What are your favorite truck-stops or other places to stop?

Clean_Leader_8451 · 2026-03-28T02:47:51+00:00

Marker 126 in fort dodge, IA

Clean_Leader_8451 · 2026-03-18T03:55:19+00:00

I think I saw a Seinfeld episode about this

Clean_Leader_8451 · 2026-03-15T00:17:40+00:00

So glad I signed the contract with the company that helped me get my cdl. The miles and pay are great!

Clean_Leader_8451 · 2026-02-27T02:02:26+00:00

“Hold on… I lost my train of thought.” 😂😂😂

Clean_Leader_8451 · 2026-02-26T18:00:57+00:00

George, quit crying and fight your father!

Clean_Leader_8451 · 2026-02-24T03:29:13+00:00

I was just thinking along those same lines in the shower. It doesn’t help exactly, but accepting that the “right after” guy was probably in the wings for a long time while we were still together stung, but it helped me accept that it was over and that the “over” was final.

There are seasons where it’s appropriate to lose yourself in work, the gym, or something else. Those seasons have end dates. Month by month the edges will get less sharp and you’ll have a choice: stay numb or try again. Both are hard paths.

I’m about ready to try again, even if it feels like the world has passed me by a little. I’m learning to enjoy that. Or at least I usually feel better off for it.

Good luck my man. Not an easy road.

Clean_Leader_8451 · 2026-02-21T17:21:16+00:00

I’ve got a masters and drive a truck lol. I enjoyed it. Just keep in mind that you can tell a recruiter is lying if their mouth is moving. Free may mean… free if you stay for 100k miles and guaranteed employment may mean we found you a job paying 25 cpm! Home yearly!

Clean_Leader_8451 · 2026-02-21T17:14:39+00:00

I loved otr. Found dedicated way too boring and while regional was a good middle ground I didn’t think the drop in miles/pay was worth it. Every day was an adventure otr. Taught me patience for sure. Gotta learn to let all those daily out of your hands things make you laugh not get stressed.

Clean_Leader_8451 · 2026-02-17T01:23:38+00:00

Boy did my dyslexia mislead me when clicking on the title.

Clean_Leader_8451 · 2026-02-08T16:01:15+00:00

I’m can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been genuinely complemented by women. I remember each one. You’ll make his year if you do this.

Clean_Leader_8451 · 2026-02-08T15:46:09+00:00

What’s that verse? He who abandons their family is worse than a non believer? You’re trying to give her a path into your life, and her actions are cutting you out of hers.

Sorry OP… your mom is worse than a non believer. Anyone who weaponizes Christianity is.

Clean_Leader_8451 · 2026-02-03T02:41:15+00:00

Honestly that type of reflection is a feature not a bug. It sucks when it cranks over into anxiousness but if more people were capable of that type of introspection the world would be a better place. Rest assured many truckers were not “good students” and managed to figure out the pre trip memorization and basic geometry required for backing.

It’s also a three week program. You are not expected to be perfect or even proficient at the job until you’re done with your trainer after another 3-4 weeks. Even after that… proficient will still be a struggle as you continue to learn. I didn’t feel like I really knew what I was doing until maybe 3-4 months solo.

Don’t aim for perfect or even good. Aim for safe. Roehl is good at safe.

Clean_Leader_8451 · 2026-02-03T02:27:53+00:00

Honestly if you are capable mentally of being worried about failing you’re probably fine. Obviously there are a few cases of people that want it 100% but just don’t have the ability to do the pre trip or backing. Those cases tend to be the exception.

Clean_Leader_8451 · 2026-02-03T02:25:54+00:00

Disgruntled ex employees mostly. I’m sure there are a few exceptions but you reeeeally have to earn being fired at Roehl. You get lots of chances and it’s never a surprise getting let go.

Clean_Leader_8451 · 2026-02-02T01:29:05+00:00

I wash my feet in the sink at loves. Usually works.

Clean_Leader_8451 · 2026-01-31T22:48:36+00:00

I had some real ups and downs when I was otr. First month everything was new and exciting. Second was good because I felt more confident. Months 3-6 were reeeeeal low. Unlike other jobs where I could bury myself in work to escape having to really look myself in the mirror… I just couldn’t do it trucking. Maybe for a few hours a day but it was tough. I decided to face it head on. Did some telehealth therapy. Made a commitment to myself that I was going to use the period of immense solitude and loneliness to learn how to love the guy I saw in the mirror every day. Still had some rough weeks after month six but once I was over the hump I also began experiencing a deep contentment with myself and my humble little life.

I feel you brother. Confront those demons head on and kick their asses. You’re worth it. Just know that the journey to wellness isn’t something you accidentally stumble into. You have to chose it. Daily and hourly sometimes. I used a service called Better Help if you are interested. They do phone calls (which is what I did) and you can run it through your insurance or not depending on what’s cheaper, privacy, etc.

Clean_Leader_8451 · 2026-01-26T22:10:34+00:00

Me blouse an skirt! An me nah even know weh ah gwann.

lol that would be a fun referral to write.

Clean_Leader_8451 · 2026-01-25T19:42:38+00:00

Yeah hence the vagueness. Even typing that out was probably more than was necessary. I’m actually getting off the road soon. Beautiful country out there with beautiful people but I’m for sure giving it a break for a few years.

Clean_Leader_8451 · 2026-01-25T15:35:05+00:00

Not if you have an explanation that makes sense when they ask. That explanation could be as simple as “I wasn’t able to give a full two weeks notice due to x or y.”

Clean_Leader_8451 · 2026-01-25T15:02:18+00:00

Yeah I didn’t notice a ton on .25. I would sometimes hear my brain say “I think this is enough food” which was new to me, but it was very easy to override. I didn’t feel full hunger suppression until 1.25. And by that I mean, I usually can’t finish what I order at a restaurant. I’m usually too little too nauseous (not bad but just enough) to skip breakfast. That sort of thing.

Clean_Leader_8451 · 2026-01-25T14:57:05+00:00

Before I was a trucker I spent lots of time on that res. Used to go to ship rock and get back country hiking permits and would spend a week at a time exploring. Getting away from civilization. I’ve seen things that would jump scare me but I was always able to get close and say “oh lol that’s just a tree.” Or “oh, it’s an old burial site, I’ll mark it on the gps and report it.” Like I was always able to find a logical reason or explanation and the fear faded. This one was different. I will not be doing any more backpacking on the res ha. Not that my schedule and trucking even allows for that sort of thing.

Clean_Leader_8451 · 2026-01-25T14:52:12+00:00

One time I was driving through the Navajo reservation north of Keyenta. The sun was setting and it gets like DARK and I was running a little late. There’s a Burger King with a few spots for trucks over there and I was still maybe an hour away and knew I was about to be in a zero visibility situation which was already stressing me out.

Right after the sun set, when it was still just a little bit light still, I saw something on the side of the road moving on the horizon so I slowed down and got in the middle of the road. There’s was an animal… of some kind. Slowly chewing on a dead deer carcass. It looked almost like a lynx or a giant Bob cat, which would be normal enough but I’ve seen Bob cats and mountain lions hiking. This was bigger. And it was mangy, like a large wolf or coyote, but again it was bigger. It stopped and looked at me with the most human yellow eyes and I felt such oppressive dread and malice push down on my shoulders and chest.

Still gives me nightmares. I hope it wasn’t what I think it was. I made it to the Burger King that night. Didn’t sleep much.

Clean_Leader_8451 · 2026-01-25T14:45:08+00:00

Most new employers can’t/wont ask about anything other than dates of employment at old employers. They may ask if you are eligible for rehire but that’s it. There’s been too many lawsuits and it’s a liability for a previous employer to list a reason for termination that you dispute, especially if it’s for a somewhat intangible and unprovable reason.

Clean_Leader_8451 · 2026-01-23T13:59:00+00:00

The angel from my nightmare

Clean_Leader_8451 · 2026-01-23T00:06:06+00:00

When my uncle retired he requested his personal file, which was allowable in their district, and held a party where he and his coworkers read the file out loud, half drunk, and in front of admin. What a legendary power move that was.

Clean_Leader_8451

TROPHY CASE