Newbie Heading Out Next Week!

Van. I wanted to pull reefer because a trucker buddy of mine told me that reefer generally has the most consistent freight but the Swift recruiter said that dry van was their bread and butter. So I figured I’d stick with dry van for a while then maybe try something different in a few months.

 

Thank you Grumpy, I appreciate that! I gotta say that my patience is probably a reflection of my age (48). I’m coming into trucking pretty late in life. I’ve been a welder my whole adult life. Standing on my feet 10-12 hrs a day for the past 30 years really started taking a toll on them. So much so that last year I lost part of my right foot due to an ulcer that got infected. Then earlier this year the same thing started happening to my left foot. Now I was lucky this time and the antibiotics were more effective basically because of the experience last year I knew what to look for and got to the doctor earlier. Doctor told me that I was gonna have to get off my feet or I would eventually lose one or both of them.

Well trucking is always something that fascinated me and wanted to do but family responsibilities always were most important to me. When I was about 20 years old and learned that college thing wasn’t for me I got a grant for a trade school and CDL school or welding school were the two options that interested me the most. I chose welding school because basically I knew trucking wasn’t much of a life for someone who was a family man. The rest is history as they say but I always had that feeling in my gut. I’d strike up conversations with truckers when I’d get the chance and was always fascinated by it.

My youngest just graduated high school so all 3 of my kids are off doing their thing. My wife was hesitant at first but she’s on board now! The whole foot scare thing was the final straw so off to school I went. I went part time because I still had to work while doing it so it took me twice as long as everyone else in class.

I realize the value of my CDL and am going to protect with everything I have. I appreciate the words of wisdom and encouragement and I promise all you guys I’ll be as safe as I can be out there for all of us.

I also promise if you’re behind me at the fuel island I’ll pull forward when I’m done so I won’t hold you up! I won’t dump my piss bottles or any other trash in the lots at the truck stops. If you need a spotter when you’re backing in a hole I’ll be there! I’m all ears if you got any other do’s and don’ts!