My Advice

I as I prepare to start school in a couple of weeks I spend a couple of hours per day reading the post. I find it surprising how many future truckers don’t even make it through training. From everything I have read here it does appear that the first few months are designed to be hell. Some call it paying your dues, I refer to it as Trucker’s Boot Camp. My advice is to begin preparing yourself mentally for what to expect prior to even enrolling in a CDL school. If you have any second thoughts you need to address them prior to signing on with a company. As new truckers we are almost forced, not completely, to working for the larger companies. As a new employee it doesn’t matter if you are working for a trucking company or a large retail chain you are nothing but a number until you prove yourself. Obviously there are situations that may be out of your control that will affect your training, but for the most part it seems that most of the companies operate the same as far as training goes.

Here are some of the issues I have put a lot of thought into:

Living with a stranger for weeks on end while in training
Being away for long periods of time
My family situation and how lack of home time affects it
Beginning pay and my financial needs
Where I live and how it affects my career
The stress associated with driving a truck
Being alone for long periods of time
Dealing with idiots daily
What are my options after 6 months or 12 months?
Maintaining a healthy life style while on the road

These are my main issues that I have addressed and answered. They are very basic, but anyone of them could make it or break it for a new driver. My advice as a future trucker would be to take a long hard look at what is required of an OTR driver, most new drivers are OTR, and make sure that you can handle it. I think you best chances of success are based on you being mentally prepared for the worst.

 

Thanks for the replies. I am looking forward to moving onto the next stage. I have personally addressed all these issues. My version of hell here is living in truck for several weeks with a trainer. Not that it is going to be all that bad, just not my idea of fun. Actually I am looking forward to learning the ropes. Hope I get a good trainer. My kids are grown and my wife can live without me for several weeks at a time. These issues are crossed off my list. I am ready to get the CDL, get trained and get out on my own. I just hope some of the others who post here will address the issues that affect them before spending money to become something they are not prepared to be.