New - thinking about becoming a truck driver - please help!

If you are thinking about becoming a trucker, think about another profession.
If you are an OTR trucker you will be living in a small box for around 2 weeks at a time, showering in truckstops, eating some of the most unhealthy food know to man, and fighting with dispatchers to get a 34 hour reset at home. You will spend a lot of time waiting to pickup or deliver.
LTL at least you go home everyday, but you are out in the elements, dealing with dictatorial receiving clerks, demanding dispatchers, manager that think every driver is just tossing money out the window as they go down the street. Seniority reigns at most of these terminals, and new guys get the leftovers. Your first few year you will be called in at anytime to do anything.
There are some good jobs and good companies, but they are few and far between.
But if you want to be a trucker good luck.

 

One of the reasons we want to know where you are coming from is that we have all sorts of different backgrounds. I lived 19 years in Africa. Others spent time in Asia. We have many for all parts of the world. You are welcome here. And we are really proud of you for going through the process of getting a green card. That is a big deal in my book.

Trucking has some downsides but nothing as bad as a full fledged civil war. You will not be kidnapped because of your religion. You will not be beheaded for failure to conform to your societies values. You will be joked with. But you will always have someone who will come to your aid in times of trouble. We truckers look after each other. You are welcome in our tribe.


Trucking will pay you more then another profession without a college degree. And it is legal. Again, welcome to the United States of America (once the greatest country in the pre Obama World) and welcome to trucking.

 

I'm guessing, South Africa.

I'm guessing, his native language is English.

 

^^^
This is why he's a better fit in Canada. You know, all proper and such.

 

Canada is a great country to visit but come on. When was the last time anyone actually cared about curling.

 

As a full fledged Canadian and having lived here in the US for juuuust shy of 51 years, you need to broaden your horizons and watch ANY womens curling team......I think you'll become a fan.

 

And I followed Wooly's tail light's right into the ditch.

 

Find a refrigerated Carrier that has " In house " training and schooling like Stevens out of Mesquite ( Dallas ) Texas. Plan on staying at least two ( 2 ) years and apply only as a Company driver NOT a Contact ( Lease purchase ) driver. If the Company tries to force you to be a Lease purchase Contractor, just walk away and go to the next Company on your list. You will need refrigerated van experience at some time so start off with it and have it under your belt. After two years of driving, then you have options and a DAR that will allow you to advance. I won't hire drivers who have switched jobs more than twice in a year unless I can verify that a Carrier he or she was driving for went out of business. ( I used Stevens as an example only of Carriers who have in house Driving Schools. )