Back on the Road

Well it has been a year since I have been on the road as a commercial truck driver, and now I am back on the road.  It has been a long and hard year, and the return is bitter sweet.  I love the OTR lifestyle, but a part of me enjoyed the security and familarness of being in one place, and doing a daily routine that  never changed, though the bigger part of me missed doing something different every single day; going to bed somewhere I have never been, and waking up the same, just to head out to somewhere new.

This time the experience will be slightly different, as I am now doing what I call semi-team driving.  My boss, who is O/O of the truck, and leased onto a small company, also rides along, and drives, although it is mainly my job to drive.  Semi-Teaming so far seems like it will be a great way to go, you aren't under the constant stress of tight deadlines where the truck never stops moving, yet you also have someone with you, so you are not alone as you are solo.  I am hoping it will be the best of both worlds, as it so far seems to be.

This new chapter and journey in my life began yesterday at roughly 4:00pm when I stepped onto the truck. I haven't actually driven yet even though I am quite anxious to do so.   Though at the same time I am sort of glad, the load he got to pick me up is a 7 drop, 1 in Jersey City, NJ, 2 in Brooklyn, NY, and one in PA.  Upon being picked up, we camped out at the Petro in Bordentown, NJ for the night, and headed out for Brooklyn at 6:00am this morning.  We where going to do Jersey City yesterday, but the warehouse is closed for the weekend, so we are forced to sit the weekend out and wait.  It has been an interesting experience in Brooklyn today, but as I right this we are on I-278 heading out of this place, hopefully to not have to come back again.

The moment I climbed into the tractor, was the beginning of a small emotional roller coaster for myself.  At first the emotions of getting back into this industry and doing something I love to do hit me, then as I sat there looking at the controls, and watching my boss drive, a wave of minor worry hit me, "Can I still drive this thing?  Am I going to be really rusty?  Will I remember how to safely maneuver?", and a million other thoughts and questions I thought to myself.  But as the night went on, the the day progressed today, and I got more hands on, the more it felt like instinctive nature, which is reassuring to me.  As I watch him drive, I am in my imagination a step ahead doing the maneuvers, from making a turn, to accelerating up the on-ramp, and his actions pretty much reflect exactly what I imagined myself doing, so I know I will be fine, and my experience is not gone.  Like riding a bike, all you have to do is hop on one, and you will do it right without even thinking.

I am going to start off this new chapter with the knowledge of my past experiences including my mistakes, and utilizing it all to the fullest so that I may be that much more a better, safer, and more professional driver then ever before.