Positive things about CR England

Thanks to all!!!

Thank you Uncle Buck, LadyTrucker, bugs, and Grandma Debi for your advice! I will heed it well!

Bugs, yes, maybe we'll cross paths! Would be nice to meet you! All of you who have been so encouraging!

I'll be flying to Utah. A JetBlue out of JFK to Utah is only $239.00 and they will pay $100 of it, so I'm goin that way.

Grandma Debi, I do have one question... I will be bringing a laptop to keep in touch with family and friends back home. I dont intend to spend hours a day on it as my training will come first, of course, but are there any WiFi areas around there where I can log on for about an hour or so before I turn in for the evening?

I know once I'm out on the roads, they have them at the truckstops, so I'm not worried about that. Also, I do hope we get some kind of locker or something where I can keep my things. Not that I don't trust people, but you never know - lol... Would hate to lose my laptop or something.

I also have one more question. When you're being trained on the road with an experienced driver, when you are parked, where do you sleep? I don't mind sharing a motel room with someone, but I'm not sure about a sleeper... are they big enough for two? Or do you take turns sleeping? How does that work? I am sure being new, the trainer isn't going to just go to sleep while the new person drives... and I would rather be up and sitting up front while he drives because I will want to see things and ask questions.

So those 3 questions - and to anyone else who might know

1) How do they work out the sleeping arrangements between the driver and the trainee while out on the road?

2) A locker or some kind of safe keeping for my valuables while at school in SLC...

and 3) Any WiFi areas in SLC - or some way I can log on just for a few minutes each night?

It's not imperitive... I can go without the internet for a couple weeks if need be, but it will help to be able to blog and come here and tell people how i am making out and all - These may seem like dumb questions, but they are things I just kind of want to know.

Billy

 

Yes, thank you! I really dont want to go without my laptop for all that time, so I guess I'll just have to take it with me wherever I go. lol

Well you did say the rooms have a key, but I'll be sharing it with one other student, I was told. As long as he is a trusting sort, perhaps I'll be OK with it.

I was also told the semi's had color tv and computers in them. Is this so? What about a CB?

I know I am asking a lot lol - I am getting very excited.

Bill y

 

Well, while money is important, it's not that bad of an issue. Besides a monthly student loan bill, all I have is a $65 a month Sprint bill and my internet connection and websites. At the time, I don't own a car, I have no family of my own, so, I'll be fine. Of course, if I feel they are totally taking advantage of me, I will leave and go to another company and just pay them for the school. If the school costs $3,000 but I can make that up plus more from another company that pays more, it would be worth it.

Like I said, I am new to the industry, and maybe starting off with a company that isn't so good can be a blessing in disquise, because if/when I choose to leave and work elsewhere, no matter where I go, it will be better. LOL

Yes, I have heard they have nice trucks - color tv with satellite and computers, too - but I'll have my laptop and wireless router just in case.

I will find out Monday, though, if I am even going to go. As I mentioned in another thread, my license was suspended in 2004 in Nevada for an unpaid ticket. But... I had my NY license since and it has been valid. I paid the ticket last week and they removed me from the computer so all is well, but my recruiter said he will contact me Monday to let me know what's up.

He did say it MIGHT lead to a problem.

But in my defense, the ticket I got in Vegas was a red light and before that, my only ticket was in 2000 for going about 10 mph over the speed limit in a taxi. The cop was a real jerk - I mean, come on... it was a taxi and it's not like I was going 30 over... it was 10.

I was also in a taxi in Vegas when I got my 2004 ticket. I was rushing to go through the green arrow to make a left. The arrow turned yellow and then red just before I went under it to make a left.

While most cops usually are pretty cool with cabbies - as long as they don't go too crazy, sometimes, some are not.

The ones in my town are OK because when they need help, they use us as a second set of eyes and ears. I have helped the police on several occasions. One time when I was dispatching, someone they were looking for called us and the cops came and told me that someone they were looking for was in one of our cabs. So I told the guy "can you swing by the office, I have someone here going your way" (we run a share-ride business, not like in NYC). He said OK. And when he came to the office, the cops were there and arrested the passenger.

But that's why they turn the other way if we're going 8 miles over. I mean, if we're doing 90 in a 45, that's different. But stupid things like going under a light the second it turns red, they usually dont bother us. One hand washes the other.

ANyway, sorry for the book here, I am just so nervous. I am supposed to start on the 18th and I wont't even find out if I am accepted or not until the 11th. Then I have to do a lot of rushing around. I might even ask if I can postpone it one more week.

I think I'll be OK, though. Like I said, the license was suspended, yes, but I had a NY license the whole time. And I only got 2 tickets since 1994. One in 2000 and one in 2004.

Billy