Remember, Remember That First Post in November

The Place:  Central New Jersey
The Day:  November 5

5 Days left...

It was 60 days ago I set in motion a series of events  that have turned my same old day-to-day I've had going for 2 years upside-down.  It was actually back in June that I began thinking of seriously doing this.  I would make one final push to get a job in the industry I worked hard to get a degree for, and if I got nothing back by September 30th, I was going to take my life in a new direction.  The deadline came and passed, and I set the ball rolling on this fallback plan that had been preparing for 4 months.

With my BA in Video Game Art & Design on my desk, I applied to be an over the road truck driver for Roehl Transport.  I shed no tears, and still have no regrets.

As any OTR Truck Driver would tell you, this isn't something you jump into without careful consideration, research, and planning.   It's not even a job, really.  It's a lifestyle.
You're away from home for weeks at a time, work long hours, take showers in truck stops, feed yourself, stay fit, motivated, and live every day like a road trip.  And all the while trying to forget that most people don't get rich doing the job.  If you're one of those tough enough to hack it, then it becomes a way of life and you can say you're happy and proud to go to work every day.

This my friends, is the right lane exit at the top of your screen.  It's the direction I'm going.

Some might say I'm throwing in the towel on my prior ambitions, but really only one person in my life has called me out on it.  Trust me, I know a LOT of people.  And I'm NOT calling it quits.  I still young, I have my rig (PC), desk, programs, and a pen and paper.  I can still be a 3D Artist.

Being the introductory post I have to give a thanks to members of The Truckers Report for being an invaluable resource in this decision, both for myself as well as countless others in my boat.  A few members of my family and many family friends are now or have been truck drivers at some point, and I owe them a bunch of thanks as well.  If you're reading this, then you know who you are :)

To wrap it all up, next Friday I put an end the 31 day setback (some later post) and head out to Wisconsin to start the 3 week training course.  If I make the cut, I'm in.

You ever wonder what happens when a 23 year old computer nerd / road geek trades in his keyboard and Ford Escort for 18 wheels of steel and a new career?

Buckle up.  Welcome to First Time Freeway.