Personal Challenges That Needed Overcome For Trucking

There are no universal solutions, but trucking offers a lot of flexibility. For example, I don't like not to sleep at night, and my dispatch knows it, so I don't have to drive nights.

So it's just communicating then? That simple if there's a problem?

Clear communication is definitely required but not the cure all. Andreys company is not typical of all companies. Just because you communicate your wishes doesn't mean they will allow it. Most companies require you to do whatever is required to safely deliver the load, including night driving. His company is kind enough to indulge him, however I guarantee you if it was a matter of him not driving one night or on time delivery he will be driving that night. We are expected to drive/sleep at any given time day or night. Go places we don't want to go, deal with customers we don't want to deal with etc.

As far as personal challenges...they are just that, personal. You need to take care of your health issues prior to starting the licensing process. Many personal and health issues can be managed OTR but don't expect the employer to bend over backwards to adapt to your needs or wants every time. I've seen people with totally unrealistic expectations that expected their company to appease them. Often times they can and will but when it comes to the point where you are not producing, delivering late or become unreliable and unprofitable as an employee, or just a general PITA on a regular basis they will let you go.

As far as the healthy eating and exercise, why wait? Start doing it NOW. If you can't manage to do it now you sure won't do it while on the road.

Also understand that different divisions have different schedules and delivery appointments. Flat bed and dry van get to drive more days than reefer. Many distributors in reefer handle products in shifts. Example...only meats delivered between midnight and 6am... dairy 6am to noon.. that sort of thing. It causes reefer to have 11pm appointments... 5am...1pm...just ant old time. My flat bed friend delivers to mostly construction sites so mostly days and off weekends. It really varies.

The longer you are with a company the better your position for special requests.

Thank you everyone for your replies, your words are valued and much appreciated

If you really want to know about those who have overcome or are overcoming personal challenges, how about PackRat getting back on the road after a heart transplant or Old School and his vision problems. Or how about this one: the super women who have become drivers in what has always been a male dominated industry. How about it ladies? What to share a story or two?

Yeah, I'll be 66 next month, then 28 in March.

If you really want to know about those who have overcome or are overcoming personal challenges, how about PackRat getting back on the road after a heart transplant or Old School and his vision problems. Or how about this one: the super women who have become drivers in what has always been a male dominated industry. How about it ladies? What to share a story or two?

Bruce K.

Not really....I did 14 yrs on active duty in the Air Force and now have 11+ yrs driving. Having five brothers and one son, I feel like I fit in with the guys in any job that I have done that's male-oriented and really have not had to struggle out here.

If I need physical help, I just make a joke about being old (because I really don't look it) and I get help without any trouble. Being 70 (this past July), have MS, went through AFib for 4.5 months coming up 2 years ago, I think I do quite well running 11500+ miles a month. Now it's time to hit the bunk after running 748 miles today and hopefully 700 mi on Sunday. 😁

Laura

Also understand that different divisions have different schedules and delivery appointments. Flat bed and dry van get to drive more days than reefer. Many distributors in reefer handle products in shifts. Example...only meats delivered between midnight and 6am... dairy 6am to noon.. that sort of thing. It causes reefer to have 11pm appointments... 5am...1pm...just ant old time. My flat bed friend delivers to mostly construction sites so mostly days and off weekends. It really varies.

The longer you are with a company the better your position for special requests.

Where might I want to work if I like to drive at night? I find it more peaceful without all the traffic.

Andreys company is not typical of all companies

There are thousands, maybe tens of thousands small companies, and we may have personal experience with only a few of them, so it is hard to say what is typical and what is not when it comes to a company with two-three trucks. For sure, big players are different, they will make you drive and stop whenever they need. Small ones are different - you have much more room for negotiation.

I guarantee you if it was a matter of him not driving one night or on time delivery he will be driving that night

No, you are wrong. I do have some HOS flexibility because of personal time, but we are talking about 15 minutes, rarely half an hour. So if I start my clock at 6 am, my fourteen expire an 8 pm and I cannot drive until next morning. My dispatch never gives me an evening pick up after my 34 reset, we have a few guys who like night driving to do that. Also, we don't pull reefers, so time is not such a huge factor. It is very common to get unrealistic delivery appointments - I just update my dispatch every 6 hours or so and eventually tell my ETA. I don't know how they fix it between dispatch and brokers, but I never had a problem with it so far.

Thank you everyone for your replies, your words are valued and much appreciated

Hay you;

I know ya bounce in & out of other threads, and I seem to chase you (randomly) there! Sorry!! I tend to 'do that.' I've been dubbed the 'MommaAnne' or otherwords, of Trucking Truth. Most are kind, so I'll graciously accept; haha!

In all consideration; could you (we?) keep THIS thread going....so maybe our seasoned vets & mods and our 'SUCCESS STORIES' (ie: Chief Brody, Davy, ...and omg SO MANY to list! ...) can find you .. and keep up with 'whats up?'

Just my 2cents, Canaan. Only wishing you the best!

~ Anne ~

Thank you everyone for your replies, your words are valued and much appreciated

Hay you;

I know ya bounce in & out of other threads, and I seem to chase you (randomly) there! Sorry!! I tend to 'do that.' I've been dubbed the 'MommaAnne' or otherwords, of Trucking Truth. Most are kind, so I'll graciously accept; haha!

In all consideration; could you (we?) keep THIS thread going....so maybe our seasoned vets & mods and our 'SUCCESS STORIES' (ie: Chief Brody, Davy, ...and omg SO MANY to list! ...) can find you .. and keep up with 'whats up?'

Just my 2cents, Canaan. Only wishing you the best!

~ Anne ~

Oh no! Seems you tracked me down! Haha, and what do you mean keep up with what's up? Might be too tired to understand at the moment