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.

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.

Sometimes you’re put in a position as a driver where you just can’t win. One day I was leaving the shipper with a heavy load and was pulled over to see if my weight was legal. Problem was, I never got a chance to weight it myself - they nailed me on the way to the scale. What is a driver supposed to do?

Sometimes you have these days and nights of skill testing if you drive a semi. I did not have a leisurely drive to Fort Smith as I normally do. I couldn’t just relax, enjoy the drive, and drink my coffee. This was not meant to be. I had to work to stay safe and keep others safe too on this trip.

I am writing this for anyone who, like I was, is wondering what it may be like to ride a Greyhound Bus to Truck Driving School. My first piece of advice would be to try to spend that last time that you have together relaxing and enjoying it.

Recently I heard a story of a truck driving student who was on the road with a trainer and discovered that the trainer was smoking pot in the truck while the student was driving. How did the student handle this? Did it backfire on him? There are some things that everyone needs to understand about the realities of life in the trucking industry.

Let me start out by saying I entered trucking in 2001 because I needed a job. A job that paid a livable wage. So I entered as a warm body that companies put in the drivers seat. My pleas for an office duty/inside job were not being heard. At first this new driving thing was not too bad, but soon the newness and “fun” wears off.

Sometimes trips go very smoothly, and other times trips are incredibly challenging, like the one I just had. This is the reality of truck driving. Are you up for the challenge?

This sad day happens all the time to many in their jobs. Yesterday I was given the news that my friend Kevin of 38 years may not make it thru the night. After this news I was called to work. I just knew I would be called to work! Every time something goes wrong for me, it seems that is when I am needed at work or somewhere else.

Wow, I can’t believe it’s been 6 months already. I’ve completed training, and have been on my own now for a couple months. So, I thought I’d share a few of my initial impressions of my early truck driving career, having experienced it for 6 months now.

Over the Labor Day weekend, I was able to make a trip home. I had a fantastic weekend. The plan was for me to get back home on Thursday, then get back on the road on Tuesday. But I ended up getting home a day early. Not a huge deal, but this meant I’d have to leave on Monday which was Labor day. Total bummer, but that’s the life of a truck driver.

“I wrote a recent post called “Truck Driving: An Office With A View” and that post had a lot of descriptions of the beauty this country holds. But out here on the road, our office doesn’t always have such a great view.

One thing that I wasn’t quite prepared for when I decided to become a truck driver is the sleeping patterns. I knew fatigue was a big issue in truck driving, but now I truly understand why. The long driving hours are only part of the issue…it’s rather complicated.

I’m on a two day round trip to Dallas and I’m hoping that all will go well!

Truck driving is very demanding and difficult. It is one of the biggest mental challenges I’ve ever gone through. From learning how to drive a truck, to dealing with uncooperative customers, to the irregular hours, and the time spent away from home. So if that’s the case, why did I use such a title? I’ll explain….