Dream about driving? Wake up!

I agree most people have no idea what it's like to be a trucker. A lot of folks have lost there jobs and think that truckers make a ton of money and just have to sit on there *** all day and hold the wheel.

I have been in this business since I got out of high school 23 years ago. I have always wanted to drive a big truck when I was young. Smokey and the bandit, BJ and the bear made a big impression on my young mind. I ended up driving straight trucks locally around NJ. I never bothered to get a class a all that time due to the fact I was making close to what class a drivers were making and I didn't have the money or time to go to school. In 2008 I had a chance to get my class a with through the company I was working for. I only ended up in the 18 wheeler for about 10 months until the company we were hauling for dropped us. I ended back in my class b tanker feeling both cramped ( had a 72" sleeper on the tractor ) and borded ( automatic trans ).

That tractor and trailer were both repoed a few moths ago. I was making 38 - 45 grand a year, but had to walk away from this job due to it struggling to stay in busness. Today is my 2nd day I've been out of work and I'm waiting for a slot at Werner to open.

I have to start at the bottom again, but at least I have an idea of what I'm getting myself into.

 

For a person who has nothing to lose trucking can bring a new life. It is a younger mans game, just remember that. Make the money while younger, make your investments during that time and keep an eye on maintenance and always point out what needs to be done on a truck especially if you slip seat. Maintenance and company quality are # 1. It is your life at stake. Do your best to get it done because those miles and your health will get harder when you get older.

 

I know I'm only, what 5 years, late, but I'm going into trucking in a couple weeks with a friend who wamts to drive team. I told him we should do it whether we grt on as a team somewhere or not. I have an uncle who retired from trucking, a cousin and step-brother who're both drivers.

I have a pacemaker, but have been cleared in the past to drive fork-trucks and operate anything except a chainsaw. Also, no more pull-ups for this Marine. I've done some diggig and implantable defibrillators are the only disqualifying device I can find, so I'm not worried.
My friend has researched companies, while I've been researching policy amd we've put our notes together toward this future; already applying teamwork to achieve our goals.

Anyway, I'm trolling these forums to dig up anything else that I can from here on out and I've noticed there's a few of you who seem to have it down pat. It's reassuring.

 

I got on here about 3 months ago and did my homework. I found a decent company that trained me and I'm in my second week of team driving. I'll be cut loose next week.

I look at trucking in this way: I've had much worse jobs. Concrete being one. Roofing another. And the list goes on. I had no misconceptions as to the hard work this is going to be. What I didn't realize is how stressful it would be to learn all of this stuff once you get on the road. They teach you just about enough to pass the DMV exam. But when you get on the road, things are much, much different. I thought, "hell yeah. Got my CDL, now I'm gonna breeze through my team training and get my own rig and start making a little (yes, very little) money for the next year or two until I can get enough miles to apply for a higher paying gig". That's not the way it has been working out.

Down shifting is an art form. One that I can compare to playing a guitar. There is a feel and rythym to it. And if you hit the wrong note, it sounds like hell. Taking corners: I hit a guard rail with my trailer my first day out. Wasn't watching my tandems. VERY stressful. And embarrassing. Lesson learned. Navigating through high traffic in an 80,000 lb vehicle: Very scary. Backing between two other rigs: Again, it's an art form. One that isn't learned in a month on a driving course. All of these things I figured were soooooo easy. They aren't. It takes time. Patience, a lot of butthole puckering and nail biting. The tips of my fingers are missing most of their skin, I have a few more grey hairs and my back and neck ache from tension. BUT, I am finally getting it all out together. It's taken 2 solid weeks of feeling like I had no clue what I was doing to now feeling at least not terrified behind the wheel. My shifting is almost there, my backing........need more time, and my turns are great.

In conclusion, anyone who comes into this thinking it's easy to learn and all you have to do is get your CDL and you're good is wrong. Getting your CDL is the easy part. Applying it is the hard part. Oh yeah, and being away from my family going on two months really sucks as well.

 

It's that protein deficiency. A steak and egg breakfast would cure all the ails you. Plus it would taste better than your fingers (and smell better too).

Anyways, as long as you can learn from your goofs, you will be fine.

 

I have no doubt that trucking is, or at least can be a difficult and stressful occupation. I'm not unfamiliar with either and look forward to the challenge. I've eaten up advice given by the 'ol salty-dogs' on here and annoyed my family members about it as well.

I have a degree in Plant and Soil science from MTSU, but shine in the blue collar arena, not to mention feel more at home there.

I womder though, what kind of mileage are you guys and gals averaging lately, and when you started. I don't mind being away from home for a time; I have an excellent support base to keep things going while I focus on my mission at hand.

 

I'm running team with a trainer and I cleared 4,000 last week and I'll be around 4500 this week. Half that when I go solo and that's a good round number.

 

I have a pacemaker as well and have been cleared with a 2 year medical card. Just go see your cardiologist before you get your dot physical and have him write you a note saying your pacemaker is working fine and you are good to drive. There is nothing in the regs about pacemakers just the defibrillators.

 

All Day I Dream About.....Trucking

 

I just got the greenlight from the cardiologists yesterday and a letter. I also found out that they have another patient who is a few years older than myself who is a trucker and had no problem getting certified by the dot.