Hi from Criminey!

Hi Everyone.

I've been lurking for a while and decided to join the fun. I'm personally new to trucking, but my uncle has been running since before I could crawl. I spent several summers riding with him and helping out. He taught me how to do a lot. Sadly, my parents did not agree with me being a trucker. Well, life moves on. I finally got the nerve to get my CDL-A this Summer. I want to drive!

So, there's a hitch in my plan. I was all set to go OTR, but I had to back out because my Mom had a stroke. She's recovering fine. The problem is, I'm the only one in town. My sisters live too far away to help. So, I need to either run regional or stay local, at least until Mom moves into assisted living. That may be a while.

I'm having a heck of a time finding a local job that doesn't require 1-2 years OTR. I applied with one place to drive a flatbed straight truck and eventually train for heavy equipment moving. Somehow, that translated to being offered a reception job. Class-A CDL = answering phones and getting coffee. Whee!
Wow... I can't imagine all the strapping and tarping I'm going to do between phone calls. In heels, even! <===Office dress code.

That's so TOTALLY why I got my CDL!

Anyway, I'm not here to be bitter. That's not the only place I applied. I feel as if my choices are slim since I haven't logged any OTR miles. I even offered to team with my uncle, but his company wants two years OTR + flatbed. None of the O/Os around here want anyone with less than two years.

I'm fine starting out as a hostler, but even those jobs want experience. If you give me a chance, I *can* back a truck. It might take a few tries, but I *do* G.O.A.L. I have never ripped the mirrors off a tractor. I've never scraped a trailer. I'm good about curbs and off-ramps and downshifting. I admit, I have occasional trouble moving the tandems. In CDL school, I treated cones like they were land mines, though. A recruiter visited our school one day and he remarked that I was the best in the yard. Too bad I can't call him, now. All the openings on his company's website are lower 48, Midwest, Southeast and Canada.

So, what's a somewhat derailed girl to do? There's got to be some way to make good on this license.

Sorry for the rant. *Waves* I'm not like that.

-Criminey Jade

 

Hi Chinatown,

Do you like System over Melton?

 

Thanks for the help, Chinatown! I'm going to get an app into System this morning. We are military, but my father was a Navy vet. Do you know what that assistance program is called? I'd like to look into it. I have long-term care insurance through a previous job, but I wasn't allowed to add her to my policy.