let me explain as best as my 40 yrs out here can explain trucking is not for everyone.
this is a lifestyle that your either going to commit to or watch yourself get ate up and spit out.
I have spent 40 yrs on these roads i went to college during the day and drove truck at nite with my homework on the seat next to me and got my degree in business, your first step is the recruiter who will tell you anything you want to hear and most of it is BS plain and simple i think they go to the same school as car salesmans.
Next there is the so called School for training from these companies (better known as puppy mills).you sign your life away then your at their mercy till you pay them back.
My advise go get your cdl somewhere else you will be better off! When and if you do get your cdl your going to have to go with a trainer now here is where myself and a few of the other vet drivers have a problem, how can a driver who has only 6 months under his belt teach a new driver all he needs to know? Some of these companies are making trainers out of drivers who should not even be driving let alone training an if you dont like the looks of your trainer then by god dont get on that truck plain and simple its your life too and maybe mine think first!
Now once you get your training done and you get your nice semi new 65 mph truck dont get on your rambo cb radio and talk like you know everything and dont get on there an talk trash most of us older guys know whos new and who got experience and dont be afraid to ask questions and dont let the idiots get to you when they come back with some smart answer.
remember for every action there is a reaction be smarter and wiser. keep yourself clean and take pride in yourself and your ride no one want to eat dinner with someone smelling like they just crawled out of a dumpster and shipper and recievers wont like it either.
another pet peeve is parking on the fuel island if its late at nite and no trucks hey go for it but when there are trucks lined up and you decided its time for a subway...coke and take a crap while leaving your truck on the fuel island is not gonna make you many friends and your gonna get a whole lotta grief when they see you get back in your truck! if your that lazy that you cant park and walk to the store then you dont belong in a truck.And keep all the chicken bones and paper work off the dash of your truck .that is a violation in some states and it really does draw scale house attention when you come rolling up looking like a 63 ramblers with crap all over the place.
If and when (and you will at some point in time) get pulled into a scale house dont panic or come off half ####ed cause your not going to like the outcome say yes sir or ma'me and listen to what they say and tell you. Remember the scale or dot cops are not really out to ruin you they are honestly out there to help you understand what you may or may not have done right or wrong! Dont take it personal hold your head up and take it 9 out of 10 times they are right and if you have an attitude your looking like an ##### your not going to like life.
Dont fall for the wonderful lease (or as some of us call it FLEESE) purchase as a fresh new driver drive for a company for a couple of yrs then BUY your own truck! there are alot of lease purchase guys who say they are making big bucks while real O/O like myself think oh really...i should sell my truck and go L/P....ahhhhhhh NOT!!!!....Remember your gonna be just a steering wheel holder in most peoples eyes from your dispatcher to Veteran drivers out here till you prove your worth!
Your not gonna get rich being a new driver and if you can live on say reality of $35,000 starting then you might make it. Just remember your not going to be home unless your a local driver your gonna be out of your normal element, long days and nites on the road and delivering at all hours when your body is use to sleeping your humping freight out the back doors, when you were home for dinner with the wife/husband and kids your gonna find yourself parked in another state or when your just feeling down you gonna realize the family is a thousand miles away.
Before you spend your money on that big cb radio or gps spend it on a good cell phone plan so you always have a signal trust me a phone call when you need that special voice to tell you things are ok with a good signal is worth its wait in gold as opposed to a shiny new big cb radio!
This life style can take a toll on some,your health can go south, your marriage can go south and in some cases so can your life!!!
Some of you will make it out here and others will fail, some will come home to family and some will be buried to live out here you have to be strong willed and know how to survive. I did it and so can you.
I come from the Old School of trucking and some will say "oh your a super trucker" well to those let me tell you something...there is no super trucker just a brotherhood of men and women who chose a lifestyle that most people would never attempt to try, we come in all shapes, sizes and races.but one thing were all equal of and that is were all truckers and dang proud of it! The industry has changed and yeah myself and some of the older vets dont like change which is why some of us are going to retire but you new drivers young and old will carry on and the new style of trucking will be what your use to! But to all of you young and old new or vets im proud to call all of you my brother....RW
cold hard facts...
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by TheRoadWarrior, Apr 30, 2012.
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Maybe the mods can help you break it (edit it for you) down into paragraphs. It really did hurt my eyes trying to read that, but I got through it.
It would be a total shame to let such a useful post go to waste. Youve obviously put time in effort into, and most importantly you shared knowledge with out expecting anything in return.
Mods, money where your mouff is ?
Now gimme some visine 
Newtrucker83, Wargames and bullhaulerswife Thank this. -
Good post RW. As you can see, I'm 17 and a wanna be trucker. most of the things you have said i have already interpreted and/or saw it been said on the forums in a lot of places. But that doesnt change my decision for wanting to be a trucker! Although, reading what some of these vet drivers say about the old times, it does make me wish i could time travel and drive in the ol' days.
I have also noticed, with the being far from the family and everything, it also sounds like as if you were to go into the military, there may not be as great of a risk of being killed (i know there is a high risk of being hurt/killed as a trucker, but you dont have someone shooting at you and repeatedly trying their hardest to kill you)
By the way, it wasnt that hard to read your post, but maybe thats just cause im young
Wargames and bullhaulerswife Thank this. -
RW, I couldn't agree with you more!! With every single word written!!
FloTheWaitress, bullhaulerswife and Wargames Thank this. -
If one should read no other part of the OP, they should read this part:
Some of you will make it out here and others will fail, some will come home to family and some will be buried to live out here you have to be strong willed and know how to survive. I did it and so can you.I come from the Old School of trucking and some will say "oh your a super trucker" well to those let me tell you something...there is no super trucker just a brotherhood of men and women who chose a lifestyle that most people would never attempt to try, we come in all shapes, sizes and races.but one thing were all equal of and that is were all truckers and dang proud of it! The industry has changed and yeah myself and some of the older vets dont like change which is why some of us are going to retire but you new drivers young and old will carry on and the new style of trucking will be what your use to! But to all of you young and old new or vets im proud to call all of you my brother....RW
Well put, friend. Well put.
Giggles the Original, Wargames, Onetruckpony and 1 other person Thank this. -
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