thats kind of similar to what my old man used to tell me;

"make sure you that whatever you choose to do, that it will be something you will love to get up in the morning and do for the rest of your life"

Well I took this advice. A job offer came up to work for a local company in the IT department and I jumped on it. I'm home every night, I have weekends off and I make twice as much. I couldn't turn that down. I love driving trucks but OTR is not for me. My wife hated it. I hated being away from home. Oh well. I still will drive trucks again some day but it will only be a local gig. You OTR guys... especially you tanker yankers... you have my respect.

Stay safe!

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Al

Congrats Rev.....I am glad things have worked out so well!

Get out quick!? Sounds like your warning someone who's in a burning building. Trucking's not that bad. I agree, it's more of a lifestyle than a job. But it is what it is: just a job. If your married with a family; it's ok. If your single; it's better. It depends on the type of person you are.

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I'm confused? If I'm supposed to "get out quick" Why would I get "in" in the first place? Poster, (forgot handle) I can appreciate your experiences, as bad as they are, but what leads you to believe you should offer unsolicited advice to others. I mean... flip that coin. How corny would it be if someone would come here and say, " Truck driving is the best job EVER! it's al fun, games, and sweet mullah. And anybody that DOESN'T drive truck is a fool!" Of course I'm exagerating to make a point. That being... share your experience, but let others decide for themselves JMO

I have a chance to go to a swift school in missouri where they pay aeverything. I have been out of work for a year and would like toget into trucking but swift is the only one who will accept me. Any advice and would i make enough to survive or should i not even consider trucking.Roehl will take me in a year

If you are considering this industry, do it because you have an interest in it. Don't do it because of what recruiters tell you that you will be able to make.

As for making money, you can make good money doing this job if you have common sense and a good attitude.

Be prepared to go places that you have heard bad CB stories about. Just remember that the stories that you heard are usually worse than what you actually experience.

Remember that when you sign on with a company that hauls freight in 48 states, Canada, and Mexico, that you may very likely end up going to any location within the 48 states and Canada. If you become that person that complains to dispatch about not wanting to go into Canada, not wanting to take that load of produce into Key Market in Manhattan, refuse to go to certain locations period, then you will be the one that sits on the CB complaining about how your company screwed you, and how you can't make any money.

For those that don't want to go to certain places, there are jobs available that cater to that. You might not be able to land one in the beginning, but soon into your career you can move to one.

I have never really had any other job other than being in the trucking industry, I have been around this industry my entire life as I come from a family of truck drivers. I started driving trucks in the yard as a teenager, I couldn't wait for the day that I could buy my own truck. I got into it a little bit differently than most people do, as I never went to a school and I have been an owner operator nearly all of my career, so I never had to deal with some of the things that company drivers sometimes complain about.

There are times when I hate the job, like if my truck breaks down and it costs me a lot of money, tarping a load in the freezing cold, getting lost etc. But then there are days when every thing goes right and I remember why I love this job.

I do enjoy being my own boss, although there is a lot more involved with owning a truck than just driving it. I don't run nearly as hard as I used to, I rarely run more than 4 or 5 days a week, usually about 2500 miles a week. I am looking into getting a job with my own truck and be home everyday or every other day. I will always be involved in this industry in some way,

Truck driving is not for everyone. I think that a lot of people get into truck driving without knowing what they are getting into, and they realize that it is not what they expected and these are the ones that are always whining about it because after paying for their big expensive CDL training they are stuck doing something they hate.

Back when my dad started trucking, most of the drivers out there were guys who came straight off the farm and into trucking and knew a little about driving trucks, sort of like my situation, now there are a lot of people getting into it who know absolutly nothing about the industry, they have this idea that truck drivers have all kinds of fun on the road, like a paid tourist, most of the time you won't even have time to have fun.

Just as a quick addition to this thread, I work factory work right now, I bust my behind 40-50 hours a week, and I bring home about 320-400 a week, I would wet my pants for the little cash you call 800 a week, which is why I am going to get into this "lifestyle" soon, it suits me, I am a loner, no family, I am ready to make some cash and live how I want to!

I am getting into trucking because I want to, not because I have to. It's something that i've wanted to try for a long time, and now the timeing couldn't be any better. You only live once. I've been working in a factory for 30 years...since I was 19 years old... building cars. It has provided my wife and I with a very good income, and will also provide me with a decent pension. It's time to get out. I'm just tired of factory work and working with a bunch of whiners. I realize there are whiners in trucking also, but atleast I can get in my truck and move on

I've been researching the industry for a year now, so I have a pretty good idea of what to, and what not to expect. Thank God for the internet. Sites like this one and others, have provided me with a wealth of information that has really opened up my eyes, instead of going in blind. I will not be starting my trucking career for about a year, but I already have picked the company I want to drive for...Millis. They fit my criteria, and really seem like a decent company to drive for.

So that is my plan. I have my wifes and families approval and with a little luck...that PTI makes me nervous, how do you remember all that?...and the grace of God, I will be joining you all out on the road. Drive safe everyone...Dave