June 4th, 2001

Well I got the call today that I have to go and sign up for my funding. In Canada HRDC...human resources Canada...has funding available for changing careers. For some reason only know to ??? Each HRDC office has its own rules. The procedures are roughly the same though, although the funding rate depends on the area...????

I will speak a little Canuck here for those who are looking into going through the process in Canada. I hope you don't mind. The first thing you do is go to a HRDC office and ask for an interview about changing careers. You get to talk to an interviewer. Next you are sent to an interview at the local college office...???? After this they send you to an information class. (smile nice and nod till they talk to you and say firmly...I want to drive AZ!!....this is a key phrase) At this class you are given a list of things to do. get a drivers medical, a local police clearance, a drivers license check from DOT, a resume, a copy of your license, letters from three schools, proof of investigating employment in the trucking industry. You are also given another appointment with this office to check and see if you have everything in order....Who would have guessed? If you got it all right they send you to another appointment (of course) with someone who will talk to you about funding...(more stuff to fill out of course before you go.) If you have lived this long they will send in their recommendation for funding back to HRDC. If all is approved they will phone you in about a week to come in and sign as they did for me today...Apt Wen...of course. My school was very helpful in guiding me through this process. (I had it all done before I went and cut the process down to three weeks.) Wheww!!

I think this process is set up to train you in advance with dealing with border crossings, scales and Canadian Government process. I really do appreciate the help I am getting...full funding ($6,000)...We do pay for it as you know every time you get paid, buy anything, sell anything or save anything, so if you really want to do it bite the bullet and get back some of it.

Just because you get funding does not mean you should just take the nearest course. I really looked into it before I started the process and found out that most of the schools are not recognized as any good by the companies who hire. So pick a good one this is the one and only time you will get any training dollars.

I want to say to those who are not Canadian that I appreciate the opportunity to share this knowledge and to remind you that our taxes are extremely high and you have nothing to be jealous about.

Ok ,I will post again when I hit the school on Monday!

June 13th, 2001

Hey! I tried to put an entry on Monday and my 'puter dumped it! Oh well, I have been in school for three days now and am struggling away.

I could not have a better school and the instructors are great. I have been having a problem with getting back into learning and am glad I got a course which is six weeks long. Some schools I looked at were only 3-4 weeks.

They put me out in truck right away and some how my mind just takes a vacation when I am downshifting. I hope I can straighten this out soon. They have a shift simulator and I have been on that, it is coming ...slow. I am also doing some computer based training and it is easy to learn from. I am hoping the old brain wakes up soon, they say that I will get it. I was really not prepared with the amount of stuff there is to learn.....Wheew!

Ok, I will let you know how I am doing on Friday...

Stay safe. ..

June 14th, 2001

Whoo whooo! Finally coming together! I had a good day today and something clicked and I got "it". I am beginning to feel how this gearing feels now. I had seemed to have been beat at it yesterday and today I just relaxed and it seemed to fall in place a lot better. I even backed the trailer not too bad and did some traffic.

I was right when I thought it is not easy to learn when you are older but it sure feels good when you get it. One more day of computer stuff tomorrow and the first week is in. I thought it would never end and I would be back driving nails by next week........have a great day and be safe....

June 19th, 2001

Hi ya'll! I am still having fun with school. This week I have completed my computer based training and vortex. Today they took five us down to interport in TO to find out what they do there. We also went for a tour of the one and only Canadian Schneider National Operating Centre in Guelph Ontario. (Lovingly known as "the pumpkin patch") I really like Schneider's style and am going to apply to them.

Tomorrow we are going to Niagara Falls to tour customs. Friday I will go write my "AZ beginners license" which is what we call the written part of the testing process for our license....AZ....I think it is called something different in the states.

On Sunday we are heading out to spend the day at skid school in Michigan. Now that should be fun! I am really pleased with KRTC they have made every effort to make my learning experience a great one and adjust things to make it easy for me to learn.

I will write again as soon as I can....

Stay Safe....

Bob