Out of the Game since 2015...but getting back in

I left trucking in 2015 thinking I would never go back.

Not because I was unhappy with being on the road but because I felt like I was missing out on watching my grandson grow. I had gotten to take him on the truck a couple of times but that feeling of "I need to be home just in case" was always in the back of my head. False thoughts, it's our need for them not their need for us.

I took a job managing an automotive shop and helped build/run that business for 7 years. Then an unexpected miracle occurred, my first wife (who had divorced me over 30 years ago) and I got back together. Thanks Facebook!

We bought a house on Truman Lake Mo. and I went to work for a local dealership turning wrenches. Less than a year later I opened my own shop and recently sold it. I'm young enough that I still need/want to work and I always enjoyed driving, so i decided to try and throw my hat back in the ring.

Everywhere I looked disqualified me because of no recent driving experience. I've had my CDL since 2000, have 11 years verifiable driving experience, no accidents, no tickets, no abandoments, nothing negative on my MVR, DAC, PSP etc.

I finally reached out to a company I had driven for back in 2006, they too were hesitant but after they researched me, performed a phone interview with the head of training and safety and I believe they are going to give me a chance. Their words were IF we bring you on you will go out with a trainer for 2 weeks max, most likely 1 week. They believe I can drive but there has been a lot of changes with technology. Electronic logs, Qualcom's etc and instead of letting me figure it out they would provide instruction.

Also, these automatics? Driving a manual and controlling your speed while rolling down a steep grade by being in the right gear and using the engine brake is simplicity at its finest. I have no idea how to prevent the truck from upshifting into a higher gear vs selecting a lower gear and utilizing the engine brake. (learning curve) I'm sure they want to make sure I can keep from rubbing the paint off the truck and trailer also.

I spoke with recruiting this morning and they/she said "We are putting together the orientation packet/doing the paperwork today, don't sweat bullets if I don't call you this afternoon (she had a doctors appt) I will call you in the morning."

Fingers crossed, until I'm actually in the drivers seat nothing is set in stone.

All that being said, I'm in the process of unpacking boxes that hold my CB's etc. I can't remember how many watts a stock CB swings, I have a Cobra 29 LX HD LE that's never been taken out of the box. I have a Uniden PC68XL (my first radio) thats been peaked and tuned and my favorite a Magnum S3, my S3 I had tuned and supposedly swings 80 watts. If I key it up my tv and the tv's in the trucks next to me blank out (shut off). I have to keep the power to a minimum or the talk back doesn't sound clear to me.

Anyway, I'm sure I'll take all 3 with me just in case one doesn't want to work. Which one would you run?

 

I am still a little leary of the automatic and jake...With a manual, I'd get it rolling, reach 7-8th gear, throw the jake on and enjoy the ride. My confusion is how to tell the truck what gear I want and keep it from upshifting...I'm sure I am over thinking it.

Thanks for the encouragement!

 

Since 1995 is a very long time! I understand the decline in the industry and the uptick in foreign bodies filling the driver seats but good or bad that is the trend in all industry, especially like you said, the younger generation doesn't want to work.

I left in 2015 and got back into the automotive industry with the hope of opening my own shop. In 2022 that hope became a reality, but like the song says, All that glitters is not gold.

Did we lose money, no, did we make money, yes, enough to pay the employees and bills but paid ourselves ZERO for a year. I finally decided to sell my 50% share of the business to my business partner. Best thing I ever did.

I drove for a lot of years and a lot of miles, I loved it and I hated it. That being said, I was my own worst enemy. We all believe the world should revolve around us (at least for a little while). The slightest thing we perceive as an insult is taken to heart and not easily forgotten. Then we grow up and realize that we are just trying to do a job, get through life, get paid for our work and get home.

example of how self centered I was, I once quit a driving job because my DM asked me a message via qualcomm in ALL CAPS and I perceived it as being yelled at.

Anyway, I'm going back in with my eyes wide open and high hopes in my heart. May the good Lord and Rand McNally guide me on the right path.

 

A quick update,

After waiting over a week for a definite answer from my old company and set an orientation date I gave up. I decided to accept an offer from a company down the street from them.

I got to drive my first automatic this past Monday after taking my pre-employment, taking a written test and performing a pre-trip. I have mixed feelings about the automatic, mainly because I don't feel like I have as much control over the truck. I was going 35mph, looked down and I'm in 11th gear...wow
Part of the driving test was navigating a round-about, that was an interesting twist and it took a little quick thinking on where to position the tractor so the tandems wouldn't hit the curbs.

I'm scheduled for orientation on 7-26-2023, then I go with a "trainer" for my refresher. It's basically driving from Springfield Mo. to Kingman Az and back without hitting anything. They don't run the truck like a team, I do all the driving and my co-driver sits in the jump seat logged as on duty. It's approximately 2,700 miles and 54 hours. After that, they sign off on me and get assigned my own truck and away I go.

That's the plan anyway.

 

Orientation day is in the books.

It was just like all other orientations, meet with different departments, sit through a haz-mat video and take an open book test, lunch (Panera provided), meet driver manager(s). Quick walk through the shop explaining the fuel lane procedures and truck wash. (Not that quick, started at 8am, ended 4:30pm)

The Qual-comm has changed A LOT! (it's not even called a Qual-comm anymore) I am happy to go out for a refresher and re-learn the computer systems. Also, the automatics in the truck will take a little getting used to. I don't believe either will be a problem after a few days.

I went with IWX Transportation out of Springfield Mo. They are a reefer company running mostly from Springfield, to Kingman Az, to California along with a few other states thrown in.

No forced dispatch, you set your home time. The most productive drivers earn $100k+ a year, the average is $72k a year. Just have to remember sitting at home isn't making you or the company any money. 2 weeks paid vacation after a year. The only condition to the vacation and benefits is that you have to run at least 10,500 miles a month (solo) which is about 2,650 miles a week BUT if you know you are going to want time off their ways to "bank" miles. (sounds confusing but it's easy the way HR explains it)

They do take trainees fresh out of school. ( I have no idea what the requirements are )

No sign on bonus, No referral bonus, No fuel mileage bonus, No safety bonus, just good cpm mile pay (70 cents if based out of Springfield and 75 cents if based out of Kingman) plus benefits. Trucks are equipped with Opti-idle so drivers don't have to sweat in the Summer and freeze in the Winter.

I'll check back in after I'm done with my refresher (supposed to be a week). C-ya out there.