I feel I silent scream begin inside...

Dang, clever ways of keeping people interested in your movements forward, or some may say backwards, in this industry. My opinion, nothing more nothing less, you are putting entirely too much thought in to a sector of labor that has a revolving door of turnover like no other. I’ve been doing this 17 years now, there’s nothing glamorous about it, there’s really nothing terrible about it, it’s a job that takes you away from family and friends and any bit of normalcy you’ve ever known, the great adventure quickly turns in to the great rush to the house because you’re tired of seeing truck stop showers, Denny’s menus, and 30 minute breakers blocking the fuel island.

Just get out and do the job, go in to it not expecting much and let yourself find whatever happiness in this job you can, you’re putting way too much thought in to a job that really only hires you for your skills below the neck; hands and feet....the more you think out here, the more tired you will grow of the whole thing in general. Do with my thoughts what you will, but after 17 years bouncing up and down the highway you learn to take this job for what it is; a stable living, but definitely a way of life you can’t prepare yourself for until you’re actually in it.....so get to gettin in it.

 

Close but no cigar! The actual quote is: "All the same we take our chances laughed at by TIME, tricked by circumstances." One of my favorite Rush songs and Neil of course is one of my all-time heroes. I cried when he died back in January.

 

The stories are all the same. Only the faces change...

 

We'd rather that you didn't do that.

 

I named my son Geddy. Got a nice Starman tattoo. Hadn’t miss a tour since the mid-80’s. Had a buddy who would “slappa de bass” with me in the man cave while I played my ax. Free Will over and over again, right up until the solo when things crashed.

I was shocked when I heard he died, but then I recalled his lyric “I can’t pretend a stranger is a long awaited friend.” I couldn’t really mourn him like you did because he was a stranger to me. It is just another milestone in my life reminding me of my own mortality.

 

Well dang, even the big blue mega wants at least 3 months experience before doing a Dollar General account. Sign of the times.

For all you “just do it/don’t overthink it” guys—who I appreciate—let me compile a quick list just off the top of my head of all the companies known to train or have trained in the past new drivers, that I applied to, with accompanying reason why it didn’t go anywhere:

TMC; my sloppy application.
Jordan; out of hiring area.
Maverick; out of hiring area.
McElroy; out of hiring area.
Cypress; my decade old inguinal hernia surgery.
Melton; fallout from Cypress DAC report
Werner; need 3 months experience.
Schneider; need 3 months experience.
Roehl; out of hiring area.
R.E.West; out of hiring area.
Wiley Sanders; 10 weeks at $350/week.
Superior Carriers; no longer training.
Groendyke; no longer training.
Southeastern; only hire from within.
Abilene Motor Express; never called me back.
Florida Beauty; out of hiring area.
WEL; out of hiring area.
KLLM; out of hiring area.
Freymiller; out of hiring area.
Schaffer; out of hiring area.
Marten; 1 year experience.
Hogan; out of hiring area.
Boyd Brothers; out of hiring area.
Crete; experience.
Comcar; experience.
P&S; experience.
CRST; teams only.
Covenant; teams only.

Options still viable:
Stevens Transport
May Trucking
Western Express

Not yet contacted:
US Express
Trans Am
Swift

I need to jump on Stevens or maybe May soon before the second wave comes and things really go to crap. I realize this.

 

How long have you had your license?

 

Forgot about these:

Cheney Brothers; experience.
Sysco; experience.
U.S. Foods; experience.

Dock-to-driver?
R&L; no.
AAA Cooper; no.
Old Dominion; no.
Saia; no.

Dump Trucks; 1-3 years experience for a $15/hr job.
Cement mixers; same.

Beaches are the whitest in the world though.

 

Since January 24th, 2020. Hazmat, doubles/triples, tanker endorsements, auto restriction, TWIC, and passport.

 

Okay but since January 24, how many actual days do you reckon you drove? Also, did you get on the road with a trainer?