Quote:
Originally Posted by jeff1981
Hope you'll redo it- i'm sure you've got an interesting story.
Not as interesting as some I've read so far...in fact, it sounds bragadocious. But, facts are facts.
I've never had a problem getting or holding a (good) job. I'm what you would call an "employer's dream." An above average high school grade record, some college, and the ability to ACE any kind of "aptitude test." Philip Morris passed over several thousand applications on file to call ME to offer me a job shortly after I returned to NC from CO.
I had my choice of "specialties" in the A.F. when I enlisted.
I quit Philip Morris to start my own business, which lasted about 10 years until the big box stores like Office Depot, and the "throw away" mentality of our current business society, pretty much put me out of business. I stayed til' the last dog was hung, cuz that's the way I roll.... but, I finally closed my doors and am just about to pay off my losses.
It was for the 4 years after this, that I happily worked for Onstar, making $11-12 an hour plus overtime... with health insurance... and EXCELLED in my job because of my knowledge of the highway and interstate systems and GEOGRAPHY of this great nation. Another company bought out the contract, decided to fire the higher earners and hire "newbies" with no experience in "routing" at less than MY starting wage was, and my days were numbered.
So, I went back to the State Employment agency (and my Veteran's assistant,) and learned about the Workforce Investment ACT (WIA) started by Clinton to get people into NEW jobs (or schools) when there were no jobs in their area for their "trained specialty."
There were very few jobs for gov't trained intelligence analysts in my area, so... I took them up on their offer. [I could have opted for more school time to finish my degree.] There was a deeply rooted appreciation of big trucks, and a desire for the gypsy lifestyle... and it was a perfect match.
Even with a few black marks on my MVR, I was able to get a job right out of school. Since I aced every test, this should be expected. haha... I even argued with the instructor and administration of the school over one of the test questions.... the only one they said I was wrong about.... and won my case. They corrected their "scoring template" but never gave me back the points they deducted.
Driving a truck comes/came as natural to me as anything and everything in my life. I had a "white knuckle" moment the first time I took the wheel, but it soon passed, and I have been in confident control ever since.
No, I didn't grow up on a farm driving tractors and trucks. I certainly never worked as a mechanic or truck washer... tho I did a few months as a warehouse loader/unloader with a powerjack.
Once I decided to be a truck DRIVER.... I went to school to get my CDL... and never looked back.
I used to suffer from depression. I took lots of pills with little results. OTR [team] truck driving has cured my depression. CAD (and the brotherhood I've found here,) has fed my need for intellectual stimulation. I'm about as happy as I can BE... in the trucking industry.
Heck... I can even put up with twilight and hoggie these days.
:lol::lol::lol: