Hi There, Would Like Some Advice? Im New At ALL Of This.

Yes Indy that's true but again, it still comes down to officer discretion. Unless you're dealing with New York and your best bet is to not have it with you at all, whether you have it secured in gun safe or any other form, New York is a place where the chances are pretty good that you will get arrested. A federal weapons violation is a career killer at the minimum.

Drivers that have to park in isolated areas in order to operate efficiently (and keep the boss happy) will have to decide for themselves what is their best bet. Let's hope Mike's Law or something like it gets passed.

Welcome Mariah.

Let me just say upfront that it would take a special circumstance for a young person, I'm assuming relatively newly married, to go OTR. I'm not trying to discourage you, but make sure you guys definitely do your research. Then again, you can do all the research you can, and you'll still not know what it's like until you're out there running OTR.

I have a young family and felt the stress of being away for only 4 days at a time. I'm in LTL and run linehaul , pulling doubles from terminal to terminal. When I started my job I had to go on runs for up to 4 days at a time away from home. It was enough for me to get a small taste for life on the road, sort of. While I stayed at company paid hotel rooms instead of in the back of a sleeper at a truck stop, I still 'mingled' with OTR drivers at truck stops when I was fueling, and still had to get used to not being at home with my wife and daughter. And I thought I was going to have to go OTR before I realized I could get a linehaul job with LTL right out of school ( I live in an area with lots of LTL opportunities). I'm sure if I had to go OTR, I would've been in a certain mind frame to do what I had to do in order to support my family. But let me tell you, OTR is a lifestyle, not a job, and any married person or family person needs to ask themselves if they truly want a 'lifestyle' away from their loved ones. Some do, but it's not for everybody. Some try, and realize it was not what they expected - no shame in that.

I wish you guys the best. Trucking is a great career, and it can be a lot of fun, but there are certainly sacrifices to be made, especially for anybody that is not single. Those first few years in a marriage are critical ones, those are the times that a foundation is built, and it'd be tough to do that when you're not together. Most drivers would strongly encourage folks to take pause if they wanted to get into OTR trucking and had a young family, I'd say that would also apply to young people who've only been married a few years. It is a big step.

Mariah,

Just married (relatively), just turning 21 and you want to be an OTR truck driver?? You don't realize (because you haven't done it yet) that this "lifestyle" is one of the most isolating experiences one can have . . . most people don't realize, unless you are driving team, you go ALL DAY every day dealing with total strangers . . . you can talk to people you know on the phone but you only get to see and deal face-to-face much of the time with people you have never met . . . and then there is the phenomenon of the "forgotten" person - you - back home where you are not there to go to the family reunion or the school play (for a younger sibling, maybe) or they don't see you in church any more . . . lots of missed opportunities like that . . . and MARRIED?? Young married people NEED to be together . . . it's how you get to know each other so you can become old farts together . . . have you considered team driving together? If you are compatible that might be a great way to earn & save lots of money to really get your future going in the right direction while there are no kids . . . in any case I'm sure you have thought about it a lot but I would recommend you do something you can BOTH participate in together . . . if, however, you are dead set on pursuing this career NOW, then you've got one of the best resources you can have right at your fingertips . . . good luck and keep in touch . . . bounce ALL of your ideas off this blog as you will get ideas you have not thought of on your own thrown at you . . .

Jopa

:3 again, thank you all so much for your advice. My husband and I just had another long talk about some of the things you guys said and things we've both been thinking.

I feel that to help you guys understand me, all I need to do is tell you.

Scott, I really do understand, as best I can, how long it could be before I'm home again.

6 String, my husband and I are young but we have no children. We're a young couple not a young family. We didn't get married because I was pregnant, or because I was and lost the baby. He's not some ***hole that abuses me and I think its the only way out. My husband is an amazing guy, I'm not saying anybody said anything bad either. I don't want a lifestyle away from my loved ones per se, but I love the idea of this lifestyle.

Jopa... Lol I'm sorry but your reply just made me laugh. In a good way lol. This is what I mean by let me explain. I'm 21 but that is NOT the kind of life I have.

I live in a little town in the middle of no where. 20 miles both ways to a Walmart. I live with my husband and no one else. My grandmother is the only family I have in 800 miles. She lives in the same town but she also works full time. That family 800 miles away is my homeless dad in Norfolk. My mother lives in Florida and so do my only siblings. I grew up with my younger brother, but left when he was five. And I have never more than visited my little sister. Let me do the play by play of scenario's you listed. Lol.

That phenomenon you said, is actually a pretty funny joke in my situation.

1: Situations arose in my family where I dont feel welcome at family reunions. I am the blackest sheep.

2: The younger (also half) siblings I have are states away. I barely know them anymore. I left when my brother was five, he's 15 now. My little sister was born after I left. She's 9.

3: My relationship with God is my business, but it is not a solid one. I'm not very religious no. So Church is kind of a joke too.

I don't volunteer, I haven't worked since 2013 (because my husband does) (also because I can't stand being loomed over by bosses, another reason trucking entices me. I'd rather talk to dispatchers all day) my only close family literally and emotionally is my full time working grandmother. I have no kids. Guess what I have no friends either.

Certain things happened while I was in highschool that I lost everyone I cared about. I left highschool because I had absolutely, seriously, had no one. I still don't. People I knew at school, and know of now, I don't know them anymore. I have a neighbor, one guy I went to school with, who comes over here. So in short, I have a proximity convenient relationship with one person other than my husband and grandmother. Easy for him to be a 'friend' because he lives four feet away in the next apartment.

So that phenomenon that countless other truckers have felt the sting of, actually just doesn't exist for me. Which while it is sad to you maybe, is great for me. The ONLY thing I sacrifice is my husband, and I know we can handle it. I come home and all the (2) people I left here miss me and excetra. Of course my grandma's life goes on. She's gonna keep working...and working. My husband will too, but as I'm sure some of you know, without kids, his life kinda pauses with mine too.

He and I have talked numerous times about this. It'll teach him some independence, and teach me about so much I can't list it. Confidence, emotional control, how to really work independently yet with others.

One last thing. I'm pretty much an insomniac. For no reason whatsoever, I was awake for 23 hours yesterday. I think my body can handle not having a sleep cycle. I haven't had one since I was 15 lol.

I love to drive. I want to drive. And I know the amazing people here will help me get there. Because you're right Jopa, without what you and 6 String and everyone else had said, I wouldn't feel as even more confident as I do now about this being the right choice for me. (And hubby).

:3 thank you guys so much. And keep the great advice coming!

Speaking of which, can someone explain some details about having dogs with you?

Good miles to all. Dawn.

I also have extensive family history in trucking, several aunts and uncles. :3

*bump plz*

Mariah F.,

Well then, welcome aboard!! You have the unique qualifications of already living the lifestyle without leaving home . . . you sound very independent and sure of yourself - which is good, no Great! I didn't re-read your post yet so I don't know if you mentioned whether you are going to a school or a training company . . . I recommend the latter as you don't have to lay out any cash . . . and of the companies, I recommend Prime (not just cause I'm a Primer, either) . . . I also recommend you contact Red Gator ASAP and a few of the other ladies (like MountainGirl) here at TT to get their perspective along with us "guys" who can only tell you about the man's POV . . . and DO NOT hesitate to ask any and all questions . . . you will find that the people here as well as the people you will be training with all are for your success and will do what we can to help insure that success . . . there is just tons of good info here from diaries to how-to to silly stuff (my specialty - I try not to be too serious) and Brett, who started this site, will chime in from time-to-time with absolute nuggets of gold in terms of what he has to say . . . and Old School is a treasure trove of info and Daniel B will give you tons of technical info . . . in fact, even the newbies here chime in with some of the most interesting facts and figures as many of them have done a lot of research in deciding on the truckin' path . . . so WELCOME and jump in with both feet . . . hope to hear back from you real soon . . .

Jopa

Jopa,

I'm glad you think so too about the companies! :3 I spent most of yesterday looking up school specs. I will be going with company sponsored because I have no funds right now. Financially we're strapped. I read a reply Brett did on another forum, and he was talking about saving funds for school. I'm gonna show up broke, but I'm not gonna be begging for food and cigarettes and bla bla bla. Lol. No I'll have enough, I won't starve, I should have enough for cigs. It'll be hard but it'll be okay, cause once again I'm already struggling for food and smokes.

Anywho! I actually was really considering Knight and Prime. Knight has so much flexible home time that it makes up for average training and pay, as well as no pet policy. Home time is their strength. Prime has amazing pay, and really long training. They have average hometime but they also have a pet policy in place.

In my eyes it sorta comes down to home time, which means I wouldn't need a dog, but also less pay rate and miles traveled because of home time, OR, great pay, having a dog, and average home time of 7 on 1 off.

Me and Cody, (husband), talked about these options and while I thought home time would sell him on Knight, he told me he thought Prime would be better. I also like how with Prime, there's no tuition fee as long as I work for for a year, contract obligation. With Knight it would take 18 months of payroll deduction to work off tuition. Prime gives a chance to back out completely during the first week of PSD (prime student driver for anyone who doesn't know all the abbreviation's, like me lol)

As far as a company goes that literally pays for your ride, r9m, first week of food, training, hands you the keys and wants you to work for a year at least, let's you have a dog (you see what I'm leaning towards) OH and they give you pay advance, as well as 600 macaroons at least during training.

Yeah, yeah I'm definitely leaning towards Prime haha.

Alas, I will not be 21 until the end of March. It feels so far away but so close. So now I study :3

So, new questions!

1) How does home time work while you're student training and TNT?

2) Opinions on getting a walking stick for protection?

3) I can't think of a lot of questions haha.

4) What companies would you recommend and why?

Okay I'll keep everyone posted! Safe miles to all!

Just cuz you have a permit in one state don't make it legal in all states correct? I mean don't you have to register it if you move to another state.... If that's the case you would have to have a permit in all 48 states just to be legal.... I didn't mention the company rules because it will be made clear when this person starts working for a company and then there's shippers and receivers as well a lot of them don't allow weapons on their property and just because you have it locked up in a box your still breaking the rules

Actually a lot of states recognize other states ccw permits, and legally you can carry the weapon, as far as government laws go not company policies or shippers, if the weapon is locked up and the ammo is locked up and not accessible from the front compartment of the vehicle you can transport. But like I said government rules not the company or shippers rules in quoting.

Personally there are a few legal no matter where self defense items out there that are easily caked around on like key rings or in your case in your purse, if you carry one, or like my wife who has 19 different purses but doesn't use any of them It drives me nuts