Where To Go From Here?...

I never use manual mode on my Freightliner. You don't have to be in manual mode to gear down using the paddle shifter.

 

Last (and only auto-shift) truck I drove was a Volvo... *puke*

 

You might want to look into local jobs. Slipseating is sometimes annoying but most companies are nonsmoking so if it happens just report it. Pay is a little less 45-60 starting out but home time is priceless. It's also cheaper to live when you have time to pack your lunch. Unloading is a little work, but again an easy trade off when you sleep in hotels and actually get legit vacations.

 

So basically, what I'm hearing is, local/regional line-haul, or look into buying my own truck and do containers and such. I've thought about doing a lease/purchase in the past, but I'm not sure whether it would be worth it. DART's program looks decent on the surface... Anyone who's done lease-purchase with any companies offering it, care to weigh in on this?

 

You might want to check over on the lease purchase thread. Supposedly some of them are making it work. Apparently, the guy who pops on to every forum and shouts "STAY AWAY FROM ANY FLEECE PURCHASE", didn't do so well.....

 

So I went to an allergy specialist today and his initial diagnosis is that I have asthma, which can have a great number of triggers. I'm not sure if I should even be doing anything that involves being outdoors at all if that's the case... FML.

 

I here there looking for astronauts who'd be willing to go to Mars its worth a try.

 

I don't blame you for not sitting in smokers trucks.I hate it too,but most don't care.
I'm gonna carry around some dried up dog turds,and burn em in the truck.
Its my right ! I'm a truck driver!! We all smoke!! And this is Murica you sum bichs!!

 

Sorry to hear that. Good luck.

 

I'm glad you find this amusing, smart ###. It's starting to look like I may have COPD, which makes me wonder if I'll even be getting back into a truck.