New to the Trucking World

I do not care what sex a trainee is, or driver. I have seen many very good female and male drivers, and some of the best I have seen have been female.
They would probably pose the same questions to you that that gentleman did.
Sex has nothing to do with this job anymore. At one time it did, and not the way you think. It had to do with the fact that 20 years ago shower and bathroom facility's for female drivers were very hard to find. The single showers we have now are a new thing, most use to be communal.
Also trucking use to include allot more driver unload than it does now. Though I have seen plenty of female drivers over the years that did not have any issue unloading freight or slinging chains on a flatbed.

Yea, there are still some around that think of this as a mans job, but those are retiring every day and are in the minority. Most of us would like to see more females on the road, just for a different voice on the radio or someone better to look at than me in a truckstop.

Out of the drivers I see enter this industry male and female, 50% will not make it 6 months. and we will loose another 25% of that initial group by the time a year is up. Not that it is really that physical of a job anymore, most company's only want you to drive and not waste your onduty time. This job can be emotionally draining and physically grueling due to the hours worked each week.
I saw a shirt that explained that the other day, it said "What does a truck driver call a 40 hour work week? Part time." Most weeks you will be on your log as working at least 60 hours. Many times you will be up against your 70 hours in 8 days. I personally reset every weekend, since I use 60-70 every 6 days. It is just part of the job, and I am home so it works for me.
You will find yourself on the road for a month at a time and some weeks only taking in 350-500 bucks due to lack of miles. Even though you were sleeping in that truck every day, and not able to go out and sight see, go home, or choose to do more work.

You will be away from every thing and everyone that you know. Yea, we have phones, skype , and other methods these days, but that is still not the same connection that most people are use to. I can say you will learn allot about your thought processes. Since for many hours every day you will be alone in your thoughts. It is amazing where those odd thoughts can go at times lol.

All I can say is do your best. Keep an open mind and do not blame things that happen to you on your sex. Most training company's treat all new drivers like dirt. It does not make you special. If you do your job. Always deliver every load on time once you commit to it. Or in case of mechanical issue, or road closing (the only excuses for late loads) do everything you can to get that load to a driver that can get it delivered on time.
The better you do your job, the more the company will trust you. The more they trust you the more money you can make.

 

That school has a good reputation. Get the hazmat endorsement while there. Don't let recruiters pressure you and your team mate; pick the company you want.

 

Before doing any teaming, you may want to get at least a couple of years of solo experience. You never know who you may get as a team driver.

 

No team mate for me. It crossed my mind. I get motion sickness too bad to try and live in the back of a moving truck.

 

Really? It puts me to sleep like a baby. I feel like the truck is this massive mother using the road to rock me to sleep.

 

OK, no team mate; that's good to know.
Now, start looking for a trucking company that has the types of runs you want. Do you want to run coast-to-coast? Not all companies run coast-to-coast. Some companies try to sucker new drivers into dedicated driver unload accounts where you spend more time unloading trailers than driving. Some people like that,but most don't and that's why those companies constantly recruit for those accounts.
Many companies have 100% no-touch freight or 98% no-touch freight which means the customer unloads while you take a nap or loaf or watch your TV, etc.
Think about these things and start submitting job applications as early as a few days before CDL school starts.
Let us know what you want and we'll help you with some company names that hire new CDL grads and have your preferences.
(This post is directed to the OP stillgoin77 and crunchy)