Old guy new to trucking

What a difference a few weeks makes!

Everything I have read about what to do and not do in your first year in trucking advises to stay with your first job at least a year. Some folks apparently just don’t listen to good advice. As noted in my last post I jumped ship and last week started my new job. How many ways can I say, “Happy Camper”? 

I had two days orientation, got my truck, and headed out on my first route, round trip to Louisville. I had never been through the New River Gorge and wow is it beautiful. The WV Turnpike is not the easiest piece of road but well worth it. The drop and hook was uneventful and after an overnight at the drop lot I rolled well before sunrise for the return. The rainy frontal weather added some clouds so low that the highest hills provided a climb into them. Once clear of the gorge it was a breeze the rest of the way home.  

Monday and Tuesday this week was a run to Charlotte, over to a small town in the Sandhills of SC, and back home. Local stuff yesterday and leaving this afternoon for a repeat of the Louisville route.

The people at this company are just as welcoming and driver friendly as I expected from all references and intel. There is plenty of freight and every kind of route you might want. Driver managers ask what kind of runs you want and work to find them for you. A dedicated backhaul dispatcher finds what you need to get home. Work – life balance is not an empty euphemism here.

I was assigned a good truck. It has some miles but was detailed so that it looks like new and runs great. A fridge, inverter, and good mattress makes life on the road comfortable. If I sound like a recruiter, it’s because everything I hear from other drivers here confirms my initial experience.

Time to hit the road. Might be headed to KC Monday.