Why do you want to be a truck driver?

Did I win anything?

 

Part of the reason....

 

I could go alot faster on a 2 wheeler. But there's something special about a truck that'll stroll down the road that fast.

That was taken either in Wyoming or Texas, can't remember but I wasn't breaking the law.

 

I'm at home with a load that doesn't deliver till Monday.

Had been out for a few weeks. Sorry to hear you have injuries.

 

I moved out to indiana in 09 to drive truck and havnt looked back
alot of my family drives or did been doing it awhile now

 

I do it because I have a bit of a record and I started really hating selling cars. I've been doing it for 5 years and I love it

 

Hey, End. I've been thinking about this, so I like to answer your question. When I was 68, 3 years ago, I ran into a situation where, because of the thrice-accursed Bush and the deregulation of the mortgage industry, my retirement account and income were not sufficient to take care of my family. I'm not a lawyer, doctor, or other experienced professional with 6 figure income. I'd tried the solar business for 4 years, but it never paid much.

I've always been a gearhead, love anything that moves. Cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, planes, anything. I love to wrench, which helps. So, in Albuquerque the job market is depressed, like a lot of the people living here. I decided to get into truck driving, something I'd thought of and wanted to do for years. But, children are more important, so I found carpentry, forestry, construction to be good work. I got into the granite business and made heavy money until the Bush Ripoff. Now, I'm too old for hard physical work, so driving my truck is good.

Last, my alternatives are pathetic. I applied to Autozone and was accepted - $8/hr, 40 hrs, no overtime, no bonus, no raises. I can't live on $8/hr. I would not accept that as anything less than wage slavery. There's work as a WaMart Greeter. I don't mix well with others, so that was out.

In Albuquerque, there are two truck companies with terminals, Swift and Conway Freight. Conway had the Agility Test washed me out, went with Swift. I didn't have any problems with them. Grumpy dispatch, beat trucks, but plenty a miles at low pay. So, 13 months and 140K later, I went to Conway Truckload, knowing a lot more about it, knowing I was OK with it.

Now I have my '08 CL120, earn $5 - $6K/month discretionary income, enjoy driving, finding a way to get to shippers/consignees on time, and finding a way to enjoy the many strategies of the business. DOT and highway patrols, other trucks, stops and breaks, logging, fuel average MPG, truck maintenance, all of it is quite interesting. I can't say I love it, but will say I love what has happened to my ability to support my family, my lifestyle, and my future since I became a Commercial Vehicle Operator. Thanks again for the perceptive question. Best, J.