Abilene Motor Express....A New Place To Call Home

Belvidere? Use to go up there every summer to do a financial audit of one of our propane plants.

A significant other is always better than a bunk heater any day. Looking forward to having my girl join me over her vacation time in the months to come. If I am still here that is.

 

Thinking about leaving already?

 

Not sure if that was a suggestion or joke... LOL ... but I am open to just about anything.

Had one trainer that was really good at teaching me the concepts of backing. I really wish I could have completed my training with him but it wasn't meant to be.

Got backed into a fairly tight spot today (for me that is) ... Had to maneuver around two trucks, a dumpster, and a concrete wall... Took a couple runs at it and finally got the trailer square with the dock. It was quite a setup, I had to back up the rear tandems onto 4x4's to have the trailer floor flush with the dock... LOL ... So I can do it for the most part and, with practice and confidence, I will get progressively better.

But I'll be darned if I can hit the spot from a ninety degree angle, or less, without ending up in the spot next to the one I was aiming for... LOL

 

Practice makes perfect, if you aren't satisfied your trainer, bring it up with training supervisor.

 

Well... Let's see...

I am REALLY enjoying driving the big truck, (Day or Night... I find it very relaxing. Is that odd?), trip planning is fairly straight forward (this Boy Scout already had his Orienteering Merit Badge), interacting with customers comes very naturally in every job I have held (I love meeting new people, well, most new people, most of the time... LOL), the over the road "lifestyle" is not the worst thing (rather like camping to me which I have always enjoyed) and I know my wife (who has a heart of a gypsy) will love seeing this big, BEAUTIFUL country with me as a team couple, the QC and TransFlo processes are fairly easy, we drive AWESOME equipment, we have GREAT frieght, WONDERFUL lanes, I am meeting some really interesting people too (Many from right here on TTR), and I have been enjoying telling others that ask about who I drive for and that they should seriously consider coming to Abilene.

Oh and my wife's favorite color is GREEN and I am even getting better at backing with every bump of the dock... LOL

I was SOOOO ready for a career change and I do believe I, and probably my wife after she makes her career change too, will be in the trucking industry for many, MANY years to come. (We will be "semi" retired... lol ... I know ... I know... it's an old joke but I could not resist.)

So, I do hope I/we will be around for many MANY years to come... But if I was a betting man, which I am not, I would gladly wager dollars to doughnuts that I will be asked to "move on down the road" to another Carrier, and sooner rather than later.

And I will do so, and graciously, when asked.

{shrug}

Stay Safe,
MD

PS ... I like the Bavarian Cream Filled kind... Just in case I have any takers on the wager... LOL

 

Oh... Almost forgot the most important part...

I DIDNT HIT ANYTHING.... well, this time... lol

 

well you got lucky rebel i am in Belvidere every Tuesday night for an early Wednesday delivery
I see all the Abilene dropped trailers figured I'd hear someone was in there

 

I am now out of the training program.

I was satisfied with my trainer and requested to stay with him because I felt I was learning a lot from him about many aspects of the job and lifestyle. But it wasn't meant to be. {shrug}

But training is over now, thankfully, and I tend to learn best from asking lots of questions from the experienced Drivers that I meet (like the kind folks here on this thread), having to do the job myself instead of just driving second shift for weeks on end, and making my own mistakes. (Or as I prefer to call them "teachable moments" or "learning opportunities"... lol)

And yes, practice does makes perfect so I guess I will take a few laps around the Walmart parking lot that I am overnighting at and practice backing later tonight after most of the customers head home. Hope they leave a few cars placed strategically for me to run a figure 8 around with my little truck n trailer... LOL

Stay Safe Y'all,
MD

 

Are we in Belvidere often? Guess we would be if we have empty trailers sitting up there? Who is the customer?

Would not mind that trip now and then... If time would allow, I might be able to swing through Central Illinois for a quick bite to eat with the family.

 

Maybe Chrysler in Belvidere?