Game: Trucking Might Not Be For You If...

I thought this a way to explain the types of personalities that don't succeed in trucking. Its not a good/bad thing. Trucking is not for everyone. Before newbies get roped into high tuition I thought we could give our opinions on who wouldn't succeed.

A person who can't make a decision and needs dispatch to spoon feed every movement to him.

If a driver is independent, a self starter, a leader, a control freak, and research for answers then he could be very successful.

If he is a follower who likes directions mapped out for him, would rather someone else call the shots, and lacks confidence in his decision making... He might be better off as a "B seat" of a team where the lead makes the decisions. But my guess is solo driving might not be for him.

If you can't handle not getting a shower for several days.

I know I've been stuck in a few situations where I couldn't get a shower for 3 or more days. Stuff happens...

If you can't handle having an unpredictable schedule, including unpredictability in your sleep patterns.

If you can't handle plans changing. Repeatedly. In a single day.

If you can't handle sitting and waiting. And waiting. And waiting. And waiting some more.

If you can't communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. (Please note, "communicate" does not mean "scream and yell and rant and rave until you get your way.")

If you are unfamiliar with the term "compromise."

If you can't handle LONG stretches of solitude.

If you can't leave Facebook or Twitter alone for 5 minutes.

If you're prone to impatience, aggression, or road rage.

If you're claustrophobic.

If you have young children at home.

If you jump into this career without research you will have a surprise. I have been researching this for over 3 years. I am now ready to take the plunge. I think I know enough, thanks in large part to the people here, that I will be successful at this. My wife is my best friend and she has been right there with me. She supports me 100%. She does have her worries. If one is married this move has to be a joint decision. This site really is the best place to start.

Someone who cannot control their emotions...especially anger, will probably have a very difficult time with truck driving.

So you telling me because I have kid at home I can't be a truck driver?

If you can't handle having an unpredictable schedule, including unpredictability in your sleep patterns.

If you can't handle plans changing. Repeatedly. In a single day.

If you can't handle sitting and waiting. And waiting. And waiting. And waiting some more.

If you can't communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. (Please note, "communicate" does not mean "scream and yell and rant and rave until you get your way.")

If you are unfamiliar with the term "compromise."

If you can't handle LONG stretches of solitude.

If you can't leave Facebook or Twitter alone for 5 minutes.

If you're prone to impatience, aggression, or road rage.

If you're claustrophobic.

If you have young children at home.

So you telling me because I have kid at home I can't be a truck driver?

If you can't handle having an unpredictable schedule, including unpredictability in your sleep patterns.

If you can't handle plans changing. Repeatedly. In a single day.

If you can't handle sitting and waiting. And waiting. And waiting. And waiting some more.

If you can't communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. (Please note, "communicate" does not mean "scream and yell and rant and rave until you get your way.")

If you are unfamiliar with the term "compromise."

If you can't handle LONG stretches of solitude.

If you can't leave Facebook or Twitter alone for 5 minutes.

If you're prone to impatience, aggression, or road rage.

If you're claustrophobic.

If you have young children at home.

I assume what he is implying is that it can be tremendously harder not being around to see your child grow up and stuff. But I could be wrong

So you telling me because I have kid at home I can't be a truck driver?

If you can't handle having an unpredictable schedule, including unpredictability in your sleep patterns.

If you can't handle plans changing. Repeatedly. In a single day.

If you can't handle sitting and waiting. And waiting. And waiting. And waiting some more.

If you can't communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. (Please note, "communicate" does not mean "scream and yell and rant and rave until you get your way.")

If you are unfamiliar with the term "compromise."

If you can't handle LONG stretches of solitude.

If you can't leave Facebook or Twitter alone for 5 minutes.

If you're prone to impatience, aggression, or road rage.

If you're claustrophobic.

If you have young children at home.

Can't? No.

Shouldn't? Yes.

Young children need love, support, and guidance from their parents. When a parent is absent, the child doesn't understand they "why," they just know mommy or daddy isn't there. They can grow resentful, and it can severely impact their self esteem. They begin to think there's something wrong with them that makes mommy or daddy go away.

Here's a good example: https://youtu.be/1ZPsfO2I4bo

...someone who never accepts responsibility for his actions.

Most of the whiners and company bashers are.people who never see their own faults thus never learn from their mistakes.

If a drivers first response when they screw up is "that stupid pole shouldn't even be there.....my trainer never told me about trip planning...the GPS never works so I couldn't find the customer....dispatch called me and gave me the wrong address....I was driving a safe distance of 100 feet when a car stopped in front of me caused me to rear end him"

Trainers can't teach you everything so you need to research...on this site is a great start!! YouTube videos can also be great places for info on trip planning, pre trip and understanding the concepts of backing or mechanical issues. Beware--- stupid people who fit the description above will post negative reviews to great companies because well....they are stupid.

So you telling me because I have kid at home I can't be a truck driver?

If you can't handle having an unpredictable schedule, including unpredictability in your sleep patterns.

If you can't handle plans changing. Repeatedly. In a single day.

If you can't handle sitting and waiting. And waiting. And waiting. And waiting some more.

If you can't communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. (Please note, "communicate" does not mean "scream and yell and rant and rave until you get your way.")

If you are unfamiliar with the term "compromise."

If you can't handle LONG stretches of solitude.

If you can't leave Facebook or Twitter alone for 5 minutes.

If you're prone to impatience, aggression, or road rage.

If you're claustrophobic.

If you have young children at home.

Come on...you have to admit it is much harder. You'll miss the little league games....dance recitals...soccer...the fights at school...

There is no guarantee to get home on time. In a year I was late once but what if that one time had been really important?

I stay out 4-6 weeks...Nov-Dec I did almost nine. On my four days...I sleep at least two..then do laundry stock the truck see my family and before I know it I'm gone. I can't imagine what it would be like with a kid saying "mom...we gotta go to six flags this weekend..." Or "its Halloween and we were supposed to go to the scary house...you promissssssseeeddd".

And wives/gf --- and yes even men--- can be clingy and give you guilt trips.