Why did you get into trucking?

I remember in 2nd grade I was asked to draw a picture depicting my future. At the time I had a KW W900L that played with with me and I drew exactly that. Also, I remember seeing Werner commercials, and those Freightliner and International Cabovers as a little kid and the trucking contest where the truckers had to face obstacles and not hit any cones.

From then on, I always wanted to be something else till my dad mentioned that truck driving was a possibility. Well after graduating high school, I tried EMT school and didn't succeed. Dropped out and took up college part time while working.

On my breaks, I ate lunch at the local truck stop and befriended a o/o and have learned a lot from him. I'll get my permit this July and hes teaching me how to drive. I'll complete my AA by the end of summer 2010 and hit the road afterwards. I admit, I love the college environment, but sitting on my ##### and hearing teacher talk is boring after 8 years of highschool and college combined. I love the fact that trucking gives you a challenge each day. Sure the classes help me a lot but some of them are worthless.

KH

 

Take my advice son,finish listening to that "boring teacher" until you graduate and than try trucking.
When you get married and have some kids one day you may want to fall back on that college education.

 

My son has been "officially" in our education system for almost 18 years, and likes 2 more.

While he doesn't want to drive a truck....I'll certianly kick his ### if he gets a CDL. Even as a joke.

 

I started in the army driving tractor trailers and got out and slipped into the civy seat... oh so much nicer... My cousin who has been an O/O for over 30 years used to load trucks. One day a driver did not show up and they asked him if he thought he could get it on down the road and they tossed him the keys..

 

My uncle drove a truck and I always remember him wearing big cowboy boots, blue jeans, and a blue jean jacket and I just thought that he was so cool. An old army buddy of my dad's also came over and he drove a truck coast to coast and he had his CB, hunting knife, and 30-30 rifle in the rig with him. This was also cool to a 4 year old. My dad encouraged me saying that he wished that after he retired from the army that he had drove a truck and that it would be cool if I did it.

 

I wish you new drivers well....don't let others, including myself, dampen anything for you...we all have our own trails to blaze....our own paths to walk...and we're all at different stages in our growth and in life...

Personally, at the stage I'm at, I've done all with otd that I can do...I have no more in me, as of last week...but it took 10 years of being in and out of the industry to get here...
I was actually mentally done with it 3-4 years ago...but after that it became more of a 'marriage of convience' rather than a 'love affair' as it was when I first started....

I would of walked away eventually anyways...but a few things that accelerated the departure are...
1. Trucking has become to 'rigid'...in that when I first started...they gave you a fuel card and told you where you had to go and what time to get there...and that was it...what you did or where you went inbetween was your business...

There was none of this smart fueling stuff...tracking trailers stuff...tracking you stuff...it was just open road freedom....

2. Regional running....When I first started, I started out West...so the companies I worked for sent me everywhere...I mean everywhere as a solo driver...that kept it interesting...but once I moved to the east...Florida...companies here in this region have no reason to send solo drivers further west than Dallas, TX...your even lucky if you get that far west anymore...so what happens is you end up running the same east coast lanes over and over and over again...Jersey and PA and Virginia and the like a big circle....that may be great for the company and frieght...but sucks for the driver. After a while it just becomes one long commute...

I think (I know I'm jumping around) if you get hired either in the mid-west or southwest...you will end up running better lanes...cause I know when I worked for Werner years ago out of Denver, being in that central location meant they could dispatch me in any direction...east or west north or south...and no matter where they sent me they would have to bring you back...continued on next post...

 

Before you get into it...sit down and interview yourself...write down questions and answer them...
1. Why do you want to drive?
2. How long do you want to do it?
3. If driving doesnt work out, what will you fall back on?
4. Do you love it enough to buy or lease your own truck?
5. What part of the country do you like to run?
6. Would you mind teaming with another person (many companies are pushing that now)
7. Do you have a pet? Does the company you work for allow one?
8. How will you occupy yourself while away from your place of residence?
9. Are you married or single?
10. Do you want to eventually move into a administrative role or become a trainer?

Point is...it is important to have a plan...even when driving a truck...you still must plot out a career path in order for trucking to maintane relevance to you years down the road....

The drivers who have a plan seem to fair better mentally and finacially further down the road...
The drivers without a plan are in and out of it like lost step children....

A career in trucking can take you anywhere you want to go...even becoming a trainer at one of the truck driving acadamies...yes...a teacher...
And many of the larger companies promote from within..I've seen guys go from drivers to saftey managers and higher....

Ask your propective company what kind of career path is offered beyond the drivers seat...
All I'm saying is have a plan...I gotta run...I'll be back later...

 

I screwed up big time, and am not a driver any more, but only 1 year, 2 months, 29 days til 'I are one again' LOL!!
I am a fourth generation driver, My great grandpa hauled cement out of tahatchopie. Both my grandpas hauled cows, and steel.
I rode with my dad from 1-2 years old, until 6, when he kicked me out at this place called School!! I learned to read and write in the truck, before i went to school.
My mom has a birthday picture, i was 3 or 4 at a local park, was about to blow out the candles, when a truck passed by and jaked, i turned my head as she snapped the shot!! LOL
Its definitely in my blood.

 

Because my old man did it and to make money you gotta be smart about the make money part because a lot of people mess up and spend more then they make if you know what i mean.