Category Archives: Current State of the Trucking Industry

Factors Affecting Job Placement In The Trucking Industry

There are a lot of factors that will affect your ability to find job placement in the trucking industry. Not only the obvious ones like employment history, criminal history, and driving record, but also things like your physical health and credit scores. Let’s take a look at em…. Continue reading

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Current State of the Trucking Industry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Sleep Apnea Witch Hunt

Sleep apnea is the biggest buzz in the trucking industry right now. But is this justified? Or is it yet another money-making scheme for the insurance companies and medical industry? The statistics are fuzzy. Continue reading

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Current State of the Trucking Industry, The Economy and Politics, Trucker Health | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Working My Way Back Into The Trucking Industry

In October 2009 I posted a story called “I Want Out Of Trucking As A Driver”. The story was written with a lot of emotion, so I’d like to take the time to reflect on that a bit, and discuss the challenges I’ve faced trying to get back into the trucking industry. Continue reading

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Current State of the Trucking Industry, Great Stories, Women In Trucking | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My 2010 Salary – Finishing Up My Second Year Behind The Wheel

It’s hard to find accurate information about truck driver’s salaries so I’m sharing my salary information for my second year on the road so people that are considering becoming a truck driver will have a realistic expectation of what they can make out here. Continue reading

Posted in Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Current State of the Trucking Industry | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Why Do People Decide To Get Into Truck Driving?

People get into trucking for a variety of reasons – a second career after retirement, a new career after losing a job, or just the opportunity to drive those amazing big rigs. Trucking has a lot to offer if you’re circumstances, personality, and goals make you the right person for the job. Continue reading

Posted in Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Current State of the Trucking Industry, Free CDL Training, Videos | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

When Will I Know If Trucking Was The Right Career Choice?

Truck driving is one of the most unique jobs and lifestyles you’ll find anywhere. It’s also one of the most demanding, and trucking certainly isn’t for everyone. Everyone faces tough challenges and almost everyone questions whether or not becoming a truck driver was the right thing to do. How do you know when you’ve seen enough? When do you throw in the towel and say “Wow, this isn’t for me!” Read on and we’ll help you understand what you’re facing and when enough is enough.
Continue reading

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Current State of the Trucking Industry, First Solo Months On The Road, On The Road In Training, truck driving lifestyle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Are Drivers Too Expensive?

My name is Angelique and I’m from the Netherlands. Over here we have a big problem because our drivers are paid far more than drivers from Eastern Europe and it’s hard to keep a job. The international jobs are going to the lower paid drivers in Eastern Europe where the cost of living is much lower. Continue reading

Posted in Current State of the Trucking Industry, The Economy and Politics, Trucking In Europe, Women In Trucking | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

My First Year as a Truck Driver

Wow, it’s hard to believe, but I’ve been at my current employer for 1 year as of today. I began Truck Driving School in January of 2009, completed that in February of 2009, and was hired on in March of 2009. This post will simply serve as some observations that I’ve made as my first year of a truck driver. Continue reading

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Current State of the Trucking Industry, truck driving lifestyle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

A New Era For The Knights Of The Road

In the past, truckers were known as “Knights of the Road”. Those days are long forgotten, though, and through time the truckers and their rigs have lost their knightly reputation. Truckers are no longer depicted in a positive light and the situation looks like it may be getting worse for a number of reasons, including our own (lack of) pride and personal discipline, attitude, driving skills, and factors outside of our control including the media, more dangers on the highway, and recent waves of terrorism. Is there anything we can do to improve our reputations? Oh indeed there is plenty we can do. Continue reading

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Current State of the Trucking Industry, truck driving lifestyle | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Comparing Career Paths: Truck Driving Versus A College Degree

I decided to hypothetically put two people seeking professional careers, one a prospective college student, the other a truck driving school candidate, up against each other in a comparison of job training, annual salary, debt accumulation, and investment capability throughout their careers. The results are quite interesting. Continue reading

Posted in Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Current State of the Trucking Industry | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

Truck Driving Career Seen As Strong For Next Decade

Truck driving has always been a great career for those of us who were cut out for the lifestyle. If you’re not the right person for the job, you’re really not going to like it much and you’re not going to last long. But if you feel like truck driving might be the right career for you, the outlook for the industry looks to be very solid for many years to come. Continue reading

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Current State of the Trucking Industry, The Economy and Politics | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Inside Trucking Part 2: Understanding Company Expenses

If you are the type of driver that thinks about the cost of doing business for your employer or the trucking industry in general, you are in the minority. If you’re not thinking about it, you should be – it has a major effect on your paycheck. Continue reading

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Current State of the Trucking Industry, truck driving lifestyle | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

A Look Inside Trucking Part I

Once you enter trucking, there is a lot that you get to experience. So many “interesting” things come your way. Many things you don’t give much thought to until it is brought to your attention thru company training, newsletters put out by employers, the trucking magazines, and over the Qualcomm – the truck’s messaging computer. Continue reading

Posted in Career Help, Tips, Advice, Current State of the Trucking Industry | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

My 33rd Anniversary In Transportation

October 27 2009 is a special day for me because it was October 27 1976 when I entered the transportation world. My only experience in this world was riding the school bus for all the years in school. What an amazing journey it’s been. Continue reading

Posted in Becoming A Truck Driver, Current State of the Trucking Industry, Great Stories, Women In Trucking | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Truck Driver Appreciation Week

Last week was National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. It certainly was nice to feel appreciated for a week. The list of sacrifices that drivers make can go on and on for days. Most of the sacrifices can’t be explained in words, they simply have to be experienced to truly be understood. Continue reading

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Current State of the Trucking Industry, Stories of the Road, truck driving lifestyle | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments