Red Tape

Who knew there would be so much paperwork to be done to run a trucking company. Aside from the 'normal' accounting stuff - invoices, receipts, data entry - there is a seemingly endless parade of other 'stuff' to do.
Like getting insurance for me to drive - one of those catch 22 scenarios where I need experience to drive, but can't get experience without driving. Worst case is that I will have to get a job with a bigger trucking company until I get that 'good year' of experience under my belt. Collin doesn't want me to work under any other trainer, but if we let go of all the contacts we've been building for the last 3 years so both of us can work for another company, we'll have a pretty big setback on our hands. Hopefully our agent can find a company who will insure me while I run team with Collin, who has so much experience...
Then there is dealing with the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and staying out of their headlights. Trust me, you don't want to attract undue or negative attention from either of these bureaucratic bologna factories. I know they do what they do in the name of public safety, but the hoops we have to jump through borders on ridiculous. It is discouraging to think that I am (or more specifically my company is) guilty until proven innocent in the eyes of the authorities. What a drag.

Yet to Start Out - T minus 72 days

Let the countdown to departure begin. It is 72 days and counting until my (target) last day at Fall Creek Nursery (September 3). There is so much to do, that 72 days doesn't seem nearly enough. But days like today, I'd much rather be on the road already. I don't want this blog to be a laundry list of everything that needs doing, so I may not post much at all until I'm actually out there seeing this great country of ours. But inspiration struck, so I thought I'd get the groundwork started.