I'm Back...

It's been a long time since I've been on here. I'm taking another crack at this. Thanks to this site for all the valuable information.

Glad to see you back. So you're going to get started in trucking?

You confuse me. welcome back...but please update us. I thought you were going to CFI like a year ago. You posted you were going for your physical 6 mos ago.

What happened? Inquiring minds want to know.

At the time, I was wanting to escape the job I had and get away. Now, after talking to CFI's biggest fan, I want to get back to the goal. I have an easy job now that I don't want to escape, but I'm still interested in trucking. So I think this is the time.

At the time, I was wanting to escape the job I had and get away. Now, after talking to CFI's biggest fan, I want to get back to the goal. I have an easy job now that I don't want to escape, but I'm still interested in trucking. So I think this is the time.

I have to be honest. That doesn't sound very compelling and I'll tell you why. That first year in trucking you're going to come across about a dozen instances where you're going to want to quit. Everyone does. It takes a tremendous amount of commitment to succeed in trucking. There are a lot of ups and downs along the way. It's a roller coaster ride.

My first thought is that you don't sound nearly motivated enough to stick around for long. If you have a job you like already, that job is going to look really, really good every time you have a bad day out on the road, and you will have bad days.

Very few people last even a year in trucking because it's a very demanding job and lifestyle. I wouldn't want to see you waste your time taking a shot at trucking. Knowing that you're in a position where you could take it or leave it, I'd almost assure you that you're going to leave it before too long and head back to what you have now.

I'm not saying don't do it. I'm just letting you know it's going to take a tremendous amount of motivation and grit to survive and thrive in this industry. It's far from your normal job. Very far.

It's far from your normal job. Very far.

That's such a true statement. Most people cannot even conceive of the realities out here. It's fraught with frustrations that throw most people into fits. We drivers witness our companions losing it all the time. There are pretty obvious distinctions out here that stand out. One of them is the two types of drivers and how they deal with the issues. I call them "The Monks" and "The Psychos."

I'm getting unloaded ( sort of) at this minute in Atkins, VA at a Utility Trailer manufacturing plant. I had 46 bundles of material on my flatbed. The forklift operator unloaded 42 bundles and then decided he had to take his lunch break! It wouldn't take 5 minutes to unload those last four bundles, but I'm calmly sitting in my truck and waiting an hour for him to return. I'm one of "The Monks." Now "The Psycho" waiting in line behind me is losing it. He's screaming obscenities and trying to get a supervisor on the phone. He is not gonna put up with this!

It's an extraordinary job for extraordinary people. If the poor guy behind me gets unloaded today, I'd be surprised! Life is hard on "The Psychos."

There was no intention here to indicate anything about CHillR's ability to handle this job. It just seemed a fitting place to insert this little incident. This job is very challenging, and what Brett said about the newbies constantly being tempted to quit is very true. It really does take a lot of commitment, especially during that rookie year.

It's far from your normal job. Very far.

That's such a true statement. Most people cannot even conceive of the realities out here. It's fraught with frustrations that throw most people into fits. We drivers witness our companions losing it all the time. There are pretty obvious distinctions out here that stand out. One of them is the two types of drivers and how they deal with the issues. I call them "The Monks" and "The Psychos."

I'm getting unloaded ( sort of) at this minute in Atkins, VA at a Utility Trailer manufacturing plant. I had 46 bundles of material on my flatbed. The forklift operator unloaded 42 bundles and then decided he had to take his lunch break! It wouldn't take 5 minutes to unload those last four bundles, but I'm calmly sitting in my truck and waiting an hour for him to return. I'm one of "The Monks." Now "The Psycho" waiting in line behind me is losing it. He's screaming obscenities and trying to get a supervisor on the phone. He is not gonna put up with this!

It's an extraordinary job for extraordinary people. If the poor guy behind me gets unloaded today, I'd be surprised! Life is hard on "The Psychos."

There was no intention here to indicate anything about CHillR's ability to handle this job. It just seemed a fitting place to insert this little incident. This job is very challenging, and what Brett said about the newbies constantly being tempted to quit is very true. It really does take a lot of commitment, especially during that rookie year.

Stuff like this, traffic, construction, etc is why I am glad to be hourly. Limits my income somewhat, but will help me keep my sanity. :)