Is trucking for me?

Trucks are a great place to be antisocial and many drivers are and want only to be left alone.You not having a place to live,being unemployed,and you are already in a school I would advise you to stick it out at least long enough to meet you school commitment.Welcome to the forum you will find many in your situation posting in here.

 

I think with a positive attitude you will do just fine. If you are serious about making trucking a career stay away from the mega-companies and you won't have all the problems. A smaller company will treat you more like family instead of a number and your value as a driver will mean more to them then a mega-company just turning over new drivers to fill seats. Also look for companies that don't advertise as much. These are companies that have a lower turnover rate which in turn means their drivers are happier working there. The first three months are going to be tough on you because you are not just getting used to driving and your new career but a new lifestyle. If you can push through the first few months it should be a breeze afterwards. Also here is a big secret and don't tell anyone, but if you brown-nose your dispatcher chances are you will succeed. Throw a fit after you get off the phone with them! Good luck!

 

Welcome, might sound funny but trucking could help your social life out. Meet new people in new locations every day and learn. Customers can judge but you will be tired or just want to hit the road you find yourself being friendly and nice causing the ice to break, atleast that was my method and seen jerks get put in back of the line. Also you find yourself in challenges with dispatchers and you have to be firm but not irate. Just stick with the facts and you can call customers at times to say sorry or will be early. Also you will eat out a lot and I am always nice to the person that handles my food behind closed doors. Good luck.

 

HI Knightlock!! Welcome to TTR!! great place for information, opinions and lively discussion and some good laughs!

There are some great threads on here with people going thru what you are right now! In this section, ''help a trucker wannabee out'' and another thread not sure of the name but the thread starter is Cage. ( you can search for posts/threads using the search function up top)

good luck and welcome again!!!!

 

Trucking is for you and what you heard isn't true of all companies. You can get home every other week with many many companies, no problem. Many single guys with nothing to go home to choose to stay out longer because the good loads take them far from home and they can make more money that way. There are as many different deals as there are companies,,,ask around your area about what to expect from the companies you're looking at...you might be surprised. Also, look at the big picture, not just the mileage pay...there are a lot of factors such as where you'll drive, how long it takes to load, and what shape the equipment is in; look at what other drivers are averaging for the entire year. You sound like you were born for trucking.

 

Good advice there!

 

Ever read "the Odyssey?" Like it? Ever been in the military? Single? You'll love it!

 

Loner? Don't like people or crowds. You sure your not the uni-bomber?