Author Archives: TruckerMike

About TruckerMike

TruckerMike embarked on a career in trucking late in 2008 after deciding that life in a cubicle might not be where it's at. He's been trucking since early 2009 and is TruckingTruth's most popular blogger. You can find more at .

What Makes a Truck Driver: Dealing With The Stereotype

Posted on July 13, 2009 by TruckerMike

Everyone has their own version of what a truck driver looks and acts like (and sometimes what they might smell like). I’m even guilty of having an image of what a truck driver is. Although, once I became a driver, that all changed. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

It’s Official – My Truck Driver Training is Over

Posted on July 9, 2009 by TruckerMike

After months of research, one month of CDL truck driving school, and 4 months of company training, I’m now going out on the open road as a solo company driver. Wow, sometimes I think back and it’s taken forever to get here, while other times I think back and it’s gone by in an instant. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Great Stories, On The Road In Training, Stories of the Road, Trucking Company Orientation | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Don’t Let the Little Things Bother You….Just Roll On

Posted on June 17, 2009 by TruckerMike

In the past few months that I’ve been driving, I’ve learned one major thing. Trucking can destroy you if you let it. Truck driving can literally drive you to madness….if you let it. So don’t….. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Great Stories, On The Road In Training, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

One Electric Ride

Posted on June 9, 2009 by TruckerMike

There are some nights when you don’t want to be in the truck. Then there are some nights when you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world at that paticular moment. Continue reading →

Posted in Becoming A Truck Driver, Great Stories, On The Road In Training, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The Best Trip for a Truck Driver – Home.

Posted on May 28, 2009 by TruckerMike

After being away from home for about 10 weeks, I finally got home. What I did while I was there wasn’t as important as who I did it with…. Continue reading →

Posted in On The Road In Training, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Surviving a Company Trainer

Posted on May 26, 2009 by TruckerMike

Wow, it’s been two months since I hit the road with my trainer. I can’t believe it’s already been that long. Time is really flying out here. As I stated in one of my earlier posts, my training period is much longer than most companies, so I probably won’t be done for at least another 6 weeks or so. But since I’ve put in quite a bit of time with a trainer already, I thought I’d share a few of my thoughts on how to survive your company trainer.
Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, On The Road In Training, Safe Driving Tips, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Preparing for Truck Driver Company Training – Things to Pack!

Posted on May 10, 2009 by TruckerMike

What should I pack? This has to be the number one question amongst newbies. First of all, pack as little as possible. Only the necessities…. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Career Help, Tips, Advice, On The Road In Training | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Worst Trip in a Big Truck Yet

Posted on April 27, 2009 by TruckerMike

This trip started out in Laredo, TX and we were heading near Pittsburgh, PA. It was adventurous, frustrating, difficult, and dangerous at times, and we even saw a few things we wish we hadn’t. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Great Stories, On The Road In Training, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Adventures with a Broken Truck!

Posted on April 23, 2009 by TruckerMike

Well, it finally happened. My trainer and I are having truck problems. We are currently sitting at our company terminal while our truck gets worked on. What a mess. Here’s what went down… Continue reading →

Posted in Great Stories, On The Road In Training, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Short Letters from a Truck Driver

Posted on April 20, 2009 by TruckerMike

Life on the road is so full of different people and experiences that sometimes you just wanna sit down and write to some of the people who have affected your life in good ways, and in not so good ways, and here’s some of the things I’ve wanted to say….. Continue reading →

Posted in Great Stories, On The Road In Training, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

I Love Being a Truck Driver!

Posted on April 19, 2009 by TruckerMike

So, I’ve been thinking a lot about writing why I love being a truck driver so much at this point, but it’s proving to be very difficult. It takes a very unique individual to succeed out here and hopefully this will shed a little light on the traits necessary to make it in this business. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, On The Road In Training, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

A Disaster of a Trip, but Still Worked Out in the End

Posted on April 14, 2009 by TruckerMike

Since my last trip went so well, Karma had to balance itself out. And it didn’t waste any time either! This last trip was…well…interesting. I’ll try to describe everything that happened without confusing the heck out of you, but there’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Great Stories, On The Road In Training, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

My Best Trip in a Big Truck Yet!

Posted on April 10, 2009 by TruckerMike

Wow, so my most recent trip was by far the best trip I’ve had to date. We left California late at night and were “East Bound and Down” to Pennsylvania. Remember the plastic bottles we brought to California on my last trip? Well, now those same bottles were filled with delicious California Orange Juice. Our mission? Bring the Orange Juice to the good people of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. Continue reading →

Posted in Great Stories, On The Road In Training, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Truck Driving and Mother Nature’s Fury

Posted on April 9, 2009 by TruckerMike

Last week we had a trip from Illinois out to California. I did get the first taste of what mother nature can do to a big rig. We had a light load of plastic bottles and only had about 14,000 pounds “in the box” for this trip. Well, I soon found out that a light load plus high winds equals a nasty situation! Continue reading →

Posted in Career Help, Tips, Advice | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Truck Driving with a High Value Load

Posted on April 2, 2009 by TruckerMike

So the other night, we get a phone call to pick up a “High Value Load” from a pharmaceutical company. I don’t want to spell out the details of what’s involved carrying these loads for obvious reasons, but it’s a pain in the butt! Continue reading →

Posted in Career Help, Tips, Advice, Great Stories, On The Road In Training, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments