Safety (really, How Dangerous Is This?)

I'm 48 and over-educated in things that don't help you get a job. I love literature and writing, and school was lovely and fulfilling, but I'm just about broke and the little part time jobs I'm working don't make ends meet.

I've been interested in trucking since my twenties, a long time. I believe it would suit me. I've never done it because of my gender and my familial responsibilities among other things, but for the past several weeks I've been very, very seriously considering it and doing lots of research. This forum is wonderful.

I'm just about sold and ready to take a stab at it, but my son is so worried about me. He's 19, and of course it's my decision, but he cares about me and I want to make him feel better about it. It's hard when it's all over the internet as one of the top ten most dangerous jobs.

I've had one speeding ticket in my entire life and have never caused an accident. I know driving these humongous vehicles will be much more challenging, but I'm good at driving, and I'm sensible. As for truck stops and such, I've got a ton of street smarts and have survived more than most. Common sense goes a long way.

But what about the statistics and the high rate of fatalities per number of drivers. Do you think something else contributed? Perhaps they were unsafe, or they were doing a particular kind of dangerous trucking, like those ice road truckers on that show? Or is it really that dangerous even when you follow all the safety rules? And what about trucks being robbed. I don't intend to haul anything of exceptional value, just basic goods. What do you think? I'm good to go, but I want to make my son feel better about it, if possible.

If you want dangerous driving, ride a motorcycle!

There are people who will wave statistics in your face and you just might believe them. Now I have a chance to quote Mark Twain:

There are lies. There are damn lies. Then there are statistics.

In truck driving, a major part of your training is in safe driving. Everything from inspecting your truck before you start your day (mostly for safety items) to the minimum time off per day before you can drive again, so you'll be rested. Trucking is right up there with airlines for safety practices. Not to worry.

RE Ice Road Trucking: yes that is a more dangerous segment of trucking, but in the lower 48, you have an unimpeachable* right to not drive in the snow or any bad weather if you feel it's unsafe. I've watched every season of IRT. Despite the producer's secret hopes, there are few serious accidents, and no one dropped through the ice.

You can get all kinds of trucking horror stories on the internet. But on this Web site, we have no patience with malarkey.

Welcome to Trucking Truth!

Here's our "starer kit". The High Road Training Program will go a long way to H hello with your CDL.

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road Training Program

* Unimpeachable = nobody's going to argue with you about your decision.

* Unimpeachable = nobody's going to argue with you about your decision.

We don't call Errol "Webster" for nothing!

Please find a small operation in which who will take you on. Find someonw who will train you at least three weeks and an employer who doesn't push you all the time and give you the proper amount of time to get from one place to another.. I know, a lot of people are bored when they have an extra day to get there... Well, I will tell you right now.. when I was with a big company, I won't name them.. they pushed me to my limits.. Yes, I learned how to drive but the hard way... I didn't have any accidents, Thank God but I was always trying to catch up and did.. and the more I did, the more they wanted from me. I found myself towards the end of my employment there, being less careful to get to where I needed to go.. A car pulled in front of me while I wasn't paying attention and it was toward the start of my 34 hour re set and I had my wake up call! Yes, I am one of those who only go the speed limits on the highways and stay in the right lanes, but have the time to get places and I get paid just as well as not more than a big company. Check it out and find one who will take a chance on you and let you drive for them. Because you have a clean driving record for many years means nothing anymore.. Driving a truck is a whole new baby verses driving a car... Good luck and relax and enjoy the ride.. I know I LOVE being a truck driver!!

Lilysmomma, you're way overreaching by telling everyone to avoid working for the largest, most successful companies in the nation because you weren't thrilled with your short experience there as a brand new driver. Please stop equating your experiences in your extremely short time out there with the size of the company. There's far more to it than that.

What he ^^^ said.

(Here is where a simple thumbs up feature would be cool)

Trucking can be a dangerous job, yes. The less safe you are, the more dangerous the job will be. The opposite is true. If you are a cautious, safe driver, driving a truck is not inherently more dangerous than driving any other vehicle.

I am ONLY stating my experience.. Did I tell anyone to NOT go to a major company? I don't see that in my post at all.. I am just saying what I have had in the past.. Only trying to give this guy a better option in which I truly believe a smaller company may be a better fit for him. I am not saying the big companies are bad at all, did I?? Geeeez, gimme a break....

Lilysmomma, you're way overreaching by telling everyone to avoid working for the largest, most successful companies in the nation because you weren't thrilled with your short experience there as a brand new driver. Please stop equating your experiences in your extremely short time out there with the size of the company. There's far more to it than that.

Yeah........... right!

What he ^^^ said.

(Here is where a simple thumbs up feature would be cool)

Lol. Actually, you kind of did tell them to go to a small company and not a major one.

Please find a small operation in which who will take you on.