Comments By Hudsonhawk

He has a point about the pay. I've averaged much less than $1k/week. And if I out in these kind of hours back homeat one or two jobs I would have been clearing alot more money than I am now.

For some reason though be it the toss of the dice or ill luck though I think it works for some people and not for others.

Now believe me this is going to sound like a harangue but in reality it's more of a Jeremiahd or an observation.

Do you believe in signs from destiny, fate or the universe? Since I started this trucking endeavor over six months ago everything that is capable of pointing me away from it has come to pass. I've been living Murphys law for six months if not longer now and it's been a hell of a journey.

Where most people I trained with during my rotation took 3 weeks for their training it took me about 8 weeks before I was able to test. Reasons unknown to me at the time:

A) I'm from California, trainers hate California and most truckers are not from anywhere near the golden state. Sure there are a few but the economy is better in the Western seaboard than the midwest. Plenty of jobs, not many reasons to go into trucking unless you really want to. Which is where I fell in. I really wanted this. B)Trainer didn't want to go back in because he was making money off of me. Instead of 75 hours and then go in and test I did a whopping total of 250 hours. Now by the time I came back everyone I went into rotation with was already on their next phase of training. Now to the next observation.

Team driver training didn't really work out for me. At this point I was already away from home for 3 months and now in debt to the company I was working for. Now it's all ok at this point nothing bad although I was told I'd be home every month I wasn't stressing too much. I get into the second phase and bam I guess I wasn't really trained. Just had my license.

1)First TNT trainer doesn't let me do anything but freeway time. So I leave the company, I got a license I figure I'm good. Company calls me says they can get me another trainer now mind you I already found another job at this point. A night manager at a local grocery store. Not bad for looking for work for 3 days. So of course I say yes I'll go back to trucking.

2) Second trainer is about 24 years old. Dude was a nice guy, but still didn't really know how to teach. At all. Just like the last few instructors there is no real instruction. Just a shrug of the shoulders when you ask questions. I saw it through, but instead of the 30,000 mile requirement I ended up at around 50,000 miles. It's about December by now and I started in June. 6 months awesome. At this point after doing the math compared to my previous job that only paid $22/hr I've done the math. I've lost about $10,000.00 and worked an extra 60 hours a week for the privelage. No big deal I'll keep on trucking and roll on.

So I'm solo, finally I'll be making that $1k a week. Sounds great and I'm looking forward to it. Took about 2 weeks before I hit a patch of ice and had a trailer jacknife. Funny thing is two other company trucks did the exact same thing empty trailers with super single tires about 2 mile markers down the road. OK my bad, I'm a poor driver and made a mistake I get it. Well company wanted me to train again, cool I get it. I damaged a truck. Kept it on the road at least didn't get a ticket and no fines or fees. So I'll train again.

3) My fourth trainer was an older guy. I have alot of respect for him. He taught me alot and put in a little bit of time "bare minimum" to help me with my backing. Not much but enough. I'm hoping.

Well that's where I am now. I just got back from being solo 2nd time and truck is broke down for 6 days now. Cool. I'm not too worried as I know I'm looking for more stable work. After doing the math I've lost aprox $20,000+. And my girlfriend barely knows me, had a miscarriage because of the stress of me being gone and I'm trapped paying off a company debt and haven't been home in almost 2 months.

So yes I think all signs point to the fact that I shouldn't pursue this much further. Once the weather warms up I'm done. Oh I forgot to mention out of all the people to go through my rotation for training there were about 140, out of that 60 got their license about 30 went on to drive for the company. I think maybe 14 or 15 stayed with the company. Most others left or have found other companies. It's ironic I just kept trying to persevere and it's really done more damage to my life than good. But I'm optomistic. I'll find another career. I know it's not for everyone and that's where I fall in I think. I'm worn out and tired.

I don't mind the travelling it's mostly the travelling and not having time to see the sights and mingle with people. All you really see are truck stops and freeways. I guess it just isn't for me.

Unfortunate really, I was hoping it would pay better than the last job but it really hasn't added up. HHG miles are eating my clock and not paying me for it.

Oh I was thinking nebraska then further south. I was gonna do it for a few seasons but don't want to deal with the cold seasons.

So my friend went into some harvesting jobs last year and told me it would be more my style.

I was curious if anyone had any experience with them and what their thoughts were?

I'm not enjoying the constant city driving and having to find parking in and around city's at night. Not to mention the attitude of most receivers and shippers. They just seem pretty calloused and rude.

I figure I can do some harvesting gigs, maybe get some combine experience during the spring, summer and fall then take the winter off. I'm not too inclined on this ice, snow and summits either.

I know it probably doesn't pay as well as otr work which I'm ok with. Honestly the OTR work hasn't been paying as consistently as I thought it would and the expenses out here are ridiculous. I made better money working in an office sitting at a desk. So far after six months I've gotten about an average of about 800$ a week if not less. It just seems miniscule by comparison to the kind of stress and worry this job has pushed on me. I'm not knocking the job, don't get me wrong there. It's ok, but the dangers, risk and inconsistency has been too much thsee last six months. Someone told me I have to put the time in to figure it out but I'm tired of freezing at night because my apu knocks out or tired of driving in circles looking for a parking spot. The isolation is pretty brutal.

But i sometimes comes with a hotel and meals with a semi-stable place to sleep. E.g. a hotel room with a shower. Any ideas?

Thank you!

I had a dental emergency and ended up getting a taxi go a dentist in twin falls idaho. Of course he ripped me off but it's how it goes. Truckers usually get ripped off I found out, everywhere you go someone is going to take advantage.

Wish I knew that coming into this business. They have local work all around where I live and the weather there is usually very nice. Oh les sunny california how I miss thee.

To me the extra money is worth it. If you run 2500 miles a week it'll come to about an extra 400-600 a month. To me that's paying my California taxes. Totally worth it.

I saw a prime driver who was covered head to toe in star wars sith tattoos. Was kinda cool.

And yeah, the drinking thing and all that is kind of a no go in trucking. When I was not driving I drank almost every weekend if not consistently a six pack during the work week. Now that I'm driving I really don't have time for it. I get home and the last thing on my mind is a beer. Maybe one or two.

When you go through orientation the nurse is going to ask you how much you drink. I lied to her saying I only drank a six pack once a week in one sitting. She said it was too much and made me sign a piece of paper. I'd recommend dumbing it down cause it was kind of a ridiculous ordeal. Where I'm at in California everyone drinks due to camping and fishing. And they drink alot more than a six pack in a sitting..... I never knew six beers as being a problem but different strokes for different folks.

Good luck. If you go solo and get a lightweight truck I'd highly recommend asking for an international with the passenger seat taken out. There is much more room in them than the freightliner lightweights and storage cabinets above the bunk. I don't think I could fit in a freightliner lightweight.

Some emergency truck parking on copper mountain before vale pass. I imagine it's gonna fill up quick. Gas station down the road bout to go buy smokes before the 5 day storm hits.

Ok so I'm ok, cops came said we had to put chains on or park somewhere else.