Anne & Craigs Great Adventure

The last few days have been amazing.  We really love our truck and we really like the company we chose to work for.  I have never backed into a a whole between two trailer before last night and it was pretty easy.  The experienced drivers we have met that have bent over backward to help us can never be thanked enough.  This is a whole new world and we still have so much to learn.  We are back at the Tunnel Hill Terminal to get a couple of small things fixed on the truck and we needed to check the weight at the scale here.  It took us a couple of attempts but we are legal for this very heavy load.  In a big rig the weight limits in most states are 12,000 pounds on the steer (front) axle, 34,000 lbs on the drive axles and 34,000 lbs on the tandem (trailer) axles and a total of 80,000 lbs gross.  You can adjust the weight on each axle by moving the axles or fifth wheel forward or back.  We are running a load that is over 78,000 gross so we had to make adjustments to stay legal.  My son took a bunch of pictures and I am posting some below also.

A few pictures.

Our new home

The Trucking Leonards

Jackson after a long night on the road

Going to show Jack the new truck

I think he likes it!

Let's run some red lights!

Our First Load

Okay as you know we got a 2012 Freightliner Cascadia that is a 10 speed. I spent 3 weeks training on an automatic truck and wasn’t sure I’d like the manual transmission. I’M IN LOVE. I won’t say there aren’t some glitches but not nearly how many I thought I would have. Yesterday Craig drove us down to Douglas Ga. We dropped our first load at Walmart and he did an amazing backing. He should get some kudos!!! We spent the night in a parking lot of a closed gas station waiting to get a new load. We got a load this morning heading to Elk GroveVillage Il. I got to drive today and it has been great. We stopped in Atlanta and Katie the AMAZING met us at a truck stop and brought me some goodies. I have the bestest friends I must say. She brought us a microwave, bedding, pillows and a bunch of baskets….. She ROCKS. Having a microwave is going to make a huge difference in what we can make in the truck. I really love our truck!!!! I can’t believe I am saying that but she is pretty HOT!!! I will fill in as we go but I just wanted to brag about our beautiful new truck. I am sure Craig will have some more to write and cover what I have missed. Did I mention I love our truck?

So, Anne finished all of her testing yesterday and they almost got done with mine.  Just ran out of time for the road test.  So this morning I was first up at 7:30.  A half hour later I was done.  Headed off to the log department to get set up for paperless logs and then to the shop to get them looking for a truck for us.  Hanging out in the lounge waiting for a truck assignment.  I think they have one here since we are a team.  We have had such a great time her, the company is great with very positive people.

We have also had quite a lot of time with Jason, Anna, Jackson and Blythe (Son, Daughter in Law and Grand kids)  What a blessing that has been.  We cannot wait to show Jack the Big Rig, he will totally think Grandpa is a rock star…..ok, maybe Grandma can be a rock star too.

As a cool side note, Jeff & Melissa, a couple we have been talking to for a number of months who drive as a team for Watkins Shepard, posted on Facebook yesterday that they were at a truck stop in Dalton GA waiting for a load assignment.  That is only 10 miles South of the USX terminal in Tunnel Hill so Anne ran down to see them and had a wonderful time.  I love how my wife makes friends everywhere she goes.  She had only been here at the terminal for a day when I arrived and she was already friends with everyone here.

We cannot wait to hit the road.

UPGRADE!!        Happy Valentine’s Day

Who would have thought three weeks would fly by but they did and today my trainer, Carl is dropping me at Tunnel Hill GA to begin the process of getting our own truck. Both Craig and I have to take some tests, pass a driving test and a couple other things along those lines. Not too worried about it…. yet. A lot has happened over the past three weeks. Had a blast most of the time. There were a few times I was ready to get out but mostly because I was tired or hungry.  I miss my family but really having a good time on the road. I must confess or Carl will tell on me. He did save me on a few occasions. Usually along the lines of going around a corner or make sure I miss something on the corner. His famous last words to me on a daily basis are WATCH your mirrors. If you turn left watch the mirror through the entire turn. I will admit there were a couple instances were I thought I’d turned wide enough just to run over the curb. Luckily that was the worst I did.

I am going to be sad saying bye to Carl. He really is an amazing trainer and a wonderful man.  I am truly blessed that he started me on my journey!! I am also so excited that it’s over and  because Wednesday Craig will be arriving in Tunnel Hill. It’s been something like 6 weeks since I’ve seen him! And we get to meet our newest and only granddaughter plus Jack, Anna and Jason too!! It’s going to be a great week.

Anne will be done on Wednesday afternoon.  I am home for a half day to get my laundry caught up and get Aleena to Verizon for her new phone.  I need to be back on the truck at 5 PM today where I will drive a full 11 hour shift to Oklahoma City which will put me over the top on hours and I have a bus ticket (glamorous, I know) from OKC to Chattanooga that gets me in early Wednesday morning.  I get the day off to meet my new grand daughter and play with my grandson Jackson.  On Thursday and Friday, Anne and I will take our upgrade tests and we should get our truck assigned on Friday.  So very excited to see my wife after 6 long weeks.  I will also finally get to see parts of the country that are NOT Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.  Of course, that probably means our first load will be to Laredo TX….but it will be with my wife in the truck!

Okay I am sitting outside a plant in McAllen Texas which is pretty far down Texas. I actually can get internet so sorry about all the posts but grab it when I can. I have one more week and will be upgrading!!! It has gone by super fast. I have over 100 hours and 4 hours of backing so pretty excited about moving forward! Craig is back on the road with his trainer so it looks like we will finish around the same time.

The title today is from driving to the plant we took veered left instead of right. Well who the heck knew there was no warning but a little further and we would have been in Mexico. I did a u turn before thank goodness and we made it safely to our stop. Now their computers are down and we are waiting and waiting and waiting. But woo hoo I have internet so I am happy.

Weather has been a little bizarre!!! I was looking forward to Laredo TX since it is usually warm. Not this morning. It was cold and our tractor was swaying from side to side in the wind. Now we are heading to Houston and deliver in the morning and then who knows where. I am still having a blast and getting more and more comfortable with this monster. I have slowed way down on curves and exits and just need a little more time with the alley docks.

I need to gush a little. I hit the jackpot with my trainer. From day one he has been awesome. He gave me half the truck for my stuff. I had heard most trainers might give you a drawer if you are lucky. He has been super patient with me. I do know I drive too fast at times and need to slow down for curves and turns but learning fast. He does call me Mario, which cracks me up. The truck is governed at 65 so it’s not like I can really speed but when you are going around a turn, 65 can be way too fast. Also depends on how much weight you have in the truck. My big concern was sleeping at night and needing a bathroom. The things I worry about I know. But he makes sure we are stopped near a restroom and makes sure I know that if I need him to walk me in, just wake him up. I haven’t needed to do that yet but it’s nice to know I can. I thought sharing a cab would be awkward with a man but he has made it really easy for me.  There is a curtain you can pull between the front seats and the sleeping area. For those of you that don’t know what the inside looks like: You have two captain chairs in front that you drive in (just like a car). Then there is a bunk with a bunk bed above. Luckily mine has a ladder which makes it easier to get up there. Then you have cupboards and drawers and nooks and crannies to put stuff. I will have to post a picture when Craig and I get our truck so you can see what I mean.

I got to meet some of Carl’s family since we took some down time in Houston where he lives. Got to do my laundry, take a nice shower, sleep in a real bed and hang with his wife who is a doll!!

Carl is an amazing trainer and I wish more trainers were like him. He knows what it is like to be a trainee and remembers. I think some forget what it was like. I have talked to a lot of the people in our training class and I think Craig and I really lucked out with our trainers. I by far!

I have not had time to write. By the end of the day I am so tired I climb in my bunk and am asleep instantly. This past few days has been a trial. We hit major bad weather and Oklahoma by far is the worst state I have ever seen regarding roads. I drove for 6 hours on total ice. We were sent on a highway instead of the interstate. It was pretty stressful. We could only drive 20-25 miles and hour. I had some pretty white knuckles but I figured if Carl (my trainer) trusted me to drive then why not.  When we got to our stop the place was closed due to the weather. We decided to call it a night and had trouble finding someplace to stop. At this point I lost count of how many cars had spun out. Carl took over and we found a Walmart and decided to be safe and get off the road. We got off the road all right. We slid right into a snow bank. I will say for Oklahomians they rock!! A couple pick up trucks tried to pull us out. In the end a monster truck got us out!! It was funny how many people had stopped to watch.  One of the men told me it’s for bragging rights. Whoever can pull out the biggest truck. Monster truck won!!! We make it in the parking lot and go into Walmart. The shelves had been picked over LOL no bread even McDonalds had a sign only wraps available. Good night sleep and we went back to our stop and I won’t go into all the details but we got our trailer and got out without getting stuck. I did get to use a porta potty that had 6 inches of snow inside.

We are in Kansas City, MO now and heading back to OK. What has been a hoot is the truck stops, they have been an absolute mess. Trucks stuck everywhere, people sliding, waiting for tow trucks….. piles of snow and slush.  I know Carl now remembers that he didn’t want to have a trainee in the winter. He calls me Mario. I have to share this because it makes me laugh. I was driving on ice and Carl says to slow it down Mario. I look at my speedometer and tell him. I’m only going 25 miles an hour. We had a laugh at that one. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to not have control of your rig and have a student in control. The only bad thing I have to say is the weather. This may be too much sharing but yesterday we had a real shower after 3 days due to many obstacles. I must say it was the best shower I’ve ever had.

I wonder if people realize the reason the shelves are empty or that McD’s doesn’t have their supplies is because trucks weren’t able to make it in! I never realized how many things I use on a daily basis are brought in by truck. Makes you think.

Wow a lot has happened in the past 5 days.  I haven’t blogged since I  haven’t had the time and honestly am absolutely exhausted at the end of the day!! Internet is not easy to come by out here unless you have one of those air cards OR want to pay at one of the truck stops. Still have to figure out what we will do but I do have my iphone but didn’t feel like typing with one finger!!!

Okay so now to update you on my life for the last five days. I must say I hit the lottery with my trainer. I was scared I was going to end up with the nightmare trainer and it couldn’t be further from the truth. Carl is my trainer. He is out of Houston TX which is the only bad thing I have to say. Just kidding. I had heard so many horrible things that I really didn’t know what to expect. He is married has 6 kids and 3 grandkids. He picked me up at my sleazy hotel (yes he agreed that is was sleazy) handed me a set of keys put me in the drivers seat. It has been a blast since. At least for me. I am having a lot of fun!! Carl has such patience and just gives me good advice and the correct way to do things. I have been in 5 states and by the end of today it will be 7. I am realizing that it starts to run together LOL. I have to think about what state I am in.

I am feeling really confident (except for alley docking but I’ll get to that later) I need to slow down on turns into truck stops and need some practice backing but that is what these 3 weeks are about.  My first stop was a ridiculous alley dock and I looked at Carl and said there is no way I am doing that. Next stop I had to try and it wasn’t a very nice dock. I did it but we won’t mention the Lexus I almost took out. Almost is the key word. It didn’t help that I had all the guys from the dock watching plus a work crew our front.  But I did it. I am really having a good time out here. Carl makes it a lot of fun! We have a lot of time to talk and thank goodness he does or it would be extremely boring. We talk a lot about our families which is nice!

There are some things I didn’t really think about. One for the ladies some of the showers are just gross. My first shower was hysterical because I didn’t want to touch the shower curtain and I didn’t’ want to use the towel they gave me. I used my own. I also didn’t’ know how to get dressed without touching the floor. LOL. What is funny is it wasn’t one of the bad showers.  I forgot my hair dryer which has been a little issue but don’t’ want to buy a new one so I’ll suffer. Carl gave me a hat to wear so it’s ok.

I am having a blast talking to people. Carl was laughing at me since people talk to us a lot. He says that he could sit there all day and no one would say a word. Guess being a female helps. I was told my first day I should be a movie star instead of a truck driver which of course made my day.  There are so many interesting things to see and the people are a hoot.  I guess I am such a newbie that everything is an adventure still even after 5 whole days LOL.

I am enjoying it way more than I thought I would. I do miss my husband, daughter and the puppies. I think Craig and I are going to have an absolute ball doing this trucking thing.

I also didn’t realize how exhausted I would be. I was worried about sleeping on a truck and would I be able to sleep. HECK YEAH!! I am so tired by the end of the day I fall asleep instantly. I didn’t think my body would hurt as much as it does. I ache all over!! Thank god for motrin is all I have to say. Your body has to adjust to this lifestyle. Yesterday while waiting for a load Carl and I went for a walk. We made a deal that we would do something for exercise every day if we can. After watching some of  the drivers walking around a truck stop makes me realize we need to stay on top of our diet and exercise LOL

Today we are heading to MS and then to TN but that might change. We started this trip in Laredo TX. One thing is out of 5 days I’ve spent 3 driving through Texas. Well it is time to hit the road. I am sure there is a bunch of things I meant to write but that will be another day.