Thank you, TR forums!

To all you forum regulars, past and present: Thank you.

Last summer, I needed to make a change in my life. My education and experience was too old to be of use, my skills were not current and I had 5+ year gap in employment that made my prospects of finding any job slim. After researching my options, I considered getting my CDL and found the Trucker's Report Forums. From your sage advice, I:

* Found a nearby tech college CDL program (6 month course)
* Got state/federal funds to pay for it entirely, including gas money and testing fees
* Got my permit and all my endorsements
* Learned to drive a manual transmission truck, back a trailer right, drive safely city and highway, so much more than a four week school
* Learned a whole lot about trucking (logs, route planning, chains, tricks... you name it, my instructor was amazing)
* Successfully passed and got my Class A CDL

Today I accepted an offer with a fuel hauling company. Local work, good pay with OT, good benefits and good trucks. This zero-mile greenhorn just accomplished my goal, got a great job and gets to go home every night.

Thank you all for the posts, advice, suggestions and patient answers to so many who came before me. I wore out the search button with things I wanted to learn and found out so much about this industry right here. I know I wouldn't be in the place I am today without these forums and the great souls who respond in them to newbies like me.

Again: Thank You!

 

Good luck and get into doing the same routine at the racks. No matter how slow or tedious it seems stick to the same routine.

I know as much as you about fuel hauling lol but those are the most repeated things i commonly hear

 

Not a bad job if you don't mind smelling like fuel. I hauled fuel for a couple years and like Brett was saying get into a routine, probably the most important thing because it becomes monotonous after a while and if you get in a routine you're less likely to forget anything like closing a Betts valve or opening your internals.
Remember what compartment you're putting fuel in and don't assume the tank is completely empty if in doubt don't be afraid to pop the hatch open and look. Last thing you want to do is Scully out at the rack.
Good luck with your new career.

 

You're welcome! Good luck with the new gig!

 

I am sure you are gonna get trained by your new employer, but when in doubt, check, double check, and then check it again just to be on the safe side. I have been doing gas for a year now and still doubt my self sometimes. Sometimes the boys/girls at the rack like to shot the breeze. Don’t allow them to keep you from your routine. Most of us out here are gonna help you if you have any questions. Welcome to the club, and best of luck

 

Even just hauling fresh water to frac sites I would double and triple check. You never want to be known as the dude who skully'd out.

 

Lesson three rack school: do not whatever you do on your life have anything electronic on you up top that tanker.

Good luck to you. Don't forget your life insurance. =)

 

That's AWESOME!!
Congratulations.
One important thing to remember is...

YOU DID IT.

 

You say you have good pay with overtime? Then you don’t have any excuse to rush things. Slow it down and take your sweet time.

 

Congratulations!
Is this the company that hired you?