I left home this morning knowing I'd not be back for at least 28 days... [View All]

I started my career as a long haul (OTR) truck driver this morning. It's been a crazy ride getting to this point what with schooling, taking 6 written DMV tests at once, and a "road test" first for the DMV and then for the company I'll be driving for.

Now that it's all said and done, I left home in the mountains today to drive 1.5 hours to the yard. It was snowing when I left, on top of the 2.5 feet of snow that we already had. I got up at 2, kissed my wife, and said "hasta". Oh yes and I put a card and a rose on the driver's seat of her truck. Once I reached the yard I picked up my co-driver and a loaded trailer, which we have since taken to PepsiCo in Moreno Valley. We're waiting for it to be unloaded so we can take it back to the yard, bobtail to another warehouse somewhere nearby, and begin my first long trip. We'll be going from here to Atlanta, then Boston, then Miami, then Chicago, and NYC. Beyond that I don't know... other than I have to drive 28 days or 14,000 miles, whichever comes first. By this afternoon Los Angeles will be fading in my rear-view mirror.

Thank God for laptop computers and cell phones that can be used as WiFi hotspots. No way could I be away from my wife and my dogs for this long and still stay sane.

After this first 28 day training adventure, I'll settle into a more routine 20 out/10 home schedule.

I've always wanted to be a truck driver. Circumstances dictated that I do SOMETHING for the next couple of years, and the opportunity to do this arose. So here I am.

Wish me luck.
Chris, out.