Why does everyone complain about being a truck driver yet...

New Nash Guy.

I can not reply to your PM as I'm a new member. I will give some advice....contact TN Technoloy Center here in Nashville on White Bridge Rd. The training they offer is a bargin! ($1300) and the best training in the state of TN. It will be even a better bargin if you have never used the lottery grant in TN, it will cost you about $600. It really does not make any difference where the company home office is located, as many of the companies that hire students will have a drop yard close by Nashville. I hope that helps.

 

A computer programmer making thou$ands of dollars a week wanting to drive?

Are you sure you'll pass the drug test?

 

NNG,

OTR has its perks and quirks. Fortunately you live in a good freight area. You should be able to get hired on with a good carrier. Maverick and JBS Carriers would be my top choices along Crete and Squire.

KH

 

I don't think there is any scientific evidence to back up this theory, yet, but I really believe that truckers complain and wine so much due to lack of exercise. It is a very stressful job, plus you are sleep deprived and away from home for long periods of time. After being stuck behind the wheel all day long you are exhausted and don't want to get out and exercise. So all this built up stress has got to come out somehow and I believe it ends up coming out your mouth. I had found that when I exercised a lot I found myself not complaining so much. I don't know for sure but that's my theory.

 

Now days computer programmers are a dime a dozen and only cost a dime a dozen if they are outsourced from over seas.

Personally dont think the career choice is right for him if hes only looking at the negative side of everything now. If your looking for something to make you happy daily doubtful this would be a great one for you. You want weekends off? hometime Exactly for the day you request them daily showers, hot meals, good sleep, feeling great all the time? If Yes please try elsewhere. most likly this job will not promise every single one. But youll get close with alot of them. You feel sick and not wanna work today? Sure call in you can do that now. On the road, tough it up and keep trucking.


and this is coming from a local driver wanting to go OTR. So if im wrong on some things im sorry and would love to be corrected.

 

Reminds of that old joke about the puppy and the truck driver. For me after 29 years and body parts are starting to dislike driving and I can't change anything the answer is simple......Like a lot of the guys I know that have 30 years or so in we just don't give a #### anymore. Do your job ..........

 

Not enough roughage.

 

For the most part the job is not difficult but it can be frustrating and yes, nearly all trucking jobs entail very long hours.

There are mainly two different options for a trucker:

Over the road (OTR)
For the most part this is easy, not physically demanding except for some flatbedding or other jobs involving driver assist or tarping. Most OTR jobs are no touch freight, rolling almost entirely interstates or other main highways. The downsides are:
a.) your income, your sleep schedule and your ability to get home when requested are determined by some snot-nosed kid with a college degree and an attitude and very little real world experience. This can lead to lots of sitting without compensation, missing out on family plans and erratic sleep schedules
b.) You are often gone for 2-3 weeks or longer at a time. After a while you can become disconnected from people and the life you used to have.
c.) It will likely take a toll on your health. Eating healthy and exercising regularly is extremely difficult when your parking and eating options are so limted. Couple that with a job that requires you to be seated 12 or more hours a day and weight gain and risks for diabetes and other diseases skyrocket.

Local (home everyday)

People often get the wrong idea when they hear the term "local". In trucking it simply means you don't spend your 10 hr break sleeping in your truck, but commute back and forth after every driving shift. You may drive to 3,4 or more states in your "local" driving job.

Downsides:

a.) Most local jobs involve driving a daycab. And while daycabs are much easier to maneuver in tight areas they also bounce more, rattle more and beat up your body far worse than an over the road tractor equiped with a sleeper. Long live loads are total torture in a daycab as there is no way to get comfortable or get any sleep.

b.) You will likely work 12-13 hours a day with most local driving jobs. A 12 hour day in a daycab is far more punishing than a 14 hr day in a sleeper. After you finish your 12-13 hours you still have to commute home and take care of your other responsibilities. Personally I got far more rest and felt like I had much more "me" time in the way of R&R when I was OTR than I do now, running local.

I hope this helps to add some perspective. Trucking can be a trap. Once you do it for a couple of years and it dominates your life it is really hard to leave it to do something else.

You can make a decent living money wise in the right situation but it is a trade off in which your quality of life takes a serious hit.

 

I gotta agree with chompi,roadkill and robngraves you gotta like it to pursue the next level.Local is very demanding i hate it.In otr hook up with a company that runs curtainvans or flatbeds(curtainvans is best) so the exercise factor is there reducing your stress and making your health stable.Im just a driver but i know and can see my goals clearly with this trucking biz no one will stop me from achieving them.Family suffers but you are doing this for them and for you again to reach the next level.Keep truckin Boyz and Girlz.RAGE is outty for the weekend.

 

My response in Red.