Tag Archives: Advice and Opinions

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

Posted on September 13, 2010 by Brett Aquila

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.
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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

Mama Said They’ll Be Days Like This

Posted on June 8, 2010 by Rick Huffman

During the two hours spent awaiting the arrival of the tow truck, I once again questioned whether I was cut out for this. For all I knew, this would mark the end of my brief trucking career. I had, however, learned another hard lesson. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Career Help, Tips, Advice, First Solo Months On The Road, Great Stories | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Keeping Your Head Screwed On Straight In A Crisis

Posted on May 24, 2010 by Rick Huffman

I learned two things from a recent misadventure: first, that being safe out here requires being careful and being lucky and, second, that I needed to keep my head screwed on straight in a time of crisis. I had made the wrong initial decision, but I had gotten lucky—next time, I might not. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Career Help, Tips, Advice, First Solo Months On The Road, Great Stories, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New Rules: Going Back To Truck Driving School

Posted on May 17, 2010 by Angelique

On September 10th of 2009 things changed. We have to go back to school!!! Before that date for the Netherlands it was enough to get your Truck Driver’s Diploma and that was it for life. In order to get this diploma you had to do three courses: Traffic rules for Big vehicles, Auto-(truck)Technique and Administration (paperwork and HOS). But from September 2009 on all truck drivers who live and work as a driver in the European community must go back to school. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, The Economy and Politics, Trucking In Europe, Videos, Women In Trucking | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Fighting Through The Challenges Of Life On The Road

Posted on May 11, 2010 by Rick Huffman

After loading up some drywall that had to be tarped on a rainy day in a muddy mess of a parking lot I began to question whether or not becoming a truck driving was a mistake. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, First Solo Months On The Road, Great Stories, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Humbling Adventure: My First Delivery Driving Solo

Posted on April 15, 2010 by Rick Huffman

After saying goodbye to my trainer, it was time to set out on my first solo run. And what an adventure it turned out to be! Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Career Help, Tips, Advice, First Solo Months On The Road, Great Stories, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

An Intro To Big Trucks And Truck Driving School Part III – The CDL Exam

Posted on April 15, 2010 by Brian Laine

After exploring the operation of a big rig and taking a drive, it’s time to take the CDL exam and wrap up this series with some thoughts about the process of getting your CDL. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Intro To Trucking, Passing The CDL Test, Truck Driving School Day-By-Day | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An Intro To Big Trucks And Truck Driving School Part II

Posted on April 8, 2010 by Brian Laine

In Part I of my intro to big trucks and truck driving school I talked about signing up for truck driving school at North Cross Commercial Driving School and covered a bit about the anatomy of a typical big rig. Now in part 2 I’ll talk a little bit more about the mechanical aspects of big rigs and we’ll take one for a drive! Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Intro To Trucking | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Questions and Answers for a Truck Driver

Posted on April 8, 2010 by TruckerMike

Recently, I was contacted by an individual who is interested in becoming a truck driver. He asked me several questions about the trucking industry and about my job. I thought they were excellent questions and decided it would be great to share on my blog for any of you interested in becoming a truck driver. I hope this helps answer some of the questions you might have! Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, truck driving lifestyle | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Truck Driving School Part IV – Taking The CDL Exam

Posted on March 25, 2010 by Rick Huffman

Finally, the time to take the road test arrived. We would go, in small groups, to the testing facility in Hartselle, Alabama over the next five days. I would test on the second day, and Alan would test on the fourth. Everyone was nervous, and most of us failed the first attempt. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Great Stories, Passing The CDL Test, Week 3 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Trucking School Part III – Boot Camp

Posted on March 25, 2010 by Rick Huffman

Almost everyone is abysmal at 45° angle backing to start with, and I was no exception. However, I was not the only one having difficulty. Alan even resorted to mathematical solutions to crack this puzzle, but it didn’t seem to help either of us. But a couple of great instructors stepped in and helped get us going in the right direction. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Great Stories, Week 2 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Made It Through Your First Year As A Driver? Great! Now What?

Posted on March 23, 2010 by Guyjax

What comes after the first year of driving? If you keep your safety record and license clean you now have a lot more option on where you can go, including becoming a lease driver or owner operator. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming An Owner-Operator, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Finding The Right Truck Driving Job | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

My First Year as a Truck Driver

Posted on March 17, 2010 by TruckerMike

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

Not Much Help For The Drivers

Posted on March 7, 2010 by Steve Rubens

The Qualcomm system at most companies have directions to customers listed, but a lot of the time the directions are wrong. Unfortunately, even when dispatchers and customers know the directions are wrong nobody seems to care enough to do anything about it. Here’s an example of the mess it can cause. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Cathy and Steve's Story, Great Stories, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

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 , , , , , | 3 Comments