Overqualified.

Now that I have your attention...I drove four years hauling John Deere heavy equip. - then 5+years OTR - ending with Prime Inc. running me into the ground, so in '88 I quit from burnout and actually five speeding tickets trying to make appointments.
Mom was dying of the big C and I went to Ga. to be with her and got into construction, then started my own company, then merged with another and became the Field Superintendent. So trucking and construction is all I know.

Now, the construction industry fell on it's face down here and without degrees, I can't get the jobs I want, so it's back to trucking after 3 months eating up our savings and selling off guitars and gym equipment for bills.
Of course, my former experience of 1.5 million miles over 9+ years is discounted and I'll have to be a schoolboy to get my CDL and time in. Studying this site and others, I've accumulated a good/bad list and applied to Swift (desperation?) who noodled me around for a week to then tell me they're not accepting anyone until March or later, but thanks for the application...I put in for US Express (even tho I don't want an automatic) but you can't put your resume on there, so it looks like I never drove.

I lost the Cowboy Wannabe Goggles a long time ago: we ran 16-18hr. shifts on 6 hrs. sleep and I never want to see that again. I'd run dead legal as possible, I'm a natural tranny man and like shifting, would enjoy a steady paycheck and I know I won't get rich out here. I'd love a dedicated route, but OTR isn't out of the question. I still think the NE corridor blows buckets, but will go there if I have no choice. Right now I need a job and money to support the wife. No kids, dogs, smoking, drugs, booze or girlfriends.

A good friend asked how much school was (intending to maybe support me), but I'm afraid to stretch his family of 9 any further. But I'd like to do that, saving thousands off the school tab and pay back the loan, but what are my chances of being a "new" driver out of school and getting a mentor seat and job? I might want to consider Hogan, FFE, Crete, Schaffer, Marten, Knight, USA, or Heartland Express.
Or whatever will keep me from losing the house.
Oh yeah: do they still have those little churches in the truck stops? I need Sun. mornings.

 

Not sure about the record thing: I called Prime and was told their records only go back to '95. In ten minutes I talk to a P.A.M. recruiter, still forging ahead while any schools are still taking on 'students'. Seems like the layoffs may be coming to the trucking industry as well, since so many industries are shutting down. I may be a bit late to start.

 

Unfortunately with the economy of the nation and our bank account, along with no companies calling to sponsor training, I may have to take what I can get. I'm going to interview with Katlaw Training today and see what a personal appearance will do.
Back in the day, I thought "showing you how it's done" was driving 80-90mph, running coast to coast without sleep, and so forth. Since being a high-ridin' hero burned me out, I have a different attitude, these many years later.
I think how it should be done won't get me noticed by anyone, since I'll be running legal as possible, won't be throwing away my paychecks to speeding tickets, and won't be taking a lot of crap from dispatchers when they want me to be a hero again. (just say no?) I always kept a clean truck and person, and I dread having to share a rig with some slob, but I do know I'll have to put up with people who are less than hygenic, bitter, immoral, and pompous. I know that dock people aren't there for my best interests and everybody lies.
I believe that a lot more than a screwdriver and crescent wrench should cmprise a trucker's toolbox, unless he likes waiting on slow or busy mechanics or sitting on the side of the road. Assuming my yard is within driving distance, of course.
I could be upset that all the new electronics keep someone's eye on my activities every minute, but I look at it as protection from that company greed that will cost me my license too. From what I'm seeing, driving style now is a cakewalk compared to the old school, and resembles that driving job we all wanted but couldn't find. The more exhausted I got, the more I wanted a legal job. A dedicated? Pure Heaven to me.
I believe it only takes one driver to drive a truck and if you can't shift a tranny, you probably shouldn't even BE in a truck. Now I've said that, I'll probably get stuck on a team with an auto.