Maybe This Isn’t That Great Of A Gig? Not Sure

So, i guess i should start off by saying before i decided to get my cdl I worked as a correctional officer at a prison for 6 yrs and easily cleared $70,000 a yr. After I left there I was working at Nestle Purina making $28/hr. But i wanted to work an exciting job. ALOT and i mean ALOT of people told me get into trucking thats where the real money is at. So i did. And it has been an unnecessary hassle. I originally went through PAM. Got my cdl. 6 wks later never got picked up. So I went to SWIFT. They got me a lady trainer. Everything was ok i guess. Until i reached my breaking point of having to unload her car and load her truck, carry her purse, go in and out the truck stops on my 10hrs to get her this or that or cash in her scratch offs. Because if you arent aware the mentors pretty much have the final say so on your training. And then i lost it. They said they dont have any other mentors. So i flew myself home and now im at western express getting the run around. I’m starting to think being a truck driver for $50,000/yr isn’t really worth it. Has anyone else ever felt like this or am i just impatient. Ive been in this process for 5months now and i feel like yea screw it, i made more at home and i was allowed to have a med card.

Shoulda stuck it out with swift. Training sucks but it’s something we all have to get through.

What kind of “runaround “ is western express giving you? If you really want to get into trucking please listen to me. Do whatever it takes to finish this training with western if that is still possible. If you leave it may be VERY hard to get someone else to give you a shot. Trucking is exciting but some of it can be frustrating for a new trucker. If you give up easily it may be better to cut your losses and go back to nestle. I don’t say that out of malicious intent or to be a jerk. It’s just fact . Good luck

So, i guess i should start off by saying before i decided to get my cdl I worked as a correctional officer at a prison for 6 yrs and easily cleared $70,000 a yr. After I left there I was working at Nestle Purina making $28/hr. But i wanted to work an exciting job. ALOT and i mean ALOT of people told me get into trucking thats where the real money is at. So i did. And it has been an unnecessary hassle. I originally went through PAM. Got my cdl. 6 wks later never got picked up. So I went to SWIFT. They got me a lady trainer. Everything was ok i guess. Until i reached my breaking point of having to unload her car and load her truck, carry her purse, go in and out the truck stops on my 10hrs to get her this or that or cash in her scratch offs. Because if you arent aware the mentors pretty much have the final say so on your training. And then i lost it. They said they dont have any other mentors. So i flew myself home and now im at western express getting the run around. I’m starting to think being a truck driver for $50,000/yr isn’t really worth it. Has anyone else ever felt like this or am i just impatient. Ive been in this process for 5months now and i feel like yea screw it, i made more at home and i was allowed to have a med card.

Check out this gal; it's DO ABLE! Truckin' Along W/Kearsey!

Tiffany Hanna, another PRIME starter! Tiffany Hanna THIS ONE is what you need to see, right NOW!

Hope you stick around our forum, ma'am! Welcome to Trucking Truth!

~ Anne ~

Just not sure if im impatient or if this is something alot of new drivers go through. Cuz its not a passion of mine or a life long dream or anything . I just wanted to do it for awhile and try it. But just seems like a lot of hassle for such little reward. So kind of just looking to see other point of views before throwing in the towel

Her and I would have been exchanging fists if i stayed on the truck with her. When i say i was the “help”. I was literally just that. Just one example. I got back in the truck after working out. As soon as my butt touched the seat. She pointed to a stack of scratch offs and said im going to have u go inside and cash those in for me. (Alright, i did. Lemme just get thru this). Like two hrs later im on the top bunk, she tells me she needs me to go in and get her two bottles of core. (Out of my pocket mind u, ok im mot gonna argue i just did it). Two days later i go in to brush my teeth n wash my face. Here she goes, while ur in there i want a bag of pretzels (out of my pocket again). N things just kept getting progressively worse. I told my DM i need a new trainer. Cuz she wasnt letting me back or anything. Just drive the long miles. The DM told me they are strapped for trainers. However, ive been on this truck 3 weeks and have 70hrs of drive time. She keeps declining loads to go to casinos and see friends n blah blah. I needed to complete 300hrs with her. Wasn’t happening. With Western my mentor was supposed to be here Saturday. Then Sunday. Then Monday. Ive had to check out twice n sit outside for a few hrs with my stuff waiting for them to figure it out. N they called me today n said she will be here at some point tomorrow. Ive considered i might not be able to get another job in this industry if i dont stick it out. But at this point im not even upset or frustrated with all the hoops n back flips that have been happening. I genuinely feel like yea i dont even like it n i haven’t even really started. I mean if doesnt work out inam confident I wouldnt come back to this industry anyways. Cuz id give up my cdl and go back to a regular drivers license anyways

Girl, you got a 'less than stellar' trainer. We hear of it often, sadly.

Look through the links I sent you. Kearsey's way of training, is ... 'SHE'S' the 'gofer.' YOU, do the real work & make decisions. I hope she stops in to this thread; I've asked her to!

The only training I'd gotten was my husband; so, no comparison. LoL !

Try to find time to look at those channels.

Hang in & hang on!

~ Anne ~

300 hours of driving ? Since when?

I think it’s 200 hours. And if your Mentor is frequently refusing loads, Swift will not tolerate that for long.

That said… sorry but I am blunt and call it like I read it;

You enabled your Mentor to use you as a Gopher. She walked all over you and you let it happen. Say “no” one time… and she might have begun to respect you. You’re a grown adult…etc.

This industry requires a very serious, laser focused commitment in order to become a safe, efficient, top performing driver. Not someone who just wants to “give it a try”.

II wouldn’t have put up with that type of behavior from a trainer either. Swift was probably being honest when they said that’s the only trainer they had for you at the time. Female trainers are hard to come by and since Covid , all trainers are hard to come by.

The training phase is an obstacle for everyone. It is hard to live with a complete stranger for a month or 2. With that being said i definitely feel for you if that “lady” trainer was honestly that bad. You are there to drive , not be a personal assistant.

What I meant in my earlier post is that it will be harder and harder to get companies to give you a shot if you hop around so much so early. There may be a (professional) truck driver shortage but I assure you there is no shortage of the number of new drivers trying to break into the business. They want to see if you can stick with it through the hard times as well as the good times. They don’t want someone that might abandon the load at the drop of a hat. They don’t know you as a person or as a driver. Only what your work history says.

I hope that western works out. Try your hardest. As Anne says. You CAN do this. Again, good luck!

Well this industry has alot of someones that just want to give it a try lol sorry to break it to ya. At the end of the day its just a job. So not into the getting “hazed” just to drive a truck. But hey to each their own. So it is what it is.

It is 300 hrs but she told my DM i was a great student but would need more time for backing.she told me two more weeks. I asked her if i can do the backing class and she told me only she can recommend me. I asked her to and she told me no. So my 200hrs turned into 300hrs.