New member

Hello, my name is Norman, I live in Southern Ohio, I have a Class A CDL, TWIC, and current passport, and current DOT medical card, and an A&P license I have worked on large transport aircraft the past 28 years. But I am not happy with my current situation.I recently took a 43 percent pay cut. My last full time gig was driving a Freightliner conventional with setback front axle back in late eighty's, a walk in sleeper conventional with air ride it was a big deal back then with all the cabovers on the road.

I grew up in trucking. I drove my dads 74 Kenwoth COE with a V12 Detriot with torsion bar suspesion 13 speed, and some GMC Astro's and Frightliner cabovers my first big truck I drove was my dads used 69 Ford WT9000 COE 318 13 speed with hendrickson suspension I was 12 years old I pulled it up the driveway and washed it and shined up the shiny stuff for him to go splatter bugs running Budweiser out of Coulmbus to Chicago. My first truck assigned to me was a Red Freightliner COE 70 inch sleeper with 9 speed that would bounce you up to the ceiling on I-80 going across PA.

I ran coast to coast, running a reefer. Been to Huntspoint market in NYC and the Semi Valley in CA, ran Kraft cheese 4500 pieces 28 different varieties knocked down to three high on pallet over to Allentown, you never forget those days. back then I drove all night and busted my hump unloading, or you could pay a lumper out of your own pocket and it took twice as long. Back then drop and hook was like someone cast a magic wand over your truck and it glowed in white light as you pulled in and all those poor drivers been waiting hours to get unloaded watched this kid jump out with one leap outta that big new conventional with his new white reeboks and run around the truck and trailer and drop and and hook. I still remember hearing on the radio as I pulled in that yard you better be ready for a long wait driver and me being this ####y kid said watch this. I almost felt bad when I was heading out grabbing gears with a big smile on my face on that summer evening because I was heading home, always felt good heading home. Always felt good loading up my stuff on sunday to head out for the next weeks adventure, new places and some old places that made your feel comfortable when you got there.

I was the kid with the clear bug shield on the hood for CA, that meant I was running a team truck solo, it would run 67 mph. Big deal back then when everything east of Mississippi was 55 mph. The same old politics back then that probably go on today with other drivers, they want what you got, but aint willing to work for it. I had some good friends out there and had some I would help even though I didnt like them. I always tried to offer helpful advice when I could.

Back to why I'm here, I love the whistle of turbo running though the hills on a two lane road with a full moon on warm summer night.

And I really like reading all the adventures on here and you never truly know what tomorrow brings.