Things you'll learn....

as a new driver. No, not the things like shifting and backing up and all that. Rather, the things you'll learn about yourself and life in general.

1. You're not who you thought you were. Short of boot camp, I can't think of much else that's gonna turn your perceptions upside down and sideways. From day 1 you're the only one responsible. There's nobody running in to hold your hand or correct your mistakes for you. This is grownup territory and it's up to you to make the most of it.... only you.

2. You're gonna learn to drive and control 40 tons of equipment in the environment that it's used on.... the public highways. That's around 20 times the weight of your car. You're gonna learn to handle it safely in conditions that a short while ago would have scared the heck out of you. Again, nobody's gonna do it for you. You are the sole responsible party.

3. You're gonna learn on what the industry uses. That means a standard shift with 10 or so gears. You're gonna learn stuff like double-clutching to shift.... learn it well. Don't start whining about "it's too hard". Thousands of others have done it.... you are no better than they.

4. Once you have mastered all this be prepared to be amazed at how badly all your friends and family now drive. Be amazed at how little they care.

5. Most of all you will surprise yourself at how self-assured and self-reliant you will become. Truckers make decisions all day long that directly affect both your safety and those around you. Soccer Mom's and their rug rats get safely home every day because some trucker made the right decisions and they didn't get turned into a greasy spot.

We need you out here to help keep things rolling. But we need you out here right. We don't need little kids, dopers or timid folks. Can you do it? I think so, but it's all up to you now.

Roll on driver.