i have to admit this is tempting

LOL.. well, I think a lot of the complaining is garbage...

I did the Dollar general account for about 7 months.. I chose it because I knew I was getting out of trucking, I wanted to get in shape, and make some money before getting out... and at Werner, you can make good money and get home weekly..... on the DG you usually drive one day, unload at three stops the next, drive the next... I found the unloading the the rolltainers and u-boats easier than tarping and untarping a flatbed load... the backing at the dollar general stores is not that bad... more room and a lot easier than the caves...

Then complaining about having to do two interviews, and wha wha whhhaa...

Maybe look into becoming a nail technician they sit, they don't need to do heaving lifting, and they make pretty good money..

 

Actually.. I don't agree... I went to Werner after I had been off the old for 5 months for a family health situation... having never been at a mega or a company that traines as I learned from an O/O.....
I found that Werner babies and spoon feeds their drivers... they have so many modules on the portal that cover everything, they I've you cheat sheets on everything.. like how to use a fuel card... with pictures.. how to use the Qualcomm.. again step by. Step.... with pictures... even though they went over all of that in orientation...
Since I had previous experience, I only had to go out and drive team with a trainer for a few weeks.. so, I figured once I was done with that they would stop treating me like a baby trucker... but, no.. they still hold your hand and spoon feed you..

So, while I will concede that learning to drive and all the facets of truck driving when you ar new to it.. is a lot... however, for those who didn't go through a training. Company and learned the old school way.. . All thee. Babying at the training company's is obvious..

When it is an O/O that is training there is no student advocate to call when you think they are being mean.. they can yell at you, call you names.. make. You polish the chrome... that's. Rights.. I spent a few resets a a truck. Stop detailing his truck... there was no one I could call and ask for another nicer trainer... and at anytime he could kick me off his truck... obviously if he did anything that was against the law, then I could call the cops.. it was tough and there were times I thought about calling it quits.. but, he would start teasing me and taunting me about wanting to quit and go home.. once he came out off the truck stop having bought a teddy bear, diapers and a binki.. he way of telling me not to be a baby.. I was frustrated and pissed.. but, I did not quit.... and made it through and that is something I am proud of and stronger because of..

So, seriously just toughen up and get through your first year.. and have some pride.. you do realize there are middle aged women making through there first year.. so don't you think you can...

 

A lot of good advice on here the last few days, I wouldn't give up on the the local trucking either but thats just me. Once you get back on your feet, you'll see more doors open for you trucking wise. Take it from someone who lost it all having his own construction business when the economy tanked, I ended up going back to the military and slowly have worked myself back to where I need to be.

Main thing is, don't give up, some days are easier than others but anything worthwhile is worth the struggle. You aren't the only one to have fallen on hard times, most of us have too at some point, just pick yourself up, dust yourself off and move foward. I wish you well with your future endeavors, and remember its only good advice if you take it..

 

The thing is.. in. Trucking itt is all about the wheels turning and getting miles.. you only have 14 hours to get in as many miles as you can in 11 hours...

While yes, trip planning and all is important.. it doesn't earn you money.. so that would be something many drivers do before they start their 14 hour clock.. or at the end of their day before they go to bed.. but, again when they are on their off time and not their earning time....

As for filling out the log book.. Werner does require that a student fill out a mock log book to show they know how to do paper logs in case the Qualcomm ones down.. they. Go over it in orientation, they having training modules on the diver portal... it is not necessary that you do it as you go.. I actually did mine in the hotel the night before I got on my trainers truck, so that would be one less thing to do on the road...

There is a reason why a lot off drivers don't want to train... even with the added pay.. and that is because students are time consuming.. again, you only have so, many hours in a day to earn money.. students take longer to drop and hook a trailer, students take longer to back into a dock, to do a post trip, pre-trip, students eat up time and take up space.. both off which are valuable to truck drivers.... then on top of that, they critique and complain about every thing.. really the trainer that is teaching you to get. Your wheels rolling is actually teaching you how to make money when you are on your own...

Also, confidence does come by things being made easier... wee gain confidence when we face and get through what challenged us...

My trainer was tough and always pushed me beyond. Y comfort zone.. He made me go over Donner pass with chains on and weather advisory.. when I pointed out that other trucks were pulling off to park.. he pointed it they were not making money.. okay, but why am I driving.. why not you.. he said, I have been over Donner Pass you haven't and need to learn...shut up and pay attention to your driving so you don't kill us.... well I made it, discovered I can hold my breath for a vey long time.. and yes, after the blood returned to my hands, and the realization that we were alive and made it, I had more confidence..

I am not trying to be mean to you.. but, honestly, I think it would be better to stop complaining on how bad things were.. instead, think of all those truckers who learned before there were training programs, before YouTube and were out trucking before cell phones.. that is what got me through the tough times.. knowing that I really had it easier than all those that did this before me, when there was no GPS, no cell phones... they just had themselves and maybe another driver on the CB...