Starting Late in Life

Update: Completed my first solo month. No issues. Making good revenue to the truck. Fuel mileage is slightly above fleet average, OOR is kicking my butt, but will figure out how to improve. I seem to have an internal magnet for lumber tarped loads, did four of them last week. This week I had a couple loads of steel that each required two days. Have not done any coils yet, but I am ready for them. My fleet manager and log people are awesome. Comparing notes with my classmates from orientation, I seem to be getting much better loads and with less down time. Truck is getting set up a little better every week. Fitted sheets, microwave, powered cooler, Apple TV, various power accessories to run everything up front and in the sleeper. Also getting my work wardrobe sorted. Flatbedding is really nasty work sometimes. I am usually covered in mud and soaking wet after tarping or untarping, so I now head out with six changes of clothes each week. I really do not enjoy driving in western Maryland or West Virginia. I do not think there is one piece of straight or level road in all of V. VA. This week I had I delivery to Little Rock. Coming back I had to go through every traffic nightmare in the south east. Not fun in a car, even less fun pulling a flatbed. Would like to see Trump go after everyone that was ever involved in planning any road or highway in Atlanta. I tend to over rig and catch a bit of flack from fellow drivers at TMC. Yes, I am new, but I am not going to be the cause of another safety briefing. I usually have a couple more straps or chains than what is required, and I almost always use an x-strap or chain along with a header board. Some of the shippers and receivers are really organized but all too often I get sent to yards that do not have posted instructions, no clearly defined office, etc. Fun. I am losing weight.Belt size is down a few notches and pants are really loose now. All in all I am really enjoying the career change.