Cudos, and my feelings.

If any driver tells you that they didnt have the same fears they are lying.trucking is a learning experience.every day you learn something new.I call it paying your dues,but your first year is a tough year.low pay and rotten trainers can make life a little rough but most of us had to endure it.If you can ask questions and for help in bad situations you will be okay.

 

The one thing that you absolutely can not allow to happen in this business, is to become "RUSHED." No matter what happens, you have to be methodical and take care with what you are doing.

A very wise old trucker told me when I first started, "Do not waste time, but NEVER get in a hurry." Every problem that I ever encountered when I was trucking, had something to do with the feeling of being pressured in some way to "hurry up." Whether it was at a customers doing a load or unload, doing a docking maneuver, backing into a spot at a truck stop, or driving down the road.

When you rush, you get careless. You also increase the chances of having bad things happen, exponentially.

Other than that, you sound like you would be an ideal candidate for driving a big truck. Perhaps, since your wife is actually behind you in this, you should listen to what she is telling you.

 

Charleston, SC is a good location for several types of trucking; intermodal, tanker, reefer for the grocery warehouses in the area. It's really a good area for tanker/hazmat with all the chemical plants along the Atlantic Coast. Make sure your blood pressure is OK, even with medication & your sugar levels. Come on and join the truckers world; it's another life experience you can think about someday while sitting in the rocking chair.

 

Don from a long time driver I thank you for the recognition,we don't hear this much,but I agree with what everyone has said in above posts,you would be a welcome addition,it is a little scary at first,we have all been there.again thank you and Good Luck with what ever you decide to do.

 

Don,
Many thanks for the kind words mate. We hear it far too little, I know I certainly have over the past 20+ years.
I haul oversize, up to 117,000lbs. Rushing is not an option for me.
Do I get with the program at times to beat a curfew, outrun some bad weather that would shut me down, and so on? Sure do.
But being at a shipper, receiver, truckstop, rest area, or anywhere else for that matter is not the place to be rushed.
If folks dont like it, they can deal with it. I also haul windmill blades in the summertime, 180+ feet long. Talk about holding some traffic up! Wrong way turns, shutting down a town to make it through safely, and so on and so forth. this job will be what YOU make it.
I also agree with the other posters that suggest you give it a go. I am confident that you would be an asset to the profession.
All the best, and good luck with your decision.

Martin

 

All the above posters are telling you the truth and are not steering you wrong buy any means, getting rushed backing up, driving in inclimate weather and so on will get you in trouble,use your rushed upbringing to take a shower, get in and out and etc.....

 

Let me start out first by also saying thanks for the kind words, like the other drivers said it don't happen much. Did have someone thank me in person one time and come to think of it I was in a rest area in South Carolina. If you like living in solitude then this industry would definately be a good fit. Where else can you get paid to travel and see the countryside? Plus its one of the few careers where you can live anywhere in the country or world even. I've got towns picked out in every state where I would live if I ever decided to move there. I too think you should take your wifes advice and start driving. The good Lord knows we can use someone like you who actually wants to be out here doing this and not just out here cause there's nothing else to do in their hometown. Those types usually end up making it harder on those of us who do want to be out doing this job. Just think of this saying "Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game." A little bit of fear is ok to me, just means you'll respect the job a lot more.

 

To echo what everyone has said above...sounds like you would fit in perfectly.
As stated above, we all have had those fears and I still get a little anxious when I know I am approaching a snow storm, or get a plan into an area I know is not the best, or if I am planning my route and start to think about if I will have the time to get to a stop, unload, get to my pick up point and make it to a safe haven before I run out of hours, but it always works out.

 

Hey Don go for it while you still can, at least when you are older you will never be thinking that " maybe I should have tried it."