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RebelDarlin
Joined: 06 Jul 2007
Posts: 1201
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 11:38 am Post subject: Well, I did it! |
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Took my Skills and Road test yesterday and now have my CDL!
I'll be driving local for the County for a few months just to get my confidence up, then I'll start looking at OTR again. Or I may go with an O/O I know hauling mail from O'Hare to Peoria and back.
I know that local experience won't count as experience for an OTR job, but at least it'll help build my confidence behind the wheel.
Reb |
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wildkat
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
Posts: 458
Location: Lindbrook, Alberta, Canada
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| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 11:50 am Post subject: |
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| Way to go Reb, Congrats & good luck to you! |
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RebelDarlin
Joined: 06 Jul 2007
Posts: 1201
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 11:52 am Post subject: |
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Thanks WK. I would love to be able to do what you do, but I think I'll start small and dream BIG! Maybe someday I will get up there and you better believe I'll look you up!
Reb |
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wildkat
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
Posts: 458
Location: Lindbrook, Alberta, Canada
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| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 12:00 pm Post subject: |
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You absolutely better! It's not so bad...all what you get used to I guess! I love my job, where I run, etc. And that os the most important thing, for me anyways.
I've heard it said that if you can a place where you would work for free, you know you have found the right place to be.
This is full circle for me, it is where I started my career almost 30 years ago & have always wanted to come back, & 5 years ago I did just that, I felt like I had come home!
It can be a brutal life sometimes, no matter what the weather, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Just remember, what doesn't break you makes you stronger...and whatever you do...DON'T let them break you!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: |
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4roses
Joined: 28 Aug 2004
Posts: 1991
Location: BrokenArrow, Oklahoma
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| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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Follow your dream no matter if it's local or otr .... the bottom line is you took the big step and got your license ... wtg :!: |
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Ridge Runner
Joined: 18 Oct 2004
Posts: 2357
Location: North Ga.
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| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 8:13 pm Post subject: |
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Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!! I never had any doubt that you would find a way to make it work. I have to admit I was a little worried after plan "A" then "B" then "C" failed. But by gosh, you stuck with it till you made it happen.
I'm shooting off some fire-works right now in Ga. If ya'll don't see me around for a day or two........ send bail money! :lol: :wink: |
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Windwalker
Joined: 22 Oct 2005
Posts: 2616
Location: Holiday, FL
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| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 8:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Survive this winter without anything and you'll be on your way. Lot of good advice on here about that. Best of luck to you. Use some of the common sense that most IL 4-wheelers don't seem to have and you'll be fine. |
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RebelDarlin
Joined: 06 Jul 2007
Posts: 1201
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 12:45 am Post subject: |
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Quote: Follow your dream no matter if it's local or otr .... the bottom line is you took the big step and got your license ... wtg
Well thank you all!
As usual I can't do anything the way anyone else does. I ran into the guy who used to run the CDL program at the Community College here. I knew him from working at the truck stop. He is now working for the County Highway/Transit Department. co-ordinating their training. So he pushed my application with them through and he trained me. He's a State certified trainer so all of my training is as legit as if I went through the College. But all it cost me was the $60.00 for my permit and they paid me $9.00 an hour for the 3 weeks I was in training. I'm licensed for trucks AND buses, and have all of my endorsements except tanker & Hazmat which I will take in the next month. Sweet!
I told him I would stay at least 6 months but there is no contract saying I have to. But I probably will since he did me such a BIG favor!
Quote: Use some of the common sense that most IL 4-wheelers don't seem to have and you'll be fine.
Windwalker, I've been driving in Illinois for 32 years now and know EXACTLY what you mean! I'm a very careful driver after commuting to the Loop on the Dan Ryan for 18 years. If I wasn't such a defensive driver I probably wouldn't be here. Too many near missed to even count. And that's in my car.
Quote: Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!! I never had any doubt that you would find a way to make it work. I have to admit I was a little worried after plan "A" then "B" then "C" failed. But by gosh, you stuck with it till you made it happen.
When God closes a door He opens a window. I just have to learn to stop trying to batter down the door long enough to notice the window! :wink: |
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Trukrswyfe
Joined: 13 Jul 2007
Posts: 1957
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| Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 5:37 am Post subject: |
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congrats too Rebel,
If you're happy then I am happy for you. :D You are very smart and will make good decisions of that I am sure. You need none of my advice as I am a home dweller but prayers are something I am good at.
God Bless
TW :wink: |
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Drew10
Joined: 23 Feb 2007
Posts: 1373
Location: 0001 Cemetery Lane
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| Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 4:38 pm Post subject: |
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Good Job, RD, and Congratulations :D ....I know that was a stepping stone that you kept tripping on, almost seemed like an unsurmountable hurdle. You perservered, and accomplished a great achievement....Good for you. Get you some confidence and you will be out here in no time truckin with the rest of us....
Nothing like getting on CAD, from the sleeper of your truck... :lol: :lol: |
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mommee
Joined: 04 Oct 2007
Posts: 1070
Location: East Coast
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| Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:51 pm Post subject: |
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| That's great and best of luck to you. |
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line_transporter
Joined: 12 Dec 2007
Posts: 67
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| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 12:25 am Post subject: reply |
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Quote: I'll be driving local for the County for a few months just to get my confidence up,
Good work there! And yes I agree with that order of things (first local, then OTR). Good luck : - ) |
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Slimland
Joined: 27 Dec 2005
Posts: 1593
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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To be local is actualy a good Idea befor going OTR IMOP.
I went OTR first, then OTR again, then Local.. Though I did enjoy the 2nd and learnd alot, I think I would have learned alot more Local. Like you said Confedence, then go out OTR..
So congrats, and God Speed.
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Windwalker
Joined: 22 Oct 2005
Posts: 2616
Location: Holiday, FL
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| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 8:21 pm Post subject: |
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RebelDarlin wrote: Quote: Use some of the common sense that most IL 4-wheelers don't seem to have and you'll be fine.
Windwalker, I've been driving in Illinois for 32 years now and know EXACTLY what you mean! I'm a very careful driver after commuting to the Loop on the Dan Ryan for 18 years. If I wasn't such a defensive driver I probably wouldn't be here. Too many near missed to even count. And that's in my car.
Don't expect the truck to respond as fast as the car. That's exactly why I said that.
I've been driving a truck for a number of years now, and several of the companies I worked for in WI always sent us down to Chicago and from there, "turn left". As though there was nowhere else in the country to go. And after all that, I STILL HATECHICAGO!!!!!
But that's me. I hate NYC too. And Philadelphia. And...... |
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RebelDarlin
Joined: 06 Jul 2007
Posts: 1201
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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Windwalker wrote: RebelDarlin wrote: Quote: Use some of the common sense that most IL 4-wheelers don't seem to have and you'll be fine.
Windwalker, I've been driving in Illinois for 32 years now and know EXACTLY what you mean! I'm a very careful driver after commuting to the Loop on the Dan Ryan for 18 years. If I wasn't such a defensive driver I probably wouldn't be here. Too many near missed to even count. And that's in my car.
Don't expect the truck to respond as fast as the car. That's exactly why I said that.
I've been driving a truck for a number of years now, and several of the companies I worked for in WI always sent us down to Chicago and from there, "turn left". As though there was nowhere else in the country to go. And after all that, I STILL HATECHICAGO!!!!!
But that's me. I hate NYC too. And Philadelphia. And......
I know what you meant. We were short drivers today and it snowed so they pulled me off "training" and put me in a plow. :shock:
I don't like driving in Chicago either, commuted to the Loop for 18 years. I'm a little over an hour south of there so the traffic isn't quite as bad! |
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