What percentage of people make it

I completed school and started driving 21 yrs ago.......CDL still providing us a living.

 

a real bad mistake will get someone severly hurt or killed, then the driver ends up in jail for along, long time.

 

Right. I read about the guy in Denver.

I mean like minor damage to the truck from messing up backing or doing damage to a curb or something by not taking a turn the right way. Getting lost and not delivering on time.

Things of that nature.

Will companies realize you’re new and inexperienced and give you more leeway?

 

you will have to go see the safety manager. he will give you 10 whipping lashes, and a "don't do that again you naughty little boy" speech.

continued damages will most likely result in firing.

some compaines have zero tolerance, once you finish with your driver-trainer.

 

maybe 5-10% Not sure honestly but big companies like Werner and Swift some years have over 100% turnover rate

 

With today’s technology you literally just put your foot down and go. I have a hard time keeping my car in a lane. But the semi I could multi task and still not touch the white lines.
It’s only hard if you make it hard on yourself. No one is a pro over night. I took half a hood off of one of my own truck few weeks ago backing. So even 10 years experience we all mess up

 

"No. Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try"

"What percentage of people make it?"

Depends on whether they were trying or not. Trying? I'd say 10%. Are you going to try or are you going to do?

"What's the difference, Six?"

People that try, when they meet resistance, opposition, challenges, difficulties, etc...they give up and shrug, "Oh well, I tried." The only way that they make it in trucking is if there are very few difficulties. No breakdowns, diligent dispatcher/travel agent, no family issues, no tough backing, no traffic issues. For most of us, we wont see an easy career. So, we'd better have our minds made up beforehand that, come hell or high water, we will accomplish what we set out to do.

Illustration: Some sicko snatches your daughter in the store and tries to carry her out. Do you TRY to stop him or DO YOU STOP HIM? If you try, and sicko puts of resistance, you will say to your daughter, "Oh well, honey...daddy tried."

So...are you going to try to truck or are you going to truck? If your mind is made up, you won't care what percentage 'makes it'and what percentage is going to fail. If you want it, go get it. Do not try.

Luck in battle.

 

Sounds like most people are able to do it as far as skills wise. Thanks guys.

It’ll be awhile before I ever try to drive, if ever. I’d have to downsize my house and hopefully make enough profit to be totally debt free I’ve pretty much mentally decided this weekend.

I have to have a plan B if my career now goes south.

 

If I didn’t have a family, guys I might already have quit my job and out there.

I’d have way less anxiety about it too.

 

Out of the the class of 4 at Sage I went to, only two of us are still driving OTR. I think the key to making it is to survive the first 6 months..after that I found that everything clicked for me and noticed a huge improvement in my backing skills and confidence level.

I ended up really enjoying what I do yet had a tough time finding the right Carrier to call home.
I ended up bouncing around a lot, staying away from the mega carriers... felt like giving up many times..believe me, lol, many times!

Today I own my own tractor outright ( I loaned my company the money and the Corp is paying me back with interest..still have a truck payment but the “bank” is very understanding when I miss a payment ) I’m leased onto a small carrier where everyone is really like family.. I can actually say that I’m exactly where I plan to stay until retirement..

The only thing left that I want to do is purchase my own reefer trailer to receive a higher load percentage..

The other driver in our class who’s still driving is still going strong and thinking about buying his own truck and coming aboard where I’m at.