Comments By Feanor K.

I second Steve. Trucker's Path can be an absolute godsend for a rookie driver. It is free, easy to use and will show you every parking area available on your route ( not just truckstops and rest areas but scales, restaurants and other areas that provide truck parking) as well as parking predictions that can be very helpful.

Don't sweat it Bernard, shifting is one of the most difficult things for a rookie to learn, and it's important to remember that it takes time and that you will not be able (or expected) to master it in your short schooling.

CDL testers expect there to be gear grinding and won't usually even mention it unless it is extreme or you stall the truck in traffic. Try to do the best you can, but don't set the expectations too high. It's nothing to beat yourself up over - that's a waste of time.

Personally I struggled with shifting not just in CDL school, but through over a month of on-road training as well. I didn't really get it down until I was solo. I still passed the CDL test and upgrade test to go solo without issue.

You definitely get in some physical work running flatbed, but like with any exercise plan your body will simply ask for more food, so unless you had some kind of limit on your diet you would likely just be hungrier, eat more and stay about the same.

I did lose some weight in flatbed but that was just because I was too busy to eat a lot of times! Skipped a lot of breakfasts and a few dinners to stay ahead of the clock.

I love the views. This may seem like a small thing or something that would grow boring eventually, but honestly, it doesn't for me. Watching the mountains and forests and rivers of the Northwest go by is something I enjoy every day. And the solitude allows for some truly deep thinking, or better yet, practice NOT thinking and just experiencing :)

Ahhhhhh, the eternal question with no definitive answer.

First off welcome to the site! You've found the best source of info on this profession the internet has to offer. There are a bunch of great articles covering your question as well as many others which I don't have the links handy for but I'm sure someone will supply shortly.

I will give my answer based on my own experience.

The standard response here on TT is 40-50k for a solo driver. Trucking play is setup to be performance based, so depending on your own ability/ dedication this number could be higher or lower. OTR will typically pay somewhat better than regional but this is not always the case. The type of freight you haul is also a factor.

If you are running team with both driving it should naturally double, and more, because the nature of team driving is more efficient. I have not driven team so others may have better info.

Here is a link to a thread I made detailing my own first year wages. https://www.truckingtruth.com/truckers-forum/Topic-24755/Page-1/my-rookie-year-wages-flatbed

That comment was bound to get backlash John, given the people who were advising you are some of the most successful and experienced drivers around and donate a ton of time and effort herefor free, but I also understand that you are new here and didn't know anything about them, so it's understandable imo.

I made a thread a while back precisely for people in your position that I will link. Hope it helps!

My Rookie Year Wages (Flatbed)

Go for it mate. I am of a similar mindset on a lot of points (introverted, dislike talking on phones, bad at networking, gamer) and trucking was one of the biggest, most difficult, and most rewarding choices of my life.

Before I started I trucking 2 years ago, I was making $11/hr busting butt from 4am in a bakery, I had hardly been out of my home state, never driven a manual vehicle, and was nervous just going to the small-medium sized city 20 miles away.

Now I make twice in a week what I used to every 2 weeks, while most work days consist of taking in the beautiful scenery of the Northwest while listening to my favourite music and audio books and doing some deep thinking on my projects and life in general. I have been to every state (minus a couple), about half of Canada, almost every major city in a 10speed truck over 60ft long.

The whole experience has expanded my mind, my confidence, and my wallet, and is truly a unique job experience that will likely change the way you think about work.

I'm not saying it's easy, but I am saying it is worth it. Despite the first 6 months of my career being some of the must stressful and challenging I can remember, I consider it a small price for what you can gain sticking with it.

24!

Not 100% on this but I believe CRST has a Train- your- partner program.

Good luck to you! You are in my prayers.