The real reason so many new drivers don't last...

Thats why I'm concerned going to these training schools and dumping $5k - $6k.

I mean there has to be a cheaper way to obtain your CDL.
Maybe thats why so many people get freaked out and quit.
Their thinking crap I have to pay this money back, maybe I'll just try something else.

 

Hey Frdr
I am not sure that you ever drive a truck.
You need to work for AF rec. Office Maybe you could brain wash some drivers to join.
You dont need to brag about money you making.We all doing the best that we know DRIVE.

 

Alot of that comes down to how you plan your load, I rarely run at night(after 10pm) or get rolling earlier than 7am, could I make a LITTLE more money if I did? YES! But I like how I set my self up, and I never feel safe at night, I can start driving after a 8 hours of sleep and STILL feel like Im going to doze off.

 

It is well known Columbus's crew complained about going out too far. He had to trick them the whole voyage and tell them they where closer to Europe than they really were. Yet they still found America.

 

And the mongols and vikings got better salary and benefits. Mmmm, wenches and loot.

 

Hmmm... wenches....

 

I recently completed orientation at Werner. Out of 10 people, two that I taked to had issues about being away from home. One of them went with his trainer and one went home. The one that went home said the recruiter didn't tell the truth. Following A long conversation I determined that it wasn't the recruiter who spoke with forked tongue as much as it was this individuals selective listening. The other person was a single father with a young son at home who hadn't considered that it might be a year or more before he could get a gig that woul get him home frequently.

Bottom line is that many don't consider the reality as they look at the job through ice road trucker jaded eyes. As my wife and I considered our options one thing was evident, it was going to be lonely for a while. The term we used was it is going to suck from a relationship point of view. Truth is, it is easy to sit in front of the TV and romanticize about being the modern American cowboy but it is far more difficult to actually live it day in and day out. At least today you can talk to each other for free using a cell phone. Imagine how bad it was when you had to wait for a truck stop to make a long distance phone call to find out how the latest crisis was doing at home.

Nope truckin ain't for everybody. It takes a strong woman to be married to a trucker. And it takes a stable relationship to endure.

 

I have been going though this forum and you are one of the few that have anything positive to say about the trucking industry. About to make a career change I am attempting to get a firm grasp on what this industry entails before jumping in with both feet. I realize that within any industry you will have many disgruntle people utilizing such forums to vent there frustrations. Having been in this industry as long as you have and still having a positive out look is there any advise or avenues that you can recommend for me to look at to get an accurate view on the pros and cons of this industry.

 

Ah, i couldn't have summed it up better myself. Thanks.