Whats the Secret to Successful Trucking?

That is so true Trooper, when I was pregnant with my 3rd child, driving through St.Louis, stuck in a traffic jam for an hour and half, as we got up to the "accident", it ended up being a flatbed, it's load had slid off No one was hurt that I know of as the truck was coming on the interstate.
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I wanted to say thank you to Harley for starting this thread, and to everyone who replied with the awesome advice. It's helped me out a lot.

 

A good reason too take very good care of securment would be for "your" life! The driver. Seems those loads first place to go during an accident is right into your cab.

 

So very true Wc! I will hopefully won't have to worry about this myself as I am wanting to go into the van division.

 

I don't mean to be smart-alecky, but that is like asking a person who you should marry.

You either love it or you hate it.

Driving a truck is not a job, it is a way of life.

Once you climb in the cab of a truck, it becomes your life. Especially if you are over the road (OTR).

You are the only one who can decide what kind of freight you prefer and you can only know that by trying it out. Or, which you prefer, local, regional or OTR. They all have their good & bad points, but it is up to you to evaluate.

I've pulled dry boxes, doubles, reefers & flats.

I hate flatbeds because flatbeds require you to get filthy and nasty every time you deliver or pick up a load. (with rare exceptions)

Especially if you have to tarp your load.

My most miserable experience driving a truck was chaining and tarping a load in Indiana when it was 15 degrees and a steady 20 mph wind.

MISERABLE!!!!

I prefer reefers over vans because I like pulling reefers. And, reefer freight is usually steadier and involves longer runs. Longer runs = more money.

Dry boxes are okay, but I just prefer reefers. I like dealing with obnoxious shippers & receivers. (I must since that's the only people who ship by reefer)

But, until you try it, you cannot know what you prefer.

Nor can we tell you which is better for you or anyone else.

I do it because I love it.

If you are only going to do it to make money, you probably won't enjoy it very much. Driving a truck can be a very miserable, lonely existence.

 

Keep your backside screwed down in the seat, and keep the door closed and you will make money. Also, bring your patience with you, you will need it.

 

No matter what you haul or where you haul, these four rules will serve you well:

Always pay attention.

Be very patient.

Use common sense, and common courtesy.

Develop a sense of humor, if you don't already have one. Otherwise, this business will chew you up and spit you out.

As far as making money goes, this is the golden rule: It's what you haul, not where you haul.