is it worth it?

turnover rates and "driver shortages" are a company created issue. Most companies prefer the truck over the driver. It takes a LOT of patience to put up with some of the BS these companies pull. Especially when it comes to HOS and truck repairs. Then again, you can ask a room of 10 truck drivers a question, and get 50 completely different answers. So differentiating between the driver that can "git r done" and the guy that's gonna go out and roll the truck after the first corner can be tough. All the while dealing with customers who probably don't like trucks or you to begin with..... It puts a lot on the plate of the company/dispatcher/etc. It's a special kind of person that can handle driving a truck. You have to put up with crap in all directions. Not being home, law enforcement, companies, shippers/receivers, other fools in truck stops, taking care of yourself (eating properly, exercise, etc), your family life at home. All while managing your route, driving a 70ft (or so) long, 80,000lb vehicle, and avoiding 4 wheelers bouncing all around you like a pinball. Don't forget logging your time to within 15 minutes. Is this job for everyone? nope. Is there money to be made? Yep. You just have to understand the game and play it to the best of your ability. Just like every other part of life, and only the person behind the wheel and their family can decide if it's worth it to them.

 

Is this a good outfit to work for? You gotta wonder how these guys find these unknown places to park. He's been right next to the hotel here sometime during the night and all day.

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Do you ever get aggravated with 4-wheelers always wanting to pass you? What about when they pass you and then slow down? Are you ever tempted to just rear end them?

 

Sorry man, I hope I didn't influence you being a cynic! I personally love trucking and was very successful at it. I gotta tell you though, it was not easy! There are many ups and downs in the business, however probably one of the hardest opstacles is adjusting to the lifestyle. If you think it may be for you, go for it! I just wanted to kind of let you know both sides. A lot of that turnover rate is guys listening to recruiters getting a loan for $5000-10,000 for school then being put with a trainer and realizing "holy crap what have I got into". Now you have a family at home and your not a quiter and your now living a nightmare. Sometimes its the littlest things too like when everyones in bed and they just loaded your truck, your tired, but you now have to drive 600 miles so that you will get there in time to get your next load! The upside is it's a hell of an adventure! Your in a different state just about everyday, the freedom of it, the decent pay, eating good food and meeting lots of different people. Stopping in Vegas for the night or going skiing in the wintertime. Give it some thought as to what you may think it is like living in that truck. Maybe you might now somebody that you can ride along with to check it out. Good luck!

 

In response to Endzone; YEP! It takes a long time to slow down and get going again. Really sucks when you are the one paying for fuel too!

 

I never intended to imply that everyone is like that. But a lot of people let their libido have complete control of them, and for these people, the relationship can not last with trucking. They will find someone to get it on with.

 

wow I hope the lot lizards doesn't hijack my hubby,lol
only if we all could have our dream jobs or win the state lottery,lol

 

It does irritate me when 4 wheelers act a fool around a truck, but it irritates me because they can CAUSE an accident. No one knows how bad something can end up being. Would I ever do anything on purpose to cause any kind of accident? The answer is no.

 

Chompi,
In the expert advice forum on here there is a thread Called
http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...ice-about-trucking-without-sugar-coating.html

It is a good read and I do not Sugar coat anything I am polite but I take all the BS out of it.

 

No Chompi, it wasn't you that influenced me, and a lot of the upside that you just said are things that attract me to this profession. It's just that I've also read the downside, and there seems to be a lot of that from a lot of people. It's not scaring me away, but it is something that's needs to be strongly considered before going forward with this profession. If I do this then I want to be the best I can be at it, and will give 100 percent. Nothing is for certain, but I do want to be a sure as I can that the effort will pay off in the end.