One Down...

Excellent news!

We had our pre-hire screening interview last night and everything is a go. Grey had already picked up our permit study guides so we'll be cracking the books and hopefully taking the exam this very Friday. If we succeed and can get our paperwork in, there's a good chance we'll start the training on Feb. 23rd. Apparently they are quite heavily booked right now, but she said as a pre-signed team, we'll have an easier time getting in sooner.

Melanie had some great information for us, but I worry that I should have asked her to email or fax us some of it in writing. For instance, the pay per mile is MUCH higher than I had heard other newbie drivers discussing. Also, she told us that we would likely stay East of the Mississippi and be out 21 days, home 4.

Anyway, everything is really looking up. Our Landlady is the most understanding, incredible woman and we are TRULY blessed that she is willing to work with us as we embark on this spiffy little endeavor. She was at least as excited as Grey was when we called her last night and that is such a relief. You can't even imagine. Well, perhaps you can, who am I to say?

We are presently making plans and getting our two-year-goal ready. Putting all the ducks in a line and figuring out how best to get started on our future together. Its really more exciting than just starting a new job, or driving a big rig, its like... preparing for a whole new life, a fresh start. We're almost Pumpkin Drivers, dammit!

So, the next step is getting our permits so that we can start school. Once we have that hurdle cleared, its really just a matter of passing the drug screening (not a problem for either of us), passing the physical (I'm way more worried than he is), passing the background screening (criminal and work history - both of which are fine for both of us), and then *whew* the actual schooling.

Its hard not to be super-excited and wall-bouncingly thrilled.

Meanwhile, I am contenting myself with the fact that I won't be able to adopt a dog for 2 years, but that in 2 years, if all goes well - we will be married, ready to start a family, and have a bit of savings as well.

YAY!

Only a Few Hours to Go!

Wow.

Its finally like - the day. Well, the first "big day" of a bunch of big days. This one though, is the first make or break. Grey doesn't foresee any problems and at this point, neither do I. Nonetheless, I am a little nervous. There are so many things that can go wrong in any interview and naturally, my paranoid has worked up dozens more fictional possibilities.

I am presently, however, freaking out about money and how to pull all the ends together for another month or two - until the paychecks begin to come in. Granted, we won't be making huge money or anything, but a fairly steady stream of dual-income will be so great after this crazy winter.

As I mentioned last time, we've been reading up on the ol' interwebs and finding a lot to be excited about and a lot to worry us. The hard part is trying to seperate fact from fiction, drama queens from cynical jerks, and coming to a real conclusion.

At this point, everything seems a go. The pros outweigh the cons and so we are on the proverbial highway, ready to rock out with our co-... er... rock out. Period. Tee-hee!

I'm really excited as well, about keeping this journal. I've always been a big fan of diaries and journals and having a progress-log for all our trials and tribulations will be excellent.

Pre-Admission Interview Thingy

Well, tomorrow is the actual "interview" with our recruiter. Its a phone interview, which is great for me because I have an excellent phone voice. She did not appear to see any glaring errors when reviewing our applications and Grey is certain we have nothing to worry about. The interview is really just a formality before the Orientation and testing phases.

And if all goes well with it all, we should start school in about two weeks (if I recall correctly, that is).

So naturally, being the Obsessive chica that I am, I have been doing all sorts of research and reading online. I've joined up at PumpkinDriver.com and posted a little bit. The folks there have already been a huge help with answers and what not. I also joined up at the TruckingReport forums because although they're not all about Schneider like PD.com is, it has tons of great info about the Trucking profession.

It seems like every one answer we get, another six questions pop-up in our minds. Its a crazy thing we're about to embark on, but hopefully it will be awesome!

Day... -1

This is mostly just a test post. We're not officially in (or at) the training school yet, so the ordeal has not entirely begun. But we're excited.

For now, enjoy the music stylings of a comedian on YouTube. I found him via a post on Pajiba. Grey and I laughed out loud, listening to his stuff.