career choice

It is simple if you liked the old more than you like trucking RUN back to the old job .
You don't need us to tell you it is OK .
We all know trucking is not for everyone .

 

That's more good advice.

But I am concerned with the expectations of some of these newbies, they don't get this is a profession which is dependent on what the customer needs, freight doesn't just appear on a dock to have a need to be moved. If the company has 100 trucks and in this competitive world can more 80% of them at any given time, that means 20 of them have to sit somewhere. Depending on the company, a driver may not get a load for a couple days but then run 2000 miles and end up sitting for the rest of the week until something else is found. Many, including veteran drivers don't understand the logistics and resource management aspect of this industry.

The other concern is this - doesn't anyone have any goals when they enter this profession other than just to make a quick big buck? I think the OP illustrates the problem with being told all the money he can make and the disappointment he has with not getting the little bonuses or having to run 7 day a week.

Many of us started out in a lot worst companies, we did it because we needed the experience but it seems now in the last few years, the revolving door is spinning fast.

 

I will try to sum up what probably 99% of the people that tried or is trucking, thought of before they took the first step towards that goal-- and i am not necessarily speaking of the Op.
Trucking --"what fun, someone will pay me well to drive around in a big truck and i love to drive"-- That's exactly what i was thinking.
To the 1% That are still trucking --they are living their dream and loving it.
Does that sound familiar to anyone else ?

 

yes sir that is the reason i am in a school first i love to drive second im going to get paid to see the country and third im going to make some money i have a family too but they know how much i like to drive the big toys so they are with me on every decision i make even if i go otr

 

That's the dirty little secret nobody talks about isn't it .
The waiting game is the hardest part of trucking and depending on what you pull and who you pull for you may do more sitting that driving !!!!

So if you can't afford the sitting or can't handle the sitting and waiting then I would say trucking or at least that company is not for you .
There is wait time in almost every part of trucking whether it is at the fuel pump waiting on a idiot to shop and get his subway or waiting for the idiot guard to figure out his mind numbingly stupid job the the worlds slowest fork truck driver to get to the last pallet on your trailer in under a week .

It is like the old saying in a hurry to get nowhere .
Its all hurry up and wait I think that is why the vets seem to do the best at it your training kicks in and it is just another day in paradise !!!

 

Exactly what you said --thats the part nobody knows about till they get in it.

 

You are going to make a good Driver as long as you keep that attitude.

 

Daxx straight it's alright to go back to the previous job dude. If a guy has that option and he was happy and it was paying the bills, it may be best. Most drivers figure out real quick if they like the road or not. I love it, I am working to get the little woman out here soon, and then she will be much happier too!

The one thing I hate out here is meeting up with a driver who just rants and rants about not being happy. I told some kid running for western a while back out right, "you need to go home", he didn't like it either. But he kept on whining, and I left him to fold up his other tarp by himself.