Does anyone like their job?

Most truckers that are unhappy, are unhappy because of pay. Plan well and the trucking career can provide a good paycheck and job satisfaction. Don't take the first job offer which is usually from a mega-refrigerated carrrier that's churning through a thousand drivers a week due to low pay. Go to a good CDL school that's at least 160 hrs. or longer such as a community college program. Get all the endorsements, TWIC, passport for the better paying jobs.

If you decide to stay in the medical field, check the Sealift Command website. Travel the world as a seaman and retire in 20 years. There'a short film about those jobs on the website.

 

I pull a reefer OTR and there are days when it's like I am on a vacation. My company gives me a 2000 mile trip with plenty of time to make delivery so I can plan it out and run it the way I want. That's the good side. BUT....there's the dark side: 2 am appointment times, rude security guards, rude shippers and receivers, lack of sleep, the HOS rules which a lot of times take the power of choice away from the driver, add to his/her stress, and go against common sense, pushy dispatchers (see the viral video "the ugly side of trucking" on youtube), 4 wheelers who don't know/don't care about the proper way to drive around big trucks, horrible winters, high winds, ice etc. And then there are the comforts of home you don't quite have on the road, like a grocery store down the street, a vehicle you can take anywhere , regular hours , which I assume you have at the pharmacy? I think that's what I miss the most. The hours in trucking are ######. But others on this forum might have a rosier view than me. My advice? Stick to the pharm job.

 

I love to hate trucking.

 

I love it.

 

I love being an OTR driver, sometimes it's annoying, but it's a great job. For me

 

Truck driving is a job. I like my company and love my job. Of course my dad, granddad, uncle are/were truck drivers so it's probably a family thing for me too. It has its good parts, seeing the country, all that stuff plus I have always loved big rigs. There are bad parts too, deliveries at odd hours, craptastic weather, waiting 3 hours for a tow truck to change a tire so you can get to a 4 hour delivery. Nothing else I'd rather be doing.

 

I'm an O/O and I love it. I go out when I want and earn the money. I go home and stay home when I want. I go on vacation when I want.

At first I worked my ### off to get where I am. I'm grateful for what I have now. I respect what I earned because I had to sacrifice to get it. It's worth every sweat and tear I shed in the past.

I don't really know how else to explain it.

If you love owning your own company and being the hardass that drives the truck and then switch hats and be the business man it may be what your looking for. If you can't stand being isolated or sleeping in the berth, it may not be for you.

But I like it... sometimes I feel like taking my wife and sometimes when I need some some personal space I take off by myself. I watch the movies I want when I rest and eat what I want when its time. I don't have to hear any complaints about nothing that women complain about. I love her and always look forward to seeing her when I arrive home. But I just can't be around any woman 24/7.

 

My mom had plans for me to become a doctor or bank executive like the rest of her family and all my cousins. Boy did I stray far from the pack. Ive always had a passion for trucks so I guess that made it a bit easier. It definetly has its moments but for the most part I still find it enjoyable. My advice is if you try it, stick it out for the first year even though it may leave a bad taste in your mouth. Most of the mega carrier/CDL mill starter companies leave much to be desired. Once you get over this hurtle things will become easier for you and more doors will open up. Maybe you will like over the road or maybe youll decide to go local with something like a gas hauling gig. Trucking is what you make of it. I believe many guys have a tendancy to manufacture there own problems, hence the negative threads on here. If you have common sense and find you enjoy doing it you will do fine.

 

Honesty. There's nothing like it. Thanks for yours.