Author Archives: TruckerMike

About TruckerMike

TruckerMike embarked on a career in trucking late in 2008 after deciding that life in a cubicle might not be where it's at. He's been trucking since early 2009 and is TruckingTruth's most popular blogger. You can find more at .

The Next Chapter In My Trucking Journey

Posted on November 14, 2011 by TruckerMike

I’ve seen more of this country in just a few short years than most people see in their entire lifetimes. But most things eventually come to an end. In this case, my trucking career has ended as I move on to other things. I’d like to summarize why I left the industry, and where I’m headed now. Continue reading →

Posted in Great Stories | Tagged , | 4 Comments

A Driver Trainer’s Perspective: Some Helpful Tips And Observations For Student Drivers

Posted on November 14, 2011 by TruckerMike

Being a CDL instructor or a driver trainer is a very unique experience. I learned more about truck driving over the past 4 weeks than I have in the previous three years combined. It was an amazing learning experience for me. Here are some of the highlights I learned along the way. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Great Stories, On The Road In Training, Stories of the Road, The Trainer's Viewpoint | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

CDL Testing Day From A Trainers Perspective

Posted on November 9, 2011 by TruckerMike

After four weeks on the road training my student, it was time to sit back nervously and watch as he attempted to take the CDL exam to get his license. My student and I were extremely nervous, and it didn’t go quite as well as we had hoped. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Great Stories, Passing The CDL Test, Stories of the Road, The Trainer's Viewpoint | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Learning How To Back Up A Big Truck

Posted on October 20, 2011 by TruckerMike

Learning how to back up a big rig is no easy task, but a few basic tips and tricks can really speed up the process! Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Passing The CDL Test, The Trainer's Viewpoint | Tagged , , , , , | 5 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

A Trainer’s Perspective On Teaching Students How To Shift

Posted on September 7, 2011 by TruckerMike

Today, I became a fully certified CDL instructor (woo hoo!). It feels very strange to be teaching students how to shift a truck when it feels like I just got my CDL license last week. Of course, I’ve had my license for over two and a half years now, but it sure doesn’t feel that way. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Great Stories, On The Road In Training, Safe Driving Tips, The Trainer's Viewpoint | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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

The Difference Between Truck Drivers and Professional Truck Drivers

Posted on April 26, 2011 by TruckerMike

The world has its share of unprofessional drivers, and driving a truck for a living doesn’t necessary exclude you from this category. What does it mean to truly be a professional driver? Here’s some great advice to help keep you safe out there. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Safe Driving Tips | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Losing Weight As A Truck Driver

Posted on April 2, 2011 by TruckerMike

Losing weight as a truck driver is a very difficult thing. Actually, what I should say is gaining weight as a truck driver is very easy! But after putting on some weight initially, I took off and now I’m in the best shape of my life – without exercise! It was really a pretty simple plan – here’s how I did it. Continue reading →

Posted in Career Help, Tips, Advice, Trucker Health | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

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

Posted on February 7, 2011 by TruckerMike

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

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

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

Truck Driving Down Donner Pass

Posted on March 4, 2010 by TruckerMike

Until recently, I had never actually been on Donner’s Pass in California. Donners Pass is usually touted as one of the more dangerous areas for truck drivers and is the site of many fatal accidents. It’s quite an experience! I had the pleasure of going through it at night. I would have liked to take it during the day so I could see some of the scenery around me, but I’m sure I’ll get that chance in the future. I was still able to make some key observations though… Continue reading →

Posted in Great Stories, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Truck Driving In A Cave

Posted on February 1, 2010 by TruckerMike

On occasion I get to go to a place called Springfield Underground. It started life as a mine for limestone and is now and underground storage facility. If you never thought you’d see a big rig driving through a cave, well here’s your chance! Continue reading →

Posted in Videos | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments