How Do You Know If Trucking Is For You?

One of the trips I remember is right after I had carpel tunnel surgery and couldn't ride my motorcycle - Klingon wanted to distract me and hey I couldn't work for a week anyways. So the direction we chose was North - out of Sacramento - we hit a couple parks and Mt. St. Helen - almost made it up into Canada (but didn't have our birth certs to get back into the US). It took us a couple days and I saw some beautiful stuff. One of the BEST vacations I've had!!

 

Earning your stripes the first year is hard on any new driver as they don't get a true picture of how things are. Work hard and things will fall in place once you have your school paid off and you can call the shots where you want to work.
Stuff that might aggrevate you at first, you learn how to deal with where they don't bother you later.

The first time you quit is a true test. I remember all I could think about was getting back on the road. You start looking at things differently. It does get in your blood and when the road calls you, you know it's for you.

 

I - as a wannabe and hopefully future driver (crossing my fingers) - cannot possibly say whether I will actually like driving or not. Who can? Even those who state "driving is in my blood" even before they have gotten behind the wheel may quickly find that they absolutely hate it. Oh, I like the "solitude of driving", etc., but that is a personal vehicle and not for 500 miles a day, every day.
I've always had an interest, but never thought I'd actually make that decision to go for it. I've been content being a nurse most of my adult life, but now just down right hate it! So I decided I want to give driving a shot. What do I have to lose? (I'll beat the jokesters to the punch and say "just my home, shirt, dog, sanity, and so one..haha)
I may find out I hate it....but....I also may discover that the job is a great fit for my personality. Notice I stated great, not perfect.
What I do know is that if I do not at least give it a shot, I will alway wonder: what would it (being a driver) have been like, and why didn't I go for it?
Making money is why people work, but even so, it is not the one and only most important thing in my life. The "adventure of seeing the country" (yes, I know what you will say); the excitement, anxiety, good fun, bad times, beautiful sites, ghettos, bad weather, and the angst you feel by getting jacked by your company are all things I anticipate and am looking forward to (excepting the anxiety, ghettos, bad weather and angst..haha).

 

haha.. don't be a smart ###, we all now the law allows 10 hours driving and 4 hours on duty time but the fact is we work longer then that much of the time.. I was actually being nice by saying 15 hours it's more like 20..

 

I'm sorry what exactly do you disagree with? I made many points..

 

Lets see, I don't let people get under my skin, I always have 11 hours to drive. I don't mind working for $2 an hour. I seldom sleep. I have a hard head and a stinkin #####. I have nerves a steel. I'm smarter than everyone else. I like being alone. I don't mind waiting 12 hours at a grocery store warehouse while Jody is at my house drinking my beer. Yep, I wuz cut out fer this ####

 

the only way you will find out is by doing it. i hesitated for years, and even when i finally went to school and through the whole process i had so many doubts because of all the freakin pessimists. i almost got scared out of the best job i have ever had because of people like that. and i spent years in jobs i hated because i was too scared to take the risk.
its what you make of it, the way i see it people who think this industry is so horrible and focus on the negatives are the ones not cut out for it. thats my rant for the day.

 

Good luck at CRE cuz you are going to need it.

Why? I hear they are better than Werner. I tried Millis, but they denied my app.