New to the scene, got some questions

Hi Jeff, thanks for your service. How is it going with R E West? They are one of the companies I'm considering. Do you think an out of shape 53 year old can handle the type of work they do? I've been out of trucking for over 7 years now, and am itching to get back to it. I know the companies to stay away from. I think one like R E West would be good for me, a way to keep fit as long as I can initially handle the work. I'd appreciate your input. I'm John, near Johnson City, TN.

 

Hi Jeff, thanks for replying. I would text you, but I'm currently using an old flip phone that isn't very convenient for texting. Elizabethton is a nice town. I've been going to TCAT there for the past year, both on Arney Hill and the new campus in Stoney Creek. I moved to the area back in the summer of '09 to be close to the VAMC in Johnson city. I've also lived in Roane, Loudon, and Monroe counties. I'm an Army veteran, '82-'87. I was a driver also; I started out in Germany, driving a M915 and 5k gallon tanker, hauling jet fuel and diesel throughout West Germany (stationed at Spinelli Barracks in Mannheim). I think it's still my favorite job to this day.

I know how it is being married with children and OTR trucking. I did it in the late eighties-early nineties , and finally gave it up for local work so I could be home with my wife and two sons. I returned in '04 for another 3 years. Some people like the lifestyle, while it's rough for others. I'm on the fence with it. I miss it when I'm not doing it, but it often sucks when you're out there. It's ideal for a single person, though. A great way to save money, if you're smart about it.

Really, my only advice to you would be to stick it out for at least a year, maybe two. As someone mentioned earlier, there are local driving jobs available, and nothing looks better on an application than to be able to show two years OTR with the same company, especially with no accidents and a clean CDL. It will get easier with time. It's a big adjustment, just like the military.

So, are you on your own at RE West now? What division are you in? I still haven't called them. I'm still gathering as many companies as I can find and then decide which ones will best fit what I'm looking for. How often do you go northeast? That's the black mark in trucking for me. It's not so much the traffic as it is the lack of parking. I'm focusing on finding something that will keep me mainly in the southeast and midwest. How many other students started with you? If you're in the van division and hauling water heaters, I'd appreciate it if you could explain the job a bit. Be safe, and I hope all is going well. Thanks again, and take care.

G.O.A.L., mirrors, and proper following distance.

 

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