Update Time

It's been a minute since I've posted but in case anyone remembers me at all, I thought this was the perfect time for an update. Background: My husband's job that he planned to retire with was dissolved and he had to look for a new career at the ripe ol' age of 66. He'd had a CDL, but not much in the way of tractor trailer experience. He's not a computer/internet guy so here I am. At the suggestion of Chinatown we checked out Jones Brothers Trucking in Missoula, MT (we live in MT but almost 200 miles from Missoula) and he has been happily driving flatbed for them for almost 1.5 years. Well, happily might be a stretch. Great company, great people, decent pay (he's on salary since April) but he just doesn't really enjoy being away from home for weeks at a time.

That brings us up to now. Today is his last day with Jones Bros. What a rollercoaster we've been on. In May he interviewed with Old Dominion, hoping to work out of their Butte, MT yard, which is 45 minutes from our house. He applied for both P&D and linehaul and was hired for linehaul. But then, the day after Memorial Day, the offer was rescinded. They said they were having trouble getting trucks they'd ordered. Covid shortages, I'm sure. It was such a blow! He continued on with Jones Bros and about a month and a half later, mid-July, ODFL called him and said they were now all set. He has a start date of August 16. He's been told by the people at Jones that the door is always open if it doesn't work out; that he doesn't even need to call. Just show up and they'll put him in a truck. We have a lot of hope that ODFL will work out great but it's good to know that door is open.

 

He'll be very happy with Old Dominion line haul division.
Great money and benefits and hometime.

 

Thanks for the update. We have a lot of members who are contemplating a mid life career change and your husband's success is a good sign.
Plus, since he had no real experience and lasted all that time on a flat bed he must be tougher than an old boot. ODFL will be easy for him.

 

I can't imagine doing flat bed in your 60's. Heck I hate just climbing into my reefer in my 60's.

Thanks for the update, and best of luck to you both.

 

Time will tell, but from the sound of it, it sounds like Jones Bros is a good outfit, perhaps to be filed under the "good carrier" list?

 

My husband and I would definitely say so!

 

Cool update! Refreshing.

And FTR, August 16th is mine and Big Maude’s 35th wedding anniversary so I feel this will be a good omen of sorts for you. I can’t wait to tell Big Maude!

Hopefully, she’ll be in a good mood when I get home and won’t start whooping the fire out of me for not bringing her a couple of Big Macs, or 4.

 

Congrats to you and Big Maude! You are just ahead of us. We will celebrate 34 years in October. With the momentous occasion of an anniversary looming, I say go above and beyond and take her 6 big macs.

 

That’d be a culinary Xanadu for Big Maude!