So, Did Most Of Your Friends Also Think You Were Crazy To Change Careers And Become And OTR Trucker?

Years ago, I left a pretty cushy, 9-5, had my own office, type job to become a LEO. "Why in the world would you become a cop? And work those kind of hours and take that kind of risk for that kind of pay? And besides, they get no respect."

As Yogi Berra said,"It's like deja vu all over again."

I gave my official notice at work yesterday. Got a nice response from my boss: "Well, if it doesn't work out, or if you ever change your mind or want to come back, we can always find a place for you here." So, that was nice...

But then word started spreading that I was leaving. "I just can't see you being a trucker." And "Why in the world would you want to be a trucker." Etc. They seemed to think that trucking would be a last resort and certainly not something that a person with anything on the ball would choose.

One co-worker is a retired O/O. He talked about the good old days before the industry was so regulated, back when you could have fun in his opinion -- before the HOS regs. He said there was no way he'd do the job today with government all in your business, etc.

Hmmm, I dunno. Maybe I am crazy....

Hmmm, I dunno. Maybe I am crazy....

David, every one of us who started this career have had our close friends and family make us think that same thought. You see unfortunately truckers have not left a good impression of themselves on the world. The industry is so diverse that there are people in it from all walks of life, but there are a good many of the types of people who don't seem to take good care of themselves, they grow fat and lazy, they don't shower anywhere near enough, they are foul mouthed know-it-alls who try to bully their way into shippers and receivers... you will meet the type out here. Unfortunately, those types have left an indelible impression upon the world as the typical truck driver. I encountered one recently while taking a break at a truck stop - he walked into the truck drivers lounge, and the rest of us had to walk out - he smelled worse than the local garbage dump!

Living in the road is not an easy life, but it is an exciting one. It is full of rewards, most of them not monetary (HaHa!) As an LEO you will probably do better pay wise after you get past that first year.

David, I was in a private business for thirty years before retiring and then becoming an over the road truck driver. I do real well at it, and enjoy it immensely. It is certainly not for everyone, there are difficulties that most people would not put up with - the time away from your family being the chief among them.

As you join our ranks, you can make it a point to be a positive force for change in our industry. There are a lot of folks out here who are good decent people who really enjoy what we do. Come along and help us put a new face on the industry!

Everyone I know right now is trying to sway me not to get into trucking. But I am going to do it anyway for a few reasons.

Number one, I know what I want in life and what I want to do. No one can stop me and no one can sway me because no one knows me better than I do.

Number two, I've already taken all of their reasons into consideration. Erratic sleep pattern? I already have that. You'll never be home! That's what I love about it. You'll have to drive ALL the time. I love driving. You'll get fat! I have a high metabolism and you CAN eat healthy on the road with the proper tools and planning.

Number three, this a passion. This is not something I'm doing just for the money or just to travel.

The bottom line is, if you want to do it then do it. Just try to make sure you're doing it for the right reasons. For anything you want to do in the world people can come up with a million reasons not to do it. You want to be a singer? No privacy, getting up at 3 in the morning to make a music video, once you lose your voice that's it, the whole world judges you, etc. You want to be president? You'll have to clean up the last president's mess, the country will bash you no matter what you do, theres so much stress that you prematurely grey, politics, etc.

I think that was Old School on this site who said name a company with no bad reviews? Well, name a job with no bad sides to it. Name me "the perfect job" with nothing wrong with it and nothing bad about it and I'll name you a reason why it's a bad job and why you shouldn't do it.

Bottom line is, do what you want to do and forget those classic Negative Nancys.

After telling a friend of my thinking- to become an OTR trucker, he said: "that's a terrible job".

Right now I've put it on hold- I've got another job I'm looking at. Will reconsider in 2016

Hmmm, I dunno. Maybe I am crazy....

David, every one of us who started this career have had our close friends and family make us think that same thought. You see unfortunately truckers have not left a good impression of themselves on the world. The industry is so diverse that there are people in it from all walks of life, but there are a good many of the types of people who don't seem to take good care of themselves, they grow fat and lazy, they don't shower anywhere near enough, they are foul mouthed know-it-alls who try to bully their way into shippers and receivers... you will meet the type out here. Unfortunately, those types have left an indelible impression upon the world as the typical truck driver. I encountered one recently while taking a break at a truck stop - he walked into the truck drivers lounge, and the rest of us had to walk out - he smelled worse than the local garbage dump!

Living in the road is not an easy life, but it is an exciting one. It is full of rewards, most of them not monetary (HaHa!) As an LEO you will probably do better pay wise after you get past that first year.

David, I was in a private business for thirty years before retiring and then becoming an over the road truck driver. I do real well at it, and enjoy it immensely. It is certainly not for everyone, there are difficulties that most people would not put up with - the time away from your family being the chief among them.

As you join our ranks, you can make it a point to be a positive force for change in our industry. There are a lot of folks out here who are good decent people who really enjoy what we do. Come along and help us put a new face on the industry!

Yea its hard getting the 2 years experience but as long as your trying hard enough...maybe leaving a nice office made your friends think that but its OK...

I'm not sure what it says about me then when I've told friends/family what I was thinking about doing everyone immediately thought it was an awesome idea. Hahahahaha

Miss Miyoshi - ha ha! I was going to post the same thing! My friends and family basically said "Oh, yeah, I can TOTALLY see you doing that!"

Okay, I think you gals are going to fit right in!

Yeah, well, I guess you either "get it" or you don't. Maybe we should borrow and modify the "It's a Jeep thing, you wouldn't understand" into "It's a trucker thing, you wouldn't understand"...

Who know, maybe some enterprising person will make some bumper stickers for us.. LOL.

Okay, I think you gals are going to fit right in!

I'll just drop some 80's metal lyrics.

Ma ma ma were all crazee now.