Back in November, I started working for a Propane company, and the boss asked me to get my CDL. I studied up on the book, and in January started the process of testing. I got all my tests except for my Hazardous Materials done by late January, and was told I couldn't do that test until AFTER I go and get fingerprinted. Well, because Montana supposedly only has two people in the whole state who know how to fingerprint (even though my mom works for the sheriffs department as a detention officer, and told me everybody that works in the sheriffs department knows how to do it), and that there is only 3 machines in the whole state that they can use (once again, my mom told me that they have the exact machine) AND that they are the only ones allowed to contact the FBI (again, the sheriffs department can do that), I had to take a full day off of work to drive 250 some odd miles for less than 5 minutes of finger printing, and then drive all the way back. Then, after all of that, I had to take my haz mat test 4 times because for some reason I couldn't fricken memorize all the stuff. After I finally passed it, I scheduled an appointment to take my driving test.
Little did I know that you weren't allowed to use a vehicle that hauls hazardous materials. I even told them when I scheduled the appointment that I would be driving one of the company trucks. So, in mid february, I drive down to the place after helping my boss fix every little thing wrong with the truck so it will pass the pre trip inspection, and the lady tells me I can't use it. So, my boss talks to a friend of his and asks if we can use his truck. He has a Kenworth T2000, and he said that as soon as it was back in town, we could. I called to make an appointment, and asked if I could use JUST the tractor of a tractor trailer combo for my class B, and they said that would be fine. So, once the truck was back in town (about mid march March), I scheduled another appointment for two weeks so I could practice. After me and my boss wasted about 40 hours practicing, I drive on down there and find out that they just passed a law in February saying that the testers can no longer use a tractor from a tractor trailer combo.
Finally, we are forced to rent a truck. At $80 an hour, I wasn't about to practice in it, so after I made an appointment for the final time (made sure to ask the lady on the phone what fudging color they preferred) in three weeks, I finally got to take the test. I lucked out and only had to do half a pre trip, which was perfect because I don't know anything about big rigs except for how to drive them and I aced that, along with the basic driving techniques. After the road test, she told me I passed, but told me that I needed to look in my mirrors more and to coast less (which of course I ignored, since I feel like I look in the mirrors enough, and there are a lot of hills here), and as of yesterday, I can FINALLY legally drive on my own!
The best part is I got the job through a temporary agency, and I finally built up enough hours that my boss can hire me on, which means I also get a raise! I'm also looking at getting a part time job working up in Glacier Park driving the shuttle busses (my dad used to work up there, and already talked to his old boss about it, and all I need to do is get my passenger endorsement and pass a drug test [I've had to take several within the last 6 months for some strange reason.....apparently I look like a druggy] and I got it). Since propane doesn't sell much in the summer, but booms in the winter, and since Glacier Park is closed after September, this can work out perfectly! My only regret is getting out of the carpentry trade because I do love building, but I think I will like it more now that I don't HAVE to do it.
Anyway, sorry for the novel, but I am super excited!
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