Training Week 2 and 3

Indiana corn fields

We are done with Weeks 2 and 3! I have been from South Carolina to Maryland, and Wisconsin to Kentucky, and Don has been all the way out to California. It has been incredibly stressful, mostly because of everything besides driving. Driving is fun - construction zones, mountains, and bad weather are exhausting, and mechanical issues, miscommunications, and rude people make the job much more difficult. But when my honey and I are back together to deal with all the frustrations, it will be so much better.

The hardest part, of course, is being apart from each other. I miss my sweetheart so much it aches. But I am thankful for long phone calls, sweet text messages, and random selfies. I keep reminding myself that it's not permanent, it's only for a couple more weeks, it's so much better than deployment, it will be amazing when we're back together. And actually it has been good for us - it has helped us strengthen our communication and get back to the basics of our relationship. It has been a good thing...but we're both ready for it to be over.

Colorado trees beginning to change colors

As for our trainers, they are both very nice people. However, they are people who are used to working alone and doing things their own way. And of course some disagreements and misunderstandings are inevitable when two complete strangers are locked into a space the size of a walk-in closet and forced to work together. In addition, unlike most jobs, you can't go home at night and come back refreshed the next day. Sleeping in the berth certainly isn't uncomfortable, but if the other person makes any movement, the whole truck moves. Suffice to say that we are getting very, very ready to be out of training and back together.

Nebraska clouds

Once we have our own truck, we will be able to find our own way of doing things. We will be able to agree on where to place our belongings in the truck, and figure out a schedule that works for us. There will still be difficult days but at least we will be able to face them together.

In the meantime, we are simply doing our best to get through one day at a time. We have learned so much about trucking - picking up loads and delivering them, and everything in between. It's difficult right now, but in the long term it will be a good thing. We just have to make it till then!

Good morning!

It's a good day to have a good day. It's a new start, it's a precious gift, it's a good morning.

Training Week 1

Wow! It has been a crazy few days! I'm currently somewhere in Maryland, and Don is somewhere in Kansas. We met up with our trainers (whom, incidentally, are both very nice people!), and have been learning a lot every day.

Sunset in South Carolina

My first day, I experienced driving with and without a trailer, as well as with an empty and with a full trailer. I drove in rain and over hills, and saw the aftermath of 2 major vehicle accidents as well as witnessed a trailer drop (falling off the truck due to being improperly hooked up). I successfully picked up and/or delivered two loads over short distances and picked up a trailer for the next day before calling it a night.

My second day was even crazier - we had to wait most of the day for repairs to be made, then when we finally got rolling we ended up in terrible weather - lightning, rolling thunder, and torrential downpours, the kind that force you to drive 20 mph in a 70mph zone because you can't see the car in front of you! It finally cleared up near sunset and I got to experience some night driving before the weather turned nasty again. In a short period of time, there was so much water on the road and the lights were gleaming off of it in just the right way that I couldn't see where my lane lines were. To make it worse, my trailer tires were slipping in the water on the road. Let's just say I was a little stressed out! I called it a night and my trainer finished driving the load in, and we got it to its destination on time the next morning.

Don's driving so far hasn't been quite so bad, but he has spent more time waiting around for loads, or waiting to drop loads off due to paperwork errors (the company's fault, not his), or waiting around for the service department to come fix a flat tire! He too has experienced some bad weather and less than ideal driving conditions.

Clouds before the storm

Backing is still difficult for me but I'm getting better with daily practice. I've learned how to deal with hills, narrow roads, and bad directions! I've been cut off by cars as well as by other truck drivers, and nearly run off the road because of drivers not paying attention.

However, in the course of the last few days, we have seen some beautiful country. We've seen sunrises and sunsets, thunderstorms and rainbows. We've seen trees and lakes and clouds and flowers and people picnicking. And driving is fun. Driving down an open road, enjoying beautiful scenery and getting the job done is fun.

This training period is not easy. Being apart from each other is difficult. Learning the ins and outs and details of driving is stressful. But when we are back together, in our own truck, it will be worth it. Until then, we will "embrace the suck"* and stay positive. This isn't forever, this too shall pass. And then I'll be back with the love of my life, doing something that we enjoy and making money at the same time! Doesn't that sound great!


*military term meaning to deal with things you don't like and keep a good attitude

Hurry Up and Wait

Three days of orientation done, and we are OFFICIALLY HIRED!!!! Feels good to have a job again!

Now we are waiting to get on the road with our trainers. Once we are with our trainers, it will be 3-4 weeks of driving with them before we can upgrade to our own truck and be back together. Unfortunately, however, we are going into a holiday weekend and the majority of experienced drivers are taking home time right now. So now it's a waiting game, dealing with doing nothing, setting us back that much farther. It's frustrating right now.

Buuuuuuuut it will all be worth it when it's over and we're back together! So in the meantime, we enjoy a few more days together and try to relax before the real fun starts...