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Long time truck driver, coming off the road to work at home

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by bigdaddy, Mar 24, 2013.

  1. bigdaddy

    bigdaddy Contributing Member
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    Been an over the road trucker for 20 years and I have come home to work at home as an agent for a freight broker. It is refreshing to start something new, yet I'm a little on the nervous side. I'm not very literate with computers and it is going to be a big part of my work. Need some clutchfans luck to get me going.
     
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  2. thadeus

    thadeus Contributing Member

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    Good luck!

    Look into free online courses - you may find that many younger people these days, despite the fact that they've lived their entire lives with computers, don't really know all that much about them (they tend to just know what they need to get by with social networking, but not much beyond that - something that constantly surprises me).

    You may be using Microsoft Office, but some companies use their own software for business-related stuff. If you'll be using Microsoft Office, check out some of the "for dummies" books. You can actually pick up a LOT from things like that.

    Since most places now have the expectation that their employees will have adequate skills in these sorts of things, you'll probably have to teach yourself a lot of stuff. It's not that difficult, and you may end up knowing more than most other people - as I mentioned above, people often know just enough to do what they have to do. Having skills beyond that will help you a lot, and help you stand out.

    So, look into online courses, read the help files, get books designed for beginners, and learn as much as you can! You'll be surprised how quickly you can pick things up.
     
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  3. mvpcrossxover

    mvpcrossxover Member

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    random question


    how did you know about clutchfans? :confused:
     
  4. bigdaddy

    bigdaddy Contributing Member
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    Thadeus' I certainly appreciate the pointers. I will be using Microsoft Office and the brokerage that I'll be contracted with has software that I'll be using.
    I took typing way back in the late 70ies and I'm hoping the typing comes back to me. Again Thx
     
  5. Dairy Ashford

    Dairy Ashford Member

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    I paid a grand or so up front first week of May two years ago for a move a little after the 20th with some firm called Colonial, spent a week after the planned move day calling those bastards, who were always different people than the ****head who pitched the move and locked in the deposit; and got no feedback or substantive response of any kind. They were honest enough to refund my money, but not until after I pushed back my start date a week and dropped a used car's worth at Gallery Furniture. Try to be upfront about your route limitations and not string people along to prevent having to refund a stranded customer.
     
  6. bigdaddy

    bigdaddy Contributing Member
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    I've been a member since 2001 and I have been mostly a lurker.

    For a long time, Clutchfans was how I got all of my news about Houston sports, because on the road in different cities and states Houston sports news was not available.
     
  7. Dairy Ashford

    Dairy Ashford Member

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    Maybe get some Chuck Mangione on the hi-fi for the right ambience, put on a plaid sportcoat and a paisley tie, then it'll all come back to you.
     
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  8. rimbaud

    rimbaud Contributing Member
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    I rode with a trucker team from NYC to Houston and honestly don't know how you guys do it. The guy has been a driver for 30+ years and has been out on the road with his wife for 3 years. We talked a lot about the business but also the life and it seems pretty brutal at times with the food, the hours, the mental focus driving that long and often in crazy conditions. Tough work, man. Good luck with your new job. Computers are easy and you will get the hang of it. You are probably pretty decent with math if you are like the guy I was riding with who always had to figure out which jobs would work best per mile and all of that.
     
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  9. tmoney1101

    tmoney1101 Contributing Member

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    was it a looong ride? bet you did. bet. you. did.
     
  10. bigdaddy

    bigdaddy Contributing Member
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    Pouhe , that should do the trick, the thought made me spit the coffee out of my mouth.


    Rimbaud, It is definitely a lifestyle and culture to its own. I always had to adjust to my surroundings when I would come home after several weeks on the road.
     
  11. jocar

    jocar Member

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    Good move, I've read trucking takes a huge toll on health. Unsteady sleep, poor diet, smoking, no exercise, hemorrhoids.
     
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  12. MoonDogg

    MoonDogg Member

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    [​IMG]
     
  13. Stone Cold Hakeem

    Stone Cold Hakeem Contributing Member

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    Agree with this sentiment (at least it seems to be the case in my office).

    You might look into Lynda.com. It's online video training service that covers a wide variety of technologies, including Windows and Microsoft Office. I've used it with some of our less tech saavy employees and they love it.
     
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  14. Blake

    Blake Contributing Member

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    best of luck!
     
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  15. RocketRaccoon

    RocketRaccoon Contributing Member

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    Good luck. Wished you lived in Denton...some on-hand, neighborly help would be beneficial.

    And while I got a trucker’s attention, THANKS a gazillion times for keeping my hitchhiking ass off the road for some great rides. You guys are the kings of the road.
     
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  16. MoonDogg

    MoonDogg Member

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    <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8qgmxPb-ego?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
     
  17. RocketRaccoon

    RocketRaccoon Contributing Member

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    LOL...actually, in that sense I was the King hoboing around the country back then!
     

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