Here is the class that I went through with. Amazingly we all Passed!
From Left to right are:
Kris, Raak, Timm, Tim, Johnny, Jim, Bill and Jon.

Here are our instructors Dick “You’re Fired!” and Kelby “KoPla!”

I got my truck and hauled three loads so far. I got to Spokane, WA on Saturday around noon, got her cleaned up and picked up a load going to Orting, WA. Then hauled a load to Kent, WA then one to Vancouver. I am home now through Thanksgiving then hitting the road to make some money. Here is the picture of my truck. I was parked at the TA Truckstop in Northbend, WA.

Well I got my truck assignment. The only problem is that the truck is in Spokane, WA. That is about a 4 hour drive from here in Missoula. Most of the other guys got trucks out of this terminal and they were all busy cleaning and getting their “stuff” into the new rides. It was like kids with new Christmas toys and I would have been right there with them too. I just need to wait now to catch a ride with a driver going west who can drop me off at my truck. Then I can enjoy the bliss that is a new toy too. LOL

I just hope that my truck isn’t too dirty or in bad shape. I won’t have the nice repair garage there in Spokane that we have here in Missoula. I will update again after I get there and get settled in.

I have a few pictures of my classmates and will have some of my new ride. I will be posting them here as soon as I get to my home computer.

Four weeks have passed and it is getting cold here in Missoula Montana. I am glad that I have passed the tests for the CDL License and will be leaving here soon. It has been an interesting 4 weeks and I have learned so much. Talking to many other drivers who went to truck driving school somewhere other then Watkins and Shepard and most say that we here did more on the road driving in one week then they did in four. Last week we ran actual loads from here in Montana down to Salinas, CA. Can’t get much better experience then actually doing the job.

Three of us tested and passed yesterday, five more today. Looks like tonight will be time to celebrate at the local pub. The only thing left for me to do now is get all the new hire paperwork done, get my truck and get a load out of here.

Some of my friends have asked me why in the hell I decided to become a truck driver. My answer has been, “For several reasons”. If you are wondering, the first of those reasons is that I am tired of the career path I have been on since leaving Ohio. I did enjoy Operations Management back there but the last few years it has been Facilities Management. While that wasn’t too bad it was managing 25+ individuals which really isn’t my cup of tea. That and having 4 or 5 bosses dictating how we get our job done. I have always said that when I get to the point that I dread getting out of bed in the morning to go to work… it’s time to find a new job. That point came about 5 months ago. Another reason is that since being a teenager I have always thought I wanted to try this line of work.

Who knows if I will stick with this or not. Only time will tell but I do love to drive, I love seeing this wonderful country from end to end, top to bottom. The only draw-back is being away from my family quite a bit. I just hope that won’t be damaged. Again.. only time will tell but I won’t let my job hurt my family.