Wanting to start somewhere but having a main problem?

Lisa, Don't let others discourage you. Trucking is both exciting and scary! I do recommend that you stay flexible and focused in the first year or so. To do that you almost need to leave behind what is happening at home. Difficult to do, but it is key to being successful. You will be amazed at how mentally exhausted you will be at first, but so excited that you can't sleep the first couple nights until you finally pass out from being so tired! I think most women drivers do this, I know I did and so do my trainees! LOL! After the first week it should get easier with your trainer and each week after that. When you get your own truck, the nerves start again. You will have so many new experiences that you will need to focus on what you learned, preparing for the unknown ahead, and staying calm. Most drivers screw up when they are in a hurry and are distracted! Limit your distractions is what I think everyone is suggesting. At least for now! Good luck, be safe and be the best!

 

Only pet lovers understand? I love my dogs, Do they dictate my career? Bat crap crazy if you see the logic in that. My career pays for well being of my beloved dogs, The dogs don't have a career to pay for my well being. I bet my Boxers can beat up your dogs


You are not thinking this driving crap is serious. I don't care about your background or the spammed website

 

The good thing about the transportation industry is that it's not a dead end, the sky is the limit if you know how to play your cards right. Never listen to the idiot that has made nothing but lateral moves and has failed at every step.

 

Sorry about your loss Lisa. I can relate since my father passed just before I got into this industry. With this being said, I am trying to figure out what direction you want this thread to go.

You are asking about two dogs that you want to bring along. Unless you take Chinatown's advice and keep it on the downlow, you will have a difficult time finding a carrier that will let you bring them along. They do exist, but whether or not you can find one that is in your local area will be up to you to figure out.

I am a local linedriver with a great carrier. I also recently had a divorce. My ex currently keeps our dog at her parents house and I get to see him on the weekends. Why do I have this arrangement? Not because she wants to hang on to him more than me, but because of my job as a "local" driver.

Truth is, local P&D drivers will still spend up to 14 hours at their terminal/route/customer. My linedriver position on the other hand is completely unpredictable. I could be tasked to do a quick 4 hour turn... then halfway into my shift I could get a call from my dispatcher to bypass my turnpoint and head to the next terminal that is out of state and lay over for 10 hours in a hotel so I am legal to come back to my home terminal.

Unless you have local arrangements with your mum to watch your dogs while you are gone, you can expect to still be away from your dogs more than you will have time to spend with them. As for actually finding local work as a new driver, we've opened up more than enough threads on tips and advice. As others pointed out, do not be discouraged because you are new or a female... but on the same note, do not let your financial situation be the driving factor to get you roped into this industry. It IS a tough industry and we have a large turnover rate (mainly in the long-haul sector).

Good luck

 

The first local LTL guy i see bring a dog to work. I will buy the pooch lunch and write off the driver as crazy

 

Cheap lunch

 

I can't think of a single scenario where any local guy would bring his dog to work and have it with him in the truck. Goldfish in a Ziploc bag MAYBE... but a dog, certainly not.