Starting out for rookies

runs along the southeast tennesse boarder. wouldnt recomend drivin truck through there though.

 

whats your location?

 

I'm in Killeen, Texas, just under 3 hours from Dallas and about an hour from Austin

 

Got in touch with Stevens transport, they won't give me the time of day even after I am off probation, TMC won't either. Going to call a few more companies monday and see what else I can find out. No word from Werner yet, but I am in no rush really.

 

problem would be solved by people not flying around blind corners

but that would just make too much sense i guess

 

Who do you drive for?

 

Here you go...it's on the south side of Smoky Mtns National Park in NC and TN. US 129 runs across state lines. There is a store at the beginning on the NC side and then you go up the mountain to the TN side and start back down again. Then...go back. So, actually it is 636 turns in 22 miles. I think that may be their new slogan.
http://www.tailofthedragon.com/dragon.html

 

Which is true. You can't argue that. Neither will the TN state Troopers. The place is legendary though so, it will always be a battle and/or arguement, a possible short cut for truckers and an awesome ride for bikes.

 

That is what I hope DOESN'T happen. Trucking companies love the "noobs" because they pay them so little. The trainers (I believe this is true but not 100% sure) are paid salary. So, the money used to pay trainers is static. Crank up the mileage for the trainee because he/she is getting paid so little, the company makes good money on each load they hall. You could argue that the trainers salary is part of as well but think about it, the trainer is allready on the payroll and his salary is figured in the price the transport company charges to ship a load. The trainee is per mile so the more miles the trainee gets the better off the transport co. is. When the trainee comes off of training and gets a pay increase (in my case it will be with Epes Trans.: $.25 as trainee to $.31 solo) I hope my mileage doesn't drop like a rock. That would just suck. If that is the case then I will need to suck it up for a while. Tell the kids to get ride of the cell phones an do some other creative financing.

 

Last word for the day (or until I get board later on)...I chose this career for a reason. The country is struggling and so am I. Out of the hundreds of resumes I have sent out over the past year and a half, the interviews that never gave a call back and the fact that the industry that paid me so well for 30 years is changing so fast (commercial offset printing and newspapers), this is the only job I could find that I know I have a chance at making some money at. Or, at least, be able to pay my bills and still have some left over to go see the new "Harry Potter" movie. I know it won't be easy at first and maybe for a while. And, I know I will get pissed at myself, my company and others but I also know I will enjoy it. It's called work. I will work hard at it and do my best. I believe I will do a good job. I will learn from my mistakes and continue to make them as time goes on. At 50 years old, I have been humbled. I will look forward to time at home with the family, my motorcycle, my guitars (crank it up and piss off the neighbors) and my bed once in a while. It's my choice..I wish myself luck as I wish others the same.