Trucker Lifestyle Questions

Really good questions. You're one of thousands of IT people changing careers to trucking. Trucking is a good choice and a good career. Yes, you can make $70K - $80K and the best way to achieve that quickly is in hazmat tankers.
Now, where is your location, so we can help you with a trucking company cdl school since that's what you want. Depending on your location, you may not have to go OTR.
Some trucking companies will reimburse tuition if you attend a private or community college cdl school.

You can stop any time you want to shower, eat, restroom. You'll probably be on electronic logs, so learn to manage your time efficiently; once you learn time management your life on the road becomes more relaxed.

 

He said trucker lifestyle, not broker.

 

He said no wife no kids and doesn't mind being alone. This is as "trucker lifestyle" as it can get. Nothing but saving money.

 

Sometimes you'll park walking distance from a restaurant, often you won't. A sleeper will have enough room for a small fridge/electric cooler, and there are various ways heat/prepare hot food, so you won't be entirely at the mercy of truckstop fast food joints. Fewer and fewer truckstops have actual restaurants.

I've never used truckstop wifi. You'll pay for it, and I only ever hear complaints about it; but satisfied customers usually don't say anything at all. I do just fine with smart phone and a fat data plan for my Internet needs, but I don't stream content or use my laptop for anything but viewing content from my hard drives.

If you have a highly developed sense of justice, the unpaid work you will do will stick in your craw: sweeping out trailers when the shipper requires it, pre-and-post trip inspections, mandatory non-compensated safety meetings, continued instructional training videos (which, if not done at a company terminal, you get to use your data to complete), driving X number of miles but only getting paid for X-Y because of how distances are calculated, and more. That's off the top of my head. If you can grin and bear it, keeping your eye on the exit, you'll be alright.

OK, I'm done. Time to watch Cowboy Bebop and get some shut eye.

 

OH Boy let's see involuntary servitude for a year or so for sure under BOHICA rule. First job after probably won't last a year. Talk to people and use forms to get a feel for these companies. If you're running interstate and legal you will shut down every twelve to 14 hours for at least 8 to 10 hrs. But don't do ANYTHING when off duty that has a time stamp ie fueling, truck wash. qualcom page etc. If you fuel every other day showers free or around $8.00. Buy a headset and wear it on r/s most places won't hassle you but some will sure. Best to pay close attn. Yes can listen to most anything you want ex It guy ope wifi sucks use pay for. Davis safety course is almost universal with Companies and simple took it about 5 times so far.
Now the average driver turn over is 50% nation wide and after they did stupid about two years ago they are dieing for drivers.
Cos I won't work for JB Hunt, Schneider, knight,Ups,overnight,EPes.
I have a lot of fun and love it. But it ain't easy. kittypower

 

Good luck to you.

 

OH here we go again with the involuntary servatude crap. NO one makes anyone take a job they don't want.

Now that's out of the way, to the OP's questions.

You will have people breathing down your neck and micromanaging everything you do as a driver.

You will not eat at the best places and you will have to get used to dealing with other truckers who are idiots. You will wake up from 10 hours of sleep to the smell of piss and other odors which can make some vomit.

You're given 10 hours to rest, use it wisely, don't fall into the trap of being a gamer or wasting that time doing nothing - sleep.

Your class mate is full of crap, if he was offered a job at 80k, he would have taken it. No one in trucking is that good or an expert that they can turn down wages like that, no one.

AND got to tell you my IT years, even system testing and dealing with idiot medical clients was never as stressful as my trucking profession. I had to get off the road because of the stress, then I decided it would be easier to own trucks and manage them, so I did that until I returned to local work being a temp driver (which was actually fun). BUT never been stressed in IT like trucking.

Have the right attitude, treat this as a profession, NOT A JOB. Do not worry about the details because you will learn how to adjust to them and adjust them as you go and please don't listen to people about these mega companies, you make it what you want it to be.

 

Well, actually the best thing you could do is get hired on at Pilot/Flying J and fix their POS Wi-Fi and Internet!

Seriously though, I feel your pain having been in wireless for many years, and finally burned out on the same problems you have. At least I didn't have to hear "I can't find the any key"

So to answer your 1st question, yes you can rock out as hard as you want and as loud as you want, fart, wear a dress, whatever spins your crank.

2. It depends on who the wireless carrier is and where you are, coverage can be sketchy unless you're sitting in the middle of a metro area.

3. You fuel when you need fuel, and with the loyalty cards, you will accumulate shower credits, so showers are at your leisure and when you have the time. If you run hard like I do, it might be a day or more before you see a shower. I always try to hit a shower and dress appropriately before going to a shipper/ receiver so I come off as a professional driver and aren't making their eyes water like some guys out there do.

4. Not so much, you can't just roll into a IHOP with a truck and grab a bite, most of them aren't setup for TT parking, and eating out three times a day will get expensive quick. A lot of folks have different ways to cook in the truck, crockpot, electric skillet, George foreman grill etc. Better for you and your wallet anyway.

5. Yes the tech has improved, but it can still get you in the wrong place. Remember it is GIGO, so don't expect it to be perfect...

6. Like IT, recruiters will blow sunshine up the your wazzu to get you to go to orientation. Now, keep in mind that just because you get to orientation, doesn't really mean you actually are hired. It just means that you made it to the 1st round interview. You'll most likely have a job with them at the end, but you or they might decide you're not good fit for that company. Jobs are everywhere due to the shortage of qualified drivers, so you don't have that problem. Your strategy is just like most other folks getting into this industry, just do your research on companies and see what fits you best.
Most importantly, READ everything they put in front of you before you sign it. There are some shifty things companies will try and slide by you.

Good luck!