A question for vets from a potential newbie

I've seen things that not many people have or will ever see.

I picked up once in Gloucester, MA. The place I was picking up was on the ocean. I mean I pull in, back into, get out while being loaded walk about 500 feet and there is the ocean.

I have learned why the Rockies are called the Purple Mountain Majesties. I've driven by the exit for Deely plaza in Dallas and been right by Tombstone, AZ. I have been lost in Gettysburg, PA and gone through under water tunnels on the 95 outside of Baltimore. I have seen parts of DC from my windshield and professional sports stadiums.

I was in Vermont on the Canadian border on US 2. I wss so close that our cell phones located us in Canada. I have crossed the George Washington Bridge and been through the Bronx and Manhattan. Ran the GW at 3 am when it was lit up in purple.

I have come down the hill on 471 North out of KY into Cincinnati and seen one of the most beautiful skylines in the country.

I have seen blizzards in Maine and South Dakota. Almost crashed in a blizzard in Kansas. I have meet member of the Miami Indian Tribe in Oklahoma and eaten buffalo meat sandwhiches at Big Cabin in Oklahoma.

I have been through historical towns like Savannah and Williamsburg VA. I have driven by the Grand Ol Opry and seen the Ryman Auditorium and Hotel.

I have seen the arch of St. Louis and picked up beer at the original Budwieser plant there. I have seen the Atlantic in almost every eastern state and the gulf in Alabama and Florida.

I've been to California and picked up a trailer a mile from the NASCAR track in Fontana. I have stayed at the twins in California and I have seen Mexico from El Paso from the 10. I have been to Brownsburg TX the farthest southern point in TX before you enter Mexico.

I have eaten gumbo in Louisana and fresh seafood in Maine and I have fallen in love with New Hampshire.

Yes, you get to see a lot and while you can not always explore you really get to see parts of this country you would not see otherwise.

Btw, all the things I listed above was in the two years I was over the road.

 

yes that's about the only truthful thing the recruiters talk about is the scenery however once you've driven the same old route for the 1000 th time it gets kinda boring you know unless you decide to take the older state highway route those were really scenic much more so than the freeways.only down side is no truck stops you've got to hope you can find somewhere to park in the street although you will find some really nice eating places is some of these small towns if you can handle the leering stares from all the locals.

 

I loved OTR trucking and never got tired of it. After being in the Navy, I never got over the itch to keep moving.
U.S. Truck Driving School looks ok because it's 160 hours.
Careers Worldwide in Keenesburg is also good and many vets attend there.

 

It is true that you see some interesting country.

And it is most impressive the first few times because as the other person said you've seen it before and you see it from the highway generally.

There was a threat on here a while back discussing how different guys would travel through different areas and stop to go see the local attractions monuments Parks whatever.

As a new driver you most likely would not be doing that. But it is a different life definitely than driving a half an hour everyday to the same office and staring at the four walls all day and night.

 

Wow. Now you got my travel’n juices flowing.

 

Yep. I think so.

 

And one other thing that I wanted to add.

If you have a company that works with you you may find a lane that you travel in that you really like.

Like when I was in Southern California I used to go from Southern California to Arizona. I hated it. I hated driving through the desert. Some guys love it but I hated it.

Then I went from Southern California to San Francisco. I really loved making that trip. When you go from Southern California up to San Francisco you travel through all the Vineyards and it just for me was such a nice drive I enjoyed it every time I took it. And San Francisco myself is one of my favorite places. I've been there quite a few times on vacation, although it's been awhile now.

So you may find a place that you really like traveling through and that will make it a lot more enjoyable for you

Good luck

 

OTR trucking to me is the point of getting a CDL. Scenery, small towns with character, the challenges, different people from all over the country and then some, different types of food....I could go on and on. Often times drivers get caught up in the negative side of trucking, and talk about pay, regulations, and such. Stay away from those drivers. The positives for me, far out weigh the negative.

 

if you go with a carrier that does longer runs and does all 48 yes. regional carriers or carriers that stay east arent much fun. longer runs allow you to plan your days better around when you want to drive and where you want to stop, with things like the internet and uber there are many possibilities but longer length of haul is the way to go, but most carriers are going regional making it harder these days to have more time to yourself