Have to start somewhere

Ok guys my first week is up so here goes for starters I had an absolute blast you have to pry me from behind the wheel.I was so nervous at first but my trainer made me feel welcomed right from the jump.He is a good guy and a great trainer.

We met sunday in shreveport he took me too the side of the truck showed me his name on the truck and said see that name read it to me I did and he said his name his truck and we run it his way and if I couldnt agree to then I needed to go back to little rock I said I understood and we hit the road as you can imagine I was a little scared and then he said I am not here to grade you I am here to teach you how to make a living and he has.

He said the top bunk and these four cuby holes are yours then we talked a bit while. We ran down to Dallas to pick up a load of plywood going to St Joseph Mo that first day I was so tense he told me if you dont relax you will be a big knot he was right after a few hours and I realised I wasnt going to kill us or wreck his truck I relaxed then the fun began.

We got lost in kansas city but managed to bail ourseleves out after a few sharp turns. Sleeping in the truck is a chalenge at first but by the second day you are so wore out you fall dead asleep.Who ever makes the detour signs in missuori needs to be hung by his thumbs.We droped our load in St Josephs and dead head to Blue Ridge Kansas and the worst dock I could imagine you have to back inside the building and into a space that gives you two inches on each side and for fun they put a railroad track in the middle that pulls on you steer tire after more pullups then I can remember I made it(whew).

We then took a load of concrete backdown to Austin Texas (at rush hour).we drop that and headed over to the middle of nowhere Texas to pickup a load of alumminim going to Fayetteville Ark but they called us to swap trailers in Shreveport so monday I am headed back to texas.

So what have I learned this week.The log book is not your enemy if you manage it and not let it manage you.There are some guys running out there who cant drive worth a darn especialy the tailgaters They must have anchors that they throw out to stop they drive so close.

There are good and bad fourwheelers especialy that guy in austin who flashed me to let me in bless you.Parking and fueling in the big truck is an adventure. A shower is a beutiful thing.

Now some interesting things when somebody is training you and you live with him in that little space you hear everything that is going on in his life right then.He spends a lot of time on the phone cause he is bored and so are the other trainers cause they call each other as you cross the country cause they are bored.He is going to let me out of the truck next friday he says I am doing well so I will test out that following monday in little rock and then get my own truck.wish me luck later

 

I know that two hundred hours may seem like alot but they go quick.We are off to converse texas tonight Maverick doesnt get out west much but you never know.They put me up in a laquinta hotel(they paid) for the weekend and it is one of the nicest hotels I have been in.My buddy from school who works for usa has to sleep at the truck stop while his trainer goes home for the weekend its the little things that make me glad I chose Maverick.I will be gone till friday so I will talk to you all then have a great week later

 

Hansman I will look for you Monday in little rock I test out then and pickup my truck everyone has told me the test out is no big deal I will let you know.

Last week I was all over Texas carrying some of the things school doesn't tell you about and we did some creative securing of loads. It really test what you learn in school.

I have a good handle on the logbooks and I will only run legal so I don't think that will be a problem.If it is I will have to find a new job cause I am not risking everything I have achieved so far for anyone.I understand that there are cowboys out there and I understand why they do it all I am saying is it is not for me.Now the company has these qualcomms in their trucks so I am pretty sure they can punch a button and see what you are doing and where you are at so they have to know what is what. To me it is like the dirty little secret of the industry and the company's turn a blind eye to it because it is to there advantage not to change. If it means I make less money and miles then so be it. I enjoy driving the big truck way to much to risk it.I can keep my door shut and make the miles in the time I am given and if I cant then I ought not be doing it.That is just my two cents on the whole logging issue and I am not passing judgment on anyone enough said.

Maverick has the incab transponder for the weigh stations I never got a green light on it not once but all you do is pull in roll your window down follow all the signs and wait for the green light no big deal so far.They have toll pass an cards for all the toll roads except in Kansas.

Two weeks is a long time to live in a small place with another person and I really admire the trainers for doing it but I don't think I could ever do it not for any amount of money. Best I can figure they get 4 cents more a mile then the other drivers and if I make it a year they get 1 cent for every mile I drive that year so they really encourage you to hang on for a year.

Hygiene and the road is a pain but it is manageable with some planning. It will be better once I have my own trucks and not living by someone else's rules.

Truck stops now this kind of irritates me just a little. They fill up early and I don't understand why if your terminal is right around the corner why are you parking at the truck-stop and taking up much needed parking spaces. While I am on parking and hours of service I don't understand why those chuckle-heads in Washington haven't figured out if you cant let these fellows drive then you need to have somewhere for them to park because parking spaces at night after dark become a rare commodity. Truck stops were mostly clean and well lit and I never felt scared anywhere we parked for the night maybe because I wasn't alone.I will let you know if that changes when I am on my own.I never saw a lot lizard my brief time I was out.

I saw some pretty angry looking drivers and I always greeted them with a nod and a how you doing and 90 percent always smiled and greeted me back. Just like real life there is good and bad in everything.I am going to change from student to driver but I still have a lot to learn.If you have any questions or advice for me feel free to ask or tell me and I will answer you the best I can but remember I have only been at this for a heartbeat and am still wet behind the ears. I haven't picked a handle for myself yet for the CB I will have to pick something that suits me guess that is about it the girlie and I are off to tunica to do some gambling and spend some time together you guys all be safe and I will keep you posted later

 

Thanks for all the great compliments guys. Yes there are some women drivers at maverick.Our driver of the year was a woman.Yes I agree this whole trucking thing can be overwhelming at times but then the unknown part is always scarier then reality and the reality is when you are seated in the driver seat it is a blast way better then any job I have ever had before.

Barreling down the road at a whopping 62 miles an hour and everybody is passing me. But it is alright cause I am getting paid to do something I enjoy at that is all good.I test out tomorrow and hopefully get my own truck and I have been spending money like a drunken sailor this weekend buying the things I think I am gonna need. I probably have more then I need but better to much then too little. Talk to you later