Why did you become a trucker?

My hubby and I talked about trucking since our trip 5 years ago to Australia where we wound up relocating camper vans around OZ for 3 months. (You think Yankee Truckies are story tellers, you haven't met the Aussie Road Train drivers!!!! All I have to say is 54 METERS LONG!) We figured if we could learn to drive on the other side of the road from the other side of the cab in a big campervan in downtown Sidney, we could drive the big rigs.

We have traveled much of the world since then and finally just decided this year that we were gonna do it. So we went to school and just got our truck last month and have been out since. This lifestyle totally suits our wandering spirits and we are absolutely loving our decision to do this. I still pinch myself that we get paid to do what we love! I know, I know, at some point we will get a bit jaded, but hopefully not for a while!
*wink, wink*

 

I had a 9-5 job at a Home Center in charge of home renovations sales and installations. I was also regional service rep. for Anderson Windows. On top of that I was supervisor of 3 retail divisions in the store. All for $13.00/ hr.

All I wanted was more pay. So my friend told me to get my CDL. Now my pay is 2 1/2 times what I was making. I went from overworked and underpaid, to under worked and lots of pay. My first job was hauling steel coils and wire coils at .29/mile. Then flatbed, containers, heavy bulk, and trains. Now I just pull boring old dry box at the best wage I have ever made, 45 cents/mile +++.

Go figure, the less I work, the more I make.

 

how long is you school to become a driver? mine was 4 weeks 140 hrs

 

I was bored and my wife was getting on my nerves. I needed a break. So it was either drive a truck or go back to the Marines. I didn't think I needed a really long break so I decided on driving a truck.

 

My previous career didn't workout. I was only making 11.52 at the time a new general manager decided to just fire me after I'd been there almost 9 years.

Anyway I guess I decided trucking maybe the last middle class paying job that can't be outsourced. Also I enjoy traveling and photography and look forward to taking my camera everywhere.

Also at my last job I worked right next to the local highway loop and often thought how nice it would be to just get in my Chevy and drive and not look back. Now I guess I'll get to do that. I just got my CDL.