Thinking of trucking.

I absolutely love driving thru the mountains, across the plains, etc. The beauty of nature is awesome!! That being said, driving 10-11 hours per day, fighting traffic and the idiot 4-wheelers that are constantly cutting you off, sitting in the dock waiting 6-12 hours to load/unload, spending days waiting for a load to be ready, and listening to the dispatcher ##### because you can't run 100mph to get there sooner are all part of the downside. My hubby has also talked about the extreme loneliness when running solo, and knowing that you will be missing all sorts of 'special occassions'.

As others have said, review different threads on here, and discuss all the positives and negatives with your wife before making any commitments. I wish you the best of luck in your decision.

 

Any job has good and bad points, driving a least you don't have to look at the boss all day, everyone that I know that has quit and done something else will miss the driving at some point and go back if they can. I've always thought that if one could sleep better maybe a switch to turn off and go to sleep when needed it would be a great job. I had a run one time we would load in the morning drive 3 hrs take at that time 8 hour break not sleep a wink then drive all night then deliver and start back it was legal on the book and suited their time frame.

 

When it comes to truck driving and sites theres really only a few niches that you could get into after some experience that would allow you to see such sites. When I pulled a box for a couple of years, I didn't see any sites other then those out of my offices business windows (aka windsheild and side door windows.) The only way one could really see sites would be if you were in a town that offered cabs and you took yourself to see those sites. But you will have to schedule these things if you want them to work out correctly in your favor. Since your only given X number of hours to park, sleep, take care of personal business. Yet the frieght still has to be in X town/city etc by x time & date.

As a car hauler, which was most of my career. I was able to see a little more, a little more freely. Though still, it all boils down to needing a cab or a ride and scheduling yourself to be able to partake in venturing to see such sites. Because still, someone is wanting that frieght on your rig.

If your thinking about going OTR, I can honestly say the idea of being gone for a 6-7days and home for a couple of days may or may not happen. If I recall correctly, I think most companies are giving 1 day off per 7 consecutive days out. So, not to sugar coat it, but you would probally be looking at more like a 14 day work schedule then some time off as a minumal requirement. As for time off, when working for a company as a company driver. Sometimes that time off clock starts ticking as soon as your on your way home, other times as soon as you've placed it in park to take time off. When they say a day, many mean exactly 24hrs, nothing more and nothing less.

In all, your really going to have to weigh what makes you happy. Being home, seeing your wife, and all of that, do you appreciate having that every day. Or are you more happy when your alone, by yourself, doing your own thing? We can think that being away from home could be a peace of mind. But it doesn't work that way with everyone. Not everyone can mentally handle the challenges of OTR.

Local driving is a little different. I never did that, so I am not in any type of position to comment on that. Though you may want to check around. From the hersay that I understand. Some run ya like a dog. And to some that is unsafe. So just make sure you do your research on any company your thinking about driving for. Maybe check to see if you could find something regional or dedicated. Though with no driving experience, I'm not sure how well that may or not work out in your favor.

 

Ya I definitely don't like working on them! Doing it for a living surely would not be fun.

 

Thanks for the update. Sounds like you found your niche.

 

Didn’t realize this was an old thread but

Agree

I pull a flatbed and only once in awhile so I not like what I’m doing

I owned my own company ( 25 years ) prior trucking. Had 30 crews working for me in a trade type business
Money was great but being in that position my wife and I never left work as if the phone rang Saturday night we had to answer it
It was more of an adult daycare towards the end. we had great guys but between them and customers it was non stop

Im an O/O and make good $. Vacation when I want to. Go out or home when I want to

You will get A Lot of negative replies simply because this business makes it easy to get into with a lease to own thing and most have no business knowledge whatsoever

Out just a week??
That might be hard. Maybe out 2 and home type thing
I follow the $$ until I’m sick of the road then home until I’m sick of that which is many times 3-4 weeks out and 3 weeks home
The way I do it I can actually park my truck and go on vacation or something
Not just home Friday and gone Sunday

 

^^^^^True Statement^^^^^^ I have posted the same comment, on this forum and others. CDL School teaches you to pass the test and get your license. I don't care if you spend $2000 or $20,000.......95% of the time, students that fail, blame it on the S#!tty School, Instructors, Company, blah...blah... blah! Where ever you choose to get your CDL....Buckle down, get it done.....and then spend a year in the toughest school you've ever attended....Your FIRST YEAR SOLO. It is an eye opener boys and girls. 90+% of you will not make it for 1 year. Congrats on grabbing the bull by the horns and getting it done!!