Ok first thang first, How long have u wanted to drive truck (what age)?
I team with my wife and we love it for the most part.

the 3 best things we like is, the money is nice sense we dont have bills at home, seeing all the country we wouldnt get to see being at home, and meeting new people.
the 3 thangs we hate, being out for a long time when family at home is in bad health, getting bad directions and being lost for hours, and all the 4 wheelers who think they can drive but really cant
as far as the anual salary goes i dont know...
We are usely out any were from 1 month to 3 months and home from 3 days to 7 days depends on the company u work for.
It is difficult at first the driveing part is until u get the hang of maken turns with 53ft behind u, and knowen how to take turns not to fast if ur top heavy, but after u get the hang of that we think it is fun, only hard part know is backing into tight spaces.
All ur food is out of pocket to u, but alot of companys offer perdiem some big companys it is like $52/day and i know one company that pays $25/day hotels the company pays if u dont own ur truck.
the heath care is good at most company's pay increase aint the best but just remember every cent per mile adds up.
Sleepers cabs are great, i say the bigger they are the better they are
Go company with the way fuel prices are right now I know a few Owner ops that have parked there truck and went company.
No collage is needed u might want to go to a truck driveing school to get ur licence but other then that no you dont need collage, me and my with dont even have a high school diploma.

LOL. the average trucker drives for 3 years then quits. Son, get a career and stay away from these dam trucks!!!!!!!

if it wasnt for everybody else, i would love my job...hehe. too many people on the road that shouldnt/dont need to be. and for an OTR driver, 1 day home for every week out = a lonely you.

Hi Andrew! It's good to hear that you are interested in driving a big truck. I think it's great that you are weighing out your options. Being that you are only 18, I think you should get some college classes under your belt while you wait. Any type of business or money management would probably be benefitical. I think as soon as you are old enough you should make the plunge and get your CDL while you are young if that is really what you want to to. Driving a truck is a great way to see the country and get paid very well. If you do it while you're young and have yet to start a family then it's even better. My uncle drove a truck for many years. Shortly after he had his first child he decided that he wanted to be home. He stopped driving and bought a home with cash. He now has 3 children and drives some weekends for his friend that owns a company.
The possibilities are endless if you get started early. If you do take the step you will learn very quickly that driving a truck is not just a job it's a lifestyle. Being on the road for days at a time, taking a shower in truck stops and eating horrible food are just a few challenges you will have to get use to. Most companies will keep you out around 2 weeks at a time and then you'll come home for a couple days. There are some companies though that have dedicated routes. I once drove for a company and lived in the same town. I was home several nights a week and still made fairly good money. If you take care of your CDL when you get it then it will take care of you. You will always have a job waiting for you somewhere. Who knows, maybe you could drive until you are tired of it and then use your college experience to help you start your own business or trucking company.

My ONLY regret is not getting my CDL earlier in life. Good Luck to you in whatever you decide.

Andrew You asked---

What are the 3 most general "pros" or good parts of the job?
1-Seeing the country 2-Being able to use your home time in different places / towns, etc 3-Getting paid to drive!

What are the 3 most "cons" or bad parts of the job?
1-Being away from home 2-Putting up with shippers / receivers 3-Trying to find a place to park in a crowded trucking stop at night.

How much is your annual salary?
This varies from companies and how many miles you run. Most drivers make about 30-35k the first year.

How much away/home time is there?
Industry standard is one day home for each week out. This can vary from company to company. A few companies have it where you are out for 7 days and home for 7 days.

Is driving the semi truck itself difficult in any ways, or fun?
This depends on where you run. For example New York City is not designed for 53' trailers so turns are tight and the docks can be a B**** to back in to. But this can happen anywhere you go to.

Driving the truck can be fun when you're skills are getting better, such as shifting, turning, backing, etc. You don't have ti be a 'show off' trucker. Them kinda drivers are getting in to accidents and crashes cause they think there "all that and a bag of chips" and they think they own the highway and they make me nervous!

Do you get restaurant/food/gas/lodging/accommodation paid-for by the company?
Now if your truck breaks down, yes they put you up in a hotel if repair takes longer then usual. Food is pretty much paid by you. If you are driving a company truck, the company pays for the fuel. You just have to fuel it!

Are there any benefits (healthcare, pay increase, etc.)?
Most companies offer healthcare benefits and some offer 'safety' bonuses too.

Are "sleeper cabs" better than "normal cabs"?
Sleep cabs are what most OTR drivers have, Normal or 'day cabs' are usually for 'local' drivers that go home every night.

Would you recommend buying your own semi truck, or use a company one?
At this point in time, I would be a company driver.

Do you have to go to any college or anything to become a trucker?
You can go to a community college to get your CDL. This is the cheapest route to get your CDL. They have truck driving schools (or mills) They are the most expensive. And they are companies that offer CDL training, the down fall to this is you have to commit to stay with the company for a least a year.

__________________
"I’m not speeding…I’m qualifying!!!"

Do yourself a favor and go to school now. I made the mistake of taking the quick and easy route of going to work when I was your age. I started driving a dump truck at 18, didn't get a class a and go over the road until I was 22. Trucking isn't for everyone, but there is nothing wrong with it if you love it.
At 25 I finally went back to school. Let me tell you, it was the best decision I ever made. If I could go back to high school graduation day I would slap myself in the face for not signing up way back then. Granted, school isn't for everyone. If you get decent grades in school now, and you have a goal to succeed, college isn't tough at all. Worried about student loans? My education is going to cost around 40k when said and done. Just around the price of a nice used rig that is going to be worn out in a few years. The education... good forever. You need to go to [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. and fill out an application. Many folks are eligible for grants that you don't even need to pay back. After my first year of school I earned a few scholarships. I also worked as a tutor on campus and in area grade schools to help pay as I went. Both of those jobs are fit around your class schedule. Long story short, it is pretty easy to go to school if you want to. Loans don't have to be paid back until you graduate (or quit), so you are good to go.
There is a world of oppurtunity after college. After 4 years of trucking you get... more trucking. College is an experience in itself that NOBODY should go without. Just picture unlimited hot women who need help with their algebra...
With all that said, my dad has always driven a truck, and I have logged my share of miles. Not many professions that I respect more than trucking. If it is for you, then go for it. At 18, I suggest looking around a lot more before you make that choice. You have 3 years before you can even drive out of state. A few more before most companies will hire you. Live and learn a little. Go take a quarter of classes. If it isn't you, no big loss. If you don't, you may lose seven years like I did.

Me I love the job but it is like any other job it has good and bad in it. The thing I love about this job is the freedom of the road,the places you get to see,and I love to drive so it is for me. The bad is that 1. you are gone from home two to three weeks at a time but for a single person it is cool- 2. you have to deal with other drivers cars or trucks that can get old -3.it is hard to get in to the otr driving thing you have to want to do it to do it.
They are a lot of company that will train you so I would find one that will to get your CDL's. My company that I drive for has good benifits so yes you can get that stuff if you want. I would not get your owne truck for a few years that way if you don't like it after so long you will not be tied to that truck payment but if you drive for a few years and like it and you want your owne truck then go for it. I plan on getting my truck in a few years myself. You will be on your owne for food but rooms if the truck is down will be owne the company. They are a lot of good company's out there just call a lot of them and see what you lioke the best.
GOOD LUCK AND HOPE I HELPED YOU
VADER

I go along with IdahoGhost It is hard to decide what you want to do or become at 18 otr is out your too young but local jobs could help to get you some experience behind the wheel. Besides by the time your 21 you may know what you want to do. It is always a good job to fall back on in hard times. And always a need for safe and careful driver God Bless hope you find the answers you need

Ok! I have gone to college almost all of my life and worked all of my life (since age eight). It let me retire early in style and I still take classes and still work and am ready to start trucking. Business college will teach you what it takes to make a living with anything you really like to do. If you like trucking you will already know what the numbers have to look like before you try the O/O thing or some other thing.

The military is not all that bad if you know going in that they own you and do not owe you. Many of todays young people do not understand the difference. If you chose that path be prepared to work you butt off, maybe get your butt shot off, and definitely get it chewed off. Anyway not much butt left when you get out. Then be prepared to stand in line for a few months to collect any education benefit or health benefit you might deserve. (this is where your butt grows back while you wait)

My advise is to work your way through at least two years of college then look at your options. Your youth is a precious thing that doesn't come back until you are too old to enjoy it. Trucking is not going to go anywhere except up. You should be able to get that job a little further down the road if you still want it. Your education will last you for your whole life and college girls are way more fun than high school girls no matter what your age is. Heck you could ask Bill Clinton about that!

Since you are very young you could always try it and if it doesn't work out you are young enough to move on to something else

CONS

-All the rules and restrictions, as an OTR driver you may have to work 70+ hours in a week to make the same money as some one working 40-50 hours a week at a normal job, and there may be a lot of waiting time that is not paid

-It can be a very high stress job, you have a lot of responsibilities, you have to deal with customers, dispatchers who want miracles from you, bad weather, delays, lack of sleep, getting lost, driving to places you are not familiar, etc

-Not having any kind of a home life, being on the road all the time can really get to you at times

PROs
-Perfect job for people who enjoy working alone
-You can find a local job if OTR does not suit you

Some companies want you to be out 2 weeks or more, some one week, it is really up to you to figure out what you prefer,

Driving a truck isn't really difficult, backing and shifting gears is the hardest part and it takes a lot of practice, manouvering in a tight spot can be a challenge, getting lost and trying to find your way around in a city can be very nerve racking

I really don't suggest buying a truck, at least until you have been at it for several years, I own a truck and believe me nowadays with the high price of fuel and all the restricions it is hard to make a decent living out here anymore, and stay away from those company lease programs