My observations as a rookie

I have a few months otr under my belt so I figured id share my new found "wizdom". Otr is similar to enlisting in the military. You fill out an app, speak with a recuriter, if you meet the basic requirements they move you on.

The whole hiring process they weed those out who dont meef requirements, there is no interview like a normal job. They bus/fly you into orientation, they process you and off you go with your trainer. There were many before you and there will be many after you. Not all of you will make it.

In fact, my class lost more recurits in training than when I was in basic for the Marine Corps. The first two weeks will probably be the hardest, we had 3 guys jump the truck the 1st week alone. Remember you must adapt and overcome. Otr is no cakewalk, its not a road trip with your buddies. Its tiring mentally and physically. My first week out I almost jacknifed on elk mtn, icy roads 50 mile winds pitch black and a 6 percent grade.

I dont mean to discourage anyone but if you have a family and are desperate for money, dont do this job, the odds are heavily heavily against you. All the guys that jumped the truck quit because of their families. Ill continue this on my laptop

 

ok to continue on. Going back to the bootcamp comparison, the govt. recruits 18 yr olds because they're easy to mold mentally, in shape physically, or at least you can get them in shape and most importantly they don't have families for the most part (well no wife, kids etc).

Training will be the hardest part, you're basically your trainer's ######. there are some good ones but i think there are a lot more bad ones. They can be dicks, and disrespectful, many will use you to get miles so they just view you soley as an atm and believe you me they will milk you all they can.

Once you're on your own it does get better, you stop when you want, you get more privacy, literally being with the same person 24/7 for a month or more in a confined space is brutal, how guys team drive I have no fing idea.

As others said, the public disrespects you, I already got flipped off, my experiences with other truckers for the most part have been positive, most of the guys I've talked to were pretty friendly and helpful.

dot and other "occifers" are another story. cops talk down to you, see you as a rolling atm, imho most of the cops i've met are extremely low class, and bottom of the barrell (I guess we do have something in common with them after all! haha)

The pay will SUCK!! Again going back to you with families, in the beginning you're take home pay will probably be around 450-500 if you're lucky. keep in my your dm will run you light at first to see how you do, also they will take deductions (load locks, "reserve acct") etc. also training pay isn't a heck of a lot, as low as 300 a week for some companies. My advice never take out advances, I have never done so but guys I know dig themselves into a deeper hole every week.

if your trainer doesn't have a fridge buy a cooler, you can get ice at any truck stop, and by cooler i mean a big cooler not those lunch bag type ones. i dont know about you but i like having my drinks cool.

i personally avoid truck stops unless i need fuel, shower, or sometimes food. i much rather park in a rest area, my almost near accident was in a truck stop backing, remember they tell you to "GOAL" for a reason.

I've always been a lone wolf type of guy, don't get me wrong i'm not a loner and have my share of friends but don't mind being alone but driving in the middle of buttfreak kansas on a saturday night SUCKS!!! you can pretty much say goodbye to all your friends if you're otr.

As for girlfriends, seen it waaaay too many times where the chick leaves the dude or the guy ends up quitting. Again it perplexes me how people who have sagnificant others think they can hack it but theyre completely shocked to find it isn't what they think.

PEOPLE you can't go home when you want, if your kid is sick, it sucks but you're screwed! i personally can't deal with it, if you have a family and do otr i respect you all the more believe you me.

Technology- I pay $200 a month for my cell phone and internet wireless, call me a spoiled baby but I could NOT do this job without it, it's my only connection to the outside world, Do NOT rely on truck stop wireless or wireless from any other sources, they're pretty much non exsistant, I have never found one to be useful.

I remember i was waiting at a shipper for at least 3 hours and this old timer next to me sat in his cab the entire time rubbing his bald head, the dude looked MISERABLE, I have no idea why he didnt at least lay down in the sleeper or go walk around (well he was your typical fat dude).

Speaking of which, I try to stay in shape and I'll go running around and do pushups at shipper/recievers or whenever I can but the weather doesn't always cooperate and I'm ashamed to admit it but I have gained a few lbs otr, luckily with diet and exercise on my home time I'm in the process of shedding it (not that i'm fat fyi, if i ever became a sterotypical fat trucker i would probably throw myself in front of a moving truck).

Speaking of that, you would think truck stops would offer variety for different types of food but nope, you're pretty much stuck with mcdonalds, subway, arbys, and dennys (my dick of a trainer always made me eat while driving so dennys was out of the question not that i would eat there anyways). I bet if i opened a panda express at one of these truckstops i would make a killing.

So do I enjoy this job? I'm not sure haha, I don't hate it, I could see myself doing it for sometime. an ideal job for me is to run psuedo otr, kinda like regional where i'm out 3 or 4 days (well i guess that is regional haha). or eventually become an o/o.

oh yeah i almost forgot to add my demographic observations. I'm from CA (yes thank you for your sympathies). I have never seen so many white truck drivers until i left CA lol (if you're from there or been there you know what i'm talking about). CA has a majority of mexican/latino drivers (nothing wrong with that at all) but i find it kinda funny they oynly stay inside ca, like there's some imaginary do not cross line (please don't make this political lol). the minority drivers i've met are the women folk (all white too incidently) and a few others (again this is purely my observation please leave politics out of it).

most of the locals i've met were pretty friendly, i find the best area for otr is the midwest (cleanest, nicest people, seems like an ideal place to live) pretty much stay away from all the "outside bordering" states in the us lol (westcoast, south, eastcoast).

so who do i think would make a successful otr rookie?
if you have these contributing factors i think it will help you
-no family attachments (kids, wife, etc)
-ability to stay away from home, you'd think it'd be obvious but apparently it aint lol, also this was the hardest thing for me personally since i love to surf and you can't do that in butttfreak kentucky.
-dont think you'll make money, not right off that bad, i've personally seen way too many guys struggle just to eat. I am fortunate enough where i have very little expenses, my total expenses including food etc I budgeted for 1200 a month, training pay barely covered that so imagine if you have a car payment etc, won't work.
-if you're not in shape get exercsie, otr is very hard physically and mentally, driver fatigue was my worst enemy. keep in mind you'll be driving these little one or two lane roads at night where its pitch black and all you see is what your headlight sees, that puts a great deal of strain on your eyes and it is VERY tiring.

Again I not trying to discourage anyone I'm just trying to give an unbiased pov, i'm sure i'm forgetting somethings but if you have any questions or comments feel free to chime in!

 

I'm from the "official" surf city haha (HB) although that should be saved for another heated debate dont get me wrong santa cruz, barbara, has some of the best surf spots around

 

i take the 57 to the 22 west exit goldenwest, my surf spot is usually 17th st