Comments By Robert P.

I've been doing a ton of research related to becoming a trucker and today i put in my notice in preparation for starting school. Between this forum and the truckers at my current job most of my questions have been answered pretty well, but there's one that's really important to me.

How can i avoid being one of those truckers that fails to succeed in the first few months.

This question really has a few layers. First in my mind being, what exactly happens to these truckers i hear about not being able to make the cut in the first few months. This is just a story i've heard from several people about guys that didn't manage to keep a job after getting through school, but i haven't heard exactly why this happens.

Secondly, what exactly separates good from bad. Is it entirely based on miles moved without accidents? Am i going to be disliked when i point out to dispatch that i'm planning to ride by the book?

My long term goal here is to forgo rent and stay on the road for a few years to save money up, so i need to know what is necessary to keep trucking for the long haul.

First, you have to have realistic expectations of what you want out of your driving career. RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH. You have to do your research and find the carrier that will be the best fit for what you are looking for. You will be well ahead of the curve just because you are asking the question on this forum. If you want to stay out on the road then a LTL carrier is not going to give what you want. Just the same, staying out on the road with a company that has low grade equipment will not be a good fit either. Second, you must understand that being a professional driver is an attitude, not just time behind the wheel. http://prodriverproject.com/wordpress/4-simple-steps-to-set-a-good-example/ This article will explain in greater detail. Ask as many questions as you can on this forum and don't ever stop asking questions. God Bless.