Greenhorn And Trying To Make Sure I Don't Get In Too Deep

Thankfully I was smart enough to invest in a backup plan. I'm still going to talk to as many people as I can and find out everything I can.

Lost is lost in details:

So basically I have 14 hours for a shift, to do as I need. But I don't have to use all of it if I decide not to? That's the best I understand it, and it didn't seem like I'd be on those 11 hours of driving all the time, but for some reason the way people talk that's what it seems like.

Basically you have 14 hours out of a 24 hour day to get (at most) 11 hours of driving done. And that 11 hours is broken up into at least two pieces because you can't drive more than 8 hours in one jump.

Now for the heartbreaking news: the "big trucker money" is earned by those who don't dilly dally. Driving for cents per mile is actually piecework. The more you drive the more you get paid. The other shoe dropping: your company knows how long it will take you to get from A to B, and your dispatch is booked that way. True fact: you don't have anybody looking over your shoulder in a daily basis (good thing) but if you show up too late more than a few times, you will have a Conversation with your Driver Manager.

No one here is telling you to "go away", but from your posts, I gather you may not like the trucking lifestyle. Have your read Becoming A Truck Driver: The Raw Truth About Truck Driving?

Lost has a new strategy:

I'm still going to talk to as many people as I can.

NO!

find out everything I can.

YES!. But use the right resources like this website.

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

I am in a similar situation to yourself. Tired of my current situation I began to look for second careers later in life and trucking kept coming up. Until I began researching it, I didn't realize how much there is to learn about trucking.

Read the resources above.

Spend some time reading the training diaries to learn about training at different companies.

Spend some time reading this forum where you will learn about the trucking lifestyle and daily obstacles drivers encounter. You will also realize how many people get into trucking without understanding what to expect. You will soon learn why you have received some of the blunt responses. In my short time on this website I have been amazed at the number of delusional posts like "I didn't know that I would have to sleep in my trainer's truck." Seriously?

There are so many things to learn about trucking beyond your initial questions. Some seemingly minor things may dramatically affect your success. Two examples that come to mind.

First, cell phone use is prohibited by Federal regulations. Recently, a driver posted that he was fired because he touched his cell phone while driving. That is not the first instance of a "zero tolerance" cell phone use termination that I have seen on this website. The regulations also contain other "disqualifying offenses" that result in a suspension of your ability to drive and earn money.

Second, in addition to disqualifying traffic offenses, you have to have a DOT medical card to drive. If you have a change in health that results in a loss of your medical card, you can't drive. You will see many posts on the forum about drivers who had to find another job because they lost their medical card.

After having learned quite a bit, I plan to move forward with trucking. I think it will fit my personality. But I definitely have a more serious perspective on trucking since my first post in this forum.

I concur with the others. Stay out of trucking.

I need it to be able to unwind and sleep and do life things. I don't rush for anyone but myself and only when I have to.

Trucking is all about rushing. It is a hurry up.and wait game. You can have flexibility.... but you do not get to choose when and where you drive. Often the load chooses it for us. It can take a whole year to get to the level.of time management and trip planning that allows you to have choices.

Driving can indeed fatigue you, but if you are already aware your prpblem is worse than normal... then do not try this.

We are held at higher standards. we can more easily kill people than cars ... and drivers often go to jail for it.

Please... don't. good luck in whatever you do. i did a video you may want to watch..

The TRUTH about OTR Trucking [Realities of the Lifestyle]

Hey no worries there “Lost”. No need to worry about getting-in too deep...that’s impossible if you never commit.

This is not for you.

I was brought up to believe anyone can do anything, as long as they put their mind to it.... Having said that, I wont discourage you from this career. I will however tell you that your beginning success hinges on your ability to learn and retain information quickly and that choosing the right company to start with, will have a huge impact on your success early on. What I'm saying is that some companies are better than others as far as how they support you while you are out on the road. That will be something that you will have to research and find which companies are better or worse at this aspect. Your success will also be directly connected to your work ethic, if you bust your butt daily, then good things will happen with the right company. I wish you the best of luck in your continuing research in this career choice.

I've been looking at truck driving for a while now, when I was told what the money could be and how long it would take me, I was really interested. I've lived on $1000 per month or LESS for years now. I'm not able to be on my feet all the time, I'm not able to do these fast paced jobs like factories and the like. I've tried office work but that well dried up fast as you need a degree for most, and the rest well...they're a joke to be honest. I've spent the past year or so now delivering food. I need something more though, food delivery is pretty fickle. I have found a really good school for CDL that will get me every certification except buses/public transport. I still have to see about tuition funding, but I've been doing research as they have companies that are willing to hire me on as soon as I graduate. I have never in my life researched a more confusing topic. Yeah everyone and their mother wants first hand accounts of what its like to work with X company or to do Y job. Me, I'm...a bit more lost. I did read that if I jump from company to company I'll be shooting myself in the foot so I'm trying to make sure I do this right. I don't like the sound of being gone so long, not so much as being away from home, I have few, if any ties, but its made out like I'm going to be working 18 hours a day, passing out, sleeping 3-5 hours, then back at it, continuously, for days on end, and that I have to be this flawless human being in order to do this work. Sounds like a ton of exaggeration. I was told this is the hardest job ever. That it is maximum stress. I've been told nothing about this is hard but it will chew you up and spit you out. I dunno what to believe. I'm rambling aimlessly. Let's see if I can condense this, Here's what I'm looking for honestly:

I don't want to be working all the time. Driving is OK, though I do get fatigued from that. From what I can tell I'll be driving 5ish days if I max the legal driving time each day. But I'm not 100%. I need down time. I need it to stay sane. I need it to be able to unwind and sleep and do life things. I don't rush for anyone but myself and only when I have to.

I'd rather not have people breathing down my neck all the time. Yeah I get it's a stats game. But I work better alone. Hence part of this industry's appeal. Support when I need it, otherwise let me go.

I'm not that motivated by money. See the first bit of this post. I know what my budget is, I know what it takes for me to get by. I'd be happy doubling what I make now.

I'm a bit worried about not passing the drug test. I had one hit of cannabis back in December, the Saturday before Christmas. Before that i had some about daily for two weeks sometime no later than September, before that it was March. I can be as heavy or as light on it as I wish, and if I have to give it up, so be it. But from what I read the companies have some sort of super test that goes back years or something.

I come first. Shock and awe, I know. I'm expected to lay down and die for a company that will replace me in a day. Nope. I tried that hard work gung ho bust tail approach. Now I'm in the situation I'm in. No Gods. No Masters. That doesn't mean I'm not willing to do my part, but again, no more sacrificing what little of my life I have left to enjoy.

It's ok if it gets tough. I may seem like a pansy to you. A baby. Ok Boomer. It's fine if I have tough moments, I just would not rather get to the point to where I dread going to work.

I'd rather do shorter range but again I'm more interested in how much down time I get than I am home time, but home time is nice too.

Should I avoid this industry? Would I be in too deep? I'm probably more flexible than you, or even I think, I just want something normal. Before you tell me go to trade school. Guess what? I did. Oopsie I spent that year and a half ish and magically I did it wrong. Or something. I dunno. That's a story for another time. But you know another reason why I was interested in this industry, the time. I don't have time to faff about and drive myself insane balancing school and work yet again for ages while risking nothing coming from it. Shorter time and seems to be, from what I can tell, and I have been researching job listings in my area, I can do a lot more with a CDL.

Questions, comments, concerns, general insults, etc are all welcome. I'm just trying to get more info.

choosing the right company to start with, will have a huge impact on your success early on. What I'm saying is that some companies are better than others as far as how they support you while you are out on the road. That will be something that you will have to research and find which companies are better or worse at this aspect.

I'm curious what verifiable evidence you can provide us to back this statement up. I'm not sure I even understand what you're referring to when you speak of the company's habits of "how they support you while you are out on the road." Can you elaborate on this? Maybe I'm just tired and not understanding what you're talking about. Most companies hiring newbies are big self insured operations, and all of them will help with issues out on the road. They are the companies with national accounts for tires or repairs.

I love this advice that you gave...

Your success will also be directly connected to your work ethic, if you bust your butt daily, then good things will happen

I've always been an advocate for ambition and rugged self reliance. Independence and creative problem solving are critical to success at this. The idea that you've got to be with some super special company is contrary to all my experiences with this industry.

Wow! Logic, based on your initial post, I would say with 100% absolute confidence, trucking is not for you. I won't even point out the numerous false expectations you have. or your personal ideas of what you cannot or will not do, as stated by yourself. I will caution you to really do some thorough and complete research on what driving a truck as a career entails.

The learning curve is not as great when you have a support team during the first year... I can't speak for other companies, I can tell you that Schneider puts you with a Driver leader that is trained to help beginning drivers and they provide an outside driver coach, to help you with any issues that you may come across with the company or customer. This is something that some others do not do, as per conversations with some of my friends at other companies. Seems like a great resource for a beginning driver to help become successful.

choosing the right company to start with, will have a huge impact on your success early on. What I'm saying is that some companies are better than others as far as how they support you while you are out on the road. That will be something that you will have to research and find which companies are better or worse at this aspect.

I'm curious what verifiable evidence you can provide us to back this statement up. I'm not sure I even understand what you're referring to when you speak of the company's habits of "how they support you while you are out on the road." Can you elaborate on this? Maybe I'm just tired and not understanding what you're talking about. Most companies hiring newbies are big self insured operations, and all of them will help with issues out on the road. They are the companies with national accounts for tires or repairs.

I love this advice that you gave...

Your success will also be directly connected to your work ethic, if you bust your butt daily, then good things will happen

I've always been an advocate for ambition and rugged self reliance. Independence and creative problem solving are critical to success at this. The idea that you've got to be with some super special company is contrary to all my experiences with this industry.

I can't speak for other companies, I can tell you that Schneider puts you with a Driver leader that is trained to help beginning drivers and they provide an outside driver coach, to help you with any issues that you may come across with the company or customer. This is something that some others do not do, as per conversations with some of my friends at other companies. Seems like a great resource for a beginning driver to help become successful.

Thanks Country Boy! I now see what you mean. Yeah, that's great that Schneider does that, but I think you'll find most companies hiring inexperienced drivers have some similar system in place. You can be assured that a dispatcher knows who the new drivers on his board are, and he will deal with them appropriately.

I know at each of our terminals we have a "driver liaison" contact person for drivers to contact when they are having issues. Also each new driver is given the phone number of a "senior driver" that he can call 24/7 if he's struggling with something. New drivers in my dedicated division are given my phone number as their senior contact.