Well.. in my opinion, trucking is good for someone with no responsibilities behind him. No need to have a house, bills etc etc and just run hard OTR (tankers) and save some money over the years and invest that money into something (business) you can run locally and move on up the ladder in life. It can't make you rich but it sure can provide for you and your family. It's like a stepping stone in life, leading onto something bigger.
Always compare apples to apples and see what fits in the best under your circumstances. (Newbie) Working for a company for a $600-$700 (gross) paycheck a week makes no sense. You can make that anywhere locally and be able to sleep in your own bed, eat well (fresh, warm, and good tasting food), spend time with loved ones and the list goes on..
Also, it's the only industry I can think off, that you can get into by getting a 4-6 week training at a CDL school and get a job guaranteed. So, from that perspective, it's not all that bad. Just my 2 cents..!