Help a trucker wannabe out!

This is coming from a wife of a trucker. My husband has been a trucker for 4 years, after 11 years in the Military. He was never home while in the Military. The first company he worked for paid for his schooling, and he was home for most weekends. When the housing market died we could no longer handle the low paychecks. He went and worked for a company pulling a reefer, he is home 2-4 days a month. It sucks..but he has done what he has had to do to support his family. He is now trying to get on w/ a company where he will be home most weekends. He did the last 2 years w/only being home the 2-4 days a month. It did put a strain on our marriage..but we have worked through it. The trucking lifestyle is much like the Military...do what your told..and do it right. This profession has done a decent job supporting our family. Some paychecks are better than others....and benefits have been decent w/ both companies. Good luck to you in school!!! Your family will adjust. It stinks when he misses the things at school, or isnt home for anniversaries. He hasnt missed a holiday home yet..which is more than I can say with the Military! ..Good luck to you and your family!

 

I can't speak for others, but as long as I can take my soon-to-be wife on the road with me then I don't have a problem being away from home. There are no kids involved at this point. And if kids do come along, then by the time they arrive I hope to either have enough experience where I can apply for something regional or local with more home time. Hope this is not wishful thinking, but from what I've read on this forum that seems very doable.

 

I'd say it's very doable right now. But what about 2 or 3 years from now? Do you think the economy is going to get better? How? Every day 4,000 Mexicans (and don't anybody get bent out of shape, because Mexicans are fine with me) come to take all the backup jobs in the economy--restaurants, landscaping, cleaning, hotels, department stores, etc. Has Obama unleashed the Mexican trucks on the U.S. yet? I heard that he has. AND, everyday probably hundreds if not thousands of jobs depart the U.S. for Mexico, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and even Africa--especially jobs that can be moved by 1's and 0's. There is still a huge glut of unsold and even shadow inventory houses that haven't been sold. Commercial real estate is not building. Our debt goes up by 1.5 trillion dollars every year thanks to boy wonder and his liberal friends. Can't say the republicans are much better though honestly. Can't see it stopping anytime soon. The feds are printing money like crazy for bailouts. Fanny and Freddie seem to need another 300 billion or so every year. I'm not trying to be a pessimist because if you believe in the Lord He is greater than the economy. But, we are part of it, and tell me how do you see it recovering? Maybe it will.

 

There aren't many choices left as far as jobs go. I'm in this position because my job was outsourced 9 years ago and couldn't find another (I was a software engineer). I looked and applied to place ALL OVER the USA, and not one interview. This happened to the vast majority of people in this field as well, not just me. Before that manufacturing was sent overseas, and who knows what else. As someone said, pretty soon we'll be a country of only CEOs and janitors. I really don't see ianything improving anytime soon no matter who is in office, but I think at least trucking can't be outsourced and it'll be a viable profession in my lifetime (I'm pushing 50). I'm just hoping to save a little money and hope social security will still be around in 10 years. My wife is Mexican, so we'll probably retire to Mexico where it's a lot cheaper. I have a strong Christian faith, but I don't think the Lord has anything to do with our problems. Both the democrats and republicans have created this mess...they're both just puppets of corporate America who don't give a #### about the average American.

 

WheW!
Man-0-Man, I gotta rethink the advice I've been giving wannaBees and newBees. For years I've recommended that they grab a snack and commence readin', but after readin' this thread from the beginning, I bet I've gained 5 pounds from snacks I've consumed.

My only regret, if it can be considered that, is that I wasn't aboard from the beginning. But after readin' it all, I see you've been receiving very good advice from those who have. That doesn't surprise me though, actually, that's typical for this site. I don't think you'll find a better group of posters anxious to assist those interested in the Big truck truckin' industry ANYwhere on the internet. And you, Open Road Guy, are several rungs above the average wannaBees that we see here.

Reading your comments brings back memories of myself when I first decided to ignore the nay-sayers and roll the dice. What many expressed as unattractive about the industry, actually appealed to me.
Solitary confinement, with a view --- is how one person described it.
Always goin' to sleep and/or wakin' up in a different place.
Drivin' for hours at a stretch. Never knowin' what's coming next.
Sleeping in a 'box' behind the driver's seat. Putting up with unforeseen obstacles, like weather, traffic, and/or long waits to be loaded or unloaded, --- are just a few examples.

However, after all was said and done, my biggest regret is that I didn't ignore those I allowed to influence my desire to drive a Big truck sooner. Big truck truckin' fit me like a glove and I enjoyed the lifestyle.

I started with Schneider. I didn't follow the herd lookin' to hire on with the first bottom-feeder company that would hire them. Instead I aimed for the better company to start with with the intention of remaining with that better company for a few years, building up seniority as I climbed up the pay scale ladder. As a result, doors opened for me as I proved my abilities and desire to be the best of the best. Those efforts don't go unnoticed in the front offices.

Get to know your dispatcher(s). NEVER leave a bad taste in your dispatcher's mouth. A dispatcher can make or break a driver. I held complaints in check, and only mentioned what was bad about dawg loads so my dispatcher was aware of the conditions for future reference. When dispatched on gravy runs, or otherwise memorable assignments, I thanked dispatch. I also sent dispatchers postcards from time to time.
One one occasion, time permitted a little exploring and I found myself at a bar --- Cheers, --- yup, same one featured on TV. I bought a souvenir glass, empty of course, for my dispatcher, not knowing that she had a collection of shot glasses, etc., from various bars, or that her favorite TV program was Cheers. When I gave her the glass, it brought tears to her eyes. I thought I screwed up. Then I learned they were happy tears.
Imagine that.

Some might consider that to be brown-nosing to receive preferential treatment. Many say they'd never do that and consider spending money out of pocket to be a waste of their money. Usually those are the same one's who seem to always be complaining about SOMEthing or another.
Go figure.

Some drivers prefer to remain under the radar. Not me. I want to be noticed and recognized. I don't put forth an effort to go unnoticed. When dispatched, I want my dispatcher to be able to relax, knowing I'll git-'er-dun. If any problem(s) arise, I don't just pass it off to whomever handles problems, I stay involved, -- often solving problems myself with minimal assistance. Thinking is a big part of Big truck truck drivin'. It's been my experience that those capable of thinkin' outside the lines, tend to go farther, faster, than those who leave the thinkin' to someone, ANYone else.

And that's where I see you excelling OR Guy. You're not only a 'do-er', you're a thinker. For that reason, I think your chances of achieving your desire are much better than the average wannaBee. The better Big truck truckin' companies are gonna be interested in you, mark my words. If you can arrange a face-to-face with a better company, and sell yourself like I know you can, those companies can make exceptions to their rules. You're what better companies want hire and retain. Bottom feeder companies fear thinkers, and hire those that the better companies reject.

Job-hoppers are unpopular. What amazes me is how some folks will job-hop from one bottom feeder to another bottom feeder, --- in essence, doin' the same thing over and over and over, expecting different results. And complain when they discover it's the same ol' -- same ol' --- just a different color Big truck. I doubt they even consider that by job-hoppin' they're jeopardizing their chances of being hired by the better companies. Then again, some haven't a clue what makes a company better, and would probably complain if they were hanged with a new rope. Constantly singin' another somebody done me wrong song, never satisfied, --- unless complaining satisfies them.

Uppermost, maintain a good attitude. It's not uncommon for attitude to outweigh aptitude. Good attitudes tend to learn and as a result, aptitudes improve. Companies know that. When you're dealt sour lemons, forgo the whinin' and add sugar and water to the sour lemons and serve it over ice. Lemonade is more refreshing than whine.

Your enthusiasm is refreshing and your determination is commendable. I can't imagine you not succeeding. It sounds like you have the right frame of mind to appreciate what Big truck truckin' has to offer. I think you'll discover more good than not so good, and you're intelligent enough to make things happen that could improve what needs improving. Communication is paramount, and the key to doors of opportunity. When a driver suggests ways to improve situations, thereby making things go smoother, EVERYone benefits.
It's said that the squeaking wheel gets the grease, that ain't so in the Big truck truckin' industry. There, the squeaking wheel gets replaced. If y'all aren't part of the solution, by golly, y'all are part of the problem. Don't be afraid to demonstrate your IQ. It can take you places others will never see, or imagine even exist.

Use the first few years listening and looking for opportunities. Keep an open mind, know what you want and what you'll accept. Ask questions when you see something that interests you. I'm thinkin' a high-value pad-wrap division or electronics exhibit gig would be right up your alley. Much better pay, much better workin' conditions. The companies that haul expensive automobiles in enclosed trailers is another possibility. It takes a special breed of Big truck trucker to handle haulin' million dollar freight. Failure is not an option. Those who can handle that program are very well compensated for their above average capabilities.
IMO, that's where you belong.
The cream of the crop.
I believe you can do it.

That being said, I look forward to following your adventures on your way to success. I'm thinkin' this thread should be required reading for ANYone even remotely interested in joining the Big truck truckin' industry, as well as those who are just curious. An outstanding commentary and very interesting, enjoyable and educational read.
I appreciate that.
Thanx!

 

Very interesting read Rayodeluz. At least you have a plan. Your story about looking for another job is amazing, but often repeated I'm sure. Those of us in our 50s grew up in some wonderful times in America--the late 60s and 70s. No matter what happens in your future career in trucking, I pray you find yourself in God's will no matter what, and I wish you all the best.