New Forum Member!

Hi all! I figured I'd introduce myself since I am a new member.

My name is Sam. I am 20 years old, and I am currently a company driver for a family owned trucking company based in Holland, MI.

While I have just started getting my feet wet driving "legally" and professionally, I am by no means new to this industry. I've been going with my dad since I was about 3 years old, maybe even younger. I grew up riding in a 1985 Peterbilt 359. It was and still is my favorite truck of all time, what I would give for my dad to still have that truck.. Anyways, when I was 9 years old, he let me drive for the first time in the woods. I drove it about 5 miles or so out of the woods back to the pavement. I can't say I remember how I did, but I made it back to the pavement with no issues! lol. Ever since then, I've known what I have wanted to do. I've never liked any other job I have had, and now that I am a driver, I can say that I am doing what I was meant to be doing. When I turned 18, I immediately went and got my CDL. I didn't go to truck driving school. I passed the written tests the first try and when I went to take my road test, I used my dad's rig (at the time his 1995 Western Star) and his spread axle step deck. Passed that the first try, and the instructor told me I was one of the best drivers he had ever ridden with. After I got my CDL, I started driving on the road with my dad more and more. He hauls heavy equipment now, so that's what my first ever legal loads were.

I went to school at Ferris State University to better my knowledge of how things work with semis. Since he owns his own truck, soon my truck, and 4 trailers, I figured having a little knowledge of how things work and how to fix things wasn't a bad idea. I graduated this month with a degree in Heavy Equipment Technology, and now I drive full time. I can easily say that I am loving every minute of it and I wouldn't trade this job for anything!

I guess I'll talk a little about my job.. I usually start work on Sunday's or Monday's, and I live in the truck all week long since I live 85 miles from the terminal. I am only local right now since I am only 20 until March, but they work me hard ( good thing we still run paper logs ). We haul mostly food in reefers, but sometimes we get dry freight, like office furniture or things like that. When I turn 21, I'll probably transform into a regional driver. I want to run in other states, but I don't want to be going across the country, yet. I don't drive the nicest rig in the fleet, but it gets the job done and it sure as hell is better than the emission trucks now a days.

I know I am young and most people want to trash me for it, but I can assure you, with confidence that I have more experience than a lot of drivers out there now. I was trained by the best (my dad) and a ton of other people. I ask a million questions, I am patient and I learn new things every day. I drive with "old school", so to say, values. I've impressed everybody that I've ever worked for.

But anyways, I love my job and I love my life. I am happy as hell each and every day, and I am overly courteous and nice to everybody I meet out on the road because doing this job makes me that happy. If there is anything you guys want to ask me, please do! I love answering questions.

Hope you all have a great day and thanks for reading my story!

 

Thanks guys! Glad to be here.

 

That video is pretty hilarious!