Stacking the deck in your favor Pt 2: Getting started on the right foot.

Yes,.. restricted routes and low clearance listings.

Not meant to be insulting,.. but have you never opened a road atlas? Or were you being sarcastic?


Hurst

 

I prefer shorts, a Tshirt, and topsiders so I can take them off and drive in my socks easily. I put on all the rest if I go to a shipper or receiver that requires PPE. The rest of the time I think comfort is more important than keeping up with the supertruckers. I do condemn the flip flop wearers though.

 

Lots of good stuff here!

Yep, you can learn something useful from pretty much anybody. You can also learn what not to do from almost anyone, none are perfect. In other words, always use your head.

95% of being successful in anything takes place between your ears.

 

You live in Alberta. 15 feet term no problem! There's 3 overpasses that I can think of that are low around Edmonton that aren't truck routes either.

 

Never have. I drive a mechanic truck locally. Just curious about how you guys figure out where not to go since I am considering a career change in a few years.

 

This is how I used to feel sometimes when I was a "trainer" back in the day.

 

Personally I wouldn't change from what you have.... or atleast not go trucking full time. I've been doing this almost 7 years and there's some days I'm seriously thinking about getting out of it. I have those days more and more often now. That's not to say I don't love what I do. I love rolling down the road in my shiny peterbilt pulling a 10 axle with a big machine on having people give me the thumbs up. It's the emotional part that's taking its toll. I'm tired of not knowing what I'm doing from day to day. Wondering if there's going to be work. Making plans with friends or trying to have a social life is pretty hard also. Things change on a daily basis. I went from a nice easy 9 hour day on Thursday to blowing a rad hose, fixing it, going for my reload which was a filthy mess/not ready and that turned my day into a 14 hour day. Maybe I just need something more stable or maybe I should just get into machine operating. I dunno. I'm almost 27 and just some days wonder if I can keep doing this job.

 

Its really not much different doing what I do. Different BS, same result. I wish I could just go into work, do my job and go home. I'm happiest and most productive in that situation. It almost never works out that way though. I guess maybe its just wanting a change of pace more than anything.

You mention not going trucking full time. What kind of opportunities are there for part time?

 

I'm sure some place might want a part time mechanic and part time truck driver. Pretty much need something like that at my company right now. I work 90 hours in a week and the last thing I wanna do is wrench on days off. If I was you I would stay in the oil patch and not even consider going long haul.

 

I'm trying to figure out the worst investment on earth..the wife or the truck...pass the blunt...