No BS opinions please.

Look intio Roehl, they have a yard in Ellenwood on the south side of Atlanta. They will train you and thier training is good. They will hold less of a debt over you. Once you get the one year in alot of doors will open

 

Well goodtogo, I appreciate your thoughts... but disagree in full.

First off, judging a truckers pay by using hourly standards is foolish. It simply doesn't work. Most truckers don't "work" seventy hours a week, and the work they "do" typically entails alot of extended sitting. I can handle upwards of 40K a year for (for newbies) relaxing in the drivers seat listening to the radio. This is not to downplay a truckers work by any means, I just want to point out that the compensation is fair for the work employed. There are certainly worse fields to get into.

As far as one's "time" and its value... same as above. Trucking is a highly obtainable profession that has rather extraordinary pay for the amount of time one actually puts into the job. Indeed, time is spent away from the family, but that is no different than the typical buisiness man or sales rep who must travel in order to put food on the table. Besides that, trucking is an extremely diversified career. If one doesn't want to spend time away OTR, then he doesn't have to.

Yes, it's true... your "average" trucker may have an image problem, and this forum may represent the higher eschelons of the trucking realm. I can only say this... after three years of working closely with politicians, appointed officials, trustee boards, and snitty office women gossiping the day away...I am looking forward to the open road. I can honestly say I'm not sure whose company I would prefer... the typical truckstop driver, or the typical pissant politician who thrives on lies and an inflated view of himself. At least as a trucker, I don't have to associate with anyone (another perk in my view).

I'm sure we've all heard the saying "A CDL is a working mans college degree". I think thats true. Keep your nose clean, be safe, and stay professional, and you can pretty much write your own ticket. 40K-50K per year is solid money for a working man...and is completely reasonable to expect within the trucking industry. Otherwise, the ole college degree is waiting.

God bless!

 

Trucking probably isn't what you think it is. The first couple of months are "hell" for most people because of the learning curve in combination with the lifestyle change. If you stick with it you will find the pay decent, especially when you consider you are essentially an apprentice truck driver at the beginning. Personally, I listen to an average of 3 books on tape per week which I check out for free from my local library. Since I take my truck home and don't have to load and unload every time out, I also keep books, an adjustable dumbbell, and a guitar in my truck. I like the time alone. But here's the problem: I have a family. When my youngest (6 years) says to me, "Dad, I wish you had a different job so you could be home every night..." well, you can see the problem.

You will work long hours. Don't think for a minute that you will have lots of spare time. Yes, physically, this will be easier than almost any other job you've had.

 

Grandiego,

You said;

"Trucking probably isn't what you think it is.

No, I'm sure it is. I've done to much research and know to many truckers not to know. There are draw backs, no doubt. I'm just pointing out that the draw backs can and should be balanced with all of the benefits. And as I pointed out before, trucking is unique in that it offers many types of jobs that vary in pay in order to suit the individuals needs. To offer blanket critiques that scorn the industry as a whole, in my view, is just ignorance on display.

As with any career, you get out of trucking what you put into it. My suggestions to anyone just getting into the field (such as myself)... live within your means, keep expenses low, and be content knowing that there are scores of oppurtunities in the industry....be patient, and be safe. I don't have a "pie in the sky" view, I just realize that trucking offers many possibilities that other careers just can't, and I'm actually looking forward to it.

 

I would suggest avoiding the advances from the company. I always try to carry the cash I need and work to not spend any if I can. I do not eat in the truckstop except maybe a breakfast once a month.

 

500 a week during training is not bad, all things considered. The question is; how long does training last?

Of course there's a maximum. Lessee,there's a max of 77 hours driving, or 168 hours per week doing anything at all. I won't speak to other drivers,but during my training I typically drove 8 hours a day and spent maybe an hour on line 4.

Since we didn't have to babysit the trailer/truck, trainer and I could wander off and get food, etc.

in three weeks, I was on my own truck hauling my own loads and making as much as I needed. So, belts are a little tight for a couple weeks. Plan for it and it's not worth getting your knickers in a twist.

And this is different from half the other jobs in the country in what way?

can we see numbers on this? I certainly have no problems running legally - without getting fancy with my log book. AND I make as much per week as I need.

Additionally, it's almost trivial for any company that uses Qualcom (or any similar device) to compare your logs with that and any of a dozen outside references. Run illegally, and you can quickly find yourself out on the street.

Now, there's a degree of truth to this. However, if you drive defensively (7 second buffer, don't get in a hurry, etc) and keep your logbook legal and accurate, the worst you are likely to face is termination or a fine. Start cooking your logbook, though, or do other stupid things, and, yes, things can get ugly, fast.

finally, a real concern. Though the question really isn't 'do you want to'. The question is; "Can you leave your family for weeks at a time?". Obviously, for something like 70% of all rookies, the answer is "no". Just as obviously, for hundreds of thousands of us, the answer is "yes".

It's harder than it sounds, and the phone - while it helps - isn't a cure.

Unfortunately, I know of no way to find out in advance if extended absence would pose a family problem.

In some ways, it's worse than being deployed military. When deployed, the servicemember is gone for months at least, and a year or more. The stay-behinds can establish a family routine and after a week or so, all is normal. A trucker, on the other hand, is home every few weeks - just in time to mess up the routine... again, and again.

Still, it's not all that awful - can't be, or an entire industry would collapse.

 

O boy. I have to be honest with you. And I mean no disrespect. This post is the one of the most pleasant, cordial and well written I've seen from someone who obviously does not know what they're talking about.

You are just going to have to trust me on this. I agree, we drivers spend a lot of time doing a job that really doesn't seem like working. And relaxing and listening to the radio is really awesome for awhile. Although it gets old, dull and boring real quick. But If you make 40K in your first yr of trucking you are living to work. Typically newbies do not last long in the trucking biz. Most truckers don't either. 130% turnover. OTR is a turn and burn industry. Most drivers don't want to be lied to, used, and have their time worth no value at all. So they switch companies hoping for a change only to get more of the same. Soon they just leave the industry altogether. The pay is an illusion.

An hr of time doing one menial task is still an hr not doing what you want. The hrs add up sooner in the OTR world than the miles.

 

Goodtogo,

You opined;

"O boy. I have to be honest with you. And I mean no disrespect. This post is the one of the most pleasant, cordial and well written I've seen from someone who obviously does not know what they're talking about.

Sorry chief, I'm just not going to buy what your selling. Your nothing but another flash in the pan complainer who obviously hates the boat he has landed in, and is now content to share his misery with others. That's fine, this is an internet forum after all. But once again, I know to many intellegent and honest gents who have a different story, and have stated that trucking has been good to them and their family. You can even find those types of folks in these forums. The question is... am I going to listen and give heed to your hearty belly ache, or, am I going to put stock in the advice of those I care about and trust? The answer is obvious.

I'm sure you are disgusted with your profession. I would also bet cold hard cash that your disposition affects your work in total. You know, the type who hates it all so bad, that he believes anyone who claims they like the trucking industry is simply stupid or lieing. It seems to me that any man who makes a point to float about online to tell others how much he hates his job, would at least have the virility to quit, and occupy his leisure time doing something other than trying to convince others to be as unhappy as himself. I've heard nursing is a good field to get into now a days. Why not jump into it, and save yourself the whine time brother?

 

Being said salesman now, I cannot agree more! And, the best part is that you don't have to associate with other "salesmen" at tradeshows, hotels, etc. A bunch of fat, arrogant dishonest guys who think they are god's gift to sales and then turn around and pull down 30k/yr. Good money in some industries ... but never in sales.

I don't think I could imagine EVER missing the office. A bunch of petty, catty women who have nothing to do but gossip and complain about how much work they have to do for so little pay ... wait a minute, there's some truckers like that too, huh? However, you don't HAVE to work with those kid of people. I was the happiest when I had my own business - and will be happy again having an "office of one" on the road - save for the dispatcher, shippers/receivers and other folks. Oh, and no one standing behind me watching me work - that'll be nice too.

If I had to pick right now: I'd kick it with a trucker any day before a politician / salesman / etc.

Downside, I'll miss the heck outta my wife and dogs. That's the only thing holding me back right now and keeping me in my little sales/office hell.

 

because it would require real work and schooling which would not allow him to complain about how awful the trucking industry is. Guess what, you see that little handle to your left? You're free to pull it, open the door anytime and walk away ... and if things are as bad as you say, then that would make you pretty smart, no?

i've always maintained that SOME of the negative opinions you get on this site are biased - because if you were out making lots of money and relatively happy with your profession, you wouldn't have the time to whine smt088) on a blog. There are two types of opinions on this site that i take with a grain of salt: the overly optimistic and overly pessimistic.