Finally started school!

Thought this day would never get here. Got my Grant for CDL school. Unemployment all taken care of. No job checks while I'm in school.
I attended my first day of school today. It was great!
Got in the cab of a couple Freightliner's today. That condo is bigger than it looks in videos. Lotsa room!
They got two tractor trailers. A spare tractor. A class B flatbed...to be honest it looks converted from a tractor, with a small condo on the back.
Got all kinds of books. They even gave me a truckers road atlas. Courtesy of an insurance agent that hopes to get my business if I ever become an O/O.
Got DOT required talks on Drugs/Drinking and Health. Two different ladies.
Then a talk from a fire extinguisher company guy who had us put out a fire. I guess another DOT required training? Done that before.
We had 1 1/2 hours for lunch. I'm not becoming a banker!
Notified I am now in random pick for drug/alcohol testing.
I was surprised. We have six of us in the class. This class isn't known for great attendance due to colder weather. I'm happy for the school.
The best part. The teacher himself talked about oil field work. There is a ton of it. All companies in oilfield are hurting badly for employees/drivers. There are definitely those who hire straight out of CDL school. One is coming to see us who does. Said that one company is 75% unemployed right now. Needs people badly. And oilfield pay is great.
Then he mentioned one other company. Doing a dedicated route from Minnesota, to Oregon. Loading up fresh seafood straight from the boat. It's a slip seat job. One week on. One week off. They need somebody here right now for another guy who lives here doing the other week. It pays $65k a year. Now do you think I'm gonna tell anyone about who this company is? I'm calling them in the morning.
I sure hope it's all true. Sounds almost too good.
Basically ..... loved my first day back in school.... i is a school boy again! ... hehe

 

I'm quickly finding that, at best, this school is to get my Class A CDL. And that's all.
Any real learning. I'm going to have to depend on a training period on the road, and myself.
As is normal in society here. The teacher is doing a much better job of trying to pass on the deceiving/destructive spirit that controls him. Than he is in concentrating on teaching. That's the problem with all employment here. That's one big reason I want to go OTR. Separate myself from the grubby little destroyers.
I did find with that one supposedly great job. It isn't quite so great. But are things I really like about it alot. First thing is the recruiter. She had a candid honesty, and true sincerity from deep down. I fell in love with her in a Christian way right off the bat. A higher form of love that asks for nothing in return. That love I have been forced to reserve for animals for the most part. That is very unusual for a anyone to be like this in today's society.
Second... She told me no way I'm gonna work 26 weeks a year and make $65K a year with them. They do have drivers making $60K+ a year. But you gotta put in the work. They got drivers making in the 40's. Many making $50k+. It depends on how much they want to work.
Third... It is for the most part, carrying for Hormel. At least not most of what they do is any dedicated seafood.
Fourth... It is very much going from Minnesota to the west coast. Yes, alot to Oregon. But depends. All along the west coast. Much to Ca.
Their pay is based very much on bonuses for doing things well. Fuel bonus is right at ten cents a mile. Safety bonus. Any DOT inspection bonus. An Idling bonus... less than 20%? They also give a small bonus for things like having to stop more than once. Stopping to load/unload on weekends. Working Holidays. Vacation time paid. They also pay for unloading if I have to pay to have that done. They guarantee me I don't have to unload. 100% no touch on my part.
Fifth... They don't have APU's. She said they are testing 5 of them now. I don't know? That is important to me. I plan to spend lotsa time out there. ??? She did say on the idling... They're not going to hassle me or get in trouble.... I'd just lose out on the bonus money if I choose to idle over their 20%. I'm taking it that they're learning that APU's are a better way to go and just get rid of the idling bonus. They don't seem stupid. Just small company.
Sixth... They have a rider program. Doesn't say on pets. I hope so.
Seventh... I also realize that making money depends on good runs. From Minn. to the west coast are good long runs.
Eighth... No problem getting me home. I'm not worried about a bunch of this. It is a small company in Iowa that is right off the freeway. All I have to do is head east to get there.
Ninth... Although they do not have a CDL class. They do definitely train new CDL holders.
I am still very interested in this company. I'd say one of the biggest things is the recruiter herself.... she impressed me. If others are like her there. I could call this place home.

I have this morning off school. They are introducing us to the simulator. Teacher don't like that thing. Also have TV news crew coming there. They do it too often. TV doesn't have anything better to report.
He said we could ask them to not show us on TV. I'm gonna ask to leave me out.

 

It's going. I'll get my Class A on the 20th of Dec. .
Right now thinking about good training after school. Was about to write one trainer, ask him about possibly setting something up for 1st of year. I know he's good. That means I'll go with that company. The door is open there.

 

We drove the tractor today. My first time driving a tractor. It's a Casdadia. All I gotta say is...
Oh My Gawdy!!!!!! That truck is sweet!!!!!
Even the teacher asked me: It ain't nothin' like what I've been driving. It's sweeter than myself ...or meaning sweeter than I can drive it. I'll learn.... Guys asked me what her name is, since I told them she has to have a name. I said it's; Clarice. Then they asked me why 'it' has to be a girl and why do I have to talk to 'it'. I told them she isn't an it. She's a big beautiful girl. If you talk to her that way and treat her that way. She works better.
Besides... she has tons of low end torque... I loves da girls with tons of 'low end torque'.

Also... Think maybe I impressed the teacher a little. He asked me toward the end of driving. Start her out in fourth gear. Take foot off gas pedal and just let the clutch out. I started talking away about that being how my father first taught me how to drive when I was 15. While jabbering away... I let the clutch out and took off as smooth as can be... It really was nothing.... Clarice is a sweetie!

 

I got to make love to Clarise today... Unfortunately it had to be a quickie...
We had a surprise random drug test. Called us in from the road. All of us. We have two groups of three. Others they called in from home.
It was kinda funny.... We got back in the classroom... When they were all set up. Yup, they brought in two nurses to do it. Teacher said one of us could go to the drug test. Two of us almost got stuck in the doorway hurrying to the test. (we both had to go to the bathroom ) And then, the toilet automatically flushed. Doh! Ended up with both ladies and us two guys in the bathroom at the same time. Doh! We did get through it. Included a breath test too.
It was all because one of us found a bottle of booze sitting behind the school. This was yesterday afternoon. I think they wanted to do this to remove any doubt about us. Ensure our integrity.
So after that I got to have my little fling with Clarise. Went well. I'm starting to catch on to that double clutching and downshifting. Teacher is real happy with me. The other guys.... He told them they shouldn't be telling anyone they ever drove a standard shift. This is just like that, just a bigger scale and a switch for the high gears. Simple, easy. They are blowing it...but learning.
So when we got finished, it was late... Other three were already there. They asked me how I liked the new 'route' and did I go around a couple times like the other guys. I humbly told them, no. I went around once and he had me drive back to the school. Oh they were so impressed!... You drove back to the school?! Oh gee.....ooohhhh aaaahhhh! (hehe) You must be good! Oh, you got experience, right? Another guy said: With a trash truck! I told them I got plenty to learn. All this double clutching, and keeping revs low and all that. It's different. Asked me what I used to do. I said I used to just go for it. They laughed. ..... So anyway.... looks like I'm the reluctant star driver of the class. And I got to play with Clarise!