How Do You Know If Trucking Is For You?

Keep us informed as to your progress. IF you have diesel in your blood, we want to hear every detail.

Here's a little story, which has some bittersweet memories for me. One day, you'll have your own stories. When I was in the UK, the shortest job interview I ever had was "Can you go to Austria for me, tonight?" My answer was "Sure. I just came back from there."

My dispatcher for that company became a good friend, but in my move to Canada, I lost touch with her for a long time. When we finally did get back in touch, it was to hear that she was dying of cancer. She passed on, but my memories of her are vivid. She'll be alive in me for as long as I draw breath, because we shared some good times, and she was part of MY trucking history.

 

My first question for you would be do you have a wife and kid's and if you don't do you ever want them and if you do, do you want to keep them? The reality is the guys that keep driving the longest are usually single and if they weren't they usually become that way shortly. The statistics are sobering to say the least. The majority of the truck companies out there especially those that hire newbies don't care about you or your family whatsoever.. You sound a lot like I did when I first started driving. I really loved trucking and still do but I found over time that I love my wife and kid's more. So I'm not arguing whether or not this is the job for you or whether you'll continue enjoying it but whether or not you'll keep on doing it I guess. Of course there are local jobs that would be more family friendly but they are few and far apart and the amount of money you can make is usually much less. Another problem I had that you may have in the future is the consideration of how much time you spend in comparison to the money you make. I mean your friends that don't drive for a living doing desk jobs or whatever are working 8 hours a day and making more money then you are working 15 hours plus a day with twice the responsibly and danger.. So to summarize if you care a bunch about family or the lack of money you make in consideration of the danger, time and risk your taking then your days are numbered on the road. ahhhh I feal better now.

 

My first question for you would be do you have a wife and kid's and if you don't do you ever want them and if you do, do you want to keep them? The reality is the guys that keep driving the longest are usually single and if they weren't they usually become that way shortly. The statistics are sobering to say the least. The majority of the truck companies out there especially those that hire newbies don't care about you or your family whatsoever.. You sound a lot like I did when I first started driving. I really loved trucking and still do but I found over time that I love my wife and kid's more. So I'm not arguing whether or not this is the job for you or whether you'll continue enjoying it but whether or not you'll keep on doing it I guess. Of course there are local jobs that would be more family friendly but they are few and far apart and the amount of money you can make is usually much less. Another problem I had that you may have in the future is the consideration of how much time you spend in comparison to the money you make. I mean your friends that don't drive for a living doing desk jobs or whatever are working 8 hours a day and making more money then you are working 15 hours plus a day with twice the responsibly and danger.. So to summarize if you care a bunch about family or the lack of money you make in consideration of the danger, time and risk your taking then your days are numbered on the road. ahhhh I feal better now.

 

That I have to respectfully disagree with. Then again, our family is a bit unusual in the fact that I am a retired driver, so we already knew what to expect from the industry. Hubby's not on the road right now, but that's due to an injury. He's on the road to recovery, but I will be having back surgery soon, and that means he has to stay off the road a bit longer.

 

15hrs,,,? I thought it was 14hrs a day...?


SheepDog

 

almost any job now is better than trucking. college is the better option. getting a degree will make you earn more money in the long run. i'll be starting out with CRE soon. i wish i could've gone to college. don't get me wrong. i do love trucks, but i know the industry isn't what it use to be.

 

I knew I loved it the first time I woke up and stepped outside. Man, I love the smell of diesel fuel in the morning! Been a good few years for me while I was driving, I tell you what.