My first week

So my story is as follows

I went through orientation, went out with a trainer for 10 days, and got my first load going home.

Everything was going great, drive from Georgia to Florida. They didn't have any trucks available so they gave me a temporary truck from the flat bedding side, it was a 2012 international prostar+.

I get home with it and my load and the first thing I did was slam the sleeper against a tree while turning the truck around in my yard. Put a HUGE dent down the side of the sleeper, crushed it in pretty bad. So I called it in to my dispatcher, spoke with maintenance, safety, and then went on my way trying to enjoy my hometime.

The company told me accidents happen and I wouldn't get in trouble since I reported it right away. So I got that taken care of, then I leave home to deliver the load. It was foggy and dark, I ended up missing my turn and by the time I got back to th place I needed to be I was 30 minutes late. That made me late for my next load since I was late picking it up. After that went back to Georgia to the terminal and got into my assigned truck. I got there and got moved into the new truck, 20 miles away from the terminal my headlight goes out, completely melted the wiring harness. Had to go to a freight liner dealership and they replaced it along with a new bulb.

So after all this I finally get on time with everything, my loads and trip planning start becoming more natural. It starts getting easier.

I don't have a gps at the moment, so Ive learned to really pay attention to any and all signs I see. They told me the first year is the hardest. I believe it to be true, but I think the first week is the most stressful.

I'm just glad it's getting easier, I'm not exhausted after 11 hours of driving. I get better sleep in the truck than I do at home lol.

My dream is finally being fulfilled of being an OTR driver.

I like how my dispatcher asks when I wanna be home , that's nice to be able to let them know ahead of time. They sent me home for thanksgiving so I decided to stay out here for Christmas. I'll be home for new years, that's good for me.

I'm doing a 34 hour reset at a Flying J in Tulsa, OK.

Just wanted to share my experience, Im loving it so far. I'll see you drivers out there.

 

I went with Roehl Transport.

 

They gave me a 2007 Freightshaker Columbia. Detroit diesel 60 series and a straight 10 speed. I'm happier in this truck than I was in the prostar. It had 3,000 miles on it, this one has 690,000. I didn't like driving the prostar, I'd grind every gear half the time and when I wasn't grinding gears with it I was having problems with the emissions sensors for the exhaust.

 

Plus the prostar was too quiet, I want a loud diesel. One that sounds like a diesel and not a Prius haha

 

Lol, I hear ya. I'm just a big diesel enthusiast. I love the sound of a diesel engine. When I park for the night I love it when the driver next to me idles all night, it puts me right to sleep.

When I buy my own truck I'm shooting for a 2003 or older. I really want something with an old cat 3406b in it. Love that engine