Advice? Don't become a trucker.

Speaking as a recent truck driving school graduate with ZERO actual company driving experience, I can say that I'm going into this industry with my eyes wide open. When my employer of 10 years decided to sell the company, we were given 3 months notice to polish our resumes and start looking for a new job. Five months later, the company has closed its doors and I still can't find an IT job or something in my former profession of hotel management. Nowadays, it seems like you had to have slept with the HR person to get them to notice your resume. For me, truck driving was definitely "Plan B".

Is it going to be easy? No. Is it going to require time away from my family? Yes. Am I going to make what I was making in IT? No. Have I got a lot to learn? YES!

My goal is to try and maintain a positive attitude, do the best I can in this industry and learn as much as I can. Hopefully, I can tough it out for at least a year and then try to find a local haul that will get me home every night.

I've got my trucking company choices narrowed down to a local NC carrier driving teams coast-to-coast 5-6 days out and Roehl. I've heard the recruiters, checked the facts online and with their actual drivers and will make my selection in the coming days. Like I said before, I'm going in with my eyes wide open and hoping for the best.

 

As long as you know what your getting into, trucking will make you a decent living. After you pay your dues. If you quit before 1 year, your done because most companys won't hire you. Get a job at the first mega carrier that will hire you and do your job and keep your mouth SHUT. Then after that 1st year you will have options as to what companys to work for that will treat/pay you like you want.

 

First rule to trucking don't be second lazy don't wreck and third don't be a cry baby.
work hard and do your job. Don't think someone else will do it for you.

 

the best advise.

 

If you don't like the job, then quit.

 

Newbies, the ones complaining are the ones that can't make a dime a home and have no choice in the matter. They are all scared of the positive people in the industry that make them look bad. Stay positive, you will do well. These people aren't truckers, just whining weenies that picked a career they could not handle.

 

Deciding to drive trucks was the best decision i have ever made. I worked for a good friend of mine for little more than a year and am now buyin my own truck. As soon as i get back from europe me and my mom are going on vacation.

 

I hear it from guys all the time crying about there job, the company, dispatchers, other drivers, the weather. Just stop and think before you open your mouth to complain. About someone or something and think am i the problem.
Just do it. When a full days work is done the you can relax.

 

The biggest mistake many make getting into trucking is that they treat it as something other than a professional job.

Trucking is one of the most demanding, and dangerous, jobs in the country. It is one of the most regulated industries, where soon you can get points on your license because the company's mechanic aimed a headlight incorrectly (I'm referring to CSA 2010). You can lose everything, including your life, because of someone else's stupidity that you ultimately get blamed for (it's always the trucker's fault, right?).

But, if you are smart, can keep your head on a swivel when it comes to your own safety, can take advantage of technologies available to cover your butt, can keep to a budget while on the road, and are willing to work much harder than most jobs, you can earn a decent living, if you're careful.

But, first and foremost, remember, this is just a job. Some make it their whole life, they pee diesel, breath exhaust, and talk like Jake brakes. If that works for you, fine. But, if you want a life, have a family you care about, have financial obligations, treat it like you would any other job, knowing full well what you are getting into before you actually get into it.

Oh, and company loyalty? Trust me, most aren't loyal to you, so keep that in mind. Even a really good company, as I've recently discovered, can turn bad with a simple change in management, turning an otherwise good job into a bad one quickly. If you treat the job as your whole life, that can be very hard to cope with. Treat it as a job, and keep your options open, and you can roll with whatever happens.

 

Try it out for yourself . Way too many bitter drivers that hate their job and scaring off newbs .

I work with drivers who talk crap all the time ,, i like my job and they hate it .