Have any of you come to trucking as a mid-life career change? Did you experience a sense of embarrassment at how long it took you to become proficient at your new career? After living life as a competent adult, suddenly becoming a "stumbling newbie" has been a real adjustment!

What happened that let you know, that moment, that you were going to do just fine? Did it come as a sudden realization that you'd just done something, without thinking, that had previously given you fits? What was it for you?

I know it's not possible to be "great", immediately, in a new field. It's just frustrating. Someone told me not to make it harder than it really is. I still appreciate those words.

When did you know you'd do just fine?
Jewels

This might sound stupid but for me it when I looked at my pay check

Also April 15th :P

jewels...I am not a newbie by any stretch of the imagination, but from my experience LIFE is a gamble, no matter what you do.

I am an owner/operator who has been at this for 27 years now & I still get butterflies when I get new things to do. And being a woman is sometimes even harder...always remember...this is a MAN'S world, no matter what anyone tells you. Strive to be PROFESSIONAL at all times, NEVER be afraid to ask someone to SHOW yo how to do things, not do them for you.

Check out some of the other threads in this forum, there is alot of good advise from other women, newbie & not. We are here to help if we can.

Good luck & welcome!

Like wildkat I still get butterflies when doing new things.... but I always knew I'd made the right choice and that'd I'd be fine with my new career choice, from the second I got behind the wheel for the first time.

It feels good, knowing there's a place I can come to and get validation! It's been sort of tough, and I've kept things bottled up inside. Now, I know that the "butterflies" I've been having are actually normal---and will continue throughout my career! Since they're normal, I think I'll just sit back and enjoy them!
I have yet to see anything other than trainee pay, but I could see where a real check would drive the reality of my new job home.
It wasn't until you captured it in words that I realized what I'd been resisting==when I was asking how, others were hearing "do it for me"! No, no! I want to know how to do it for myself! I know that my being a woman had a lot to do with that, but I don't drive my truck with my...um...nether parts! ops:
I'll keep reading, keep learning. This morning, as I turned wide in my personal vehicle, I realized that more has sunk in than I realized...and that I think I've already got a few drops of diesel in my blood! I caught myself looking for my trailer and had to laugh!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me. I'm already missing the big steering wheel, and I hope to soon get on with one of the two companies I'm applying with. Can barely wait to get back out there!
Jewels

Don't forget also that when your in your four-wheeler you can use the left lanes too!!! ops: :lol:

RR,
It's sooo not nice to make me spew tea (from laughing) on my monitor!! :lol: Did you see me on the highway or something???
Thanks, WK, for the welcome. There's something about the people who seem to gravitate to this lifestyle that I can really relate to. Maybe this'll be like finding my own group of "swans"...
Lady, I love your beautiful avatar. What a glorious creature!! This sounds weird, but I love to smell their bellies. They smell like freshly-cut grass and wildflowers!!
Again, I appreciate the feedback!
Jewels

No I didn't see you, but my wife hates it when we are in the car and I get in line behind the big trucks going up a hill. Force of habit.

One of my instructors (school) told me that my driving styles would "merge"--I'd either drive my big truck like I drive my personal vehicle, or vice versa. I'd say he was right, and that I must not be the only one who chose to drive my own vehicle like I drive my big truck!
My hunband told me he's noticed a huge improvement in my "PMS" (Pi**ed Motorist Syndrome :lol: ) since I've been driving professionally.
It's good to know I'm not the only one!!

They most certainly do merge jewels..check my thread on dring a car. Some of the comments are hilarious!

BTW I love your signature!

I spend most of my time in the Arctic now, and believe me when I started that it was a lesson in fear itself! But I got over it.

One thing I live by in this industry & in life...Do the best you can with what you have to work with...& another older cliche...When the going gets tough...the tough get going!