Wondering if I should pursue trucking

I drive milk tanker local and do farm pickup. The loads are very heavy... we gross in excess of 105k. The 18 speed gives you a gear for every hilly situation, there are a ton of hills here. They also make Eaton ultra shift 18 speed (18 autoshift), but I do not care for them.

1. They have no clue how to cope with hills...
Some autoshifts use GPS to determine hill elevation and shift accordingly. The eaton ultra shifts I've driven do not do this.

2. Manuals give more control In the winter, way better in the snow. I have a much easier time getting a manual shift moving or unstuck when I have a clutch pedal. You can rock a manual you cant an autoshift.

3. More of a challenge. There is something satisfying about hitting that gear just right and having it slide right in with no effort.

4. More fun to drive. I enjoy going through the gears.

There arent ALLOT of women hauling milk but there is a few. Chris walton and her husband owned a few trucks until he died. She sold them to duncan, who she drives for today. Another woman Linda has been with duncan for many years. Baker and baker out of Warsaw ny has a female driver.

Women drivers in milk hauling arent common but you can be successful as a female in this subset of trucking. I think not allot of women choose this type of work because farms arent always the cleanest places, the work can be a major challenge in the winter.

If woman driver is wanting to do this type of work, I wouldn't discourage it. I make decent money and am home daily. I drive a 2017 T880 daycab with an 18 manual.

I am home everynight

 

Also current production manual trucks have an air clutch. I can push the clutch pedal in with the palm of my hand. Almost no effort. I love that setup, drive a manual and not beat up your knee

 

Walton milk hauling has two yards, one yard for loaded trailers, another for empties. We have our own repair shop at one of the yards, 3 full time mechanics. My boss allows OTR trucks to park there sometimes overnight

 

Not sure of your situation but check out Southern Union Community College in Opelika Al. You are not far from there. They have a truck driving school there at a good price..you will get your CDL in six weeks and after that you are free to pick your own company.

 

Wow......Now those are some words of encouragement. So Jon, when do you start at McDonalds? Have you given notice to your company yet? SMH

 

Hi Lisa, I am a female trucker for the same company as @TravR1.
I work on the Linehaul side. My deliveries are mostly drop and hook, terminal to terminal OTR, but since Covid hit, it has been a lot of deliveries and pick up from shippers.

I love being out here and wouldn't change it for the world.

A good school / employer will teach you well. Relax and don't be intimidated. I heard all the comments about being a female or I am to tiny to do this. I think most women are better drivers. We usually have more patient and pay attention to detail.

Shifting is muscle memory. More you do it the better you get. Maintenance isn't usually a big deal if you get into a newer truck. If not, I have learned a lot by watching youtube (how to chain, unfreeze frozen trailer brakes, to priming a reefer)

Backing is really not hard. At first it is really intimidating. Don't let anyone rush you and get out and look. If you go slow it works better. You will be amazed when you realize you can even parallel park the truck.

If you have any questions I would be happy to answer for you.

 

Give it a GO! Best of Luck!