Educate me on becoming a trucker........

many times, you are expected to drive up to the max hours. you start showing low driving hours, you may be the butt of the dispatching office, and may end up sitting for hours at a truck stop or rest area., as you show that you just cannot handle the job.

you will have appointments to meet. many times if you miss an appointment, you have to call your company, expect a butt chewing and then reschedule that appointment, which can be the next day, or several days later, all for the big ZIP in money.

 

WANT and WILL are theoretically opposed yet are Equal/Required At Many Companies Despite What You Were/Will Be Told At Orientation.
Somedays You WILL, somedays You WILL WANT, Somedays Your WILL & WANT Will'nt Matter.
Some Run Days REQUIRE THE FULL CLOCK!
Some Days/Nights You'll WAIT LONG TIME, then be EXPECTED To Run Some Miles Regardless Of How You FEEL OR "Do A 14 And Call/Text/Send Depart Message (YES, ALL 3) And Expected ARRIVE Time AND ARRIVED TIME!!
FEELINGS Not Important. Trucks Don't Have FEELINGS. Your FEE-FEES R YERS- -DON'T SHARE W/US!!

Some Of The Shiftier Companies:
Dispatch = "I No Care If It's Snowing. Doesn't Look So Bad. Load More Important. GET MOVING!!
CALL When You Arrive!!"
Sometimes Safety & Dispatch is The SAME Person.

There's More Fer Later.

 

Here's some cdl schools. Don't have to be a military veteran to attend.
Google the name of any school and check the schools website.
~
CDL Schools with Veteran in Mind - CDL Vet

 

You should be! Lol! See here’s the thing…it ain’t all bad. There are still some actual drivers out here that take pride in what they do. They practice lane control, they take care of their equipment so it’ll take care of them, they know what a bathroom and a trash can are for. They can actually back on a door with out blocking part of your door. They know they are not the only ones out here trying to make a decent living for their families. They don’t fly thru construction zones and they have a little patience when someone is backing in a spot when they’re obviously tired and he’ll some of them will actually get out and spot for a driver that might be struggling a little. If you spot one of these rare birds you might want to get out and give him or her a fist bump (since I guess we shouldn’t shake hands anymore) and thank ‘‘em for being a pro and keeping our families fed and clothed! I mean that’s my $0.02 I could be wrong….

 

Do NOT BE This Ding-A-Ling:

West Side Louisiana, I-20.

 

That’s pretty ridiculous but at least he didn’t hit anything!

 

Probably the very first thing you should come to terms with....is that...as a beginning driver, especially.....this job involves A LOT OF HOURS.

As has already been referenced earlier here....when you go on duty, you will work with 2 clocks.

The 11-hour clock is for driving.

The 14-hour clock is for on-duty time.

Those are both serious clues for you--that tell you this is NOT a 40-55 hour per week job.

You need to come to terms with that--before you go any further.

If you are looking for a 40-55 hour per week gig, then trucking is definitely NOT for you....

In my experience with OTR work--your biggest problem(s) at the truck stop are NOT the so-called, "lot lizards."

Your biggest problem--by far--is simply FINDING A WORTHWHILE SPACE TO PARK.

This is especially true in the northeastern US, where freight rates are typically better.

Finding safe, legal parking there at the end of your shift can be an absolute nightmare.

Some truckstops are basically full ALL of the time.

Also--like any other line of work--there are good dispatchers, and there are bad ones.

Probably your next biggest problem to understand is that some (or even many) dispatchers will treat you like you are a machine--and not a human being.

Disrespect comes in many places/forms--don't tolerate an environment where the load you're pulling is viewed as more important than your own safety.

--Lual