The same, only different...

Well, as I said in my intro post, I only just registered here yesterday evening (1700-ish?) and thus far, I've managed to read three threads (I'm so anal I have to read a thread all the way through before posting in it, or moving on to the next)

I just now (12:46) finally finished OpenRoadGuy's Help a trucker wannabe out!
which was the most entertaining, frustrating, informative and inspiring thing I've read in all my research thus far! I highly recommend anyone read this roughly 2½ month journey, from page one!

I no way do I think I can emulate his style, or eloquence, and in no way am I attempting to "copycat" him, but rather, to chronicle my own experiences thus far. This is due to a certain kinship I felt with him, from the very first page which, as my title indicates are the same, but different.

As I post on here more, you will find that I'm a bit verbose, a storyteller, relying heavily on anecdote and backstory. Unfortunately, because of the way my mind works (I suppose nowadays I'd be diagnosed with ADD, though when I was a kid, that hadn't been "invented" yet, and I prefer to be DAD) I tend to be extremely parenthetic, and overuse the "--" and "..." which is all an attempt to separate and control the flood of thoughts all fighting to get out at the same time!

Because of my immediate reference to ORG, and because I'm hoping that you'll find this "imitation" thread to be flattering, I'll begin with some comparison/contrast...

I have 18 years in my chosen field (more on that later, because it chose me) and have finally found the one company that could successfully burn me out. If that weren't bad enough, as of last November, my already unsteady hours began evaporating until, starting in February, I went over a month with no hours at all...

This is (in part) what led me to my decision to finally pursue a career in trucking.

Because I wasn't working at all (although technically still "employed") I was doing some babysitting for my sister so she could finish her Cosmetology school. It was during this three week period that I began doing my research (she even commented on how obsessive I am with it--since I don't have a car, I was pretty much bunking out over there)

The more I learned, the more questions I had, and admittedly, unless I write them down (I've created a .txt doc for that now) I don't always remember them all. I had actually entertained this idea, about 6-7 years ago, but at that time, my children, who suffer with living with their mother, were still too young and really needed to know that I was 'right there" for them.

Because of my prior knowledge, I guess I went about things a little bit backwards. I knew where I wanted to end up, then I tried to figure out how to get there. I'm very fortunate to have a brother who used to be a trucker and, at the first time that *I* knew of him being a trucker, he was driving a pumpkin (it wasn't until recently that I found out he had first gotten his CDL back when he was living in UT)

The biggest difference now, apart from 7 years ago, is that SNI no longer offers CDL training (I had suspicions, but couldn't confirm this online--he actually called someone he still knows in Green Bay and they confirmed it)

Ok, so...I started looking at trucking schools...Yeah, I know, the first school I found (only one ten minute bus ride from me) would've been perfect, if only they weren't run through a local JuCo...That I still owe money to and therefore can't register with...

Where now? I went back to the SNI site and found their list of "Preferred" schools. I thought "What better way to position myself than to go to a school they already have a relationship with?"

Oh, but wait...I'm not (or hardly) working, so how am I going to pay for this? Sis to the rescue! The same way she paid for hers...Through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). I mean, i'm already receiving unemployment, so I'm positioned for that, right? Even my Vet adviser at the UI office said I had a better than most chance.

So, I get started with that whole process, and I go back to the SNI site and start looking at "other" schools (commercial TDSs) Because I don't have a car, and because I'd *like* to be able to accept hours at work (3rd shift deffo) if they come along, I have to figure out what is best for what schools can I get to, and how much travel time is required, especially if I'm getting off shift and need to get to the school by a certain time.

So, after about 4 weeks of research (since I had pretty much nothing but time on my hands) I took my first baby step, and actually called this one TDS...

"We don't accept WIA" is what I was told--my Vet adviser said it's more likely that they aren't "eligible" to receive funding for whatever reason, but they're trying to save face.

So, I found another school I can actually get to, although with the travel time (from home= 1bus, 2 trains, then another bus) working during this will be pretty much out of the question. So now, as incompetent as my company is, I'm hoping that they'll "forget" about me, as they did back in February, in order to buy me some time to go to school, without impairing my ability to collect UI (if they offer me hours, and I turn them down, I lose my benefits)

One of the biggest differences I guess, as I came onto this forum, is that, with all the research I've done, because I want to go into this with eyes wide open, all along I've always been "expecting the worst" when it comes to CPM, hometime etc (I too, now that my kids are teens, would love to actually travel around and see some of this great land of our before I croak--Lived in this same county pretty much all my life and never really went anywhere, except for the army...in OK)

However, the definition of expectations, is twofold--what I think I'll reasonable get, and what I "need" based on lifestyle/expenses etc...

All my research led me to expect a first year newbie salary of maybe 30k...This would be devastating for someone with a family to support and, as I watched the dawning realisation coming over ORG (I thought all of you were very gentle), I felt bad, because I knew where he was coming from, even though there's no way I could relate...

You see, ever since the first time I strapped on a flak jacket and locked and loaded, I knew I was meant to pull security...Now I don't mean in the "jack-booted, cop wannabe" way, but honestly; I like looking out for people (I have 5 younger sisters), and I love the customer service aspect of the job--whether it's de-escalating a situation, or walking a female out to her car, late at night!

The reality is that, as a security guard, I've never made 30k in my whole life! (and I'm 47 BTW)

So you see? For me, "1st year trucker" would be a step up, not a let down!

In my research I heard all the horror stories 9or so i thought, I keep hearing more every day) and even forced myself to watch YouTube videos of trucker crashes, purposely, to scare me...not into paralysis, but into caution.

It is unfortunate, that although i was linked to, and bookmarked this site quite some time ago, that I inadvertantly forgot about it, as this seems to be "one stop shopping" for almost all my questions! (as a resource I do have, in addition to my brother, another friend who used to be a trucker, and yet another friend who is a current O/O team driver with her fiancé)

I think the thing that sucked me into that other thread, so completely, so quickly, is that not only am I right where ORG was, at the beginning of his thread (sans the income) but I also have the same euphoric feeling about the "adventurous" course I was setting myself on!

Again, there's no blinders here; I know I'm going to go through hardships that I know of, and some I can't even imagine, but I've already decided that i'm going to embrace them, love them, if only as part of my learning curve 9which for me most strongly resembles a hot pretzel!), if not for all the "war stories" I'll have to tell once I've got a few years in the seat...

The problem right now, and why I wonder if this thread may be ill-timed, iss that I'm sort of in a holding pattern, on getting my WIA funding. I mean my Vet status got me jumped to the front of th line, and my (almost non-existant) income certainly qualifies me, my WIA adviser suggested we wait to see if I get my approval for my food stamps, as that is an automatic green light for acceptance into WIA, and she knows how much I need to get rolling. (income-based approval has to go before a review board etc...)

I don't know if this thread will go anywhere, especially stalled as I seem to be right now, but I will update all of you as often as I can, and I'm even moving this bookmark up to my BM toolbar for quicker access (do I really need to keep farmVille up there? Like I said, a LOT of time on my hands!)

OMG, over an hour to type all this out?


Oh, and sammycat? Love the sigline!

 

It took me less than 10 seconds to stop reading your long post.

 

and probably longer than that to type that out...Why bother?

 

Here's a quick tip:

"make it short and to the point, lest you make others lose interest", and they move on.

 

... I didn't lose interest...

 

Then you lead a dull boring life???

 

why not just start writing a blog instead.

attention?

 

Not as boring as sitting and waiting on a meat load..

 

I've been on these forums almost 23 hours,; I'm still finding my way around...if my topic was in violation of TOS, the powers that be can delete it (it's copy/pasted into word already anyway)

I guess I never really asked a question in my OP, so I guess that's wrong, but I wanted to start my own thread where I can get answers to questions as I come up with them, as well as chronicle my journey...

 

You will be lucky if anyone besides myself reads all of that! Now I'm going to respond with my experience. I start school this coming Monday. I got approved thru the WIA program. I was laid-off and i'm getting unemployment. The WIA program didnt want to approve me at first because I have a degree already, however they did.

From my understanding if you turn down hours at your current job because they conflict with school hours you will not be disqualified for unemployment. There are a number of reasons you can turn down hours. Another being it would cost you more to drive to work then you would make if you did not go in. You would almost be better off if they went ahead and fired you since you are already getting unemployment. The only this keeping you from getting in the WIA program is the fact that you have a job, even though you hardly work.

Good luck getting approved and starting school.