My fears of becoming a trucker

1. For any little thing you lose your lively-hood

Guess what? You're not some teenager flipping burgers at the local Mickey D's. You're seeking to establish yourself as a professional. As such (in any occupation), there comes liability with it. I don't know what kind of jobs you've held in the past, but if this is something new to you, I'd be inclined to think they weren't any in which you were held liable for your actions/inactions. It's nothing unique to trucking. Either you're willing to step up, or you're not, is all there really is to it.

2. Crooked companies ripping you off etc etc just crooked ways.

As stated before, do your research. Again, nothing unique to trucking.

3. If you get into a wreck, it's pretty much over for awhile or forever.

Not necessarily. It's a matter of circumstances and such. However, this is a bit asinine. You're going into an occupation in which your function is to operate large motor vehicles. Would it make sense that wrecking one of those vehicles in this industry is a bigger deal than wrecking your own car would be on the way to some 9 to 5 desk job? Again, either you're ready to step up, or you're not.

4. If somebody causes you to get into a wreck but then they say it's your fault.

Psst... this can happen on your daily commute to the aforementioned desk job. That's why these things are investigated before anyone gets cited.

5. If you get a speeding ticket it's a huge deal.

If you drive like a ####### in a job where your primary function is to drive, it SHOULD be a huge deal. Seriously. You want to be trusted with operating a vehicle weighing up to 40 tons, in varying degrees of weather, on land which may be flat or may be sloped... yet you would seem to imply that you're worried about your ability to control your right foot?

6. Just having the possibility of something screwing your career or your driving record up hanging over your head sucks, and the stress that causes added to the stress and problems you already have.

It's really simple. If you don't want to screw up your career, have your #### in order. The vast majority of people whose driving careers were screwed up... they did it to themselves. If you want to get out here, be a steering wheel holder, not inspect your vehicle, do this job halfheartedly, then do us all a favor and don't even bother getting into this line of work. We've got enough thorns which need weeding out as is. If you're ready to come into this with the right mentality, the right work ethic, and the intent of being a safe and professional driver, then glad to have you.
Figure out which description fits you best, and choose wisely based on that.

 

The worst fear that you should really have is that you become a truck driver, you like your job, and you make good money. Then the real problems start! You are in a different world, away from home from extended periods of time, and when home for a bit, can't wait to get back on the road, and make too much money to take a normal job.
Been there, and still doing that!

 

Going into ANY job with a buttload (read Uhaul truckfull) of personal drama and baggage is a bad idea. That's an even worse idea in trucking. There's no way, after reading what was posted initially, that I can say anything to rebuild someone's self-esteem and make them "un-paranoid". You either are, or you aren't. You do, or you don't.

 

if you are in any way sane--decent--have a head on your shoulders and not a total blithering idiot--you will do fine--yes a 65% failure rate--but look at some of the people out there that fail---they would fail working as a village idiot

 

Exactly - most of the people I saw at the terminal (no matter the company) that were whining and crying the blues about how they didn't make any money, their DM wouldn't run them, but then their DM ran them too hard...

You're talking about some eternally miserable misfits who would fail on the fries only side at Mickey Ds. they are simply STUPID. Then, you add in a bunch of redneck (or ghetto, or barrio) Jerry Springer drama, and all hell breaks loose, and it's everybody's fault but their own.

Those are primarily the people who fail. People who come in wanting to work knowing it's not your typical 9-5 job, CAN READ (AND UNDERSTAND) A MAP, and show some common sense usually do just fine.

 

You can make a lot more if you don't buy that weed you keep complaining about not being able to smoke in the other thread....

 

Seriously - if you like weed, and might think that on an extended bit of time off you might fire up.... this industry isn't for you. In fact, although I drink sometimes, if you need to get hammered with beer to make up for the weed... this industry isn't for you. When you're plastered, sitting at a truckstop, and get a load/dispatch, and you have to explain that you're drinking, you're pretty much done with that company.

If they call you to go when your days off are done, and you've been drinking... that'll happen once or twice, and they'll send you packing.

 

I have to agree with ronin. bac for drivers I believe is .04 % even # .02% dot will ground you I believe for 12 - 24 hrs. # .04 DWI.

If you are more concerned with how working will interfere with your drug use and drinking,than the reverse. STOP! HALT! NOW!

I used to feel that way back in the day.been clean and sober 18 yrs
You have expresed some concerns about this job, life style ect.
I recomend some hounest soul searching, ( if not rehab ).

we all make choices we have to live with. choose wiseley. only YOU know what is best for you. but trust me any company will choose what is in it's best interest.

This is a serious job with serious consequences.