Most Important Questions From New Drivers Threads

[Madame Butterfly]

Lady Dallas, Thank you so much for you response. I really appreciate it. I know the trucking business is a "hard-knock" life. You either hate it or love it. I am excited and scared all at the same time. We are anticipating the arrival of our 6th grandchild any day now. So lots going on and alot on my mind Again thank you so much for your info.

Happy Trucking!!!!

[LadyDallasDriver]

Madame Butterfly, Thank you! Its really kinda funny when you think about trucking its like a marriage. We love to hate it...lol Anyway Congrats on all your grandkids thats pretty neat! I hope one day I have one or two.. but a few years from now. Anyway as you know there are good and bad things about every single company out there its finding the better one of the bunch none are perfect but there are good starters like Covenant. They have a really nice home term. Shop, laundry, breakroom ect. I wish you luck out there and have fun!
"ITS WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT!"

[markgel43]

I just got my 1st trucking job US Express.....leave fro training on Monday 7-28.....
going to NC for Orientation....

ANY ADVICE

[InMyDreams]

So I'm new here and I'm curious how people got into the industry. I have a good job right now (pay-wise) but there is zero long-term stability. It's becoming more day-to-day than ever before. I have a dream of hitting the open road and working my ### of first for Swift then for a regional after a year or two. So here's the question: how many of you have wives who don't share this occupation of yours and how did they handle it? What's the divorce rate like in this industry? Also, at .26/mile, Swift better give you a fuel card -- how do you pay for gas?

[dreamer di giorno]

Yeah! I received the phone call this morning informing me that I got accepted into driving school and will be starting Aug 4th. That's the part I'm psyched about. I know no one here knows me so let me apologize in advance because I'm about to vent the reasons as to why I'm freaking out. First off I'm a district manager for a financial firm here in the city and absolutely love what I do, but it's taking time for my business to kick off and I need money like muy pronto. While I am dreading the conversation with my regional vice president about the fact that i'm leaving it's my clients I'm more concerned about. One more thing to the stress factor. My dad drove for over 20 years and was one of the best drivers I've ever met(little biased maybe), and I suppose I feel a little anxious about living up to that. Sounds like a bad rendition of "Giddy up, Go". Weird place for a 21 year old to be I guess. Sorry for the ranting and raving but WTH I guess it beats crying. LOL

[InMyDreams]

Well, I wish you the best of luck. It will be interesting to see how you handle turning your white collar in for a blue one. I think some of what I'm struggling with is how to break the news to my company (I am about #4 down from the top) that I am leaving do this THIS because it's something I've always wanted to do. Your clients, they'll be pissed I'm sure, but they'll manage with someone else. I think that, one thing I'm learning here is that you have to do what makes YOU happy. Otherwise, you'll kick yourself for not doing it years down the road and be filled with angst. Who wants that?

[dreamer di giorno]

Thanks Dreams! I'm much better now that I've had time to sleep on it. I think I mostly freaked because everything happened so fast. I'm not used to a quick turnaround time. Everything completely changed in a matter of 12 hours. But the fear has subsided and now I'm ready to rock it out. You're right I did struggle with how to tell them, but it's just like you said. It finally dawned on me that they were paying my bills or even worried about whether or not they got paid so I just had to make a decision and run with it. I knew I was in trouble when I've already started taking up for truck drivers in general. It's like everything else, a few rotten apples have unfortunately given the majority of drivers(that are incredible people) a bad rap.

[psychocreep]

Originally Posted by InMyDreams

So I'm new here and I'm curious how people got into the industry. I have a good job right now (pay-wise) but there is zero long-term stability. It's becoming more day-to-day than ever before. I have a dream of hitting the open road and working my ### of first for Swift then for a regional after a year or two. So here's the question: how many of you have wives who don't share this occupation of yours and how did they handle it? What's the divorce rate like in this industry? Also, at .26/mile, Swift better give you a fuel card -- how do you pay for gas?

I was in the same boat as you are. I had a great paying job, but no stability, insurance or anything like that. There's not much in the way of jobs where I live.

Of course I could've went to work for a construction job or some manufacturing/warehouse company, but I been there, and done that way too many times.... I got the idea for trucking from a temp to hire place that was looking for a truck driver.

I'm with Swift now and it's going great. I'm going to put in my time here and go O/O eventually.

Kinda funny and cool how opportunity kinda pops up and says "Do This" at all the weird and "needed" times. I think anyways.

By the way... Yes Swift gives you a comdata card.. This card is used to get fuel at approved locations while on route to your pick ups/drops.

It is also used to get paid if you don't have a checking account.

[tuckerndfw]

Originally Posted by InMyDreams

So I'm new here and I'm curious how people got into the industry. I have a good job right now (pay-wise) but there is zero long-term stability. It's becoming more day-to-day than ever before. I have a dream of hitting the open road and working my ### of first for Swift then for a regional after a year or two. So here's the question: how many of you have wives who don't share this occupation of yours and how did they handle it? What's the divorce rate like in this industry? Also, at .26/mile, Swift better give you a fuel card -- how do you pay for gas?

I've been in or around trucks my entire life so I'm not a good person to ask as to how I "got into it." I was born into it.

But, diesel fuel is referred to as "fuel," not "gas."

If you pull into a local truckstop and mention you are getting gas, other drivers may think you are having stomach problems. . .

[retiredhand]

I couldn't agree more. Believe it or not, there are trustworthy folks out there. You might have to put up with a lame company for a year or so. If you persevere and keep your record clean. You may have to put up with lean times if you don't run illegal. But just stick it out. After one year of clean legal driving i.e. no tickets or accidents, you have the upper hand. One year experience and a clean record open alot of doors and increase your potential for improving your quality of life. If a dispatcher asks you to break the law. Say I drive legal and thats it. If you sit me then you sit me. Sitting is better than getting in an accident with an overweight load or running over hours. Better days could be ahead for you. Two years from now you could be flying down 80 accross Nevada at night in a Big Pete 379 EXH with a 550 Cat doing 75 Mph thinking about those fools you started out with and you'll laugh and say thank God I'm here and not there. That was my experience. Anyway keep rollin.