I'm going with Swift!!!

ORG, It's been my pleasure to read all your posts starting from when you were looking for about $60K/yr with evenings and weekends at home. Seems a long way back now, huh?

Though I've been out of trucks for a long time, be sure of this: Backing skills will come in time. You'll get it down before you know it, though.
For myself only, it has to be mirrors only. I get sdrawkcab any other way.

The empty house feeling is unique and poignant, but treasure it. It's an important milepost on the new road for you and your family.

Keep the posts coming. You've got a pretty steady following and are providing a lot of insight to others and myself.

Many Thanks! Drive safely.

 

ORG, Thanks again for the updates. Sounds like things are going well for you. Glad you have a good mentor. The posts have been very informative and like the last poster said will help out all new drivers as well as wanna be truckers. You definately have a way with words. Stay safe out there and trust your instincts. Stay focused and you will soon be in your own rig. You have come a long way since you first posted on here and you have a lot of folks who have your back and others who want to see you succeed. We all know you will. Take care.

 

And that is one of the greatest things about trucking! When you are hitting different manufacturers and seeing how things are done. Of course MOST of the time, all you are seeing is the loading dock, but there are exceptions.

Keep up the good work!

 

I second the above post. Your posts are very much appreciated ORG, especially since it's something you don't have to do. They give great insight into the trucking business. I'll continue to read this thread with interest, since I'm very interested in getting a CDL. But to be honest, the more I investigate the more I think OTR is not for me. If I do this I'll contact companies about local jobs before I ever apply to a school.

 

The best job I ever had was at one of those places that uses those rolls of paper that ORG was talking about. The thing that unloads the rolls is called a clamp truck and stacked rolls do make you feel very small in comparison. In fact, where I worked you were not allowed near that room unless you went through extensive safety training and then authorized by the plant manager. If you were caught in the room without authorization it was automatic termination. Anyway, these rolls go into a machine called a corrugator which makes the corrugated paper (the cardboard with the squiggly in the middle). The corrugated paper is then taken to another machine called a flexographic printer which then prints, cuts, folds and glues the paper into the box that truckers haul all over the states. I had the privilege of being the operator of a flexo, but when the economy took a dive I and many others were laid off. Which brings me to my next post.

 

Hmm perhaps Swift might be a good possibility for me to return to the road.

 

While trying to gather information about becoming a trucker myself, I found the first thread "Help a trucker wanna be out!" when it was only a couple of weeks in. As soon as I read the first post, like many of you I read every post, sometimes with bloodshot exhausted eyes, just to see what would happen next. I have been following this thread just as I did the first. At the same time I have also been reading other forums on other sites and watching every trucking video posted on youtube. I have been doing this for over a month now and feel that I have all the information that I need to get started.

I know that ORG is very busy with his training so I would like to use that as an opportunity to introduce myself and my situation. I am 29, married and have two young children. Since I was laid off, as stated in my previous post, we have been living with my mother-in-law. Five people living in a 2 bedroom trailor has been my new found inspiration to find a career instead of another dead end job. I have always wanted to drive a truck, but never did because I was always told by people around me that I wouldn't enjoy it or could not handle a job like that. Well, after 14 years of working dead end jobs, some better than others, I finally have the opportunity to see for myself if I am cut out for this new career/lifestyle. (Before any naysayer's get started, I have full support from my family and have already prepared everyone for this career move.)

I called the school that I hope to attend and spoke with the gentleman that is in charge. If I am accepted I will be attending the University of Arkansas commercial driver's training program. It seems to be the perfect fit for me. The tuition, $2,500, is very affordable compared to some that cost upwards of $5,000. The class is 4 weeks long which seems to be the duration that everyone says is right for proper training. The best part of the class is the class size itself. The maximum number of students allowed is 4 per class. This gives each student a surplus of one on one time with instructors.

I hope to have my interview soon and if accepted I am going to order the book mentioned in "Help a trucker wanna be out!" called Bumper to Bumper truck book. I have also read all the packing lists so that I will be prepared no matter where this new adventure takes me. I would like to thank all of you that have provided all the helpful information and TTR for keeping such an organized and up to date forum that allows all wanna be truckers to have a leg up when getting into this industry.

 

ORG - Reading your posts has been very entertaining and informative. I truly thank you for the time you've put into each one. I agree with one of the other comments, that you seem like you are intelligent and I would add honest. As a wannabe, I like that you speak of the difficult times you've encountered and are able to keep an upbeat attitude. Thanks again for the posts, I will be keeping up with your training. Good luck to you.

 

Sounds like it is time to do what YOU think is best. Sometimes listening to "friends and family" is just NOT the right thing to do.

Go for it, and good luck with it!

 

ORG, Great reads. Glad to see you are not AWOL. Keep em coming!