Trying to decide if Truck Driving is right for me...

There are lots of pros and cons to any job. Truck driving is a very tough job with some negative aspects above and beyond the extreme risk you are in.

Last October I decided to get my license and started researching companies. I had good offers from smaller companies that ranged from door slammers on a dedicated weekly run to trucking for the entertainment industry(could be gone for long tours) and finally, to trucking for a small open deck company(also home weekends).
For the past 3 1/2 months I have been working 60-70 hr weeks, home Thursday night, local delivery and load on Friday and home Saturday and Sunday.
I'm loving it. I have a new truck that I'm very proud of and the people I meet are good people. I look forward to the end of each reset!!

BUT- here is the bad. I've never heard so many sick sounds as a truck stop or reststop washroom. I hate using other peoples showers and no its not like at the fitness club changeroom. You put your good driving and insurance record on the line hoping that you don't run into a Leo thats having a bad day. You are in an industry where a small mistake could cost you large, not like in an office job where probably nothing will be said.
Truck driving is a mentally tough job where you have to drive for yourself and every dummy around you on the road. You have to be watching a mile ahead, all around your truck and out behind you. You have to memorize directions because you darn sure don't want to count on a GPS. I did that once and ended up dragging my wagon across somebodies front yard to get out of a residential neighborhood that my GPS took me through. I hope I never get in that position again and if I do my pretrip planning properly- I shouldn't.
Your "honey do list" is going to turn into a book because 36 hours goes by in a snore!
Speaking of books- you need to keep an accurate record of every thing you do- at least while driving. You need to make sure you know all the hwy rules and regs for each stae you go through and if you pull O/D well, you better have all the permits and know what they say.

 

Thanks for the links - I've not had a chance to look at other parts of the website yet

 

You might want to look into jobs like concrete mixer, lumber yards, dump truck, beer/soda trucks, just look around you as you drive around, when you pay attention you may be surprised at the opportunities. Then knock on doors and be prepared for filling out an application and an interview. Believe me, you can get into trucking with out going OTR with a BFI company.

 

Thanks rocknsand,

I don't really think those types of jobs would interest me - not rally interested in doing delivery type work or construction.

Really, I'm just interested in drop and hook kinda jobs - local and regional even 5 days out and home on weekends would be cool.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone

 

wow, it seems that many are not happy with what they are doing.dont take all u read as negetive industry standard. i have doing this on and off for 23yrs i'm otr and love what i do. i take pride in what i do.it returns what oyu r willing to put into it,

 

Glad I read this thread. I'm about halfway done with my training and got the cold stiff punch in the stomach as to what life OTR is really like. I can't say it isn't for me... at least not yet. I think I will enjoy it a good bit more when I am no longer with my trainer...

But I am now putting up safety nets... Being away from family and gone seems adventurous until you do it and the novelty wears off and the fear sinks in as you pass a fellow trucker jacknifed in the ditch with the trailer on top of the cab...

I may be looking into something local/LTL/straight truck.... Though I'm not real sure where to start...

Will keep everyone posted...

 

Thanks for the responses guys.

deviltalk - gotta take the negative with a grain of salt - if it was nearly as bad as some of these people make it out to be there wouldn't be a trucking industry at all - the government would have stepped in and shut down these companies long ago.

There have been some great responses from others in both private and in other threads that really tell a much more believable story.

I've watched a lot of videos on you tube and what I've learned is this:

Basically - if you go with a company you've not researched you're going to be a miserable sot who hates their job and can't wait to get out.

If you take your time, decide what it is you want to do with your CDL and find a company that fits your situation by researching and (here's the big key) INTERVIEW THEM, you should do fine.

I know from my past experiences - interviewing is a 2 way street. I guess a lot of people forget this.

Too many people get nervous at an interview for various reasons, but mostly because they think the interviewer is in charge. This is not true - we are all in charge of our own lives and make our own decisions.

No one is holding a gun to anyone's head saying "take this job or I'll shoot".

I've always researched every company I've ever worked for and when I interview I make sure that for every question I am asked, I ask one of my own in return. It really puts the interviewer on notice that I know my worth and I know that a companies most expensive and biggest asset is the people who work there.

 

I would say it will be hard to find a job that is the right fit for you. Those jobs do exist, but most require some experience. Try looking into something like linehaul for Conway, R&L, etc. That's about the only thing I can think of that fits what you describe (no touch freight, show up, hook up, deliver, backhaul, park truck, go home).

The only other thing would be some sort of dedicated run. Even with that you won't be home too often, unless you happen to be running close to your house.

 

You said it best

 

Sorry jbatmick - I missed this post completely,

No, I live in nw florida between Tallahassee and Pensacola.