Why This Site Is The Best

I'm a writer by trade, don't talk much, but I write a lot. This is my "story" and explains why I believe that this site is the absolute best thing ever to anyone just getting started in their trucking career. And yes, it had to be broken in to 2 parts...I did mention I am a writer by trade?

Part 1:

I'm very new to all of this, and have been doing so much research. I am just starting out. I've talked to a few companies, have a favorite in mind, but there's no guarantee, of course. By the way, when I mean "just starting out", I mean, literally, I still have to get my permit and then go to school.

A little background, and a disclaimer:

(Disclaimer: I fully understand that driving a car is way different than driving a truck.)

Some years ago I did courier work. I started out in company vehicles, and I moved on to Independent Contracting using my own. (cars and vans) I always volunteered for the long trips while everyone else begged for the 'in city' trips. To me, it was more fun to drive a long drive...get out there, see the country, go places I had never been to before, just enjoy the open road. I loved it. Granted I didn't go across the country, but I did go to different states regularly, as well as up in to Canada. I would bring my dog with me, and we would make an adventure out of it. Because I did a lot of the same routes, truckers got to know my vehicle. They would see me on the road and acknowledge my presence. One time I got a flat in a company van that was loaded to the gills with a drop for a bank, and within seconds, one of those truckers pulled over and changed my flat. Those truckers made a huge impression on me. I started thinking about what it would be like to drive a truck for a living...but I always put it off because, admittedly, driving something that gigantic makes me a bit nervous. I've seen how cars on the road act around trucks - the complete and utter idiocy never ceased to astound me. Do they not know that trucks don't stop on a dime? Do they not know that there's a LOT of blind spots when driving something that big? Do they not realize that they aren't going to "win" any battle if there's an accident? What are these people thinking? Are they thinking? So I was hesitant.

The only time that I ever got nervous doing my courier routes was when I went up to Canada one day, like I had done several times before, and because I was delivering, I had to go to the same place that all the truckers did. My first time was a little embarrassing...here I was, this little car, in line with all of these truckers. They must have thought I was an idiot. "Look, that car doesn't have a clue where they belong." But I was in the right area...I had to go through there.

One day, I was not just processed through, I was told to pull my vehicle "around back". Oh! That never happened before. Alright. I pulled my car around back, had to wait while the went over every. last. thing. including my license, with a fine tooth wipe pad that looked like gauze. What the heck are they looking for? I was then asked if I knew what I was carrying. Well...consider this my first mistake. I had never even thought of it before. I just picked up where the company told me, and drove it where they wanted me to drop it off. The BOL that was on the packaging when I picked it up from the airport was "good enough" for me. I stated that I was carrying computer parts. They asked me, "are you sure that's what you're carrying?"

That's when I started to sweat. Well...ye..s? They asked me if I had opened the package. We weren't allowed to do that on certain items. No. Then how could I be sure that what it said on the BOL was, in fact, what I was carrying? Um. .... Did I know that sometimes people use carriers to transport illegal items? Cripes I was so naive back then, it didn't even occur to me. No...? Do you know that you're responsible if this is illegal? I really started to sweat, had a hard time breathing, I was getting ready to panic. I mean, these guys laid it on thick. I was shaking badly. I realized that the shaking and sweating made me look guilty. I shook harder. They swabbed my license, my steering wheel, door handles, gear shifter, everything that I might have touched while driving up there. Just when I was about ready to freak the hell out, they told me, "You're clean. It is computer parts. You need to make sure you know what you're carrying every time." BIG lesson learned.

Part 2:

Anyway, fast forward some time....a brother of mine, who used to drive truck, decided to start doing it again. He's been telling me I should do the same. I've thought about it, looked at a few things, thought some more...can I drive something that huge? Can I actually do that in congested traffic in places I've never been to before? I don't mind the alone part, that's not even an issue. I don't mind driving for hours, I've done it before. Granted, again, I realize it's not the same thing, but I've also driven across country for moves a number of times, and I did those moves pretty fast because I did my own "pre-trip" planning, mapping out everything, alternative routes, gas stations along my route, hotels along the route, service places just in case, vets for my pets if something happened, I had my car fully inspected...I made sure that everything was in order before putting ever driving out. I don't mind truck stops. I would go to them to get food, sit down, relax a bit. I've spent nights in rest stops several times to save money. I actually enjoy all of that. No, those are not the 'hard parts' for me, those are the "fun parts" for me. The hard part is: Can I actually drive one of those things? Look at how huge they are!!!

I decided to get serious. I've been thinking about this for years, I'm only hesitating due to fear, and when has fear stopped me from trying anything before? How about try it, see how it goes, it doesn't have to be forever if it's not right. Just try it.

So I started looking around, trying to find as much info as I could before taking the plunge. Talked to my brother a bit, got a few company names to look at, talked to some of them, started to hear some things that were similar, took that info and researched more. A lot of what I found was absolute negativity. If I listened to all of them, I would think that being a truck driver was the biggest fraud and waste of time ever. Luckily, I don't buy in to that because I've worked in Customer Service enough years in my past life that I know people can be quite dramatic when they don't get their way or what they think that they are entitled to. I kept looking.

By complete accident, I found this site. I have been on this site for 3 days straight. Reading just about every last word on here. I joined the forum yesterday so I could see what the "friendly, happy" truckers were all saying. And, it wasn't a lie. You all ARE friendly and happy. A forum "advertisement" that actually lives up to its name! I took a look at that CDL practice stuff...decided to read the first chapter but not take the test. I want to wait a few days before I try the first one to see if I retain my knowledge. I'm fantastic on short term memory, but I need to know it, so I make myself wait to make sure I actually know it, not just memorized it.

I've found more companies that allow pets than I ever even knew existed. (That's a big one for me...I'm already going to have to put up some of my pets to rescue...but to lose them all is too much.) I've heard positives about companies where before this site I only heard negatives. I've read stories from other noobs, just like me, who write diaries and pass, and managed to remember it all, and did their backing, and their parallel parking, dealt with good trainers and bad ones, and still made it. I've read of horrible assignments (that book you all have on here is fantastic), I've read about small accidents, I've learned some of the terms, I've been pointed towards videos, and I've absorbed a lot. Yeah, I know, 3 days compared to those with 15-25 years...hilarious to think I know anything, but it's a heck of a lot more than I knew a week ago.

I'm hungry for the information. I want to learn. I want to go to school prepared in some way...know something about what they are talking about. Like, I've heard of tie rods, but could never tell you what one looked like or where it is...now I've seen pictures. Now I know what to look for. Small to some of you, perhaps, but huge for me. I know what a dang brake drum looks like now. I'm thrilled to know these things. No matter what happens, I'm learning anyway. I know to go for every endorsement out there, and that HAZMAT doesn't necessarily mean: Drive a truck full of chemicals or propane. I now know that there's options such as OTR , local, regional , etc. I know what "reefer" means...because out here in the civilian world, that doesn't mean what you all know it to mean. And it's because of this site, that I have a better idea of what I think would work best for me. Obviously that could all change once I learn more...but I'm realizing that what I thought trucking was, is not what trucking is. And while I'm still nervous to drive something so monstrous, and deal with all the "four wheels" or whatever you all call them, I'm actually more excited than I was before.

Thank you, so much, for this site. I can't thank you enough for this site. If I do manage to pull this off, and get out there on those roads...I can tell you that this site will have played a huge part in that. Thank you for taking something mysterious to so many of us, and making it more understandable, and something that we can view as a real possibility. We'll see what happens, and to everyone else: Good luck, stay safe, enjoy your new lives.

Wow, you really are a great writer! Welcome!

All I'll say is this: you have the exact right attitude to really excel at this job. Hands down.

I agree.. The right attitude will determine your outlook on a lot of things. These trucks are a lot bigger and yes you can drive one. But you might be unprepared for just how much it will drain you in the begining. Nothing you won't overcome. But in the begining I was and still am worried about where in my lane the trailer is so just paying that much attention to anything for hours and hours takes it toll. Later I've learned to calm down abit and to trust myself and judgment. But I still have days (driving through bigger cities with curvy roads) that after my shift I hit the sack almost immediately.

If you decide to do this... Make friends while in school and keep in contact with them. It helps with the learning curve. My schoolmates and me still talk regularly. Getting your cdl is just the begining even though you've been on the road more or less for a little while.... I think this is abit different.

Serenity, I too stumbled on this site by accident. I was going through the endless negative forums on the internet, but looking for truthful accounts and stories from successful drivers. I was an operations manager for an air freight ground feeder company. ( LTL air freight trucker) ad already knew what I was reading was a lot of BS. Like everyone here says, the companies are not successful by being stupid, or mis-managed. That's an opinion of the failed driver that has time on his hands to botch about how he was done wrong because it was his own Damn fault. I would love to drive for the company that I managed for, but they only employ owner operators. I have absolutely no interest in being an o/o. However I do still have a lot of my old contacts and still know a lot of people in the industry, so once I get my year or 2 of OTR in I will then have options to go elsewhere if I'm not happy with what I'm doing at the time. I have been on this site about 6 months. Lurking mostly, replying and posting some. I just don't feel like I'm qualified to answer a lot of questions that are asked. If I have knowledge of something asked from my past experience I offer that up. Problem is, I got out of the industry in 2004. A lot has changed. A lot was changing while I was still there because of 9/11. So I didn't feel confident answering questions based on me not knowing what exactly had changed. So with that I must say that I have to agree with you. This site is awesome. The best site for anyone trying to break I to the industry because it is all positive and the people are great. Brett does a great job and has put some great people in place as Moderators to keep his site exactly what he wanted it to be. We both ACCIDENTLY found the very best trucking forum on the Internet. Welcome to TRUCKING TRUTH!

Serenity, you give us some "high praise," and we humbly thank you!

I am so glad you got that "reefer" part all figured out because some reefers don't mix too well with the trucking industry, while others are absolutely vital to it.

This business is greatly misunderstood by so many, and it is nice to be able to help someone genuinely interested in trucking to be able to start to get a grasp on what it is that they are getting into. It is sad to witness so many failures as people try to enter this field under totally false conceptions about how this job is supposed to work. There is such a vast array of mis-information out there on the internet, and we struggle on a daily basis to combat it. Some days I get so frustrated that I just want to throw my hands up and give up! It is amazing, and also rewarding at times, how we continually emphasize the same old truths over and over, but there is always a fresh new wave of people coming in here who have never been exposed to the things that we have to offer them. Brett has compiled a tremendous amount of vital information in here, and yet we continually find ourselves explaining it all again and again in our forum discussions. It is nice to hear from someone who points out how helpful our work has been to them.

Thanks for all your kind words!

Wow, you really are a great writer! Welcome!

All I'll say is this: you have the exact right attitude to really excel at this job. Hands down.

Wow, thanks. I made a few mistakes...but at least you all aren't editors who are going to send this back for re-writes. = ) Thanks for the welcome. I'm hoping to keep the "fear" level at "healthy dose" so that I don't make stupid decisions, but not so much that it creates more problems that I don't have to have.

I agree.. The right attitude will determine your outlook on a lot of things. These trucks are a lot bigger and yes you can drive one. But you might be unprepared for just how much it will drain you in the begining. Nothing you won't overcome. But in the begining I was and still am worried about where in my lane the trailer is so just paying that much attention to anything for hours and hours takes it toll. Later I've learned to calm down abit and to trust myself and judgment. But I still have days (driving through bigger cities with curvy roads) that after my shift I hit the sack almost immediately.

If you decide to do this... Make friends while in school and keep in contact with them. It helps with the learning curve. My schoolmates and me still talk regularly. Getting your cdl is just the begining even though you've been on the road more or less for a little while.... I think this is abit different.

Good suggestion about the fellow classmates. I'll do that. Yeah, I know this is definitely different...I've gone through wait times, although I have not had to wait hours on end, but a couple of hours was not out of the norm even in courier work. I've gone through some...interesting people at pick up and drop points and know very well how a little common courtesy goes a long, long way in getting any kind of assistance, I definitely know about getting lost - geez - you take one wrong turn, get off one exit too early...but I never had to worry about bridges before, or finding my way out from a dead end street, so there's definitely a LOT more to learn about "getting lost while driving a truck". Also, just like truckers, I got paid by the miles to get there, not miles I got lost, not time spent waiting, not time spent driving back, not time getting gas, or stopping at a rest stop to sleep a little...so I'm prepared for that.

Being in a foreign place in congested traffic with a car can be nerve wracking if you let it get to you, but I know that with a a huge truck, it's going to be 100 times more. I'm hoping I have a tiny bit of a head start on that in knowing to just keep cool about it. I've seen a lot of peoples posts about having to park in extremely tight spaces...that has me nervous, but I guess that all comes with experience. And yes, knowing if I'm staying in my lane or not...heck, I had that with a huge van I had to drive at one time. It's going to be magnified enormously while in a truck. As you said, eventually you'll start to trust yourself more...but yeah, that's going to be a little scary. Just don't HIT anything...that's my goal. Get my pick up, drive, get to the drop off, and don't HIT anything along the way.

Serenity, I too stumbled on this site by accident. I was going through the endless negative forums on the internet, but looking for truthful accounts and stories from successful drivers. I was an operations manager for an air freight ground feeder company. ( LTL air freight trucker) ad already knew what I was reading was a lot of BS. Like everyone here says, the companies are not successful by being stupid, or mis-managed. That's an opinion of the failed driver that has time on his hands to botch about how he was done wrong because it was his own Damn fault. I would love to drive for the company that I managed for, but they only employ owner operators. I have absolutely no interest in being an o/o. However I do still have a lot of my old contacts and still know a lot of people in the industry, so once I get my year or 2 of OTR in I will then have options to go elsewhere if I'm not happy with what I'm doing at the time. I have been on this site about 6 months. Lurking mostly, replying and posting some. I just don't feel like I'm qualified to answer a lot of questions that are asked. If I have knowledge of something asked from my past experience I offer that up. Problem is, I got out of the industry in 2004. A lot has changed. A lot was changing while I was still there because of 9/11. So I didn't feel confident answering questions based on me not knowing what exactly had changed. So with that I must say that I have to agree with you. This site is awesome. The best site for anyone trying to break I to the industry because it is all positive and the people are great. Brett does a great job and has put some great people in place as Moderators to keep his site exactly what he wanted it to be. We both ACCIDENTLY found the very best trucking forum on the Internet. Welcome to TRUCKING TRUTH!

Thanks! Good luck to you. I feel we got lucky landing here.

Serenity, you give us some "high praise," and we humbly thank you!

I am so glad you got that "reefer" part all figured out because some reefers don't mix too well with the trucking industry, while others are absolutely vital to it.

This business is greatly misunderstood by so many, and it is nice to be able to help someone genuinely interested in trucking to be able to start to get a grasp on what it is that they are getting into. It is sad to witness so many failures as people try to enter this field under totally false conceptions about how this job is supposed to work. There is such a vast array of mis-information out there on the internet, and we struggle on a daily basis to combat it. Some days I get so frustrated that I just want to throw my hands up and give up! It is amazing, and also rewarding at times, how we continually emphasize the same old truths over and over, but there is always a fresh new wave of people coming in here who have never been exposed to the things that we have to offer them. Brett has compiled a tremendous amount of vital information in here, and yet we continually find ourselves explaining it all again and again in our forum discussions. It is nice to hear from someone who points out how helpful our work has been to them.

Thanks for all your kind words!

No, the thanks belongs to all of you. Every time I think I have a question, I find that it's been talked about. So I try to think of new questions, sure enough, they have been talked about. I will, eventually, maybe, have some question on here that hasn't been talked about, but so much is covered. So. Much! From pet policies to eating healthy and saving money, to an entire month in the dead of winter from an experienced driver to first year pay, second year pay, crazy parking, crazy traffic, crazy locations, and you know...even knowing that experienced drivers still make mistakes is actually extremely helpful. And I've grabbed a ton of ideas already like wear my keys around my neck...brilliant! Top 10 things to have. The realities of O/O. From "you're only as good as your last load" to when to say, "No, if you're in danger of falling asleep at the wheel, if the conditions are too much, turn it off, you don't have to do what everyone else on the road is doing, you go with your skills". My favorite line, paraphrased a bit: My life is worth more than some boxes of Macaroni n Cheese. That line will stick with me.

I will definitely have to learn some things the hard way, I will definitely make mistakes, I will definitely have days when I feel like the world's biggest moron, I will definitely have some days that will be frustrating...and it's okay. Tomorrow is a new day. They say that kind of stuff in office work, but I think it's far more fitting in this type of industry. Nonetheless, people say "hindsight is 20/20", and what you all give here are some wise words from those who have had rough days, made mistakes, had close calls, have learned what to bring, have learned what to worry about and what to let go - to get all of that beforehand? You are saving people a lot of really, really bad days by sharing it. There is always more to learn from those who have been there...and even with a ton of experience, I get the feeling that this site will continue to bring me more knowledge.