I have always wanted to be a trucker. As a child, then in my teens, then after the Army, then was even enrolled in a cdl school during summer break in college but then withdrew before the cdl course started. Now here I am again at 34 and a nurse for the VA. I've been on forums for years, and before that reading the trade publications. Not sure why I never just did it. The funny thing is it's always been my little secret. Never thought my parents would approve I guess, then wanted so bad to get my degree I just went to college after the Army. Now I've got a litle baby girl and a wife who smirks and makes snide comments if I mention my lifelong desire of driving a truck. No doubt I chose the wrong field. I mean there are a lot of RN jobs and they pay pretty good and the VA has great benefits. But it really is not my calling, if there is such a thing. I never liked crowds, and without wanting to sound like a jerk, I don't think I like people all that much. As you might guess, that makes nursing almost counter to my personality and above anything else it makes for an unhappy dude.

Anyway, I would just love to be a truck driver.

There's no dishonor in what you're doing now. My wife and I have a mutual friend whose husband is a nurse at Kaiser and in his "spare time" rides along as an EMT for LAFD.
You want change careers think long and hard about this. You're going to be married to that rig for days at a time.
Not saying for you not to consider trucking as an option, but it's no walk in the park.

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The trouble with the world is not that people know too little, but that they know so many things that ain't so
- Mark Twain

Are Obama, Reid, and Pelosi CARB Compliant?

There is nothing wrong with good honest hard work. Your wife should be thankful that she has a man who's willing to be a hard worker with a good paying job. If you feel that trucking is your calling look into trucking school. Some have night or weekend classes that may work around your schedule. Don't give up your dreams of being a trucker. As the saying goes "just do it!"

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It's not just a job it's a way of life

IMHO you may have some things to work out before you decide to drive off in a truck.

First, if your wife smirks and make snide comments, she probably won't be too happy if you become a driver. If you have a little baby girl, and good benifits, you might want to consider what will happen if you start a new career and the change in benifits. If you don't like crowds, well rush hour isn't really people but..... And if you wind up OTR, think of the time you may not see your little girl. Anyhow, just my thoughts. But remember, even though the grass may look greener, it might hurt crossing the fence.
Good Luck in whatever you choose!

Wilsor, i strogly agree with the above statements, this is something that you must think hard about, and then re-think it over again.
im new to the industry, only 6 months in. but my child-hood dream was to always bea trucker, and tho i have yet to earn that title, i am working hard on it,im 22, started schol when i was 20, dd 6 months, and i have landed a very very well job, crappy benifits tho, but they get better over time,
as a kid my mother always told me i was crazy, and she was never happy when ever i talkd about wanting my cdl. and she didnt stop me from gettng it, i think i have found my calling, but im still very youn, and i no that if trucking dont work out im as good as scrwed, cause i have zero interet in anything els.... dont let people hold you back, but for you its harder you shold concider your daughter in this matter more then your wife as rude as it souds, evry lil girl need a dad, " daddys lil girl " specialy when she gets older to scare all th boy friends away, if i were in yur shoes i would get a start on your cdl now whiles she's young, and that way when she gets older youll have enough experience to find a local gig where u could be home every night/day.
this is my imput... best of luck to you, and i hope all works out,i would explain this to your wife, that you need to do this now, that way when ur daugher gets older yu can be there for school events and so on.
again best of luck.

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my dream of becoming an o/o and making something of myself is starting to become nothing more then a fairytale

Definitely have several discussions with your wife before even looking into driving school or anything else. And also take some time to seriously think about those milestones you will miss with your little girl. You will be gone three weeks at a shot for the most part.

There's not a darn thing wrong with being a male nurse - I'm a gal, and you are doing something I would not be able to do. I don't deal well with needles, blood, etc, so I knew the medical field was never an option for me!

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I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was going to blame you.

Dynamite comes in small packages, Nitro comes in smaller ones, take your pick!

As everyone has said, you really need to talk to your wife extensively. This profession will put a strain on even the best of mariages. Make sure that yours will survive the transition before you make the move. Good luck.

I just wanted to tell you that i feel the same as you!! I am an LPN. I have found though that homecare is very tolerable, and much more one on one, than any other setting. I have done it for 17 years now. I was wondering if you ever thought of being a visiting nurse? I have heard that the pay is pretty good!! It is ironic, that you mentioned this, cause I to had thoughts of being a truck drver when I was in school. Sometimes life has other things in store for us, that master plan LOL!! I wish you the best of luck with whatever it is you decide to do!!




American only truck crazy girl, cause nothing else will do!!!

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Off the top of my head the 2 things that I caught was you did not know if your parents would approve and your wife makes snide remarks. Tell her that truckers make it possible for her to survive and her child to live. It sounds like you live your life by wanting to get others approval. That is no way to live a life. Now with that being said you do have a family to support and take care of. Sounds like you have a good job that is doing that. Maybe you can put off driving until a better time. It is a little rough starting off and I don't mean to imply this wrong, but it does not sound like your wife will support this move. I don't know what to tell you on that. I am thankful for my wife who is always supportive of what I do. Even tho I almost put us in the poor house in leaving my good paying job (where I was home most weekends) as a driver to trying a lease with another trucking co. Needless to say I went back to maverick where I should have stayed.

If I were you I would get a piece of paper and write down all the pro's and cons of your job and do the same with trucking. Then consider the facts and see what is best for you and your family. If you go the trucking route make sure you talk to drivers, not recruiters or schools to see how they like a certain co. Think of it as triage? If I spelled that right. As a nurse or 1st responder. Who and what needs treatment 1st and what is the best course of action to take. Go into it with that mind set and let your training help guide you as you do in normal work life. Good Luck, keep us posted.

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My childhood dream of becoming a truck driver turned into a nightmare!

Wilsor if I were you I'd change my job too if I didn't like it. But I would keep my profession and maybe look into a flight nurse or something more exciting. Or even an OR nurse so you don't have to talk with the patients since they're knocked out. Either way I do believe you'd be giving up too much to be an OTR driver. You'll most likely take a drop in pay and you'll be gone from your family alot. Just whatever you do make sure you really do your research into the change. Good luck.