Category: work and money

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Stuck Behind a School Bus – Ugh!

Now that school is back in session, my drive to work has gotten longer by at least 15 minutes in the mornings. So you would think that I should leave 15 minutes earlier and I will still get to work on time, right? Wrong! If I leave 15 minutes earlier, I end getting stuck behind a school bus. It is stop and go for a very very long time and that 15 minutes gets eaten up by the bus stopping at every corner to pick up kids. And you cannot pass the bus. There is no safe spot on my commute to pass a school bus. By the way, forget about the bus pulling over once in a while to let everyone pass – the bus driver does not give a hoot about the long line of cars behind him that can’t get by.

So now, for me to get to work on time, I have to leave my house 30 minutes earlier than I did over the summer when there were no school buses dragging down traffic. And then I end up arriving at work 15 minutes early. I sure could use that 15 minutes to sleep on some mornings. But no. I am at work early and there is no advantage to getting there early. It’s not like I can leave 15 minutes earlier or even take an extra 15 minutes longer at lunch. It is 15 minutes wasted or gifted to my boss. I’m screwed either way.

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Home Time

I am going to get some home time and the great thing about my job is I don’t have to take my home time where I actually live so I am going to go home to see my parents I have a feeling I will be using a lot of my home time to visit family I haven’t seen in a while because I don’t have to pay for the trip there now. I can’t wait to see them and they are so excited. I should get there in a couple of days I have to drop off this load and my dispatch will get me there on my next run.

I also get to catch up with some old friends while I am there and maybe even see a old girlfriend or two who know I may be able to rekindle an old flame. I have a feeling I am going to love this part of my job I have missed being able to see my family and friends more that once a year.

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Sitting

I love my new job but like all jobs some aspects are not my favorite and I hate all the waiting. I thought I would be driving most of the time but a lot of driving a truck is waiting at the shipper or waiting at the receiver or even waiting for dispatch to where I will go next. I am not very patient and I have already had to wait nine hours at a shippers to get my truck loaded I though that was outrageous I can see a couple of hours but half the day.

I have learned to try to take my break while I am doing all of this waiting. I also have to find a cheaper way to feed myself as all of you know gas station food is expensive not to mention really bad for you most of the time. All in all though I still like what I do and I love seeing this great country that I live in and all of its natural wonders I can’t wait for summer and its warm and I really get to start exploring.

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Shopping Equipment for my Truck

I have started looking for some of the things I will need when I get my own truck. After just a couple weeks of shopping at truck stops and checking the internet, I have realized just how much I am going to have to spend to get my truck where I want it. I will need a trucker’s GPS and a CB radio to start.

I have looked at a couple of the GPS units that they have at the Pilot truck stops and of all of them I am either going to go with a Cobra or a Rand McNally. I haven’t decided – I really like some features on both of them. I am kinda leaning toward the McNally, because most companies build their routes using that system, but the Cobra has some really cool features, like speed trap warnings and it also tells you what lane you need to be in and when you are on a road with a weight limit.

As far as the CB radio goes, I just want one that can be heard clear and I will have to get an antenna that reaches further that the stock one that will come on the truck I get. I am eventually going to have to get a small fridge to go in the truck and a 12 volt skillet to cook with, because all of this fast food is killing me. I love a burger as much as the next man, but nothing but fast food makes my mouth water for some vegetables (and I never thought I would say that!).

I have to get back to work – time to put the tarps on my load and it takes me a while, so better get busy.

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Homesick

I miss home, don’t get me wrong I love this job, but I miss having a reel bed and not living out of a truck stop. We spent last night watching TV in Spanish because we are on the border to Mexico and all of the stations are in Spanish. I love the travel part but you don’t think about how truckers live most of the time. I don’t know how many times I walked into a truck stop and didn’t even notice the small city of trucks parked behind them. I didn’t even notice the showers that I now know are in all of said truck stops. I can’t describe the feeling of waking up in a new city every night or not knowing where I will be when I stop the next time I need to sleep and I am still with my trainer for another two weeks I can’t tell you how small the space in the truck is with two pretty good size men trying to make room for each other. Picture two people living in a space about as big as your average bathroom, and because I am in his truck I have my bag with all my stuff that I have to sleep with on a twin size bed. I can’t wait to get my own truck and be able to personalize it, my trainer is a great guy but I would love this truck to feel more like home and maybe I won’t miss home quite as much.

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Trainer

I am so tired, I finally got the hang of sleeping while driving and let me tell you we are on the go all the time. I love this job I have already been some very cool places. One of my life long dreams was to see California and I was really lucky that my first trip was to San Francisco. I can’t get use to the eating on the road I miss my home cooked southern food already, truck stop food consists of fried food or nothing, I am afraid I will get fat so as soon as I get my own truck I will have to get me plenty of exercise tools and weights. I am really glad the guy that’s training me is really cool and laid back. He said that it helps that he already trusts me because I am a good driver, he told me most of the time it is two weeks before he can sleep with a student driving but by the second night of me driving he was snoring up a storm. That made me feel really good and I wasn’t as nervous about making a mistake after that if he trusts me why shouldn’t I trust myself. Well wouldn’t want to get in trouble my first week so I will keep you posted and every time you pass a big truck think of me.

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Get ready here I come

I am so excited I finished school and officially have a CDL. I can’t wait to get going with my trainer, I haven’t met him yet and know nothing about him so this should be interesting. I am heading to California for my first load and that’s a long way from here in Nashville. I really hope I get along with my trainer because we will be spending twenty-four hours a day seven days a week together for the next four weeks. I have everything packed just waiting for the call from him telling me when we leave. I have to be prepared for all kinds of weather so packing is a little hard. I also have to go buy some twin sheets for my bunk in the sleeper. I am so ready just want to get on the road already. I know I will miss home and I’m sure eventually it will get old but I want to travel and this just seems like a great way to see this great country I live in.

I am glad our first trip will be out west I have always wanted visit California but never had reason to, and the best part is now I will be getting paid. I just hope I can get use to sleeping while moving and the odd hours I will be keeping to make my deadlines. I really want to make a good impression, I am a really hard worker and I want them to be able to depend on me and know I can get the job done the right way and on time. I will keep you posted but for now wish me luck!

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No work some fun

I have been training and studying so hard I think it’s time for some fun so me and a couple of my friends are going out. We are going to go have a nice dinner and then go to a movie. I really want to see Zero Dark Thirty but everyone else wants to see Django Unchained so I guess that’s what we will go see. I just can’t wait for a night of nothing but fun with all my friends this may be the last time I will be able to go out like this because after school I will have at least a couple of weeks of training over the road and won’t be home for weeks or even months.

I am worried about missing my friends and family and holidays but once I get settled I will try be home for all the important things no job is worth sacrificing whats really important.

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The biggst thing on the road

I love driving something bigger then anything on the road! I had a couple of problems in the beginning but once I got the hang of it I just wanted to keep going in fact I almost missed my exit in my excitement. I did the best on the simulator even though half the people in my class have more experience than me. I can’t wait to get back in the truck but for now we are doing book work to prepare us for the written part of the test. I am nervous about that I was never very good at tests, I guess that’s why I finally quit school. I can’t wait to get out there and see all of the places I’ve always wanted to visit.

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Training School

I start my training school tommarrow and I am nervous. I have never drove anything bigger then a F150 and the only manual I have drove is a little Eclipse. I know it will take some getting use to especially when training is over and I will be on the road more than I am at home. I know my apartment is small but from what I hear the cab is about the size of a closet and when I am training it will be two of us in there talk about cramped. I at least don’t think I will have to worry about the physical exam because of all the workouts I have been doing every day because of my wrestling training.