My new experience with Gordon Trucking, post-buyout

I was heading that way on my last trip...

 

Four years ago today was the day one of my daughters married my son-in-law on a cold, dark hotel rooftop in Las Vegas. It was a memorable trip for several reasons and I continue to smile remembering them.

Three years ago today, December 30, 2011, was my last day at the FAA, a place that had employed me for 27 years. It is also the day I began the process of losing 80 pounds and dropping my systolic BP a bunch. And pondering how best to gain a CDL to have a 'bucket list' career driving truck.

One year ago today, I left a locally-based regional trucking company for Gordon Trucking, Inc., to become a true OTR driver, a change I hoped would round out my truck driving career. It wouldn't work out that way, as I would learn in Wyoming in March.

December 30 certainly seems to be a significant day in my life. What will happen to me on December 30, 2015? Time will tell.

 

If I do, I will! Promise.

 

This kind of feels like the blog I used to write. Oh, well.

Two months to go in my 'vacation' and a (very old) Navy injury rears its ugly head. Well, if I was going to be accurate, tnere would be some kind of clever play on words about a knee, because that's the part of my body that has now almost failed. I blew it out then and it was kicked by horses at various times. And always the same knee...the left one.

So tonight, stepping out of the UPS truck to make a delivery and all of a sudden, an excruciating pain. And almost total loss of support.

So now, in addition to having decisions to make, I have a knee to work on. While on Medicare.

Great.

 

I've dealt with OWCP (Office of Workers Compensation Programs) many times - I will deal with Medicare or the VA first.

 

Less than 2 months to go and it's time to make decisions. I do have to work to pay off this nagging tax liability and this monster student loan - working on a PhD ain't cheap, especially when one doesn't finish - and I am torn between going back on the road or staying local. Really, it boils down to trash truck or 18-wheeler? Automated or manual? How long away from home? And, because it's a factor now, what about weather?

Sure, Gordon will be the first, for obvious reasons, but how many others? I suppose a lot will depend on what I hear from the recruiters when I start the process, which is another quandary: How many and which companies should get my applications? (I hate the whole DOT application process...a LOT.) How much rejection can I handle? (I don't like rejection even under good circumstances.)

And what do I do about this old American Springer Spaniel sleeping at my feet? He doesn't like change much.

Good points: HireRight looks pretty good and my PSP will be clean, once FMCSA pulls one citation off - the case was dismissed.

Bad point: I hope I can explain the MVR.

So, I'll see, I guess. I am so anal when it comes to information-gathering - I can never have enough - and decision making that it will take me a while to sort things out.

 

Or stay local and earn $17/hr driving 3rd shift.