Tell me if I'm lucky

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by IronFreakinMaiden, Aug 26, 2010.

  1. IronFreakinMaiden

    IronFreakinMaiden Light Load Member

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    So I decided to get a CDL with Prime. I'm waiting on a recruiter and everything right now. My wife and two kids will miss me but we are in such a freakin hole its not even funny. I'm aware of the time I'll be away and I can deal with that, considering I have less than a dollar in the bank. My wife is behind this 110% so that makes things easier.

    The perk? My trainer before I go solo happens to be my best friend for over 30 years. To me, this is a no-brainer. He is doing very well with the company as a leaser.

    I'm just a little freaked out because I've never traveled very far before. But considering the circumstances, I think I'm doing the right thing. I've never had a good job and college would take too long.

    Basically, I might have a ton of questions going forward.

    We'll see....
     
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  3. johnday

    johnday Road Train Member

    I wish you the best of luck. Driving might not be the highest paying job out there, but you get out of it, what you put into it. Go in with a good attitude, and maintain it, and you'll be fine.
    Remember this as well, you're human, and can screw up, so can others.:biggrin_25525:

    Just ask, and you'll get some good info here.:biggrin_25525:
     
  4. chompi

    chompi Road Train Member

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    Confused, you are saying your lucky to ride with your friend right? Sorry, I'm a little slow sometimes. As for being freaked out, yep your going to be. It is going to be a shock to your system. Don't give up though. Usually takes about three months before you are comfortable with life on the road and are confident with your driving skills. Until then just relax and soak up all the info you can. That's great you are training with your friend. Hopefully he is very experienced (he must be somewhat if he owns his truck) and can really show you the ropes and tricks of the trade. Hopefully he can also teach you some out of school shifting and refining of driving. Maybe you can even team drive. You can really make some good money as team drivers. Going to be very tough on you and your family but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do! If you have any questions send em our way! Welcome to the forum and good luck to you.
     
  5. Rolloff Truck Driver

    Rolloff Truck Driver Bobtail Member

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    I think your doing the right thing and your doing it for your family and I feel the same way about traveling far from my family because I get homesick sometimes well, all the time but you still gotta make ends meet for your family regardless of how far you have to travel. Good luck with Prime bro
     
  6. IronFreakinMaiden

    IronFreakinMaiden Light Load Member

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    Thanks man. This forum seems to be a great place to get info from pretty cool people. The best thing is we both like Iron Maiden.

    I'm just going to miss my family. But what good is a family if you can't feed them?
     
  7. IronFreakinMaiden

    IronFreakinMaiden Light Load Member

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    Thanks!

    Yeah, he's going to be the one I train with for the 4-6 week period after I get my CDL. What I mean by lucky is that I'm able to do it with someone I grew up with and still talk to. He is very reliant and doesn't screw around. He makes good money with Prime as a leaser and I can trust him 100%.
     
  8. thelastamericanhippy

    thelastamericanhippy Road Train Member

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    You ARE lucky !!!!!!!!!!!!

    Just hope it's the good kind.................
     
  9. IronFreakinMaiden

    IronFreakinMaiden Light Load Member

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    Thanks man.

    See, right now we're living under her mom's roof (embarrassing, I know) because I lost my job, so there will be no mortgage payments or anything like that. I'll be able to save money pretty quickly.
     
  10. Hubcap

    Hubcap Medium Load Member

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    These drivers that say it will be a shock to your system are right. Just think of it as a cheap source of entertainment. Who else but truckers get paid to be entertained?

    But watch out, you and your buddy might wind up teaming together. A man and a women came through our school, went to the same company, started team driving and got hitched.

    (Wait a minute...that just didn't come out right. Sorry. I team drove with my son in law for awhile. He was always eating beans for some reason. Seemed to think it was funny!)

    Her name was Claudia and we called him the brawny man (from the paper towels).
     
  11. chompi

    chompi Road Train Member

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    Right on man, yeah it sucks being stuck in a truck for a month with a stranger. So yes that's good luck! Probably better off your wife and kids with her mom. It will be less stressful on her having someone there to help. Gives you a little more security too. My wife and I drove team and after the first six months we sold our house. When we came home we stayed with my wife's parents. From time to time they would also babysit our dog. Really worked out great. Makes for stashing cash happen a lot faster, plus the chores don't add up when your not there. When we first started driving when we came home the entire time we had off was spent getting the house back up to par. Oh yeah, and then there was the time the fridge quit! WHEW! Thought there was a dead person in the house!
     
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