The Journey North to "Big Sky" Country.

Recently, about three weeks ago if memory serves (and sometimes it doesn't, lol), myself and my co-driver Raul were eating breakfast at the local IHOP in Rock Springs, Wyoming while our boss (Steve) was explaining to us how the new driver part scanner worked and how to properly use it. During the training/brunch meeting, he began talking about new positions that will be available to all the drivers on this Dedicated Ford/GM account (based out of Denver). I made a comment about one of the accounts that will be opening up here in Rock Springs to my co-driver, but he bauked at it. I seemed to brush it off too saying something to the effect that Schneider National (the company I drive for) would have to pay me alot of money to drive a truck down a dusty, dangerous dirt road to a natural gas well site in this harsh Wyoming winter. Steve then asked me frankly if I was scared of winter driving, I replied, "Hell no, boss. I drove through a blizzard once along I-80/90 through Ohio, snow and wind don't really bother me... black ice does." With that reply, Steve then dropped the bombshell on me, "Well, good to hear that, Charles, I'll give you and your wife $5,000 to move to Billings, Montana. We recently had a team driver that quit, and leave his co-driver hanging. No one is willing to move there, citing the winters there in Montana."

Now, let me first tell you all something that I know is a misconception about Montana. If you want really harsh winters with tons of snow and impassable roads, then move to the western part of that state! The south-central area of Montana (where Billings sits) is not that bad in regards to snowfall or temperatures, and the wind is nearly non-existant (all this is according to my new co-driver, Jerry, who had lived in Billings his entire life). But alot of people have the misconception that the farther north in the country you go, the colder and more harsh the winters get. Only to learn that it's managable and their preconcieved notions where wrong. Now some states such as North Dakota, Minnesota, or Wisconsin do in fact have rather harsh, almost unbearable winters. Eastern and Northeastern Montana (close to North Dakota and the Canadian border) are desolate, wind swept, ice and snow covered areas of sheer winter hell! But where Billings is? Not so much.

So back to the story, when Steve mentioned this, I thought he was joking. Not where he said the company needed a driver (I've always loved the scenery of many areas of Montana during my few short visits there), it was the amount of money offered. "$5K!?" I laughed, "Yeah, right, Steve." But he quickly and seriously stated that he was not kidding me and that the company needs a driver there to assist in the 22 stop route (me and Raul only deliver to 9 stops on the route I'm currently on)! So I told him I'd seriously consider it after I consulted with my wife, Rhonda.
When I came home later that day I asked her a hypothectical question; stating that if she could move to a city with decent public transportation, a large LDS population, still had some of that small town hospitality (dispite being home to 100,000 people), oh, and where a temple was located would she move? Her response was an exicted "Yes!" so then I asked her, "You want to move to Billings, Montana? The company is offering me $5,000 to do it."
After we prayed sincerely to our Father in Heaven and re-adjusted the budget to see if we could survive on the current paycheck, raise a child and be able to afford all the expenses. When the answer was positive, I told Steve all systems were go!

So now we've been here twice, first weekend trip was to scout out the city and find an apartment (which we did rather successfully). The second trip is to switch my CDL from Wyoming to Montana. We've already recieved the bonus money (alittle bit less than Steve lead us to believe, but enough to move us up here) and the sisters in the Relief Society are helping my wife pack up the old apartment and get everything ready for the big day, which is Oct 17. I'm really excited about moving here, I've visited Montana several times in the past several years and I've come to truely appreciated the diverse beauty of this state. It truely offers everything in regards to outdoor activies (which Montanians swear by more than those from Wyoming, if that is even possible!), and much of the scenery in various parts of the state are truely breathtaking. Billings is also offers more in the way of healthcare, which will benefit Rhonda since she is 4 months pregnant with our first child. This city is large enough to be considered a city in my book, but small enough so as not to overwhelm me. There will be much to learn and alot to adapt to after we move here, but it is a challange that we are willing to accept and something that I believe will benefit us as a young family.