Tag Archives: driver responsibilities

The Sleep Apnea Witch Hunt

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Tanya Bons

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

What’s A Tough Day Like In The Trucking World?

Posted on October 17, 2011 by JakeCat22

So what’s a tough day like in the life of a trucker? Well, if you survive it, it’s not as bad as it could have been. But let me tell ya, sometimes everything seems to go wrong! Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, First Solo Months On The Road, Great Stories, Stories of the Road, truck driving lifestyle | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

My First Time Driving A Rig Through The Big Apple

Posted on October 14, 2011 by JakeCat22

I have only been on the road driving solo for a short time now and I had to go through New York City recently for the first time in a big rig – and what an adventure it was! Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, First Solo Months On The Road, Great Stories, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Trying To Teach Proper Driver Forecasting

Posted on September 27, 2011 by TruckerMike

I’m about three weeks into being a CDL instructor now, working one on one on the road with my student. There’s a lot I can teach, but there’s a lot that can only come with experience. Forecasting what may happen next is one of the most important aspects of safe driving, and one of the toughest to teach a new driver. 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, The Trainer's Viewpoint | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Types of Trainers and How to Deal With Them

Posted on September 22, 2011 by TruckerMike

While I’ve only been a CDL instructor for about a week now, I’ve already noticed that my training techniques could easily go in several different directions. Here are some of the more common personalities and traits a trainer might have, and how to deal with them as a student or new driver. Continue reading →

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

Working My Way Back Into The Trucking Industry

Posted on September 12, 2011 by Rhonda

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

I’m Becoming a CDL Instructor!

Posted on September 1, 2011 by TruckerMike

Yup, I’m doing something I never thought I’d ever do. I’m becoming a CDL instructor! Long story short, an old college buddy of mine started asking questions about becoming a truck driver. After several emails and a couple phone calls together, he applied to the company I drive for and was hired. He’s coming in without any trucking experience and no CDL. After a lot of thinking, I decided to train him myself. Continue reading →

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

My First Solo Run Went Better Than I Expected

Posted on August 31, 2011 by JakeCat22

Well, the time finally came for me to get issued my own truck and go solo. It’s a very exciting time, but rather stressful too. And of course, the problems and lessons learned started right away. Continue reading →

Posted in First Solo Months On The Road, Great Stories, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

On The Road In Training: There’s Been A Lot Of Ups And Downs

Posted on August 10, 2011 by JakeCat22

Well, I have been out with my trainer for a week and a half now and it has definitely been a roller coaster ride. I am learning new things every day, and every day our trainer expects us to do more and more on our own with little or no guidance from him. I feel I have progressed quite a bit, but feel as tho I still have a long way to go, especially since I only have 3 more days with my trainer. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Great Stories, On The Road In Training, Stories of the Road, truck driving lifestyle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Our First Day Driving

Posted on July 29, 2011 by JakeCat22

We got our first chance to drive the trucks today at company orientation and it went pretty well. But there are a lot of things we have to do differently than we learned in truck driving school and the classroom work is becoming information overload. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Great Stories, Trucking Company Orientation | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

My First Day Of Orientation

Posted on July 26, 2011 by JakeCat22

Today was the first day of orientation at my new company and I was nervous! Here’s how it went. Continue reading →

Posted in Becoming A Truck Driver, Trucking Company Orientation | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The Weaving Driver

Posted on July 22, 2011 by Rhonda

A perfect day for a drive can turn ugly in a hurry, as was evidenced on this day when a driver came up from behind me weaving all over the road. Some action was definitely needed. Continue reading →

Posted in Great Stories, Stories of the Road, Women In Trucking | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Science of Truck Driving

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Philosopher Paul

From truck driving school to orientation to working with two different finishers and getting out on my own, I am not saying that I am anywhere close to understanding this complex science, but this familiarity was the place I was hoping to reach when I set out to become a truck driver in early April. I wanted to be alone and feel like I had some kind of base to work from. Now I am finally alone and I am very glad to be here. But there’s been a lot of tough lessons learned and near misses. 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, truck driving lifestyle | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My First Ever Solo Run!

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Philosopher Paul

I finished my training and finally got my own truck and off I went…solo for the first time in a big rig. I was nervous as can be but excited at the same time. This is how my solo career started out. Continue reading →

Posted in Becoming A Truck Driver, First Solo Months On The Road, Great Stories, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

My First Time Leasing A Truck – The Adventure Begins

Posted on June 7, 2011 by Corporal Clegg

I signed the lease agreement and headed out onto the highway for the first time as a lease driver. The mileage I was getting was hit and miss, and I wound up in a small wreck on top of that. Tough start. Continue reading →

Posted in Becoming An Owner-Operator, Great Stories, Leasing A Truck | Tagged , | Leave a comment