Good experiences: why SHOULD one choose trucking as a career?

I got into trucking for two reasons:

One was because I'm too messed up physically to fight fire any more and I can't stand the idea of a four-walls 9-5.

Two, because I enjoy very much the nomadic lifestyle. (Yeah, some of you will flame me for this, but it's true.) When I get home, I'm there three days and start getting itchy feet. And I can call anywhere I want to "home." It often does change. There are people I love in Oregon, California, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona, Texas and Kentucky. So....where do I want to take my home time......that's where I go.

I'm not married, my kids are grown and all my stuff is in a storage unit because I see no purpose in having a house or apartment I only see three days per month with all the bills that go with it...but I want to keep my stuff. Go figure. Typical woman.

 

The only problem tho is a lot of drivers that started; started when trucking is nothing like it is now. You can get views of drivers that have not been out that long that started, but the way everything has changed and the direction trucking is going it will be hard to get a feel for the industry.

 

You got to have some gypsy blood in you to enjoy OTR driving. The good things about it is you get to see alot of the country. The things I don't like are the sitting for hours at shippers and receivers. Sometimes I feel the world is passing me by when Im sitting in my truck on some beautiful day. but every thing is ok again when Im out on the open road, hammer down. ( if you wanna call 65 hammer down)

 

The good ?

I've managed to pay for everything I own...and then some. My wife no longer works. Although she is looking for something to occupy her time. Sitting at home is fun, but only for a very limited amount of time it seems LOL

The bad. From the OTR side of the issue.

Missed time with the family. My wife doesn't regret my choice. But she'll be the first to say, it still sucks. Don't let anyone fool you into thinking this is the perfect idea of a career move. Especially if they have a family. Younger kids don't fully understand, and teens resent the missing parent NOT being there when they need them. Phone calls will not replace a parent.

Nothing compares to getting an urgent phone call, from a panicked/terrified teen age girl at midnight....and being 400 miles from home.

Starting out is hard for everyone, as it is in any field. Low man gets the bull ####. Nuff said about that.

Trucking is not a job for the man or woman having relationship issues. They'll only get worse.

The lies...suck. NO ! You will not make $50k-$75k your first year.

 

Anyone who has endured the spirit-killing grind of a corporate cubicle job tends to see the BS associated with OTR in a different light.

Pick up and deliver on time, don't hit anything, don't tear up the equipment, keep your paperwork current/accurate/legal/etc., and that's about it. The rest is gravy. See the scenery, meet new people regularly, have mini-adventures (like heavy/spectacular weather, or see moose in the road), get the satisfaction of being around and working with equipment that few people ever mess with, and so on.

In my experience---which is four years of flatbedding---the good balances the bad pretty well... provided you are single. Big gotcha, there. lol

 

lab rat ---

A third day of orientation freakout does not bode well, but you already know that. The stress only increases for quite a while. I've seen a new driver's first time solo on LA freeways or trying to maneuver through Boston literally cause them to pull over and quit on the spot. (I was a company trainer for a while)

I doubt your friend will give it another go.

 

I think I might be able to help you out a little.. You might laugh a little too which is always a good thing.. I have to say my post pretty much has nothing to do with any of the good questions you asked but I've been driving for almost 9 years now and remember starting out.

I have no kids. I steal my neighbors for a few hours at times and return them to her all hyped up from sugar.. She has the two most adorable little girls that think it's a big vacation when they come over here to watch TV even though we have identical town homes right next to each other..lol.. I would really like to have their mom over here naked at all times but that's another story altogether..

My best friend in the world is a former girlfriend. We actually have become closer during the last few months than during the two years we dated or first year we were apart. Little does she know we're gonna get married someday whether she likes it or not. She would also like to steal the neighbors little girls. I kinda want to steal their mom - too bad she wasn't my trainer..

I used to like driving new places - now I get indigestion if I have to stray 10 feet from my usual run. If I'm not on I95 running directly to my destination I get cranky - I call my favorite former girlfriend and whine about my job. You can expect plenty of this.

I'm pretty comfortable by myself. I even annoy myself at times so I can only imagine what I do to others. My dads famous line to me, "you've been talking for twenty minutes and haven't said anything". Perhaps it's better that I spend a great deal of time just chillin by myself.

I can't say I have stress or anxiety though. Winter driving can get me at times but I just think about my neighbor or future wife that just doesn't know it yet wearing very little or nothing and all is well.

What does all this have to do with trucking? Absolutely nothing at all but that's me. I'll say this though - having a great driving job at a good company has allowed me to make and save a pile of cash while being able to afford things I want with cash. It was kinda tough starting out and I had just quit chemistry at Penn State 3 years in with excellent grades, but I'm very happy with where I'm at and would do it again. I'd be even happier if my neighbor showed up wearing a naughty Catholic school girl outfit since she's single anyway but hey, we can't have it all right..