Worth it? Regulations and perspective.

Can you go into a bit more detail about what you mean. The "once you're in it, it's almost impossible to get out." Is that like the saying "diesel gets in your veins" or something else?

 

That's part of it but another part of it is, any industry outside of trucking usually will not hire a trucker because they assume truckers will not be happy with what they pay and will go back to trucking. That has been my experience anyway. One potential employer flat out told me that during one interview. Other problems you will face: you will pay more for your personal car insurance once they know you have a cdl, which should be stopped because you don't drive your personal car near as much as the average citizen. One insurance company that has been in and out of court for discrimination once had an agent who quoted me for car insurance several years ago. The quote was $326.00. I said Id take it (I was used to paying between 4 and 5 so that was a good quote I thought?) He said hed have to make a copy of my drivers license so I gave it to him. He said "uh oh I quoted you from the wrong book, trucker rates are higher". He requoted it at 475. I told him keep his insurance and walked out.

Not saying all are like that though what he quoted was in line with what I had been paying so Im not saying they are not either. The only time you will be treated like a professional is when you are standing in front of a judge, then you are held to that standard by the court. You can drive for 40 years without an accident but you get one 15 over speeding ticket and you will search high and low to find a job, and your experience will mean absolutely nothing.

 

I had applied for a shipping supervisor position, a position I had held previously before trucking.

 

That's what I thought as well but they said they have not had luck by hiring truckers because evidently they couldn't pay them enough.

 

And the majority will fail in that endeavor.

You make some good points. The way it was isn't really relevant to those just starting out. Knowing the way it is though does matter.

It is highly regulated.

The megas drag 'em in and spit 'em out faster than you can read this thread.

Many get into it with expectations that are far removed from reality and it ends up being nothing but an expensive mistake.

I agree some are way too negative here but it's the internet. We all know the complainers come out quicker than those with good things to say.

If you read enough here you'll find there are many of us who love trucking and wouldn't trade it for anything.

Again though, those who succeed are much less common than those who fail. It's not for everyone and if someone gets so discouraged by some negative posts on the internet they probably aren't cut out for it.

I haven't been doing this very long myself and before getting started I read a lot of the negative on here and other web sites. It seemed pretty obvious that much of the negative was just peoples natural reaction to change.

It also seemed that many who didn't succeed came in without a clue of what to expect.

For those thinking of getting into it I would say do your homework.

The right job with the right company makes all the difference. I'm home weekly, being out for weeks at a time wouldn't work for me. I don't run the same route all the time which also wouldn't work for me. If a person truly likes driving, has the right attitude and finds the right job they will never work another day. If not I sure hope they find a local gig where they go home at the end of the day.

 

rookies complain because of unrealistic expectations
after 35 years owning fishing boats i sold out in 2010
I wasnt sure of what or who I was or would be
If I wasn't Captain Pete
but I dont miss what fishing is today
I miss what it was growing up
just like old truckers
so here I am back driving just like when I had boats and trucks in 1980
the trucks are nicer
the laws are worse