Blog Topics with New Truckers in Mind

There are so many topics that new drivers will want to discuss and they're hard to itemize. But spend a day or two reading through this Forum Topic and you'll see a lot of common threads and you'll also see a lot of approaches in responding to them ... some helpful, some not so helpful

pathways to the trucking industry
OTR vs Regional vs Local trucking models and the differences for the driver
CDL schools vs company training
Types of trucking (van, reefer, flatbed, oilfield) and their pros and cons
training finance and work commitment issues
missing family
the "Lifestyle", what it is, what it isn't
having realistic expectations in the beginning and looking forward
the difficulties of managing the truck in backing and turning situations
skills needed, both in regards to actual driving and dealing with people and problem solving
time management, on the road, and at home
money management, bills/mail handling
maintaining a "home" vs being a gypsie (for the singles with few family commitments)
dealing with odd and varying work hours
dealing with the "newbie" stigma
eating healthy and affordably
dealing with weeks and months where practically every load really sucks
dealing with trainers and team issues
Mountain driving
snow/ice driving
trip planning

I could go on but it's a start

 

It's interesting. The list that STex suggested was discussed at the trucking school I attended. Guess I was lucky to have gone into this industry with my eyes wide open.

 

STexan hit a lot of good ones.

I'd do one on the image of trucking today, why it's degraded, and what even the individual driver can do to improve that image.

Dealing with safety issues, both directly (if you have to work on the truck) as well as safety departments.

I'd periodically do an "odds and ends" sort of blog post, as well. Little tidbits, like why you run slower in hot weather with a step-deck (small tires), stuff like that.

If you're really ambitious and have the know how, get into the mechanicals of trucks, as well. When a driver knows what the truck is actually doing, it can greatly improve their driving and the way they treat the truck.

 

As a soon to be released solo OTR driver I would appreciate a blog like you've proposed. I have noted the same trends in questions. One thing I have learned to do is "mining" the forums BEFORE I ask the question b/c is seems in so many cases there are several threads running at the same time that are dealing with the same topic...So maybe "How to find your own answers first" topic? I guess I may have just contradicted myself there...feel like a politician.


Charlie
"Resistance is not futile; I will not be assimilated."

 

Do a search and see just how many trucker blogs are already out there.

 

I would suggest that you just blog about your day to day experience from the beginning throughout your journey. It will automatically be divided up into sections like your time before school, (trying to find a good school or what route to take) then your time during school (along with searching for a company to drive for) then after you graduate heading off to the company of your choice, attending orientation etc... next you will be heading out over the road with a trainer for a couple of months. Once you upgrade from your trainer you will be classified as a professional solo driver! From there you can post about your day to day struggles and triumphs as a solo over the road truck driver.

There are quite a few threads on this site like this if you want to check them out and see how things went for them. I'm sure everyone's experience will differ but as far as the natural progression of the endeavor, should be somewhat similar. Maybe you could also include a short daily vid or commentary and/or some picts!

Good luck man, looking forward to reading about your journey!

 

I have done this and am still doing it. Covered all the topics here and then some. I can't advertise, so look at my handle and deduce from there...


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