Linda gets to drive the truck for the first time on the way to orientation.  We were excited and scared to death on our way to orientation.  We were organized and ready for class and still took a lot of notes and asked a lot of questions.  Still after all that preparation that first load was frightening.    Big change from being a driver for a large over the road company to becoming a owner operator in expediting.  We learned a lot about load securement, hauling hazmat, and all about the paperwork this company wanted.  After hauling the first couple of loads we were questioning our decision of becoming team drivers in expediting.

Part 1How and Why did Bob and Linda get into Trucking?
Part 2 How we Became Truck Drivers - The Early Years
Part 3 We are off on our First Trucking Adventure
Part 4 Buying our First Freightliner and Off to Orientation
Part 5 Challenges of Buying our First Truck
 

Comments (4)

Linda Caffee

Bob and Linda started their driver careers after their children left home for college in 2000. Bob started as a driver for a large motor carrier with Linda as a rider. They decided to enter the Expedite industry as team drivers in 2005 and purchased their first Freightliner. Both, Bob and Linda have had their Class A licenses since the early 80's starting out driving in the oil field and hauling grain as fill in drivers where Bob worked as a diesel mechanic. Linda worked at the local country courthouse in data processing.

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Thank You Craig. Sometimes when we get into a unfamiliar area with Hazmat and lots of signs no trucks or no hazmat it does get stressful and I wonder why we do not look for a dedicated run... Right now there are to many favorite parts of the country we like to visit and we are not ready to give them up. I guess the excitement of seeing something new outlays the less stress of always knowing what each day will bring.

November 29, 2016 4:06:37 AM

Awesome video! Thank you. I enjoy hearing experiences getting started and I'm glad you never gave up! I also remember my first tiny load as a local driver. I was scared to death and I stayed in my local area. Sometimes I still get that feeling when working forest fires and being completely unfamiliar with the area.

November 28, 2016 8:33:11 AM

Stephen I could not agree more on having each other to lean on! Sure helps to have someone to run ideas by and to help when not able to find a location. That first load though.... It sure became real quick and that is another reason why I think a network of colleagues is necessary.

November 28, 2016 6:52:53 AM

I remember my first load.....as a solo and never did trucking before. It was not fun. At least you had each other to lean on!

November 27, 2016 11:52:51 AM