Whana be a Trucker

There are few jobs more demanding than long haul trucking. If the kids are gone, the house is paid for, and you like to travel do it. My wife was my navigator for 22 years. We have seen all of the US and most of Canada. After you learn be with a company that allows her to ride with you. It's as hard or easy as you make it. Dispatchers will push you till you drop. Don't let them. If you think it's not safe park it! Call safety! Your "Travel Agent" goes home at 5:00 His only job is to make the co. money. If you are looking to get rich, keep looking. Want to know how much you and your wife love each other? Take her with you for months on end. If I had it to do again, I would not change a thing. 54 is a late start, but eat right, excersize as much as you can, and see as much as you can. It can be a wonderful life.

 

Starting pay is going to disappoint you, I'm not going to lie about that. You're not going to make what you expect. You're not going to make what vetrans make. You're going to be at the bottom of the totem pole for several years.

You'll have two main choices:

1) Make money and never go home (why some companies promise 40k+ a year to start).

2) Or, go home and wonder where your next meal will come from. If that truck isn't rolling, you aren't making any money. If you lease or buy a truck, you lose money if it isn't rolling.

You will need to make alot of sacrifices and compromises to stay in the industry, and over time these sarcifices will take a toll on your mental and physical health.

This job isn't for everyone, and it isn't for the faint-hearted. You have to really be sure that this is what you want to do before you make the commitment, otherwise you'll never make it through training. There is more to the job than meets the eye. Driving the truck only counts as a small portion of it.

 

dmd56 your quite welcome. I am not sure of the young mans posts myself. My Wife always said she had every womans dream job. She always knows where I am, what I'm doing, and always told me where to go! She was in the truck 24/7 with me. That truck gets real small when she is angry with you! Not like you can go have a beer with the boys and let her cool down! You develop a bond with her most couples never have. It made us stronger. The only time we were apart was when we had to go to a bathroom break, or shopping at a food store. Buying each other presents was a challenge. Our Daughter lived in our home, to have someone there. We went "Home" 2-3 times a year. If you get a Good dispatcher they will ask you where you want to spend your time off and route you a load there. Like I said before, it can be a great life.