RE: Another green noob

Good evening folks,

if you’re reading this, you better be off duty or in your sleeper birth!

I’m brand spanking new to trucking, like having my physical and permit completed a week ago new; not done with CDL training new, not spent 1 second pushing the accelerator of a tractor new.

I’m going into this field as a married man (2nd marriage), with 1 3yr old in tow and possibly another along the way. I do have family living with us (her mom.) So for the time being my wife and her mom have given me confidence to pursue this.

I’m constantly evaluating and searching for the best opportunity. I’ve settled on Millis Transfer (queue Heartland acquisition), because of its past and PRESENT reputation. I have no illusion that the employment situation is dynamic and I might find myself working for two different brands, I hope that doesn’t happen for many reasons, but I’m not a fool.

I have hopes to make regional once I’ve made it through training successfully and gained blessing from DOT and Millis that I am capable and competent enough to drive a truck under their authority.

I’d appreciate any tips and advice anyone may have, who may have had a similar experience prior to joining this industry and how you’ve gotten through challenges of the job and any impacts on family and how you overcame this.

I plan to take this a day at a time with the hope and passion / interest in making this a long term career. Thanks for responses in advance. Stay safe !

 

Lol this made me laugh. Gotta have humor

thank you all for the replies, I’ve been in training a week at a time at the moment, coming home Friday nights and leaving Sunday afternoon. I have a good support base, I call every night (face time), it’s not as terrible as I thought it would be.

I’m always monitoring the situation, the wife has assured me she’s got my back as long as she knows I’m focusing on getting a gig that has me home as much as humanly possible in this industry.

I haven’t been on the road yet, but the sense of adventure appeals to me. Meeting and talking to people I may never see again, hopefully leaving a positive change moment in time.

drove manual for the first time today, instructor jokingly said he gives me a 6/10 lol, the other 2 students in the back who have driven trucks before were encouraging..

I spent roughly an hour by myself this afternoon driving the yard and practicing my up shifts and downshifts.

I was able to couple trailer 2nd time around with minimal guidance (just a head nod that I was good to back after I GOAL and checked kingpin being in line with fifth wheel)

Thank you all for taking time to provide insight. I really do want to make this work. I look forward to being in a position of passing on good practices and knowledge to future peeps in my position, thank you.