I am an antisocial MBA student considering a whole new career in trucking.

Edward,
Good luck with everything. Don't let some of these naysayers get to you. Unfortunately some drivers are very ignorant. Do your research and find a good fit. When you go on the road bring some audiobooks with you for when you drive. Also coming from someone else with a high intelligence level, bring books to read on your down time. Perhaps some of your old text books to keep your mind sharp.

 

I am an introvert. I love when people offer advice to cure me

 

Edward, thank you so much for this thread. I never knew this existed, and I am going to look further into it.

I started driving because when I got out of high school, I went to work in construction (my whole family is in construction). But it was so uncomfortable to work closely with people all day. So I would always volunteer to drive. I felt free until I got back to the jobsite or office. Eventually, I just drove full time.

I don't know if I have this or not, but I sympathize with you. It would be very difficult for me to work in an office with other people every single day. It's just... uncomfortable. I prefer to be more alone, although as I mature the problem has lessened. But it would be very difficult for me to be in those situations, daily and ongoing.

I think that you should search the threads on this forum. Study what your life will be like as a trucker and what will be required of you. This site is like a colossal research library for trucking. Look to see if you feel it's a good fit, and mainly if it is something that you would be happy doing. Then if you decide this is for you, you can make a more specific plan.

One really good aspect of trucking is that once you have some time under your belt as a good, safe driver, your work experience speaks for itself. They are only hiring you because you come with that work history.

When people encounter something that they don't understand, they are thrown by it. Thank you and the other forum members for educating us.

 

Beat advice given to the OP so far on the entire thread.....^^^^^^^^

 

Zen, you are so right.

This absolutist thinking creates monsters like Pol Pot of the Khmer Rouge, whom executed everyone that wore glasses.

If you study psychology just a bit, you find that nobody is "normal". Everybody is crazy or weird in the eyes of somebody, no matter who you are. We all have strengths and weaknesses for different environments. The key is matching those strengths with the best environment.

 

Was not trying to offer you advice to cure you. I understand what You have, I come from a medical background. In addition to my son and a nephew having it. Like you I have a high intelligence level and introvert, granted mine if for a different reason. Just telling you from my personal experience it's better to bring something to occupy your downtime with.

 

Good luck man to you in whatever you choose.

 

As I stated earlier I know little to nothing about Asperger's....but driving and operating a tractor-trailer requires so much more than the ability to concentrate with-out distraction....It actually requires you to have the skill/s to operate a tractor-trailer with all sorts of "distractions" going on simultaneously...weather/traffic etc...You say that you have been driving for a decade that makes you what...26? That's a great record to achieve , but you have zero , experience in driving professionally....that my friend is an entirely and completely different animal. You have not a clue as too was the stress is like , just like I have not a clue as to your capabilities....you have no experiences to draw from , so you cannot say just what the pressure of operating a truck even on a good cloudless , blue-bird morning is like , much less the stress involved in bad weather with a dispatcher hounding you to "be on time" no matter was the road conditions are like...you just don't know....if you say that you can relate to this then you are being very dis-ingenuous. All I've tried to do is be totally honest with you and let you know just what you're headed for....for your sake....I wish you luck in life... I don't sugar-coat stuff for folks , especially those with intentions on making trucking a career....it can be a very, very rewarding career...but it has a terrible stress factor. Anyone that has a modicum of experience will attest to that fact.

You said in your response to Rockyroad..... And I'll quote.... "I chose to stay in masters school to "hide" from the working world a bit longer , because I was doing terrible in job interviews" Edward....there is NO "HIDING" once you get behind the wheel,of a Commercial vehicle....only a HUGE responsibility to drive that vehicle in a safe/courteous , and professional manner. Edward...you just can't turn on "audiobook" and "hide from the world"......you aren't sitting at a desk staring at numbers...you are constantly , interacting with people in vehicles and other truck drivers , not to mention heavy traffic/bad weather/pressure from employers to do the impossible ( I'm talking about a dispatcher that looks at a map , and says it's only an inch....sure you can make that 500 miles in 8 hrs , and it will happen).....You do as you see fit my friend...but take a really long look in the mirror , before you make the jump into this industry. I'm not trying to bash you or make you feel inferior...just trying my best to impart to you just how big a responsibility that you are contemplating...like I said ALL MY BEST, and GOOD LUCK!
..........................TONY