Much of that is by poor choices though; low pay, unhealthy lifestyle, overworked, out of shape. All this can be avoided and still be a long haul trucker. Many long haul truckers make great money, eat healthy foods, not overworked, and in great shape.
By great money, I mean over $60K per year. Staying in shape by brisk walks during down time & some jumping jacks beside the truck. I only ate 2 meals a day my whole life; hate breakfast with a passion. Maybe unbuttered toast and coffee for breakfast, have a balanced meal for lunch and eat off the salad bar with no dressings for supper and that's it for the day. I drink maybe 20 cups of coffee with powdered creamer, no sugar, every day.
Get all the endorsements for a good start with a good company and enjoy your new career.
First Steps
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Poor_Dog, Oct 11, 2014.
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If all you are is 20# overweight, I wouldn't worry about it. Since you seem to be ok financially, you shouldn't have the pressure most new drivers have starting out. As chinatown said, get a DOT physical on your own and go from there. Good luck. Be safe.
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Best Regards,
PDhal380 Thanks this. -
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Poor_Dog, Tidewater Transit has a terminal in Decatur, AL just South of you.
With hazmat/tankers you have to get with the top companies that hire new CDL grads to make that; Superior Carriers, SVTN, Trimac, Tidewater Transit, etc.Poor_Dog Thanks this. -
The thing that jumped up and surprised me about trucking -- the thing that nobody mentioned or that maybe I never heard properly -- is the number of hours truckers work in a day.
DOT rules limit commercial drivers to 14 hours on duty and 11 hours of driving.
Consequently, the industry norm and common expectation is that a driver use all those hours up.
This makes for some grueling long hours driving and doing driving related things day in and day out.
The HOS rules have distorted the industry in a way that makes a joke of the intent of those very regulations.
Once your 14-hour clock starts, your day begins until it's time for your 10-hour break. Tick-tock.
Exhausting isn't the word for it. -
It's a hard adjustment, but if your wife is the type and you can be together 24/ 7... it is great having a companion and seeing the country together. Don't forget teams make good money, especially if both checks are coming into one household.
dennisroc Thanks this.
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