some questions

You don't get to decide what you haul or where you go being new (other then deciding on what type of hauling you want to do .. van, reefer, tank, etc)

Having to drive 5 hours, wait 4 hours, then drive another 5 hours is not uncommon. Then again having to drive 5 hours, then sit 11 hours waiting on next load is not uncommon either.

working, not driving? 1/2 hour, 2 hours, more ... all depends on the day and circumstances

The one constant in trucking at the megas is there is nothing that can be counted on from day to day.

 

Expect 14 hour work days, if it is less, then you won't be disappointed.

 

That pretty well sums it up. 14 is the maximum legal but as you get into trucking you will find that's not always the case. Most companies are Forced Dispatch for newbies, as stated above. Most are Forced for all company drivers, even if they don't advertise it that way.

 

In simple terms, everything is a variable. You could be having a great week, then spend the better part of the next down for repairs. You'll get loads where you have to pinch every minute to make it on time, and you'll get loads where you can take it nice and easy. The latter, you'll probably find less desirable, being paid by the mile. You'll have days when you'll run all day, and go well past 14 hours between waiting and loading (especially if you do anything involving live loading, be it a van, flatbed, etc.). Don't expect constants to be the norm.

 

Often times, yes, you can.

 

Sometimes. Other times, the only notification you might get of loading time could be via CB, and there are customers who'll bump you to the back of the line if you don't give them a response, rather than sending someone to wake you up. So you have to kinda play it by ear.

 

realistically 12 to 18 hour days is my average. some are butt kickers, some are walks in the park... you do what you gotta do to get the job done

 

Once I waited all night to get loaded on 2nd shift which turned into 3rd shift which turned into day shift. I got up every 15 minutes and looked to see if they had forgotten about me. What an idiot I was. Never again.