I'm going with Swift!!!

I'd consider that wise. :smt045

 

Read through this thread and I appreciate ORG's posting (and everyone else's) here too.

ORG's posts were really good for me to read because, while he's a bit younger than me, professionally I think we were in about the same spot when he decided to head off to school and learn to drive.

Now my personal circumstances are quite a bit different. I don't have kids and I don't have family that I'm particularly close to. I'm also a bit of a loner by temperament. I know it's not the same thing at all, but all of the experiences you can have as a "civilian" seem to point to me doing OK driving a truck (I love to travel, enjoy long road trips, don't mind living out of duffel bag and don't mind skipping a shower or two if I need to)

So I figure if it was concern about his family that did ORG in (assuming he's not driving any more), that's something I don't have to worry about so much.

So I guess I'm asking what other pitfalls are out there for a new driver? (Aside from the normal problems with management...that's true for any company you work for). What's going to trip me up? What am I not prepared for? What's going to blindside me once I've been out there for a few months or so?

 

If all the above things are true then you should be fine . Some of the things I wasn't aware of are the time frame issues with getting to a load on time and delivering in the window. Getting lost or wrong turns that lead to having trouble getting turned around....time management is important and learning about parking at nite...seems like a no brainer but getting parked at nite can take some fore thought...lol If you can adapt to being away from home and using public facilities for everything...then the only issues u will have are the nuances of getting your load picked up and delivered. That is the job and you are in the truck for no other reason....Swift is really a good place to start and I can't imagine any other company being a better place to begin your trucking career.

 

I couldn't agree more with you rayodeluz. I really tried to relay the realities of OTR trucking to ORG when we were in school. Coming from the work background he had and family situation he was in, I shook my head more than once at his choice to drive a big truck. And my warnings were only from what I knew at the time. Sure I learned a LOT when I went OTR with my ex "First" before deciding to do this. But even that month's experience PALES in comparison to what I've learned to date.

But his overwhelming desire and obvious intelligence made me lean more toward helping him get through school rather than trying to talk him out of it. I truly PRAY I'm completely wrong about this but, I have to think something really bad happened. I honestly think that if all was going well, he wouldn't give up on this dream of his.

I could be wrong but I thought we became friends. So just the fact that I can't reach him, and he hasn't contacted me at all, as much as I try not to, makes me think the worst.

 

This has turned into the the biggest mystery I've ever encountered in any Big truck related forum. If not for you, Chralb, I'd tend to think all of this was just a sham, -- someone making it all up for whatever reason. But you're proof that ORG was and is a reality.

Like you, I too think something went terribly wrong. Considering that ORG was so open and candid in his posts detailing his ups and downs while attending driving school, I can't imagine what would be so bad that he wouldn't explain the reason(s) and instead just disappear into thin air without any explanation whatsoever. It's hard to imagine things went so right that he decided not to continue posting. That leaves only one thing to think, --- SOMEthing went terribly wrong. A rather discomforting thought.

Thank goodness you're still with us Chralb, --- for many reasons. You're a success story and that pleases me more than you may realize. When this thread began ORG was the main character, then you joined in and added another dimension that complemented the main character, thereby improving an already excellent commentary. Many thanks for your involvement here as well as elsewhere in this forum. My hope is that you'll continue to do so for a long while. And I hope Big truck truckin' is what you envisioned it would be. In short, you're a keeper. In my opinion you're a candidate for poster of the month. But that's another story yet to be told.

It's a helpless feeling not to be able to know what happened with ORG. There must be some way to find out if ORG is still driving. Is there no one at Swift that could inform us if he is still employed there? That would provide some comfort knowing he's still out there, even if he prefers to run silent. I guess what I'm hoping for is some sort of closure. As it stands, we're up in the air without a clue as to why.

God bless you Open Road Guy, --- wherever you are and whatever you're doing. You were, and are through your written words, a blessing to us. For that I thank you. Your contributions are some of the finest I've ever encountered in any Big truck related forum. I hope some day you'll reappear and put our minds at ease by reassuring us that you and your family are doing OK. I wish only the best for you in whatever you decide(d) to do.

Chralb, the torch has been passed to you and you're now the remaining main character lighting the way. Your contributions served only to improve an already excellent commentary. The chemistry was there between the two of you, both here and in person, and it came through loud and clear. That doesn't happen very often and only adds to the mystery. A mystery that may never be solved. Who knows? maybe it's better that way. Until then, it is what it is without closure.

 

hope he know what he is getting into working for sure- wish - i- finshed- training.

 

Yes my friend, he was indeed VERY real and it just KILLS me to not KNOW what's happened to him and he remains in my thoughts each and every day. Several people have sent me PM's asking what his name is (many from Swift), in an effort to try and track him down. BUT, as I would for anyone, I simply can't bring myself to revealing his real name without his permission. BELIEVE me, that's REALLY hard for me. I want/need to know what's happened to him so badly that I've been tempted more than once to do so. But I have too much respect for him (or anyone) to do that.

Thank you for your kinds words sir. You were a BIG part of both our early days in this process. Your experience and ever supportive words were a very large help to us both.

As far as carrying that torch? Well, I don't know if I can. ORG was truly unique and a tough act to follow in his level of detail and involvement in this forum. I run pretty hard and as such, don't always have the time required to participate the way I once did. But I will always stay in touch. And of course, if I ever hear ANYTHING about ORG, I'll go out of my way to post here if he says it's ok.

 

You're a good man, Chralb.
And, IMO, you're doin' the right thing by not revealin' ORG's real identity without his permission, --- hard as it may be. If he wanted us to know what's up, he'd be here tellin' us himself. For whatever reason he chooses not to, it's his decision and deserves our respect.

There was something mystical about this thread. Right from the beginning it became apparent by the detailed accounting of thoughts and actions, --- from first thoughts to research to decisions to impressions to hands on with candid insights, all well articulated. It attracted the attention of many posters for many reasons. I'm sure everyone came away with a better understanding of the Big truck truckin' industry and the steps it takes to get there as a direct result of the time and effort y'all put forth unselfishly to educate and enlighten the readers, wannaBees, newBees, rookies, and seasoned long-timers as well.

Personally, I'm thankful and grateful to have had the opportunity to read, learn and be a small part of one of, if not THE, best thread of it's type I've ever had the pleasure of readin' in the 11 years I've been posting in truckin' forums, ...... and I've read a LOT of 'em.

That's for sure.
But you're unique too.
I doubt anyone expects you to be just like ORG with details aplenty. Truthfully, when he told us of his plans to continue reporting while tryin' to get used to the trucker lifestyle drivin' for a company, I wondered if he realized what an effort that would be, and that maybe he might find it very difficult.

All we ask of you, Chralb, is to stay in touch with us here. Let us know how you're doin'. The more often, the better, ...... but we certainly don't expect you to feel pressured or obligated to keep a tight posting schedule. Better, I think, if you're relaxed with thoughts collected.
HeY!
Maybe we could be your hobby?

That sounds good amigo.
Welcome to the wonderful world of Big truck truckin'.
I wish for you the absolute best of success.
Sincerely.

It's twue!
It's twue!

 

been real quiet here as of late. hope all are still running ok.

 

hey jcc

good of you to bump this thread. still no word from ORG but we can 'hope.'