How Do I Know If Trucking Is For Me?
Topic 24091 | Page 1
How do I know for sure about getting into trucking or is there a way to know
Try some reading to start with
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road CDL Training Program
- CDL Practice Tests
- Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing A Truck Driving School
- Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing Your First Truck Driving Job
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
How do I know for sure about getting into trucking or is there a way to know
Honestly without giving it a shot, the short answer is no. We could spend all day drawing comparisons, but nothing will exactly hit the nail on the head. TBH, this job is in you or it isn’t. It either becomes your lifestyle or it will make you miserable. The internet is chocked full of miserable ex drivers.
Agreed. Find someone willing to take you OTR for a week or so. i personally think all dispatchers and planners should do ride alongs for 2 weeks. Until you get diarrhea at 3 am in a huge truck stop in 10 degree winter...you just dont get it.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Dispatcher:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
Start by reading Becoming A Truck Driver: The Raw Truth About Truck Driving, then read the different forums and blogs on this site.
This is a lifestyle and a performance based career. No one will micromanage you, you have to be able to get the job done. You have the shortest commute to and from work. (The two step commute.) Your office has the best view. You will spend an average of 4 to 6 weeks on the road at a time. You have to be able to drive 8 to 10 hours a day. We work 7 days a week. Many companies allow pets and/or riders. There are several types of freight to haul. Do you want dry van , refer, flatbed or tanker?
If you are not 100% sure you want to do this, take your time. The more you read through this site the better prepared you will be. Good luck.
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.
I have written a bunch of articles about the lifetsyle, training, OTR relationships and the qualities dribers need to possess.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Agreed. Find someone willing to take you OTR for a week or so. i personally think all dispatchers and planners should do ride alongs for 2 weeks. Until you get diarrhea at 3 am in a huge truck stop in 10 degree winter...you just dont get it.
Oh, went right to the worst case scenario!!!
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Dispatcher:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
Agreed. Find someone willing to take you OTR for a week or so. i personally think all dispatchers and planners should do ride alongs for 2 weeks. Until you get diarrhea at 3 am in a huge truck stop in 10 degree winter...you just dont get it.
With very few exceptions, every Swift Driver Leader is a former driver and/or still drives part time.
The DLs and planners on the Walmart account I am assigned to not only have experience driving, but on the account itself. They all still drive.
This way far easier for them to see things through the eyes of driver, and also know when someone is giving them a “line of bologna”. To Rainy’s point experience, even a little bit is the best teacher.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Dispatcher:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
This might be a good article for you as well.
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How do I know for sure about getting into trucking or is there a way to know