Why truck driving

This is a long story. Up until 1981, I was working for Schlitz Brewing Company. One of my jobs was driving tractor/trailer between their warehouse and the main brewery. Schlitz closed the doors in 1981, and I immediately started looking a truck driving job. I looked for jobs that were local, so I could be home nights and weekends. I wanted to be close to my friends, family, and my son. Well, 1981 was a bad year for employment. When 80 people showed up to apply for two jobs, I decided to change careers.

About this same time, I had purchased a Tandy Color Computer from Radio Shack. Some years earlier, I was introduced to computer programming while visiting a math teacher from high school. By the time Schlitz closed, I was getting into the process of programming. So, I decided to become a computer programmer. I went to a quickie programming school, got a diploma, and was working by the end of 1982.

In 1983, I went back to school at the local technical college. I was going for a Associate Degree in computer programming. Ten years later, I had four Associate degrees, two in programming and data processing, two in business management. All through the 1990s, I was working for Young Radiator Company, in Racine, WI. During this time, I went from a COBOL programmer, to a PC specialist, to the Novell network specialist. I also picked up an associate degree for PC Specialist, and was working on a Network Specialist degree. By 2000, the company had been sold, merged, and the employees downsized.

From 2000 until almost the end of 2004, I have been running a small business out of my home, and doing part-time, temp jobs, and teaching at the technical college, while looking for another full time job. But, most of the small jobs have slowed down, the college can't find enough work for their full time staff. and the jobs in this area are practically nonexistent. Once again, the early 2000s are bad for employment. Six associate degrees mean little when there are lots of computer people out there with bachelor degrees, or better.

So, here I was, unemployed, over fifty, less than ten years from retirement. I needed to get to work. I couldn't continue to look for a computer job that may never materialize. One company that I applied to sent me a rejection postcard. So, I applied to a company that was willing to hiring me despite my age, and was willing to train me. It is now eight weeks later, and at the time of this writing, I am waiting for my assignment to my tractor, and my start of over the road driving.

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