Would I make a good driver?

A new driver from Jacksonville posted recently he just graduated from a CDL school and immediately was hired for a local tanker job with CTL & home every night. Another driver that lives South of Jacksonville posted he works for Conway pulling doubles and home often.

 

Have you ridden Greyhound the past few years? It's like being on that bus Jack Nicholson was driving in the movie "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest", when that bunch of mental cases broke out of the institution and fled on a bus.

 

Most carriers keep otr drivers out 2-3 weeks at a time with a couple of days at home in between. There are a few carriers that will get you home for a day or perhaps 1 1/2 days each week, but usually require some experience. If your ultimate goal is to find a local driving job, going otr will usually give you a leg up with most jobs. Most prefer that you have at least 1-2 years otr experience with no dings on your mvr and a good work history. There are many women in this industry. Some drive with their spouses or team. Some do solo. You should not have a problem not having any mechanical experience. Most male drivers don't even know how to change out a light these days. You should learn most of the basics you need to know while you go through school and do your training. Once in a truck you will be alone with your own thoughts most of the day. If you need continuing companionship, this may not be for you. You should be comfortable with your own company. You will miss family events and birthdays. There is just no way any carrier can guarantee to get you home on a specific day. Freight is usually unpredictable and it can be difficult to get drivers home exactly when they need to be home all the time. But, it can be a rewarding career choice. You can see things you might not otherwise get to see, but it will be from the windshield of an 18 wheeler. This is a beautiful country. I never tire of seeing it. If there is a truck stop near you, it might be good if you could visit it and strike up a conversation with other female drivers. They could give you a much better idea of what this career choice has meant for them.

 

China finger puzzle, means How bad do you want it. You got what it takes to be 110% every day? Pushin' 40 tons down the road. Nano seconds to make the right choice in an emergency. Make the wrong one, people die. Can you live with that kind of pressure? I just smile, no one ever died in an office that I know of. (heart attacks excluded)

 

Well here is something to think about.

I have been doing some local flatbed work for the past couple weeks and I run into a lot of people at the places I am servicing. Yesterday I pull into one customer's receiving area and there sits a tractor with a short container being unloaded. I have no where to go until they move and parked where I had to move for them to get out - I don't park on the street. So I go up to the truck and knock on the door. a little old lady opens the window and asked me what do I want. She is like my grandma, small and petite (reminds me of one of the ladies from the movie Arsenic and Old Lace). I asked her if she can signal me when she needs out and I will move the truck. I asked her how she's doing with her company, she tells me this is her second month driving. She got tired of sitting around the house, dumped her husband who just wanted to sit around the house and went to school then landed the job with a company. She said she retired 10 years ago as a teacher, traveled the world with her husband and hinted she just turned old enough to collect SS.

So I would think that you could do this if you wanted to, you don't have to do over the road stuff, local work is alright but I would recommend getting your Class A cdl, don't limit yourself with a class B.

 

That is a great story.. thanks for sharing..

I could not of done this when I was younger.. I am 49 now and appreciate alone time.. when I was younger.. being stuck in a truck for a weekend at a truck stop would of drove me crazy..

I think of all I did in my 20's, 30's and early 40's and I would not of been able to see as many concerts, travel and actually see and experience stuff.. and have the time with my family and friends...

The thing with trucking... Is when your workday is done.. you are still in your truck.. at an office job when hour day is done you leave.. you go see your family, friends, go to a movie or a concert...

I am fortunate that the company I am with I cando somethings sometimes.. if I have a load.. then no, I can't leave the truck.. and even when I can go do things it is costly.. I have to rent a car or get a cab.. and I cant go too far or be gone too long cause I have to keep checking on the truck...

When I was young.. it would of been hard to not be there with my family for birthdays and holidays... It is hard to be kn s truck in some parking lot for Christmas.. thanksgiving..

It is hard to be many miles from home and get a call
That your mom or some other loved one is in the hospital... You can't just abandon the truck and get a flight home..

 

AW, Go to Schneider and get a job. They have lots of terminals to stop in so you don't have to be in the slimy TS's all the time. Starting pay is low andyou have to stay a year to get your school paid for by them but then you can go anywhere. Another good one is Watkins-Shepard. I was leased to them and love them. I had a lady partner at one time. She was reasonably cute, had a nice build but people left her alon except on the radio but if she knew who it was they'd backoff mismo. Go for it. Be a lady on the street, a &*%( in the bed and a cook in the kitchen. Don't back down from anyone and keep your first "responder knife sharp." Don't have one? Get one!

 

You actually wont need to be mechanical, as most carriers will not want you to try and fix things on your own, but they will expect you the put chains on in freezing cold weather, on the side of the freeway, Like another posted, its a way of life, being on the road can and is quite taxing, there are a lot of women divers these days, but if you like been with family and your significant other, it might not be for you, good luck