Hey all! I haven't been on here for about A year.I just wanted to tell
you my experience.I recieved my CDLA last spring.very soon thereafter,I got A job driving chase vehicle & TT for oversized loads(hauling mobile homes from Pennsylvania to NY state & then on to New Hampshire).

It didn't last long!We would leave New Hampshire & not start our log books
till we hit Pennsylvania.this made me nervous.The kid training me was old school.Told me 1/2 his career he didn't even have A CDl!
Anyway,after breaking log book rules,HOS rules & Sleeping in the cab of
A Toyaota p/u (chase vehice we towed along) I decided it wasn't worth
my license.

So,last fall I started driving A tour bus(foliage,Boston etc..)
Was fun actually & I got tips,but no TT experience.Also,I did not have A
P endorsment.Company owner assured me it was no big deal.
Again,my license on the line.But I do have A family to feed.

Late fall & I get A job driving(45 ft bus) For Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville
express.Wasn't hauling Jimmy,we just setup @ his concerts & entertained
vips & the crowd,before the show started.Bus originated in New Hampshire,so to do two shows would take as much as fifteen day's on the road.Several states & fun but still no TT experience.

Did some limo driving ,recently in NH & Mass & Me.The Buffett thing was
contract work & only when Jimmy hit the road.
Also helped move A library using A straight job.

I tell you this because I thought I would never get A CDL(A) job.
Was giving up & trying to think of what's next.

the problem was twofold:
1) Me not willing to go otr
2) No local jobs hiring rookies because of insurance issues(I have pristine
record,but small companies have problems with their ins companies,hiring inexperienced drivers.)

Fast forward to today.I start Thursday,driving recyled materials to
A central wharehouse & p/u's @ local landfills.

My first,sustainable, Tractor Trailer driving Job.ten hour+ day's
Home almost every night (occasional trips to Lake Placid,NY)

My point is this.School & the real world are not even remotely related.
Never Give Up!
Drive whatever you can!
And(I know I'll take A hit on this one) Do whatever it takes.Just my opinion

I ,two years later,am still A rookie.And I know that
I hope there are no haters.I am sure someone will say"You shouldn't be
driving TT with this little experience etc.. etc....

Well,I do have years of delivery work,very Little TT,some CDL-B & A
very healthy respect for the rig & the road.

I Am very nervous & back in the books.It's A healthy nervous,not A "My GOD What Am I Doing "nervous.And excited!

I wrote this to encourage others & in the hope that some might encourage me.

Good luck to you all & Good luck to me!


Cheers! Al

 

Your doing fine, and you got the job. Don't worry about the haters. Just keep it safe. I started out about the same way you did.... 5 years class B mixer driving(didn't mean $hit), and 26 months TT driving, mostly local. Only about 4 months was OTR.

Good luck, and Drive safe. :wink:

 

I'm still a rookie and i think you made a smart move. OTR is not for everyone...

But i do have A question for you.


whAt is the deAl with All the cApitol 'A's????

i meAn no disrepect but i wAs just wAndering....


nick

 

thanks for the encouragment ,grim reaper dude.By the way,the deja moo
cracks me up.As far as the cap A's,typing was for girls(uh-oh)when I grew up.I still use one finger(for typing) & A thumb.They probably have an overpriced school for typing too!

 

A shortage of Professional drivers out there, and YOU want to be a comedian! :P :lol: :lol:

Congratulations, VVAX! Way to hang in there with the right attitude and expectations!

As for driving a T/T with no experience? Well, at some point, we ALL started that way! :wink:

Best of luck, and be careful out there. Also, better start staying a bit more legal! Sounded like you had some really fun adventures, though!

 

And, how many people can say they've driven for the Margaritaville Express! That would be a career highlight for someone like me (longtime parrothead). Fins up!