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!
Archive of entries posted by Brett Aquila
Questions and Answers for a Truck Driver
Posted by TruckerMike on 8 April 2010, 5:26 am
Filed under Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, truck driving lifestyle.
Tagged Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, being a truck driver, driver responsibilities, getting your CDL, life on the road, truck driving career, truck driving lifestyle
2 Comments
My First Year as a Truck Driver
Posted by TruckerMike on 17 March 2010, 6:30 am
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.
Filed under Advice and Opinions, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Current State of the Trucking Industry, truck driving lifestyle.
Tagged Advice and Opinions, being a truck driver, dealing with the boss, driver responsibilities, First year on the road, hard lessons learned, life on the road, Stories of the Road, truck driving lifestyle, truck driving stories
2 Comments
Truck Driving Down Donner Pass
Posted by TruckerMike on 4 March 2010, 10:40 am
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…
Truck Driving In A Cave
Posted by TruckerMike on 1 February 2010, 1:25 pm
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!
Truck Driving in Winter Weather
Posted by TruckerMike on 19 January 2010, 5:51 am
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!
Truck Driving – Experience and Enjoyment of the Job
Posted by TruckerMike on 13 November 2009, 7:55 am
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.
Truck Driver Appreciation Week
Posted by TruckerMike on 11 November 2009, 8:33 am
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.
Filed under Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Current State of the Trucking Industry, Stories of the Road, truck driving lifestyle.
Tagged Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, driver responsibilities, life on the road, Stories of the Road, truck driver appreciation week, truck driving lifestyle
4 Comments
Making it Financially in Truck Driving
Posted by TruckerMike on 14 October 2009, 11:49 am
Finances on the road can be tough when first getting started, but hopefully this will provide you with a little insight on how to stay out of trouble.
My Recent Trucking Adventures – Quite A Challenge
Posted by TruckerMike on 6 October 2009, 6:20 am
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?
Filed under 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 Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, driver responsibilities, hard lessons learned, life on the road, Stories of the Road, truck driving lifestyle, truck driving stories
1 Comment
My Truck Driving Career – A 6 Month Review
Posted by TruckerMike on 21 September 2009, 4:44 am
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.
Filed under Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Current State of the Trucking Industry, First Solo Months On The Road, truck driving lifestyle.
Tagged Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, dealing with the boss, driver responsibilities, hard lessons learned, life on the road, Stories of the Road, truck driving lifestyle, truck driving stories
5 Comments
Leaving Home
Posted by TruckerMike on 11 September 2009, 10:48 am
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.
Seeing the Other Side of the Tracks as a Truck Driver
Posted by TruckerMike on 28 August 2009, 8:35 am
“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.
The Sleep Cycle of a Truck Driver – It Doesn’t Exist
Posted by TruckerMike on 27 August 2009, 3:55 am
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.
Filed under 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 Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, driver responsibilities, hard lessons learned, life on the road, Stories of the Road, truck driving lifestyle, Trucker's sleep cycles
3 Comments
Want to Live a Simpler Life? Try Truck Driving!
Posted by TruckerMike on 19 August 2009, 9:49 am
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….
Alone Time as a Truck Driver – Can you Handle it?
Posted by TruckerMike on 13 August 2009, 5:00 pm
When I first started researching becoming a truck driver, I knew I’d be spending a lot of time alone. Believe it or not, this was actually something I was looking forward to. It’s not that I dislike people or anything like that, I’ve just always been the type that doesn’t mind being alone. It’s almost therapeutic. However, this isn’t the case for everyone, and I’m here to tell you what it’s like being a solo truck driver, all alone.
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