything has certainly made it an easier decision for them to continue working with you and developing your skills throughout the company.

If you choose a path in life that's predictable, one where success is assured, then you're not challenging yourself and you're not growing as a person. You're not going to experience the difficult journey, the hard lessons, and the struggles that make your ultimate success so incredibly sweet and rewarding. You're well on your way down one h*ll of a challenging path and you've continued to push hard through every obstacle you've faced. Nobody can predict exactly what route that path will take or where it will all turn out in the end but to me that's the beauty of it. You're learning, you're challenging yourself, and you're growing as a person. Those things are always the main goal for me with anything I do.

I don't pick a path in life based upon where I think it will end up. In fact most of the time I have no idea where it will end up, nor do I care very much. What I care about is the journey itself. In my book you're experiencing success right now even though this isn't how you would have imagined it would go in the beginning. Each step forward on a long, difficult journey is a small victory. Every time you choose to move forward instead of quitting it's a small victory. Keep moving forward, keep piling up the victories one step at a time, one day at a time.

As long as you're learning and moving forward then all is well. That's the key - keep learning. And of course having a great attitude about everything has certainly made it an easier decision for them to continue working with you and developing your skills throughout the company.

If you choose a path in life that's predictable, one where success is assured, then you're not challenging yourself and you're not growing as a person. You're not going to experience the difficult journey, the hard lessons, and the struggles that make your ultimate success so incredibly sweet and rewarding. You're well on your way down one h*ll of a challenging path and you've continued to push hard through every obstacle you've faced. Nobody can predict exactly what route that path will take or where it will all turn out in the end but to me that's the beauty of it. You're learning, you're challenging yourself, and you're growing as a person. Those things are always the main goal for me with anything I do.

I don't pick a path in life based upon where I think it will end up. In fact most of the time I have no idea where it will end up, nor do I care very much. What I care about is the journey itself. In my book you're experiencing success right now even though this isn't how you would have imagined it would go in the beginning. Each step forward on a long, difficult journey is a small victory. Every time you choose to move forward instead of quitting it's a small victory. Keep moving forward, keep piling up the victories one step at a time, one day at a time.

Brett, you should go on tour to truck stops around the country as an inspirational speaker!

"Ladies and gentlemen, please give a warm welcome to Mr. Brett Aquila! Also, shower customer #14, your shower is ready!"

TOO funny!

-mountain girl

MG, I think you'd make a great motivational speaker! Hired on as a truck driver. Makes a BIG boo boo with dropping a trailer. Yet your Powers-That-Be decide yo are worth keeping on. So they put you working on the dock.

Now, many people would say something like "Hey! I didn't hire on to run a forklift! I'm a truck driver, dang it! So I mess up and they put me in this Siberia job. Nahh, I'm going to have to quit and find a place that will let me drive a truck!

But you have the right attitude: I'm going to learn from this. I'll never make that trailer mistake again, and now I will have a good understanding of dock operations! You'll be an awesome driver!

Your award medal, M'am:

As long as you're learning and moving forward then all is well. That's the key - keep learning. And of course having a great attitude about everything has certainly made it an easier decision for them to continue working with you and developing your skills throughout the company.

-Brett Aquila

Thank you, Brett. I needed that. This is what I'm hanging on to. I try to bring humor and a positive attitude to work every day. I love this company. A friend on the dock asked me yesterday if I missed driving. "Yeah," I paused, "Yeah." I love all the positives about being a trucker and the negatives are so few.

And thanks. If I'm learning new stuff while I'm on the dock, I'll be okay. Were the dock easy, I'd be bored to tears.

So, remember people: it's not just "shrink wrap" - it's GIFT WRAP!

-mountain girl

Oh, I forgot to add: Also Brett made a major quote from you in another post.

Oh, I forgot to add: Also Brett made a major quote from you in another post.

-Errol

Oh wow. I might not have seen that, had you not pointed it out. It was just the kind of encouragement I needed today.

Thanks Errol.

-mountain girl