I wanna be a trucker come hell or high water! I need some advice (or a lot)

Hello Truckers!

Let me start off by telling you a little about myself and what has brought me to this point.

For many reasons, I wish to remain fairly anonymous at this point in my venture. That being said, I am a 24 year old male living in Las Vegas, NV. I have had some very rough years despite my age, but before I get into that, let me tell you what "drives" me. All my life, I have always had to constants: 1) Being told that I can't do things 2) I have always been fascinated with anything that has wheels and a motor. I rebuilt my first engine before I even had a driver's learning permit. I am very technically minded and analytical. Once I got that driver's license, I was always on the go, down to my last penny for fuel. I have achieved more than many thought I would, especially given the adversity I have faced.

A few years back, I had the terrible misfortune of being involved in a car accident that changed my life and not in a good way. I went over five years with agonizing spinal pain in both my neck and lower back being told that I was "malingering" or making it up because the dirtbags I had as doctors and lawyers were just that... dirtbags, just looking to make a quick buck and cared less about what was really going on.

Eventually, last year I was lucky enough to find a surgeon that actually sat down and listened to me and gave me a chance. A test, that should have been done years before was finally performed, proving that I was right all along. Long story short, I ended up having to go through two spinal surgeries between Mid last year and the beginning of this year to repair the damage. It has been an unbelievable, horrific and excruciating ordeal. During all of these years I continued to work in pain using medications to get me through (barely).

In any case, I am finally at what feels to be the top of the mountain in my recoveries and things are starting to get better. I am starting to plan for my future, follow a long awaited dream, to take to the "Open Road". I know what some of you are saying... you think I am nuts or a glutton for punishment. Well that may be, but I know that dreams are never achieved unless you rise to the challenges to enable them to become realities.

I want to become an OTR class A truck driver. I want to achieve this goal within 6 months or less. I have a few hurdles that I know I must get through before this will be possible: my back recovery becoming complete, being able to pass the DOT physical, coming up with the money for truck driving school and finally passing the test and getting hired.

To give you a little background, I have been working for a bank for the last 4 years. I have achieved moderate success given my physical difficulties, but I am not happy. I know it's just not for me. There has to be something more than this. Over the last couple years I lost roughly a third of my income due to the economy, I wasn't making very much to begin with. I ended up losing my vehicle and my credit that I had worked so hard for. I am now in the process of going through bankruptcy to alleviate the remnants of these issues. Truck driving has always been at the back of my mind but now it is at the forefront and has been for sometime.

I understand that trucking is not everyone or even many at all. It is physically demanding, long hours, hard to get and stay with a good company. With all of that, I still have much better chances of not only making much better money both short term and long term but also enjoying my job and potentially making it a career. By the way, I am single with no strings to hold me down and I want to see the country being gone for multiple weeks at a time.

I have done my homework. I have talked to drivers, schools, researched the net endlessly. I still not only want to do it but I know I can. Will I be in pain? Yes, probably most of the time. Will it be difficult? Sure. Will it be impossible? I don't believe that. I know of many drivers that have bad backs and have even had back surgeries that are still trucking and making good money doing it. I am going to be in pain regardless of what I do, for the rest of my life, whether it be sitting at a desk or driving an 18 wheeler. I would rather do the latter.

So there is my background. I have a perfect driving record, and a stable work history. I hear there is a "shortage" of drivers. I spoke to the Southwest Truck Driving School and they told me that 91% of their graduates are placed in a trucking job making $40,000 or more and the majority of those making over $60,000 in their second year. I wasn't born yesterday and I know everyone's situation is different and schools will say whatever it takes to get the $3650 for tuition from you. This being said, I think that going through an independent DMV certified school is much better than trying to get trained through a trucking company and either being "stuck" with them for some time like a slave or end up owing them thousands, should things not work out.

What do you guys think about that? What should I expect with a DOT physical when the doctor sees my scars? What can I do to make this dream of mine a reality? Should I have my regular doctor do the exam or do I have to go to someone independent? What are the costs? Can I get a waiver to take my pain meds, at least when I sleep if my doctor says they do not interfere with my ability to drive should I need them?
What are the best companies that will take someone on like me? I want to hear what the pro's have to say about all this. In addition what kind of drug testing am I going to be faced with? Do most companies hair test (keep in mind I am asking out of curiosity here folks)?

Thanks for reading my book, and thanks especially if you are able to give valuable input. I know this isn't going to be a bed of roses but realistically, I believe within 6 months I will be able to do this.

 

Well, first off, thanks for your prompt reply, secondly, my back isn't coming apart anytime soon. My back, once fully healed will be as strong as anyone's if not stronger. I don't plan on doing flatbed which is where I read that most injuries tend to occur. I am looking at dry van or reefer.

As far as the money topic, trust me I am not making ends meet handling other people's money, they don't have it anymore. The bank has all the money and they certainly are not letting it go anywhere. My job is dead end. Little to no pay raises or possibilities for advancement. My job could be gone tomorrow if they continue their automations. OTR truckers may or may not be in shortage but they certainly are not being phased out. The rail system cannot close the gap and there is nothing in the near or even semi distant future that seems to be able to replace trucks. I have to make a change, because this is not working out the way things are right now.

 

Thanks Beast! That's the positivity I am looking for. You are right, a lot of it is learning how to deal with it. I do things a little differently to protect my back now, but I should have been doing them in the first place, just now they are necessary.

I do have high bp but it is well managed with medication and has been for a long time. No diabetes though, thank god...

 

I did some research both previously and just now on the blood pressure meds, they don't disqualify you so long as they aren't causing side effects that interfere with the ability to operate the CMV. The main thing is the blood pressure must be under 140/90.

 

I agree with that. I never got hurt doing all the crazy stuff when I was just starting out with cars, when I did it was absolutely not my fault and not preventable by any reasonable standards. It seems like it isn't you that you have to worry about it is everyone else out there.

I will never ride a motorcycle in Vegas again, I will tell you that much... Not only because of the heat but I had a lot of really close calls... the last one made me sell the bike the following week...


IN any case, everyone keep the tips coming for this newbie, I would like as much info from as many people in the "know" as I can get!