Approved for truck driving academy. Getting cold feet

Yes, I would ask that same question from Vegan about saving money and how trucking caused health problems. Seriously not judging and I would appreciate the feedback. Did you try working out with free weights or resistance bands during reset or breaks? Are you cooking your own food for the most part in the truck? Is it stress, diet, greedy ex-wives, or what that ruined your health and robbed your gold?

It's a story I want to hear because approaching mid-forties I want to retired by late 50's or all of this is a no-go and I might as well go to work at UPS, or keep driving Uber locally. Or fix computers. Thanks in advance.

 

Well I'm home for a minute now after 6 days of intense training, 12 or so to go. I decided to wait out the winter and the weather has been perfect, thank God. Nothing bad to report at all. We are training on 10 speed manuals, all in decent condition. So far, classroom time has been minimal except for the first 2 days. Now it's 90% hands on, out on "The range". Backing, parallel parking, offset, etc. The pre-trip inspection is something else, so many points to remember but totally doable with just a little extra study each day for any brain. Safety is first, the trainers lost one of their own last year in a freak accident on the range. It was brought up a couple of times and the wounds have not healed. The trainers are lifers for the most part, most have been there forever, which I believe is a good thing overall. Also, the actual training time per day has been on average close to 8.5 hours, not 10, my recruiter was mistaken about that part, so the days actually go by fast, and there's ample time to study and relax at the hotel, which has a top notch indoor pool and hot tub, plus workout room. Also, it's six days straight the first week, then 5 with weekends off after that. NICE. Itt's def not a vacation but when you see a twenty something male or female who has never even drove a stick, English as a second language, out there kicking arse on the range, it's inspiring. I will not be doing a daily log post thing here at TTR though, as that is frowned upon now by the academy, as is broadcasting their/our business in any kind of social media. Understandable. I may follow up with another post at the end of training. I will go as far to say quite a few across the board are flunking out at an alarming rate. Mostly the first week (which I skipped) permit studiers, but also folks who fail third day straight backing, and especially pre-trip. One criticism would be wasting 40 hours having students read a book. The academy could really use an IT update and add some desktop computers, it would save time and money, and surely increase the pass rate. They get to jump back a week and start over though for no extra charge at least once, another nice thing about the academy I suppose. That's about it for now, so far so good, I felt the need to follow up since this thread basically got me through the cold feet stage into the real deal. Thanks again guys and gals

EDIT: There is ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY an HFT (Hair follicle test) and I have the gaps in my hair to prove it! Also, rumors of zero tolerance for alcohol, even in the hotel room, are TRUE. One guy got sent home last week for some empties in the trash can. The help can and will snitch you off. It's weird and I don't like the policy but it is what it is and honestly I feel pretty good being weened off the sauce.