what is the biggest reason for newbie to quit?

JMO ....... but,

In no particular order I would say - Homesickness, pay and, the shock of what living on the road is really like.


.............. Jim

 

I think most have no idea what trucking is. They have a preconceived idea of what it is. Or they rode with uncle joe or some other person when they was young. I see the posts all the time. I grew up around trucks. I have ridden with someone and feel they know trucking. That was then, this is now trucking. Most will rush in and pick a bad co. The quickest way in. The cheapest route to go usually puts you under the thumb. Trucking is stacked against the new driver anyway. Pick the wrong co and your chances of bailing increase greatly.

There are many factors for new drivers bailing. I would say that the ones that say I love to drive. I grew up around trucks. I rode with billy bob in the summer are the ones that really get the rude awakening. The others that have no idea what trucking is like seem to not have their childhood dreams crushed as bad when they end up behind the wheel solo.

 

.
Sheer terror at the thought of doing Jersey or NYC alone.

That's what got my cousin LMAO

 

The trainer.

 

I would say the lifestyle. It takes a good 3-4 months before you get used to it and get in the groove of things. Keep in mind on top of the lifestyle you are extremely fatigued and very stressed. Being by yourself all the time can wear on you also, unless you are the loner type. This is one of the biggest reasons it is important to have a trainer. One good benefit is that they can show you how to go with the flow and how to create some normality in your day to day schedule. In trucking, the only thing you can plan on is the plan changing! Another thing that is tough to get used to is that you are at work from the time you leave your home for 4-6 weeks until you get back home. Sometimes you are even under a load while at home! One thing to remember is no matter how tired or stressed or how bad it sucks when you are talking to your dispatcher be nice! Making them mad can rapidly decrease your trucking success. Your earning potential is in their hands! So absolutely NO load refusal, go where the tell you and do it happily. Make sure to thank them no matter how crappy the load. When they have a really good run guess who is going to get it? They have so many drivers that give them crap all day, they love it when a positive driver that doesn't give them problems is up for a load. New guys, I can't stress this enough. Try your best not to bother them on Friday afternoons or Monday mornings!

 

Funny thing is...While running in "The City" can be a pain sometimes, It's never been as bad as the drivers that have usually never even been there say it is!

Most of the whiners that refuse to go into NYC and places like that have never even been there and yet they will tell all kinds of (made up) horror stories about the place.

 

And we fight over Brooklyn via's..lol..

 

Although I don't go up there anymore and don't plan on it either.........


Running New Jersey is my preference........I HATE New York City........


No horror stories.......I just hate NYC.......

I don't like the LA area either for trucking and I lived in So Cal for 10 years.


D/FW is just as bad for traffic......but I live here and being familiar with where you're going makes it easier.

One of our wiser drivers says it all........."Trucking aint for sissies"

 

As a 5 month newb, I have to say trucking is NOT what anyone outside the industry thinks it is lol.

IMO I think guys just quit because they figure 'why live in a box smaller than a prison cell, take orders from someone who never drove a truck, and rarely get to see a football game on a big screen with their buds!'

Then some folks, like me, would just miss it, I'd hate to lose my job. I just love this job lol.