Is truck driving a good fit for me? Details inside.

LOL At least he didn't post a pic of himself. LOL

 

I'm a female truck driver and truck driving can be fun, but is really hard and stressful that first year. Turnover rate is like 130% if you have a class of 20 new truck drivers only about 5 of them will make it to their first year. It can be stressful and you have to be able to deal with a lot of situations especially as a female like
1. Not being able to shower for a few days (you get creative. Always have body wipes, isopropyl alcohol 32oz bottle,carry 2 gallons of water, plastic wash basin, soap)
2. Some customer's WILL NOT let you use their restroom even if you are a female. Most of them are nice enough to break the rules for a female but not always. Always have a 64oz plastic cup and TP (Some rest stops don't have restrooms).
3. Get used to being the center of attention when parking the truck sometimes, especially when you are having a bad parking day. Some guys are helpful, but don't count on this. Some will just watch you struggle to park a truck and do nothing.
4. People are still not used to female truck drivers so some might mistake you for a lot lizard even if you are wearing "normal" clothing. I nearly cursed out a guard at a TA for this and I got an apology and a free diner lol.
5. You'll need a deep reserve of patience. Dealing with customers, traffic, 4 wheelers, dispatchers,ect.

 

3/4 of # 3 I disagree with. Most men be more than happy to help you but they don't cause their afraid if they try to help ya back up etc....that you will think their pervs looking for a piece. Danged if we do and danged if we don't .

 

Some of you guys DO look "pervy"...Lol J/K
But for real though, most guys are really helpful especially when sliding tandems...

 

OUCH!!!! I have all my teeth and their pearly whites. see told ya!! LOL I seen a woman struggling I'd be more than happy to help. But you have to admit first thoughts that woman thinking when he jumps out to help is OMG here comes a perv. LOL Now me I'd take that chance and care less and help. But being stud I am I'd be more worried you think I like ya. ..............quit laughing!!!

 

That true you get under a contract with them to pay it back by working for them. but local training and located most are their terminal is pretty local to you. You would be in a regional area 5 or so states or full OTR all 48 with most schools that offer that kind of training but I know you can find a few that are truly local but as expressed the majority want a year of exp.. for local

there are CDL schools that you can pay straight out and get a bit of training but then you would still go though a company training program once you found a company you like nest if you really want local and some real training I have found is to talk to the closest farmers and crop hauling companies and one man/lady operations might find someone that will train you for free and give you a job I find this viable around these parts at least as long as they are willing to verify your experience and can back it up with pay stubs I have taken on a couple of of folks and after training I put them into my extra truck till they had what was needed.

no is not really treat crappy just put you with a driver that cares more about the miles and pay check than training proper. during the winter is not a good time to start that in case you get a bad trainer. in spring or early summer is best then you have some experience before hitting some of the worst road conditions possible For instance when I first started I went with a trainer we left the terminal and he sat with me for about two hours then pulled out his map and told me what rest stop he wanted me to stop at and to wake him about ten miles from it. in the 6 weeks I was with him I backed up a total of twice once in a dock and once in a parking spot at TS every time we got off the interstate he took over so I had no training just wheel holding lucky I spent my life backing up harder things than any dang 53' box.

good can't fear them but as he said must respect them its got more weight in rubber than than most cars these days

yes they will do their best to get a female driver to train you. just pointed that out as a possiable situation you may have and not have thought of

truly depends on the company but will have you do atleast regional take where I live for instance regional for most companies includes WI.IL.MO,IN,MI,OH,KY,TN,WV,and PA

that is good to hear as it is truly one of the least thought of prior to getting out there and then it becomes a good drivers worst fear and always at the top of their minds.

 

USX has OTR, Regional and local jobs

 

correct I have yet to meet a local that went straight into it from training yet don't mean they don't have them or you can't

 

I can't speak for every driver, but I don't see men and women out here. I see car, car, truck, rig, truck, car, car, car. In the truck stops it's obviously rig rig rig. If I see someone struggling, I help them - because they are doing the same job I am, making the same sacrifices I am, and having the same problems that I do. It's because we're drivers. Not male, female, black, white, Hispanic, European, African, or anything else. Your truck is just as big as mine, it hauls just about as much stuff. Who cares about the pettiness of it. I know I'm viewed as a generally bad driver at first appearance because of my company. People come to expect hell from a Schneider driver. But still I have had random acts of kindness from other drivers, and other drivers don't care who you are or who you work for if you help them.

Of course there are the anomalies. The pervs and creeps. You have a head on your shoulders and a brain in that head. You've undoubtedly dealt with these guys before. No different.

Fear of trucks - to be honest, even in my own 4 Wheeler I get nervous around semis. Just the size difference is what freaks me out a bit. Once you're in the big truck, just have a healthy fear of pancaking someone or something - anyone or anything rather - and you'll be fine.

I'd be surprised if you got a class A and went straight into local driving, but if you can then God bless you. I'm right now looking at Millis for my next company, and it looks like they have a CDL Program. I am not finding the successes I want in SNI, but they do handle you with kid gloves. The first 3 weeks are training, driving with a trainer, and more training respectfully. The first 90 days solo are dedicated to one thing - staying accident free. They want you to be on time, but they care far more about you making good decisions and not hitting things.

About your previous schooling - would being a truck driver help you in any way in those fields? Then of course they won't help you in trucking. You get paid for rolling down the highway, not being a nurse.

About the only thing I think would get under my skin is coming across a female driver who couldn't do something by way of her gender - "can you help me, I'm just a girl" doesn't fly in my book one bit. Get used to doing everything a driver has to do.