The journey begins - purchased a truck.

Day 2 - the hilarity continues.

Yesterday we covered business planning, the load board, and booking your own loads. As I said - the information in the resource book covers you here, full of all the cost sheets and breakdowns needed to figure out your cost per mile, and transfer that to what kind of rate you need to be running at to keep the wheels turning. Mr "I own a bunch of trucks, and know it all" down the other end of the table, decided smart comments and yawning was what he needed to do - and then started to ask some dumb questions toward the end of the day that indicated he hadn't been listening - at all. When he came back in the door late in the day to ask where the fusebox was located on his truck, I figured he wasn't going to do well. Strange that he thought I was doomed for failure . . .

Still hadn't been 'qualified' - the drug screen hadn't come in - bank holiday on Monday had slowed a lot of things down. I completed the online courses back at the hotel to finish the day off, before dinner at the embarrassed lobster with the other 2 owners who DID have a clue on how to run a business.

The load board demo by the co-ordinator was good, a little too quick - as there are a lot of handy tools on there to figure out who you need to 'reach out and touch' to work with going forward. Slight problem - the board isn't completetly compatible with the android tablet I have - can't select the 'multi' feature on trailers . . . . need to go buy one . . . ASAP.

Oh - you ain't had fun yet, son.

Day 3. LOAD SECUREMENT TRAINING.

Paying full attention, and in total sponge mode, I turned up early to class. Small class - of 3. Good, me thinks, this'll be a great chance to get LOTS of helpful information. Not so fast there buddy.

Don't get me wrong - all credit to the guy, he's been off the road for 1 year, and with his impressive record in hauling big stuff, safely for a long time . . . I have to respect him. But, 9 hours of class time could have been EASILY condensed into 4. I kid you not. If we could have skipped all the stories and sideline debates, reminiscing, . . . . I didn't learn a whole heck of a lot. Enough to pass the test, which totalled 8 bullet points, luckily Day 4 will be hands on.

Apparently their load course consisted of about 10 pages previously, so the guy has expanded it considerably and brings real world experience, which is nice, but I need a lot more input, not stories. The class is also there if you've been a naughty boy. The guy next to me had a pallet fall off his truck. The guy behind me was considering swapping from van to flat, but his interest seemed to be depleting at the same rate he was learning how much securement equipment he was going to have to buy.

Off to Day 4. Early start here to clean out the room and load the truck, do the class and then high foot it for home. Gimpy foot isn't doing so well - the doctor decided to have a snow day and not inform the patients - may have to change the #### bandage myself when I get there - amazing that doctors think they can get away with junk customer service.

Oh - I qualified, so recieved temp plates, prepass, IFTA stickers and their poxy Blue stars in a bag. Also Comdata cards . . . lots of stuff to sort out when I get home.