New Career ... From the beginning.

Whew! I passed. The first week is successfully over...I have 24 hours of alone time, then I meet up with my training engineer for another week of over the road, hands on training. There were 10 in our class...2 washed out...not sure why...didn't ride with them...but evidently they couldn't adapt to the Schneider way of doing things fast enough. There is nothing slipshod or halfassed about Schneider...when driving that big orange monster, I am glad for their attitude of safety first.

 

Thanks Wedge. I look to you as my mentor.

 

Thanks Wedge. Goods advice..thanks. I met up with my TE last night...he met me at his truck..where he parks when he's home...good guy. I spent the night in his truck..He rolled in At about 6 this morning....we drove down near NY and picked up a load of antifreeze and delivered it to a Walmart DC over near Pittsburg. But, then...the ## began...while uncoupling,we found a cracked air line near the glad hand....so, now we're doing what truckers do...waiting. Waiting for SNI to give us some direction....wait for mechanic I guess.

 

‎5:30 AM...truckstop in western PA...there must be a hundred of these big rigs crowed in here....it's cold and dark. The big rigs are all idling..and they way they are all clustered it reminds me of cattle huddeling together in the field. An occasional trucker will wander in to the truck stop unshaven, fatigued..almost lifeless, I don't want to be that way. God give me the disciplin to remain alive and vital.

 

Things are really good. Monday, our first day out, I was relieved to have my TE say he was going to drive. I needed that. I learn a lot by observing...that's what I did....I watched him shift...up and down....skip...turning...approaching traffic lights...it was all good. When we delivered our load last night, we were uncoupling at at Waimart DC, we discovered our airline was torn at the blue glad hand. We had to leave the DC bobtail,,hit the nearest truckstop and wait for instructions. Meanwhile, since we were disabled we lost our next load....the sent an order for the mechanics at the TS fix our airline. When that was done, we found a slot and called it a night. I have the top bunk. It's fine... But for an old guy, you have to be a pretzel to maneuver up there. My duffle bag is way too full for a week....next time.less cloths....I guess I didn't really need both my white and black tuxedo. Today I drove for about 4 hours...it went very well. Hali the time was on freeway...the other half was on secondary roads thru the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania. We twisted and turned thru ancient coal mining towns...very narrow streets, nearly impossible turns. I did fine...but I am certain I couldn't have done it without my TE directing. Tomorrow will be very weird...we're taking a load to my neighborhood. I haven't been home in about 8 or 9 days. Well breeze in...drop a load at Walmart...then head on to the next assignment.
Mickey ...you're waiting now...but I'm afraid I'll be waiting when I'm all done with my final week...waiting for them to find me a truck....then...where will it be? I'll have to get myself to it...oh, but why worry about uh stuff.that hasn't happened...and probably won't