How much #### am I going to get for being visibly lgbt in this field?

I think that if I was in your shoes, at least during your training, I’d just butch it up, wear gender-neutral work clothes. Blue jeans, flannel shirts, de-emphasize your feminine features (the same advice I’d give my own sister or daughter). There’s very little privacy in a truck with a trainer and yes, some men are creeps (and many of us aren’t).

As for time off, I drive mostly regional out of Dallas, and I’m home from Friday evening until Sunday evening, every week. I started out with my company six years ago with one week of paid time off for the year. I’m up to three weeks off now. You aren’t likely to find anyone who’ll let you take off significant amounts of time, not at first and not a month or two. If you aren’t available to drive the truck, they’ll hire someone else to do it.

 

Agreed, If I was OP, I'd ask for a female trainer, just my two sense.

 

OP has gotten some good advice.

I will add....If the folks here are getting you riled up, you really need to thicken that skin some. I know you said you have thick skin already, but if that's true, don't respond to the posts that are getting you all riled up. You'll find folks on here that you may not always agree with, and have no similar interests, but the majority are here to help you be the best driver you can be.

It's easy to say "I ain't taking no **** from anyone on here! I'm going to fight back!", until you get banned. Then you lose the ability to ask questions that you're going to want to ask once you get to working.

Turning the other cheek can be a GOOD thing. I get hassled(very rare but it does happen!) at times by folks for my humor.....I "usually" just ignore it, and move on to my next hilarious thought/post. Staff here will tolerate some stuff, but don't get it twisted, they will bring that ban hammer out if folks don't follow the rules.

Far as LGBQT etc.... I have no issues with members of the LGBQT community. I'm NOT a fan of people playing the race/political/Sexual Orientation/religious/etc card though.

Everyone needs to OWN their ****. Hit something while backing? It's not because your gay/trans, black/brown/white/green/purple, voted for whoever, or follow whatever God, it's because YOU effed up somehow. OWN it. If trucking is to hard...again, it's not a race, SO, religion, political thing, it's a YOU thing. Own everything you do. Work or personal life.

I wish you luck OP, you've been given some good advice in this thread, don't be like the many others who come here, and then ignore the advice given. This forum is a great learning tree for imitating a sponge and soaking it all up.

Once again, good luck, and ####...I just went all X1!

Sirscrapntruckalot -

 

Truck stop showers are individual private rooms, so you'll have total privacy while you're in there. Typically you'll find the shower stall, toilet, sink, a chair or bench, a towel, washcloth, and a dispenser full of soap. And if you're concerned about using the bathroom you can always burn a shower credit to do your business in one of the shower rooms.

As far as your time with the trainer, you could ask the company to assign you to a trainer who is known to be LGBT friendly, if not LGBT themselves.

 

You need to blend in if you don't want to cause a scene. Deal with it. If you went to a nice restaurant dressed like Santa Claus you would draw attention.

If you don't want the attention don't bring it upon yourself. Dress like a woman then using the men's bathroom or vice versa is going to cause problems and frankly it's disrespectful.

I once saw the ugliest man ever dressed totally as a woman. High heels, blonde wig, dress, makeup...the works. He looked like a total clown.

He walked onto the dock and started fumbling with the dock plate. He didn't come in and ask for a door first. The Receiver told him to leave until he could find some safety oriented clothes to wear.

This guy completely freaked out and caused a major scene. Ultimately, the load was refused and he was escorted off the property by the police.

He brought every bit of that on himself expecting the world to cater to his mental issues. I personally think he liked the attention. He got off on it.

 

Son, a trans is the gizmo between the motor and the rear axle,,,what? Oh, THAT trans. Well, I'm not reading all 10 pages, but attitudes towards any animosity towards gays is fading fast, thank goodness. Not to say old attitudes don't exist. Mostly elderly, religious types can't fathom the idea. At a local parade, when the gay pride folks came by, this older woman turned to me in disgust, "isn't it just awful?" she exclaimed. I said, well, it's not my choice, but I have no problem with it. I think in a setting like business, gays have been accepted literally across the board, and aside from that old woman, you should have no problem.

 

I think it'll depend on the female trainer, if she wants to train you or not.

 

When I started with Roehl, it was a 3-week CDL course followed by 8 days with a trainer (they will keep you with a trainer longer if needed). This may sound crazy but it actually worked out well for me.

The CDL course was quick but thorough. My instructor had a very effective method of teaching, where he made us think critically and figure things out for ourselves, without OVERthinking.

My OTR trainer was pretty much an obnoxious dirtbag and I hated him with a passion. But he did teach me the basics like how to trip plan, how to do all the paperwork, how to handle pickups and deliveries, truckstop etiquette, etc.

After 8 days with the dirtbag I was on my own. Didn't really feel like I was ready for it, but I passed all the tests so they handed me a truck and off I went. This ended up working well for me because I am the type of person that learns the most by doing, not by being told what to do. I learned so much from experience and trial and error. Also, I am an extreme introvert. I get really awkward when someone tells me how to do something vs. just figuring it out without someone watching over me.

The OP kinda strikes me as the type of person that could also do well with this type of training.

Also worth noting, with Roehl when you are with a trainer, you don't work as a team like with many of the other megas, you do all the driving and the trainer sits in the passenger seat. Both sleep at the same time (at least that's the way it's supposed to work).

I think the OP could do well at Roehl. I worked there 12 years ago so not sure how much things have changed, but I had a good experience there and would do it again. OP, just make sure you finish that year contract or you will be on the hook for the CDL school tuition!

 

Most people that drive a truck enjoy being alone and doing things on their own. That’s why the training part with two guys in same truck basically 24/7 and no privacy makes it so difficult.

I always thought the difference in personalities is something people look past when it more important. Because the trainer needs to understand everyone is different and going thru different stuff.