New, some experience, but not civilian...

Hi there, Wade here...

I actually got turned onto this forum from Smaggs, a new (about 7 months) guy with a large company that posts videos.

I was in the Air Force for some time hauling explosives. I traveled between NV, AZ, and NM, with two trips to FL. We drove old ### POS tractors with 100k+ loaded weight with US GOV plates so NO DOT or weight stations or the like. Hell, we had over 10 blockers with at least a couple of decoys per trip. No weight stations, no DOT inspections, hell, they couldn't even pull us over. (one rookie AZ papa bear tried once, interesting story.)

I have about 250,000 miles and 4 years doing that, in addition to my normal AF job. Problem is, absolutely NONE of it was backing and we only drove POS automatic tractors. Which means, in real experience, 0 hrs, 0 miles. My MIL license transferred to civilian, but I declined it because of the lack of real world experience. I still have 12 mos to add it to my civ license if I want.

I have no family, none, and I really loved being on the road, so I'm seriously considering a trucking school at a local Community College, but I'm also considering a certain company program because all of my permit time will be OTR during real trips rather than 4 guys crammed in a 90's cab.

My plan is to go OTR, use my buddies address, and live in the truck for a couple years before I decide to buy a truck or not. I'm quite good with money and have plenty saved up from bonuses and such, and I really just want to be on the road. Coming from the Air Force, I think I can handle all of the problems associated with shippers and receivers as 'hurry up and wait' is a common occurrence in the military.

I guess I will answer my most common question, 'why did you get out'?

Well, I got tired of deployments. Not because of the being away from home, but think about it this way, if every day you drove your truck you not only had to worry about 4 wheelers, normal hazards (animal, roadway problems, bridge collapse, etc...) but you also had to worry that the road you traveled down yesterday might explode under your cab today, you will understand. After 3 years of that, I'm done. Hauling the explosives never scared me so long as I was aware of the dangers that exist, but the unknown dangers of the IEDs got to me and I left.

Anyway... I really appreciate any help that you may be able to provide. But seriously, please don't send me messages about how bad trucking companies are and all that, I'm well aware of it... you have no idea what it is really like until you drive with KBR guys with trucks that don't even have oil filters. As Swaggs once said in one of his videos (sorry man, have to steal it) I will be paid xxxxx this week and I won't care anymore. I really just want to be on the road.

Anyone that has seen a perfect storm will know what I'm talking about... as Gorge Clooney starts talking about what it's like to be a swordboat captain, that is how I feel about being on the road.

One more thing... I say that if the 4 wheelers in the general public hate trucks so much, let everyone pay a 3% tax on all goods and services to provide us with our own highway system. Yeah, a dream, I know, but #### if I'm not tired of someone b*tching about the 60 MPG 18 wheeler that held them up for their precious beach trip. LOL If the industry could do one thing better, it is communicating with the general public about the trucks and what it means to be on the road. I'm surprised more truckers haven't resorted to a camera system to record at all times because of the cut-offs and blind spot traveling the 4 wheelers do on the open road just to cover their own ##s!