Category Archives: Career Help, Tips, Advice

Is Trucking In Your Blood?

Posted on February 25, 2010 by Guyjax

Would you drive a truck if the trucking company you worked for only paid you enough to cover your bills at home and your meals, but nothing more after that? For me the answer would be yes. I love driving and I would do it for free. Trucking is in my blood. Do you love driving a truck? Really love it? If so, then trucking is in your blood. To me, there is a difference between liking your job and loving it. Liking your job means you enjoy going to work, you enjoy the people you work with, you enjoy doing your job. Loving your job means you would do it for free! For me, trucking fits the bill. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, truck driving lifestyle | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Which CDL Endorsements Should I Get?

Posted on February 17, 2010 by Brett Aquila

When you attend truck driving school, even a company sponsored CDL school, you’ll have to decide which endorsements to get when taking your CDL test. We’ll talk about which CDL endorsements are available, how you get these endorsements, what it takes to keep them, and why they are important. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Passing The CDL Test | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Comparing Career Paths: Truck Driving Versus A College Degree

Posted on February 1, 2010 by Carl Smith

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 , , , , | 15 Comments

Truck Driving Career Seen As Strong For Next Decade

Posted on January 22, 2010 by Brett Aquila

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 3: Life On The Road

Posted on January 20, 2010 by Rhonda

With all the fuel that drivers purchase, it’s wise to get the driver payback cards from the truck stops that offer them. Its free, and it’s a way of saying thank you to the professional driver. For each gallon of … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Great Stories, Stories of the Road, truck driving lifestyle, Women In Trucking | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Truck Driving in Winter Weather

Posted on January 19, 2010 by TruckerMike

Before I became a truck driver, there was nothing better than a good snow storm in the winter. Sliding around in my 4-wheeler, sledding, snowball fights, snowmen, hearing the scrape of the snowplow as is passes by, and the beautiful sight it leaves. That was then, and this is now! Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Career Help, Tips, Advice, First Solo Months On The Road, Great Stories, Safe Driving Tips | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Inside Trucking Part 2: Understanding Company Expenses

Posted on January 11, 2010 by Rhonda

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

Posted on December 28, 2009 by Rhonda

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

Randy’s Phase 1 Training – Part 8

Posted on December 23, 2009 by rbradyjohnsen

I keep reading that the 2 most important factors for a successful marriage, especially in OTR trucking, are trust and communication…this week, we had neither one.  I suppose the added stress of all this didn’t help, and we both had a major thinking/behavior relapse.  This career truly does test a relationship, and any weakness that existed before WILL be magnified 1000 times. 
Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, On The Road In Training, Rhonda & Randy's Story | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Randy’s Phase 1 CDL Training – Part 2

Posted on November 24, 2009 by rbradyjohnsen

Yesterday I forgot to say all the states Randy’s been in, just since the beginning of the week: Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina. Before he went to school, he’d only been in 2 of those states. I know this is super-exciting for him so far! Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, First Solo Months On The Road, On The Road In Training, Rhonda & Randy's Story | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Randy’s Phase 1 CDL Training – Part 1

Posted on November 23, 2009 by rbradyjohnsen

Randy just started phase I training out on the road. It’s a lot of pressure but very exciting at the same time. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, First Solo Months On The Road, On The Road In Training, Rhonda & Randy's Story | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Advice For Couples Regarding Truck Driving

Posted on November 19, 2009 by rbradyjohnsen

The reason I’m sharing our personal experiences with this is to help people understand the truly tension-packed environment at truck driving school, and how it may affect your spouse. Everyone’s marriage is different, so everyone’s experience will be unique, but there will be common issues for sure. And things will pop up that you never even considered. I’m being completely, 100% honest here, because I don’t think glossing over the tough stuff would be very helpful! Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Rhonda & Randy's Story | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Advice For Truck Driving School Students

Posted on November 17, 2009 by rbradyjohnsen

This is a summary of what I’ve learned from many experienced truckers on TruckingTruth, plus the perspective I’ve gained as my husband went through the classroom training during August-September, 2009.
Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Rhonda & Randy's Story | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Truck Driving – Experience and Enjoyment of the Job

Posted on November 13, 2009 by TruckerMike

I love being a truck driver, and certainly plan on doing this for a while. I’ve also found that as my experience grows, my enjoyment also continues to grow. I’m still considered a rookie with only 8 months experience, but the little experience I have is already paying off. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Career Help, Tips, Advice, First Solo Months On The Road, Great Stories, Stories of the Road, truck driving lifestyle | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Randy’s Truck Driving School – Days 18 & 19

Posted on November 11, 2009 by rbradyjohnsen

I have to admit there have been times, during the first 3 weeks of this experience, where I began to feel that the entire trucking industry might be orchestrated by a bunch of mad scientists conducting some kind of evil psychological experiment. And we (the students, drivers and their families) are their human guinea pigs. ;) Seriously though, it’s been a wild little ride so far, and I’m sure that will continue. Here’s more…… Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Rhonda & Randy's Story, Week 3 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment