Beginning the Long Awaited CDL Process

Sammycat, Happy Thanksgiving to you and all of your family. I'll ask God to watch over you always.

I'll tell you what. The second I have the orientation date I'll make the announcement.

 

Wedge, you must be a good poker player. You're sure keeping the cards close to you vest on the company.
I think I understand why. I've been reluctant to tell my family the details of every step of the interviewing process on my last few jobs. So much is a lot of "pillow talk" in banking, syrupy nonsense and buzzwords that when strung together make a great looking e-mail message, but without real substance.

From your post above:

I purchased an HP Netbook with a 3G modem built in. The monthly service is very reasonable ($35) and coverage coast to coast. It's very small but powerful and fits anywhere. (available through Verizon)
*So, you don't have the external modem?

Blue Parrot hands free head set for your cell phone. A must have on the road. Designed for reducing ambient noise.
*Can you talk on you phone if you use a bluetooth when driving?


Maglight flashlight: Larger version for doing your PTI.
*I've got a LED Lenser light that is simply amazing.

Cell phone: Should have T3 or T4 conectivity, and come from the same place the netbook comes from.
*Will be moving to a new cel phone plan, most likely Verizon. What is the T3 or T4 for? Is this the teatherd connection for internet? If yes, is it a duplication of the $35 above?

Thanks, Wedge!
Any Happy Thanksgiving!

Merlin

 

I'm a big believer in generating positive responses and comments (unless someone requires me to open up a big can of whoopass). If I'm unsuccessful in my initial company quest, I won't bash the company. It's just the way things worked out and I'll move on. Something about talking before everything is confirmed always bugged me.

The Netbook modem to connect to internet wi-fi and hot spots is contained inside the Netbook itself. Nothing external what so ever. The 3G service is $35 per month. It should be sufficient for my use on the road (I won't be downloading movies or anything). If I find I need more, I can bump up to 5G. They will assign a phone number to the netbook. If you get a phone from them as well, both devices will use the same #.

Phone service for what I want is about $50 mo. (separate from the netbook). I could use the netbook for my phone, but I want to be very portable when it comes to the phone. And I'm not getting a smart phone. There's not much point in it seeing I have the netbook with me.

Blue Parrot head set is a Bluetooth device. The phone you buy must have at least a T3 connectivity ability (most quality phones today do). My audiologist told me about the T3/T4 ability.

Technically,you're not suppose to use a cell when your in motion. I'll do my best to avoid it whenever possible. I'll have enough on my plate when I'm driving.

The Blue Parrot --> Phone connection is wireless (check out the "The Roadwarrior B250-XT)

One other item which is on my list to buy is a Rand McNally Intelliroute TND GPS. They have two models that I'm investigating: The TND 500 and 700. Companies frown on their use for truck applications and I agree whole heartedly. I just like the additional information it can provide.

I hope this explanation is more clear. It's hard to post all the details sometimes.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, Merlin.

 

The "T" or "M" rating has nothing to do with internet connection and everything to do with hearing aid compatibility. My sister is hearing impaired and has some fancy hearing aids. My only hearing disorder is "selective hearing" but that has nothing to do with hearing itself , so I can't say precisely what these ratings mean. But I do know if you're using some hearing aids, a compatible cell phone will probably give you better service than one that isn't. You can check this article on Hearing Loss Help for more information.

Hope that helps! And happy Thanksgiving!

And Wedge... seriously. Between the stuffing and the gravy and the pie and your keeping us all waiting, I'm going to have a heart attack here! Thanks for the journal, though. It is/was an enjoyable read!

 

Thanks, Ericman!
My Dad wore hearing aids that were about $4k each! Most phones were useless to him. Cel phones were out of the question at the time. The t3-t4 thing may have something to do with elecromagnetism or something.

 

Ericman, Pleased to meet you.

Thanks for the article on the t-coil ratings. I glad I woke up today, I learned something new.

The doc didn't expound on her explanation of "t-3, t-4", and I didn't ask. I do wear a hearing aid, and have found the tele-coil feature in most phones to be lacking so I don't depend on it.

Merlin, sorry for the confusion. I should have left that info out of my dissertation. As long as the phone is Blue tooth capable, it'll connect to the Blue Parrot.

Not knowing where I'm headed is almost like an itch you can't scratch.

I've been given the offer to come to work, "conditionally". So I still consider it meaningless without being given an orientation date.

Soon.............Very soon.

 

Glad to help and glad to meet you too!

Fingers crossed!

 

Wedge,
Keep right on disserting! Like you, I'm often reluctant to disclose things until I have comfort with certainty. This is a great trait to have in todays world and can avoid heartache.

I tend to count chickens not only before hatching, but before the rooster enters the barnyard. Getting better at it though through experience.

Conditionally...on what? My recruiter congratulated me for being "pre-something-ed" the other day. She meant well, but it was a pretty unsubstantial thing, like being preapproved to receive junk mail.

We're all waiting to hear the confirmation from you on the job lockdown.
It continues to amaze me how nervous I can become about my particular situation. Maybe it's just because it's me.

Thanks for your info on the phone, computer, and more. There's just so many people here willing and qualified to help.

Merlin

 

Hi Wedge
Just checking in to say Hello!!
At least you got to spend Thanksgiving at home cuz I am thinking if you start soon then you will probably be out or in training (depending on who and what and where!!) for Christmas.

 

Hello Everybody,
I trust ya'll had a great thanksgiving, I know I did ( I just to stir the grandchildren all up and send em back home).
Good morning Wedge, I don't know exactly how cos'. feel about the gps one way or another, but I'm thinking they send the route through the QC right? If I've read other posts right, I think they do don't know thats the case with all. However I know that the rand Mcnally 700 truck gets great reviews even though it's not perfect and you still need to check route with map. Make sure you get truck!
A product we're looking at is co-pilot live8 works with your computer scince I'll use my computer for a lot of things it seems like a good choice for us.
The info on the netbook is pretty intresting I did'nt realise they could tie in the same #. I used at&t couple years back it was pretty good actually, but when you got into rural areas and mountains it would drop out (gotta reach a tower) I wonder if that Hughes Co. has anything mobile? Oh yeah saw an add at Toys R Us i believe Netbook 7" screen $79.00.

Take it easy all
Randy