Almost Ready to GO
 

Its less than 2 weeks away before I go to the Swift sponsored Truck Driving Academy in Sacramento. Then on the 21st - the day I graduate from the TDA - I'm considering going to Schneider for orientation. Hmm. What to do, what to do. It's been a few months worth of planning, and I still don't know who I want to go with. If I go with Swift I'll be going long distance team or solo. If I go with Schneider, if I stay solo, I'll be running the western 11 and then get a feel for it. Then after spring arrives I can go Team an cross country. I really really really really don't want to cross a snowy summit fresh out of school, which with Swift I could end up doing. I WANNA LIVEEEEEEEE!! Without giving it any major thought, going with a relative rookie trainer (that KNOWS EVERYTHING) over the Rocky Mountains in a blizzard scares the SH*T outta me.

I remember back when I was in my hitch hiking days, I had gotten a ride with an old timer. 20 years ago he musta been be at least 60 yrs old. We were CREEPING down the west side of the Rockies with banks of snow piled on the sides of us or covering the side of the cliffs that rose beside us, on I 70, when some hot shot in a big brand new shiny red truck, lit up like a Christmas tree, came barreling past us like we were standing still. The driver I had gotten a ride from was going about 30 - 35 max and it was snowing just a bit, but the ground seemed dry. I asked him why he didn't speed up just a bit and he told me he wanted to get out of the mountains ALIVE. I can still remember the old timer and I clearly remember his wisdom.

Like I said, the scariest thing in the world to me would be some hot shot trainer that had all of 6 months under his belt, trying to show me how good he was in a snow storm barreling down the hill, slammin on his jake brake.

I guess the old biker saying can be applied to the trucking industry. (paraphrasing) " There are old drivers and there are dumb drivers, there just ain't no dumb old drivers."

Re: Almost Ready to GO
 

radio edit (<--Which singer has this in which song? "Baby-goat Stone" is hint, "bad a** trucker" is another hint.)

kid rock - cowboy...


Oh and just thought I'd let you know... I went to another truck school in sacramento. We spent a couple days at the DMV CDL testing center in West Sac where TDI brings their students. I'd have to say that it was downright sad and a little bit funny watching these guys go through the test. They have absolutley no idea how to do anything. You'd think that if they weren't ready for the test that they would practice a bit more but I guess they rush you through the school. Seriously, be careful selecting a truck school. Theres more companies out there besides swift and schnieder that will help you with training costs. Nothing agianst swift, but I'd look for a better truck school in the area.

just for giggles and grins try calling transport america. they brought me thru my first year as a pro driver and well, it still works for me.