Anxiety about driving a big truck.

And he had not had a job for 20 years?

 

Sounds about right

 

there we go. that applies to all of life actually.

 

Big rigs are FUN FUN FUN.

What's Matta wid you? (Rhetorical question)

I remember my first rig ever. B model dump truck, we three kids were the dump load in the back, daddy was up front with our friend AJ Corts. Took us all to the Blue Mountain Quarry not far down the road really gently with that Mack. His shifting etc was flawless (It had to be...)

Then he gave us a ride on a older CAT Tracked dozer with a push it blade, it's job was to clean up spillage around a big crane drag job filling haul trucks. And so it will shove gravel back to the drag scoop pile in between haul trucks. It's not very rushed job at all. Everyone had a specific part to play.

I was maybe 6 that day. Remembered it like yesterday. Still do. That was probably the day that defined my intention to be a trucker and later on a heavy equipment operator depending on the situation.

The Yankees would not be bohered to deal with me, so I migrated to the south where these kind folks did frankly never gave a #### about my challenges as long I followed instructions properly. Or they will find someone else who would. I had all sorts of oppertunties to do trucking and heavy equiptment many times in the south. I don't "Feel" disabled when near a loader or dozer and ready to work from sheer motivating. I'll worry about the accumulated pain later when I get home. The problem is everyone and his cousin can do this work all over the state and there isnt any room for me lolz. (That's not a bad problem in terms of low unemployment)

Anxiety? HA. I laugh at the concept.

Now... if Daddy is stupid enough to bring in his children onto my property (A ready mix plant for example) and three kids spill out of the cab to get really close to my front end loader to see this cool machine working... I'll set the bucket down and shut off the engine. I wont move a #### inch or lift a single rock or grain of sand until those brats are safely corralled out of the way where they cannot get hurt or killed.

that might be a little anxiety of my part for that reason. Fear actually. It wont be the first time or the last.

Anxiety is normal when learning new things. Or going into battle with something really important but unknown to you; How deep is that snow in Cabbage but more importantly how is that ice in Fort Bridger past Odgent into WY? You don't know anything until you get there and find out for yourself.

I cite these two specific places where I might keep a small silver flask of something in my vest pocket. Totally against DOT rules and so on. Anxiety does not exist and fear is something that I just laugh at. I make decisions and execute them for better or worse.

If I hear the radio weather service band crying constantly there is 20 feet of snow in zero zero blizzard coindtions, I'll park it in the Dalles ice and all and wait a while. It might be 5 days but there is a scale house for haven, there is bathroom, food, fuel movies and companionshiop. They will let us know soon enough when Cabbage is open again and more improtantly Fort Bridger in WY.

If you cannot get up each morning without being consumed by anxiety for no reason at all... and take medicine for it... Trucking IS NOT FOR YOU. I don't give a *#$& what you think. You have much bigger problems in life than simple anxiety. In actuality, you have probably some form of Mental Heath sickness, your biggest job is to find a doctor, talk it over find out what the problem is and FIX IT PERNAMENTLY. FAST.

 

when i was in school during the raids of Rasputin, the school had an additional brake in the passenger seat area, it was a trolly brake. VERY good enough to stop that rig, i can assure you.

 

i can FULLY understand what you are saying, i think many of us have had that.

in my current job going on 7 years now, my boss is in a different state, and we talk via cell, or emails, or when he comes over for a safety meeting. the corporate HQ, is alos in yet another state, and only when the safety man has to have a yearly meeting, do we get to meet him face to face.

as far as my customer, i deal with them nightly, there is really no more than a simple "hello, how ya doing tonight", from both of us, or if they have a small hazmat box, they tell me about it.

over the years, i too have had to deal with the wide array of people, but once i started doing dedicated, for a couple dozen years or so (i cannot remember the exact date, could be 3 dozen now), i have found that doing dedicated, gives me as close as possible to being on my own, and NOT having the same issues as so many others have.

 

I've gone a whole week full of anxiety but then my adrenaline kicks in to help out, then im running each day or night with only 3 to 4 hours of sleep. ..sometimes felt like i wasnt even sleeping. Thats how I burned out over time. I hated waking up every morning or night realizing all the stress that was coming my way. Driving 10 to 11 hours a day thinking of every regret or negative memory in my life, and positive memories as well... sucks driving for hours a day alone if there are problems at home or other worries that keep you up at night.

Not so much being afraid of driving big rigs for me, but everything else that is going on in my life/ negative thoughts/emotions will trigger a panic/anxiety attack.

As you can tell by these posts most people, including myself can't relate to what your going through. We all live in our own little world, thats why I keep to myself and will figure things out eventually.

I hope the best for you. Seek mental help or spiritual guidance. Or the dog helps too!

 

The guy that posted about being a gate guard and staying in your RV nailed it. I would be all over that. See how it goes, save your money and then see how you feel about trucking. At least you would be around it. Good money too.

 

If you post where in the country you are living it might help others come up with some open job possibilities.

You may or may not be able to get a medical depending on if the examiner believes you have these under control (assuming you disclose them). If you don't mind the RV there are quite a few things you could do that wouldn't require you to live in a truck with your dog, including CDL work that doesn't require a med cert.

One poster mentioned being a gate guard for an oil field, but there are tons of construction flag type jobs where your RV would allow you mobility to just hang there and make good money. They aren't likely to care about your past employment so long as you make them feel warm and fuzzy about showing up on time for work. Show some work ethic and you can probably run a truck of some kind for the same construction company should you so desire if you have the CDL.

Living in a truck with a dog of that size may be a bit of a drag. Another thing to consider is if you have someone to take care of the dog should you decide to hire on to a company to drive. Most dogs like to go out and use the bathroom more than once in 12-14 hrs.

My advice:

If you are offered free training take it. There are non-interstate CDL jobs that allow you to self certify and use your CDL without the medical. (construction/oil field/quarry/local/etc) If you get a medical for interstate CDL work, just keep in mind that NO company will let you have a dog while you are with the trainer. I recommend local jobs like the ones mentioned that will allow you to utilize your current living situation to your benefit and you would be able to care for your pet.

Regarding being nervous about driving a big truck, that is everyone here when they started. Guaranteed. You don't immediately take the truck on the street with traffic and being cautious is better than a "super trucker" attitude.

Best of luck to you and drive safely out there!

 

What's up brother. One thing you have to remember about trucking: "You have to learn to eat ####, and like the taste of it." Keep those words in mind, and it will greatly reduce yoir stress level. You could even apply that to life. Fact is, there's a lot of bs that comes with trucking. It's the things that we don't have control over that can cause the most stress. You cannot get riled up over what you can't control. Luckily, you came to the right spot in which you can talk to people and get guidance. You should give it a try, be patient, take in everything little by little....it'll gradually come to you...after all, you have nothing to lose.