Just getting started

It has been a little sour at times, but overall the sweetness is still there. Still enjoying my adventure.

 

It was a bad situation and made the best what was available. Wasn't happy, but not everything is going to make me happy. One night and done. There will be other times that are bad during my new career, but it will take a lot more that one bad night to make me give up on my adventure.
I appreciate your input and agree. But it's over and won't happen again, coz I won't be in this situation again. I'll be running solo.

I am going to accept this is the case as well. Lol.
Actually, I don't think I am doing exceptionally well, but this experience has proven to me that I can do this, and in time will get better. Hardships be darned, the adventure continues!

1) Haven't turned on tv once since starting the road training. By the time we get to hotel and get to much needed sleep time to get back to truck for pre-trip and start rolling. No time for tv.
2) Agreed with the exception of manage time myself. The other trainee and I have so far been up and ready before appointed times. Neither of us having to watch over the other, we both seem to have a "do what you gotta do, when you are supposed to do it" attitude that is working for us. We have each other's backs if needed, but hasn't become needed so far.
3) Would have liked that experience, but since I will be OTR solo, and don't really care about home time, I'm sure I will get plenty of experience sleeping in the truck.

I wish I could figure out how to do the smiley faces with my phone, so maybe the words wouldn't sound so harsh. I am smiling as I write all of this. And I do appreciate all the input.

Anyway back to the adventure:

We dropped loaded trailer in MO, picked up an empty at customers lot, drove to next customer got loaded in less than an hour (I'm sure that won't always happen.) and headed out. Other trainees turn to drive so headed back to Dallas. I got the experience of sleeping in a moving truck. Let's just say, I won't go team anytime soon. Got back late, headed to Comfort Inn in Red Oak, which any trainee from Dallas OC, would know about. Rested, got back to OC yesterday morning, and headed back to Laredo.

My my turn to drive, we hit a traffic jam south of Temple, due to car fire, that we never got to see. That put us in rush hour in Austin, then hit huge rainstorm in San Antonio that lasted about 30 min. Got to Laredo and shut down for the night. Another hotel, now just waiting for 10 hrs to be up the back to Dallas to finish up training. I will say it was an interesting experience to meet all three types of delays on one trip, but good experience overall.

Ran into a couple of other trainees from our class in Dallas OC yesterday that were done, and opted for an actual weekend, they were surprised we opted to take another load and almost no weekend. I was surprised at them, coz if I didn't have to stop to finish training I wouldn't. I know it will be different when I'm out there alone, without two others in the truck to talk to, and offer advice, but I actually like driving the truck. I wouldn't stop except for stretching, bathroom, food, and sleep.

Other trainee and I will split drive back today. Should be back in Dallas OC late tonight. Looking forward to driving in Laredo traffic today, although probably less than it was on Tuesday.

Still enjoying the adventure... The road awaits.

 

So, we ran down to Laredo, dropped the trailer, grabbed another headed for Georgia. Took an indirect route to drop the other trainee an I at Dallas OC. Got back late sat night. Had Sunday off, so I met with friends and enjoyed the day.
In 5 1/2 days we logged over 2500 miles. Of course we split it, but not bad for a couple of trainees, I don't think.
Back at OC this week to finish up, if all goes well I could have my truck as early as Friday. Had Qualcomm class today, long long day. Wish we could use real world senarios that didn't end up with more questions about the system than actually answer, but still, just happy to be here. Tomorrow and wed are class room and final driving, with finals on Thursday.
This part of the adventure has been fun, but really looking forward to the grand adventure. Out there on the road, doing the job.
Gonna catch up on sleep tonight.
More adventure tomorrow.

 

Well finished up classroom stuff on Wednesday, took final tests, classroom and driving/backing/couple/uncouple on Thurs. My OSR was great and made me comfortable and the testing went smooth, passed them all. He gave me some pointers oh how I could improve in certain areas and it was done.
Friday was finishing up, final briefing and got a truck issued. I got an older Columbia model no bells or whistles, which is what I thought would happen. Oh well, new guy - old truck. Apparently the driver before me never wiped his feet and loved Fritos, because the inside of the truck was covered in dirt and Frito bits. Was supposed to have Sat and Sun off and get first assignment on Monday.
Well that didn't happen. What happened was our weekend DBL asked me and two other new drivers to head to Fontana and pick up 3 trucks to bring back to Dallas. So back to good ole Comfort Inn for the night. Sat we got a rental and headed for Cali. Stopped in Las Cruces last night, made Fontana tonight. At hotel, tomorrow we get the trucks and the plan is to get loads and head back to Dallas. Was told might not be direct, but will ultimately be routed back to Dallas.
So far my driving for Schneider has been in a rental SUV. Lol.
Well, I have said before, this is my grand adventure. We'll see what happens next.