I remember the first time I drove a semi for Stevens,...it was through the mountains of Pennsylvania, and my neck muscles were so tense that it felt like my head would explode. I stopped after 100 miles and ate a bunch of Ibuprofen,....stopped 50 miles later and threw up at a rest area.
The trainer then scammed me into unloading a truckload of unpalletized cases of meat (on no sleep for an overnight 10 hr shift),...and then pocketed 3/4 of the lumper fee.
I wanted to call it quits right then and there,...but I stuck it out for 11 more weeks.

This time around it will not be like that, though I suspect I will be a bit more prepared from my first experience. It feels good to be the captain of my little ship. That truck and I have already been through quite a bit.
I'm not kidding when I say there is not on single system that I have not had my hands on, and not one single wire or hose that I don't know where it goes or what it does.
Its been a learning experience, but I dig that gear head stuff, its like a challenge to have a problem, and then figure it out.
I am looking forward to being back on the road,..going to the places that you have described,...I would have eaten up that long dirt road (just my truck,.....well lets just say that its hard to tell when its dirty), and the different weather around the county. I have always been a traveler, and trucking suits my personality well. I spent a bit of time doing research for Outside America magazine,...loved that traveling job,(crummy pay though) I still have all the rock climbing/camping/hiking gear from our 21 day kayak trip from Green River Utah to Phantom Ranch Grand Canyon.
Point is I like to be on the move, and that's why I got into trucking back in 99,....this time sure I'll be a nervous wreck, and every sound will be a new adventure inside my head,......but at least I'll be working and driving for myself, and that makes this nomad,..... a happy trucker.

 

Did someone say "little ship" ???


Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale,
A tale of a Dog House trip
That started from this Florida port,
Aboard this big huge truck.
The mate was a mighty Rotewiller,
The Skipper barked and growled,
Five doggies set the sail that day
For a bone hunting tour
A bone hunting tour

The weather started getting rough,
Doghouse hid and licked
If not for the courage of the rest of the pups,
The Big Truck would be lost
The Big Truck would be lost.

The truck set ground on the edge of this
Uncharted well groomed lawn
With Rusty, the Dog House too,
The Mini Pins and his Poodles,
A Rotewiller, and a pug, the Bulldogs and a Terrier,
Here on Dog House Isle!

 

Steve, I'm starting to think your mama dropped you when you were a baby. :shock: :lol: :lol: :wink:

 

It's OK though, she said I always bounced. I don't there was any real damage....Wait...What were we talking about?

 

That was a good one Steve,...it made my girl laugh like hell.

 

I totally agree!! I believe steve is a bit "touched"

At least you got Gilligans Island and NOT Beverly Hillbillies!! 8)

tootie

 

Hey....and just WHAT is wrong with those lovable folks that loaded up their truck and moved to Beverly....Hills that is

 

You go geomon,....tell'em like it is :lol:

 

Oh....nothing.... :wink:

 

I can totally relate to Steve's comment. Even though I had some experience and the truck was ready, I still felt unprepared. I finally just took a low paying load to get the truck moving and reduce my anxiety.

There was a great sense of relief after we delivered the first load with no problems....