My Story

There's a lot of people who don't know much about me. I hope that my story will inspire you!

I grew up in Sacramento, CA. I never so much as went 30 miles from the house. Coming from a family of 7 and my family being poor all the time, I grew up on Top Ramen and everything else cheap. But that's not the point, it took me until I was 21 years old to go anywhere that had a different zip code. We never went anywhere, just never had spare money really. I respect and love my parents very much, I know they work hard.

When I turned 19, I recklessly, and with the disapproval from nearly every family member, got married to wonderful girlfriend. No I don't regret that decision, don't ask. I was working fulltime for 9$ per hour and she was also working fulltime but for 9.50$ per hour. We worked at the same place - a warehouse that repaired/re-certified returned Costco products. Life was going great and I was doing a lot of overtime because I thought 13$ per hour was making bank. I was in charge of the shipping and receiving so I dealt with truckers all day.

We moved out and bought everything for the apartment with credit, about 2000$ worth. The very next day, my wife lost her job unexpectedly. Here I am, I have it all but now our income is cut in half. My wife struggled to get another job because of the economy and I struggled to make ends meet. Bills got behind and things got very stressful.

To this day, I remember coming home from work worrying about everything. I remember coming home tired and sitting on my laptop doing nothing. I don't know how, but I had yet another wild and crazy idea - maybe I should get into trucking?

I talked to my parents about it and they didn't take me seriously. Thought I was kidding. "You're way too young, you can't do that kind of job", they said."

I began speaking with the drivers at work about it and got nothing but encouragement from them. They sort of became my guides.

Bored out of my mind at home one evening. I researched trucking and stumbled upon TheTruckersReport. Needless to say, it went downhill from there. That feeble 20 year old mind ate every word up! I couldn't believe the treachery I was reading, but I believed it...

Next I chose my first company and of course, did some online research. Went on TheGlassDoor online review website and changed my mind on working for those criminals. I couldn't believe I wanted to work at that company, they'll screw me over too!!!

Helpless, broke, desperate, I'm starting to drown before I even started life. It seemed everyone around me was getting a divorce and I did not want to be one of them. I'm failing as a husband, as a provider - my parents raised me better than this.

One night, I found TruckingTruth. The first and only good thing I ever found on the internet. My hope was restored, maybe this is for me afterall? Maybe that was just an obstacle I had to overcome?

I began asking questions and reading day and night. I was addicted to the material, to the positive atmosphere.

But how am I going to get into trucking? These bills don't stop! A million questions poured over me. I came up with a plan. I will work overnights at work, and I'll go to school during the day. Brilliant!

So I asked Truckingtruth and got my first dose of truth. I was assured by multiple people here, mainly Guyjax, that my plan is doomed for failure. That I am underestimating the school, the job, and the industry. That right there saved me lots of time and money because I had managed to convince myself that I can do it when the truth was I really couldn't.

Seems there's no hope. Then my wife took actions into here own hands. She called my parents and told them our situation, asked if we can move in temporarily. My ego prevented me from doing that and she knew it.

Here I am, moving back into my parents. Put an 'L' on my forehead because that's how I felt. I had failed. I, nor my wife, ever imagined it would go down like this. When you're young sometimes you don't have a good grasp on reality.

I quit my job, that was it! Went to school with more determination than a Bull chasing the color red. I must rebound! I ranked second in my class and it was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. I remember the first time I drove that truck in idle speed on that yard. I was sweating, couldn't breathe.

Read about my experiences at school! Daniel B.'s School Diary

I went with a trainer and barely survived that. I went solo in January. I wanted this so badly I didn't even wait until winter passed.

And to be honest, winter had never crossed my mind. I didn't know what snow was. The first time I ever drove on snow was in a big rig.

I finally went solo and took my wife with me. Man, what a tough first few months. It was exactly as I was told it would be on TruckingTruth. I did my year at my first company accident free. I now drive for Prime and was an Instructor here. I got myself out of debt and moved me and my wife back into an apartment where we are easily affording everything.

Folks, if I can do it then so can you. Why doubt yourself when this kid did it and is still doing it today? You have so much more knowledge than I did when I was in your shoes!

Folks, I have never left TT ever since the day I found it. Second to God, this site saved me. Like you, I was being so mislead by those other websites.

Ya know, all of us have our strengths and weaknesses but together all of us make one heck of a team! We are here for you, we make time for you because we know how tough it is breaking into this industry. Just take a look at me and think to yourself how much we have in common. We are here to educate and to help those lost souls that the other websites threw away with their stories.

This trucking career is unlike almost any other job - to tell you the truth it is more like being self-employed than any other type of job I know of. I don't have a clue about who my boss is, I don't know anybody at my company, and I don't ever talk to anyone there except an occasional driver at a truck stop. I never have anyone watching over me or telling me what to do or how to do it. You have to be a self motivated person who is willing to work hard and get things done, because if you don't you won't be making any money. I make around ten bills a week most weeks now - I've been with them for right at a year now.

You can't go by those stupid internet reviews - they are done by people who didn't have the stuff it takes to make it in this job. Guys like me that are doing well simply don't have the time to sit around at the computer and tell others how great our job is. The key to success at any trucking company is your willingness to go the extra mile and do what ever it takes to get things accomplished, a lot of people don't have those kind of work ethics. I worked till midnight last night, and just as soon as I get finished with this message to you I'm hitting it again. I was supposed to be home yesterday, but I got a message from dispatch that they needed me to go rescue a load from a disgruntled driver who quit and abandoned his truck with a load of steel on the trailer. The kind of people who write those terrible reviews would have been telling you something like this "they never get you home and expect you to be their slave"... but the kind of person who is successful at this stuff says yeah, I'll go get that load, but try and get me home as soon as you can after that. This job is completely performance based - the guys that work really hard and long hours get the big pay checks - The guys that expect a big paycheck and aren't willing to make the sacrifices necessary to make that kind of money go home and write terrible reviews about the company. That's just the raw truth about how it works.

Which company you work for has little bearing on your success at this career, what kind of person is behind the wheel determines 99% of your success. So if you can find someone who can write a review on what type of person you are, then study that review and it will hold all the secrets to whether you are going to succeed at this job or not.

Today my day ended with a site I never see in city life. The open road, water so still not even a bug in sight, mountains reflecting off the water all around you and best of all - you're getting paid to do this!

Everyone reading this, don't ever doubt yourself for a second. Remember, we have been in your shoes and look at us now. This site is a whole lot better than it was when I found it. Be thankful and get your new career started. I'm proud to be a part of TruckingTruth!

You say you're 22 and you look 22 in your picture but by jove I'd swear you have the wisdom of someone who's twice or even three times your age. Great post.

23 now, birthday was 4 days ago

You are the bomb! Daniel B watched your youtube vid on the bike securement. Fabulous! Be safe

Hope it was a Great Birthday! Happy Belated Birthday.

23 now, birthday was 4 days ago

Sorry, happy late birthday.

Looks familiar... Must be the salt flats in UT lol, pretty sad if I can recognize it from a picture...

Everyone reading this, don't ever doubt yourself for a second. Remember, we have been in your shoes and look at us now. This site is a whole lot better than it was when I found it. Be thankful and get your new career started. I'm proud to be a part of TruckingTruth!

Amen Brother...

This is something I can relate a lot to with Daniel. He started just after me, and I know exactly what he was feeling. The main difference between he and I is, I have (had) house full of kids.

Everything Daniel said is 100%. You can't go by what everyone says about a company. I can sit here and bad mouth Swift or The Salvation Army, but you know what, because of the experience I had with them, makes me that much better at what I do and can do.

I was supposed to be home yesterday, but I got a message from dispatch that they needed me to go rescue a load from a disgruntled driver who quit and abandoned his truck with a load of steel on the trailer.

People like this (who go out of there way to get things done) are the ones who get the benefits in the long run. Its a "Scratch their back, scratch your back" type of world out here. You do a favor and your in good hands and will get that super sweet 2500Mi load.

Everyone reading this, don't ever doubt yourself for a second. Remember, we have been in your shoes and look at us now. This site is a whole lot better than it was when I found it. Be thankful and get your new career started. I'm proud to be a part of TruckingTruth!

This I think is the best thing Daniel could have said. The second you doubt yourself, whether its backing, shifting, or even time management, you will see little mistakes and it could wind up being a costly mistake. I don't say this to "scare you" or anything, its just the truth. Its not rainbows and unicorns out here, (though you will see both lol). Everyone on this site, from Brett being 15yr vet to Guyjax @ 15yrs and still driving, to Daniel, To Miss MG, to the newest rookie driver has been in your shoes. Everyone starts off the same way, and when you get out here and hear these "super" truckers on the CB, ignore em. Its not worth doubting yourself and making that costly mistake..

Daniel, GJ over the last few yrs.

David

Great motivating and inspiring story!!!! Got me amped up!

Oh I had a great hometime! Went fly fishing for salmon and caught a good one! That fish was tough, but delicious! It was just what I needed.

Glad my story is helping some of you out!!!