First post. Looks like I'll be starting TMC orientation April 1st

Hi. I've been checking into this website for a while, and I've found so much valuable information here. My thanks goes out to everyone who contributes their knowledge. I wish I had thought to look for a source like this back when I was first getting into trucking.

A little about me. I went to a driving program at a local community college back in '05. I had gone to college and found it wasn't for me. Tuition is too high for someone who isn't really sure of what they want to be doing it life. So I decided to find a skillset that I could have and use through the rest of my life. Truck drivers are rare in that they're only unemployed when they choose to be. There's always jobs to be had, and that level of security appealed to me.

My first job out of school was working for a local company that sold landscaping stone. I drove a top kick, a beat-up Ford flatbed straight truck, and a day cab semi with a flatbed trailer. It was a good first job for me and I learned a lot. The #1 thing was that flatbed work is not something you want to learn on the job. Strapping down odd shaped boulders and then watching them wiggle free in your review as you head down the interstate will give you nightmares. Also an empty flatbed trailer with a Teledyne piggy backing on the end of it has its own ideas as to where it wants go.

After that job I ended up driving a bulk shredding truck for a document destruction company. Nothing too involved on the driving side there, but it was a good experience. I learned that an industrial shredder will eat a pitchfork like its a toothpick. Oops.

The last five years I spent working for a Miller/Coors distributor in the area. Beer, and all beverage delivery, is hard work. Nothing quite like carting a pair of kegs downstairs. That said, it's definitely worth looking into if you're a younger person in decent shape who wants to be home every night, especially starting out with a fresh CDL. The trucks are smaller and easier to drive. I trained a few guys with no experience at all to drive them (my two roommates among them) and so far they haven't killed anyone.

As much as I liked that job, I felt it was time to move on. It was a small company and there was no future in it for me. At 31 now, I was looking down the road to 40 and realizing I probably still be doing the same job. If I could come home beat to hell some nights at my age now, I couldn't imagine how I'd feel in ten years. So after thinking it over for a couple weeks I decided that I'd go over the road. I'm not married, so I won't have to worry about that. Mostly though I've become kind of bored with living in this town. You can only go to the same bars, see the same people, and eat at the same restaurants for so long. I felt like a change would be good for me.

I remember being impressed with TMC when the recruiter came to the driving school. That plus the fact that I live in a good area to sign on with them is what finalized my decision. I don't have an illusions about this being easy, but I'm still very excited to start the process and learn as much as I can. I'm just hoping my first load out of training isn't odd-shaped boulders.

All that said, I'll try to follow up with my experiences. I know how much I appreciated other people taking the time to post their own.