Whats the Secret to Successful Trucking?

I've been driving for a little over 3 years now, so I'm hardly a grizzled vet. But, I've been doing it long enough to know that trucking is a lifestyle more than a job. The vast majority of CDL school graduate are no longer in the trucking business after 6 months. The primary reason is that they are not prepared for the lifestyle change and the culture-shock that trucking presents to them. I worked in a "normal" job for 20 years before I got into trucking, so I know the difficulties involved in adopting an entirely different mindset to to make a successful transition into the trucking lifestyle.

The advice that I would give to someone considering a trucking career:
If you are not prepared to make a MAJOR lifestyle change, save your money and forget about it.

Your first trucking job will probably not be with a blue chip company. The genuinely good companies only hire experienced drivers, and they do not use recruiters... they don't need to. All but the most fortunate have to pay their OTR dues before they have a fighting chance of getting on with a really good company.

Even the "good" startup companies are going to treat you like a piece of meat. They care about the freight being delivered... period. Your hometime, your quality of life, and your job satisfaction are purely secondary concerns to them. Be prepared for it.

Even with all this said, trucking can be exciting and invigorating at times. It affords a freedom and autonomy that most other careers can't come close to. Trucking can be a rewarding career, but it doesn't come without its sacrifices. If a prospective new driver isn't willing or prepared to make those sacrifices, I'd say... don't waste your time.

 

(I'd send this as a private message but this board requires 50 postings first.)

TroopRat: I've read your post with great interest. Is there an alternative route to OTR that you would suggest to a newbie seeking to break in?

If it matters, I'm in my mid-fifties, good health and live in New England. Can afford school on my own if need to.

 

Open eye...Yes there are other ways beside OTR.
At 57 I was cut loose by American Airlines after they bought out TWA. Because I was furloughed, Unemployment paid for my truck school (Ft Scott Community College in KCKS, and I got a job driving a concrete mixer. Went from that to the end dump (same company) and now I'm driving a flatbed hauling concrete pipe and boxes.
I like the job, but it can be work throwing chains and rolling pipe in 90-95 degree heat, especially for an ol buzzard like me.
Most of our turnover is due to slow winter work or some guys just can't hack the work load. But, we are home every night with on occasion a out of town trip. I have never run OTR and at my age I don't have that in any of my future plans.
Maybe I was just lucky to get the jobs I did, but I worked with a number of guys that never were OTR, so it can be done.

 

Since each person will have a different answer to your question, Ill tell you my 'secret'(s).

1)Enjoy working alone
2)Enjoy little to no supervision to get the job done
3)Enjoy driving & traveling
4)Enjoy seeing things that you may have not seen otherwise
5)Enjoy staying busy
6)Enjoy being around big trucks

Theres ONE key word in all my 6 examples. Theres your key to sucess, IMO.

 

Good Morning,Harley,

So you want to be a truck driver? There are a few things I can tell you for now and after you get to the end, I can tell you more, if you like. First off is the school you will attend. Check them out, all of them!!!! Find out which one,of the ones that your considering, is the best. After all,it's your money and you want the most bang for your buck. Once you start, pay attention, you need to know everything your taught, and when your driving, learn all you can, you'll need this knowledge once your start driving for a living. When you're coming to the end of your studies, some companies will no doubt have a recruiting session with your class, see if you can find out beforehand who these companies are so you can research them while your studying. If your on this website, you know there's a wealth of knowledge that you can tap into to get the info that you want. Once you have chosen a company your interested in working for,find out all the particulars,pay,wait time, health and pension benefits, time away from home,etc,etc. Harley, what you have to ask yourself is what are you willing to settle for as far as driving a truck is concerned. There are so many different scenarios that you have to choose from, that it's hard to tell you just what you need to look for. I'm going to leave you with this,as I'm going to take my wife out for breakfast. I believe in working for the highest bidder,so to speak. By that, I mean the most pay, the best benefits, good equipment, and loads that your don't have to break your back for!! Sitting doesn't make you or the company money,only when your moving. Find out just what you the company wants from you in return for that paycheck. If it doesn't feel good, it most likely isn't and never will be.Your gut feelings will play a part in your decisions.Listen to the strongest ones!! Say what you want about the union,they do have their pro's and con's,but overall,it'll pay you the most for time spent away from home. And that's the important part!! I don't know if your married, single , divorced, it's non of my business, but whats important is how you value your relationships with the ones you love. I know this is an aside from the subject matter but I think it's as important as the job itself. Depending on the job you take, your going to be gone from home anywhere from eight hours to days and weeks. Think about that for a minute. You have to make it worthwhile if it's to be a benefit to you and your family, assuming you have one. There are a host of jobs that I'm sure one will be to your liking,but a little time researching it will be well worth the time later on. You and I know that once your in a job, it's hard to quit once the money starts coming in, partly due to the fact that you don't want to start over. There is no magic about trucking!! Experience will teach you more that any school or for that matter anything I can tell you. This is more than going to a factory or office everyday, because that's what the truck becomes, your office. Find out what the job entails and will you like doing that. Remember, your time is worth money and in this industry, if you don't watch out you'll be giving a lot of your time for free and it'll be expected of you!!! That's why you ask questions and get information before you sign on the dotted line. I'm not implying that only union jobs are the best, but consider this, at forty years old,your going to start noticing things that never bothered you before. It's called aging. Maybe not right now but in about ten years or so you'll know better what I'm talking about. Trucking is a hard life but I've had more better days than bad. The bottom line is pay divided by time worked. If you can't see yourself any farther ahead than if you worked at a burger joint then your with the wrong company. You'll be promised the world, what counts is if your happy, your family's happy and if you can retire happy and before sixty-five. Good Luck!