 |
| Off to meet the Ex |
My main plan going into trucking was to be able to have solid proof of a job when applying for mortgage for my first American house. After a year as a truck driver, I contacted the bank. I had saved up some money for down payment. The world was locked, pandemic life! The bank person may have been in her pyjamas and Hello Kitty booties at home. Not that that should make any difference in my experience but the thought! When I called the bank, the machine told me that they were only handling emergency calls over the phone; to go onto their website. I did. There was a form to fill out, which I did and within no time, someone called me. The lady sounded like she couldn't wait to get off that call, from jump! I found myself talking fast, trying to get all my questions in. All she cared about was how long I had been in this line of work (trucking) for. When I told her, a little more than a year, she told me they were going to need taxes for two years; to call them then. She wasn't going to discuss anything else I may have wanted to know, regardless of whatever the f*ck. I thanked her for her time and cussed the Corona Virus. I could've just walked into a branch and talked to someone who wasn't going to have the option to hang up on me. Alas!
One more year to go before I can qualify to buy myself a slice of the American pie! Some people who own house already, told me that I needed to make more phone calls. There would be other people or banks out there who would grant my wish. I didn't have to wait two one more year. They also told me that some people might be happy I have a don payment already; some may charge me more interest because of the one year / two years thing. Listen, what do I know? I may have dabbled in property purchasing in the past, but that was a long time ago!
Onto one of my plans! I had been calling recruitment often from the time I hit 9 months or so. I already did qualify for the regional account positions. I would find out what they had. They didn't sound great to me. They would either have low mileage (I got paid per mile), or they would be strictly in snowy areas. No mam, Pam! Some of these positions would be touch freight. Meaning, I would just have to open up the trailer doors and bump the doc. I would have to run up the stairs, into the warehouse, grab a pallet jack and unload my own trailer. No, Sir! We weren't doing that!
Eventually, I got a call from a regional manager of the company. First of all, let me just address your question. I didn't apply to other companies for regional jobs because I guess I was comfortable in my uncomfortable place! Ok? There! The manager did an interview with me and then told me she was going to need to do another one in person. Alright! Relax lady! This is just a truck driving job! What's with the formalities? Anyway, sure! I'd love that! I told her! She sounded very matter of fact, she either didn't get a joke, wasn't here for it, or just is a meanie at heart. Or maybe we just didn't click! I was shocked that I had been applying with the company for so long and here was a manager calling me out of the clear blue sky! Things are coming together. This gig was going to be mine. Why wouldn't I bag it? I wanted to share the exciting news but it may have been prematurely.
The new manager was tracking my location, to see when we would be able to meet up. I would also call her if there were changes during my trip. The trucks and trailers have GPS units. They also have cameras. If you're lucky, you work for a company that has a camera that's facing inside the truck, i.e, facing you and one that's facing the road. Good luck with that. Ours were facing outwards only. If it's dark out and you think you're going to be on social media while driving, the reflection of your screen will be caught on the windshield and will ricochet back to the camera, thereby ratting you all the way out! Don't have an accident in the middle of this because, well, you guessed it!
When I was close to Southern California, I couldn't hold the excitement in any longer! I told my sister about the prospective job opportunity. She wished me well. I also told Derrick, he and I were talking, and he lives down the road from the company yard. When I got to tow, I told Derrick. I missed the times when I had someone to talk to about my day, when I used to open up my location randomly for him to see where I was and where I was headed. I wouldn't always tell him, so he would sometimes miss it. I would only open it up for a short amount of time. I taught him quite a few things about these kinds of things. I was also his first facetime, etc. You're welcome, D!
I parked my truck at the yard, thinking to myself, wow! This might just be the last time I park here as reporting to this terminal. My manager at the time was so supportive. I really think he had a lot to do with my getting that job. In fact, I think the lady whose office I was crying in in Salt lake, is the one who really started the ball rolling, I believe. I don't think they took me seriously until that day. Also, maybe they didn't really know how I felt cos I had blocked my manager's number for more than 6 months by then. He could text me, write me on the company machine that's in the truck but no phone calls. He had blown his chance. I don't play when it comes to that kind of stuff. Everybody stands a chance to get blocked if they f*ck up! I don't care if you're the Prime Minister of the universe! Funny thing is, when we did see each other in person, my manager and I had a good rapport. Weird, huh? Welcome to trucking! Where nothing is as it seems!
After parking, I went in, took a shower, a selfie. Derrick had asked to see me when he found out I was back. I was like, sure, why not? He picked me up! This was not a thing! I used to drive myself when we were together. Now, I get picked up? Who dis?
@BabalwaBrook on all social #TruckerBRook
Youtube.com/babalwabrook please subscribe there, I need yall!
Thanks for stopping by!
No comments:
Post a Comment