Useless, thats so wrong.....lol..........lol

Thank you jjcasper... Just like any job, there are so many good's that help you to forget about the bads. I really am looking forward to getting on the road with wide open spaces and being out there with you all. And, neglected to comment on the many many big truck drivers who make the 911 call, are onscene giving aid when we arrive, and are more than willing to help and take the time to stick around to do so when we know they are pressed for time. A much passed-due "thank you" is definitely in order.

Oh... and ssoutlaw?... Useless's comment about Geico and their caveman....was ssso... RIGHT!

The way laws are in most states, a police officer can ask anyone to take a BAC at any time. A refusal is normally considered guilty and a DWI is often charged. If the keys are in the ignition, most states will allow you to be charged for DUI or DWI, depending on their particular laws. The officer doesn't have to see him driving the vehicle to arrest and charge him. He could be sitting in his vehicle listening to the radio and if the key is in the ignition or within reach of the driver, he can be charged. This surprising aspect of this event is that he was not charged. Either he wasn't drunk or the officer cut him some major slack. He may have been on private property, but with public access and/or permission from the shipper, the officer could have come on the property and dealt with the situation.

As to the way some professional drivers drive, I think some don't deserve to be on the same road with the rest of us. I cannot understand why some drive the way they do. I have seen some tailgate and cut others off. Recently, I have noticed more truckers cutting me short when they come back into my lane after passing.

GMan... Those were sortof my thoughts, and my reasoning for coming on this site for advice to begin with. Not that I feel ANYONE with alcohol on their breath should be on the road, but if the very same Officer showed up to Tim's truck, gave him a partial test, then apologized when he came back to escort him off the truck at Swift's request, then gave him a ride to the bus station...? By what I've heard and seen in the real world, Law Enforcement isn't very willing to give big truck drivers a break. Rightfully so. And, again, Swift did the right thing.

With everything said... and done... Tim has sunk into such deep depression that I can't get thru to him right now. Being I've spent alot of time driving major and non-major roads with an ambulance, I'm extremely aware of good and bad drivers. In the short time I rode with Tim in a big truck, I can vouch that he was definitley one of the better, aware, and more curtious drivers on the road. Should he get on the road now? No. He needs to get his sh*t together, but I don't believe he should NEVER get back onto the road.

While reading this, I just couldn't shake the feeling that you need to get away from this man, before he drags you into his abyss of despair.

It is not your problem, nor your responsibility to help him with this. You may feel obligated, because you love him, want to marry him, but I have been where you are and the one thing I can tell you for sure, you will pay a price that is way too high for this.

I don't know if he really has a drinking problem, but it does sound like it. Having turned a blind eye to my then boyfriends and later husbands drinking I learned the hard way, Alcohol will always come first. And last.

Take a step back and evaluate the situation from a distance. Don't get sucked into holding his hand in this. He did this himself. He needs to dig out of this. Not you. You can point him in the right direction with medical help etc. but don't do it for him. You will be his mommy forever.

Good luck.

Thank you, Sabine... You, and so many others are right. My emotions are so raw right now that I keep going back and forth , trying to fix things, and sounding like a total idiot... and fool. I can't fix it. I can't fix it. I just can't fix it. I posted earlier that Tim needs to get his sh*t together, when in reality, it's ME who needs to pull together. I'm going to take another week before starting my CDL training with Swift and research every other possible option for schooling and other companies available to me. Once I'm busy getting myself into a new career in trucking, I'll then be too busy to try to... fix it. Take care, be safe, and if you were to want to email me, my email address is [email protected].

I need a shot of whiskey and a beer.....

It sounds like he may be an alcoholic to me...mainly because while in the process of being accused of being under the influence of alcohol while on the job, he went and had a beer!

You are probably not getting the full story from your fiancee, especially if he has a drinking problem and is in denial.

Correct me if I am wrong, but is not your and his former job one of the professions with the highest level of alcoholism? With all that ya'll see on a daily basis I can see how it would be easy to have a few too many drinks every night to forget.

I think you should go through with your cdl training, and give your fiancee an ultimatum. He needs to give up the bottle for good, then he can get married to you and eventually maybe get a chance with another company...but only after he completes that 12th step.

Best of luck to both of you.

:)

GrooveMachine.... Thank you, and you're absolutely right. In our line of work, alcoholics are prevailant. Tho, Fire departments have cracked down a lot since back in the day when my dad was a firefighter for 30 years, and yes, now a recovering alcoholic. Tim was a recovering alcoholic. He had only started talking to his 3 sons this last month, after ten years, then on Sunday talked to his ex for the first time in ten years. Sunday night is when he took his first drink, and I don't know where it went from there to his pick up on Monday morning. I'm sure I don't have the full story. It doesn't matter. He's off the road now, thank goodness, and I will be on it hopefully soon. Take care...