Why trucking?

Why are those NOT right reasons? Why should someone who wants to be a truck driver NOT be a truck driver? Why should someone who likes the open road and driving NOT be a truck driver? I see those reasons as perfect for a truck driver. Why not do what you love to do and get paid for it?

I personally always thought it'd be cool to drive a truck and make some money and see the country, but I never thought I'd do it. But, four years ago, I got my first real truck driving job and I couldn't be happier. I honestly hope that I can retire from right where I am.

 

There are some things that make trucking a grind....just like any other job. Sometimes the days are long as heck. Sometimes a shipper drags their feet and you set for hours upon hours and then have to drive way past being tired because you have a deadline and a run that was suppose to be nice, relaxing drive turned into a killer. Simply because dispatch had HUA problems or a shipper is one that takes hours to get in and out of.

I must admit though, I love trucking. This is a beautiful country we live in and I doubt I could have seen it otherwise. Going across the countryside, through the mountains, seeing the skyscrapers of major cities....I love it.

Jason Aldean has a song called "Fly Over States" and it says a lot, IMO, about how great and beautiful a country the USA is.

Like the other day, coming into IL, I ended up on county roads and state highways, going through little towns. On all of the light poles etc... there were yellow ribbon posters with names of kids and the Armed Services they were in on all of them. A couple little towns had so many kids serving....it was pretty humbling reading all the names.

Yeah, there are quite a few reasons why trucking is a hassle....it's not like it was when my dad drove years ago. And it may not be for everyone....but I don't want to do anything else.

 

For many that live in rural area's, there is not much opportunity. A boring factory job or flipping burgers. Your only other choice is to move to the city or take a job on the road. For me I worked as a warehouseman and dealt with truckers every day. I took a strong interest and asked many questions. I always loved road trips and traveling. Then when I got layed off, off to school I went.

For many drivers, it's in your blood and a lifestyle. Just like the circus or anything that takes a 100% commitment. My dad died when I was a little kid. I never knew him other that he was a lifer in the Army. I was tickled when I got his military records. There it was. Prior to entering the Army, he was a truck driver for 8 years in the 1940's. Things made more sense then.

 

I've been in this industry since 1978. I was fortunate enough to live the life of a trucker before Deregulation/Reregulation and unlike you, I have no regrets. Yes, it's changed for the worse but even with all of the ######## laws and regulations, it only seems to have a negative effect on the "Old School" drivers more than the newer crop that's entering this profession.
People's reasons for entering the truck driving profession have varied throughout the years and most are for the reason's you stated not to get into trucking.
Most people, even back in the day, had the same misconception about trucking that todays "wannabe's" have. That's never changed and probably never will. They find/found out that there's more to driving a truck than holding the steering wheel. There's paper work, logs, loading, unloading. If you're in the flatbed industry, you're going to physically work your ### off and then drive, along with all of the other BS that's a part of this job. There's time away from home and family, missed holidays, birthdays. anniversaries, etc., which is the reason why there has always been a high turnover rate in OTR Trucking.
This profession isn't for everybody and just like any other profession, people will find out the truth of their choosing once they get behind that wheel. Some will regret their decision and others will be glad that they choose this lifestyle and job. It's always been this way and that will always be a constant, in any profession.

 

Why are these not the right reasons to become a truck driver? All except for the I lost my job one I think they are good reason to consider the trucking industry. I tried the mechanic thing the maintance thing and I too was fed up with the tools the customer the seminars the people. I hate people. Ok I know that I still have to deal with them but in a truck at times I can still work and be on my own. I started driving for waste management in roll off and found that even when I would have a customer yell at me because of the pick up time, or the can was in the wrong place, or I wouldn't set it down where they wanted it once I got back in the truck I was alone again life was good and the idiots were gone. I like working long hours, I like driving, I have no family so I have no need to be home. So to me it was a no brainer, I was already living a small part of the lifestyle out of choice because I liked it. So why not live it all the way. Yes it is a lifestyle choice so if you are doing just because you lost a job and trucking is better then Mcdonalds then think again. Yes there is paperwork, rules, regulations, restrictions but that is in any job you go to. So it just comes down to do you like the lifestyle. The ones that do stick around and make some money. The ones that don't either leave or feel they are stuck in a job they hate so complain about it to anyone they can.

 

Ya really wanna know? Me too..

I don't really know why except that from a young age I was enamored with big trucks. My father was a driver but he bailed on us when I was 2. I have really no memories of him except the day he left when he told me he'd come back.... and subsequently never did. I do remember eying up every big truck I saw my entire childhood.
So some Freud wannabe can probably string together my obsession over trucks had something to do with searching for my long lost father... blah blah blah.
When I was like 4 I wanted to be a Japanese (I'm totally a white American, just so you know) teacher and a farmer and have 44 children. 22 girls and 22 boys.
Other than that all I ever wanted to do was drive trucks. I got my license at 21 and the rest is history. 2 years ago my hubby and I got our own authority and started our own outfit.
The lifestyle suits me. And it's one of those things I'm #### good at.
Sometimes I hate it, but by now it's the only thing I know. I'll drive until the day comes they won't renew my CDL.

 

I decided to start trucking because it looked interesting. I'm separated from my wife and getting a divorce, so getting away is perfect for me. As for the regulations, I have done cemetery work and made headstones for 17 years. Every cemetery has it's own rules and regulations you have to deal with when installing a headstone. Every customer feels their stone is the most important one, or their loved ones grave should be worked on first. Everyone has a complaint and #### few have a compliment. I have sat on the back of an open cab backhoe in november when it was 34 degrees and pouring rain digging a grave, then jumping down in the hole to square it up, catching my death of a cold. And I hear drivers here complain constantly from the3ir cab and it makes me laugh. I have loaded and unloaded granite headstones weighing from 100# to over 800# by hand to and from large flatbeds, helping the driver tarp and or strap the load.

Oh and I did all this clearing about $16k/year. I think I can handle driving and have a 10 year plan in place to hope3fully become an o/o though it is a flexiblke plan as I know murphy is a real sob. Plus I love to learn new things and relish the challenge of learning everything I can about the industry.

 

For me, trucking was really the only option I had available. My son had just been born, and I had no college degree nor experience in any given field. Trucking was the only career that I could think of where you could literally go to school for two weeks and come out the other side with decent pay and job security.

 

I've spent the large majority of the money I've made to this point of my life on gas so I figured I might as well get paid to drive instead of pay to do it. Most of my free time in life has been devoted to off-roading, travelling or just plain cruising. It just seemed like the right move to me. Even when my friends found out that I had got a trucking job the first thing they all said was, "This is the perfect job for you isn't it?"

I was lucky though as I was able to experience the OTR lifestyle before I ever signed up for truck school. My friend let me ride with him a few times from Bakersfield to Hunt's Point in NYC. We got stuck a couple times for 2 weeks on the South Kearney, NJ waiting for a load as the company he drove for was total crap. Throughout all of that, and making absolutely no money doing it, I still loved it being just the rider.

In the end it all comes down to you and how you fit in with the lifestyle. Half hate it, a quarter tolerate it, and the rest love it. Many people in any industry hate their jobs, but in trucking it changes your lifestyle so you can't just fall back on the normal feeling of once your crappy job is over at least you'll be at home relaxing.

Overall I love it. Would I rather be at home with my wife rather than sleeping at a truck stop or on ramp? Definitely. I would rather have my own shower and toilet back everyday as well. It's not something I dwell on though and it doesn't really bother me, it's just not my preference obviously.

The good parts are not having a supervisor breathing down your neck at all times like most jobs. My job is to get the load somewhere at a certain time and the rest is out of my hands and not on me like shippers and receivers. I have a set goal to get there, it's not make 80 of the same thing night after night where you feel that in the end you accomplish nothing. The scenery especially out west is beautiful to drive through. Then the best part for me is just driving period, which I love.

 

Over the years many have entered trucking due to lack of opportunity, even more so in today's economy. It offers an above average earning potential. Many enter it for what they perceive as the last of the "Great American Cowboy" lifestyle. Few understand the sacrifices involved in the industry. Even with the ridiculous regulation of today, it still offers more freedom than most jobs.

When I entered the industry in 1979, it was the lure of an adventerous lifestyle. I've never been disappointed with the freedom or adventure. I certainly had no idea that driving was the easiest part and there was so much more involved. As an owner/operator with no business sense or understanding of the industry, I paid with my financial assets and family for my experience the first time around.

Now as I plan to get back on the road, the freedom, earning potential and the chance to exercise more control over my destiny are what capture my interest. IMHO, no matter how bad it gets "on the road", it will always beat a day in an office or factory.

It's certainly not for everybody but if it fits you, you will be ruined for life. When I'm out of the industry, I find myself wanting to go back. A shinny truck, a truck stop I pass or the smell of the smoke always call my name. It's the best love/hate relationship I've had in 54 years!