I've not replied or posted in some time now... as my life has had some major changes in the last few years.
Born in North Tarrytown, NY (Aka Sleepy Hollow), then moved to South FL when I was 5. Thru school I had bought sold and repaired bicycles.
When I got out of HS in '96, I continued to load/unload trucks at a grocery store... unloading everything from every department. And usually loading bales of cardboard back on empty dry vans.
I bought an old Chevy Suburban. While I continued at the grocery store, I began to do PT work in construction as a laborer and then moved up to a "carpenters helper" in a labor hall in South FL. I got the idea from my barber at the time to use my truck to help people move, and he suggested I start by marketing towards consignment stores... $20 per hour with most moves taking under 2 hours. "if it fits in my truck, I'll move it"... I still have that truck, though she doesn't do near as much hauling as she used to do - but still will if needed.
I left construction work after a garage door spring tried to remove my left thumb. 7 weeks in a cast and then then 3 months of intense hand therapy (for both hands) I had regained over 85% use of my left thumb back. It tells me the weather now, and probably always will.
I then worked as a delivery driver and maintenance man for 18 retail stores of... artificial flowers/plants/trees. I drove all over FL with 2 different box trucks. One was a little cabover mitsubishi with a 16 foot box and a rather roomy cab. The other was a large Chevy truck with a 26 foot box on it. I left there because I wanted more...
I went into the tour bus industry. How? Well, a girlfriend at the time who's father was in the travel business knew some people who knew some people at a charter bus fleet in South FL. She said radio, but I said No, then they can change the station... atleast on a bus I got a "captive" audience. I got the opportunity to travel extensively, and I took it. I loved it! and Still do. Free hotel rooms, free dry cleaning, many free meals, plus tips. Color me gone! Not to mention I get paid to see what many have to take time off to see.
I moved north, up into central FL, where I began to dabble in the private bus business, and still do once ina blue moon. Private busses are a blast, always a story to tell when u end a trip with a private bus.
Driving busses alone, I've seen over 35 states and driven Ontario and Quebec extensively,... 48 with trucks and busses combined. I've driven thru and/or to nearly every major US City commercially.
I went into Expediting briefly driving for an O/O who shafted me, and my stories of that are here on EO in the archives and worth the read for newbies. Generally speaking, I enjoyed expedited freight, and the particular rig that I did it in. However, after that experience I decided to go back to bus work. I did drive taxi's briefly, about a month... it was... interesting and very Very Educational at the same time.
Driving busses back in FL, then I moved up to upstate SC to drive busses... just for a change. Then some lady named Katrina came along. WOW!
Katrina is a great name, but it was a terrible storm. I moved power lineman in and out of the Biloxi area after that. I was supposed to be doing multi-day sightseeing tours of Bilioxi and New Orleans area... but the storms of that year changed the SE tour bus industry for months to come. FL trips were also cancelled due to fear of another hurricane. Casino trips to Bilixo? why? they weren't there anymore.
I held my Class B with P and T and H endorsements for many years, it was time to go to my class A. I went to Swift. Don't do that.
Swift offered to train me. That was cool. I moved to TN for a month. Gave up my B, got my A permit. Lost my HazMat in the process due to me going to another state and surrending my CDL. I got my A license thru their Memphis area CDL school that was run thru Swift.
Went thru 2 trainers, 1st one was a nutcase simply put. 2nd trainer is a person I'd trust with anybody life anywhere. And he was a former tow truck driver only in his 40's. I stay in touch with him to this day. I went back to FL, not SC. Driving for Swift out of their Ocala, FL terminal.
Swift took me thru 37 states with 53' Dry Vans, and Refrigerated trailers. I even got to their HQ's terminal in Arizona... which I can only describe as Disney Land for Swift Drivers.
I got out of Swift due to not making much money... imagine that!?
That was really the only reason. I had a great truck with a horrible dispatcher.
Busses again. Volunteer Fire Fighter, Then Concrete trucks. Concrete trucks are a beast all onto themselves. Rather amazing when you think about it, that a loaded mixer is about 75 thousand pounds.
You have to have 4 axles down on anything over 3 tons of mud onboard. They seem to crawl over nearly anything and have an amazing tolerance of mud, sand, and water. Even steep grades. Nothing like staring at the blue sky pouring concrete, with a lake behind you...
I now tell people I will drive anything anywhere in any weather. I've driven busses pulling trailers, dump trucks, trash trucks, clam trucks, trucks pulling trailers, various kinds of heavy equipment, and operated under some extreme conditions, esp. with busses. I've had fights break out onboard, drug dogs literally "drag" people off the busses, bouncers literally "throw" people onto the busses. I've had FBI, CIA, various PD's, and Fire personell onboard for trips and emergencies. Border Patrol too. I've endured inspections in Canada and the United States. I've hauled various kinds of freight and various kinds of people. I've met people from nearly all over the world.
My favorite place to drive? Well, it's tough to say... Except the good ole' USA.
If I haven't seen it, I've heard it, and if I haven't heard it, chances are I've seen it.
Bus work PT. Now I drive locally, with concrete mixers, busses where ever and when ever.
I'm married as of 2006. Have a house and 5 acres as of spring of 2007. Have a son as of summer 2007. And in Winter of 2009/2010 hope to have another son.
I miss trucking OTR, and do intend to return, at the least on a regionalized basis.
Oh and by the way, BigBusBob is only 33 years of age and only 180 lbs.
That's my 2 cents worth.
