What Did You Do Before Becoming A Truck Driver?

I am CNA. Or was. Now I have to swap to another career to help my own family. This is an exciting time for me to be involved in trucking. I am grateful for the experience I have obtained. All skills I will need later in life for my own family. But I was looking for more pay and benefits. Neither of those were an option while I was CNA. CNA=low pay, no benefits, possible physical/emotional harassment/harm. Same might be true for trucking, havent seen it yet though.

I did casino surveillance, long stretches of absolutely mind numbing boredom, follow by short burst of pure Insanity. Develope severe migraines as a result of the monitors. The wife was the one who suggested truck driving

I worked as a DOT Contractor for DBI Services in Ocala FL. I was hired on as an herbicide technician but that was title only; I worked primarily as emergency response for I-75 in central Florida. I worked a lot of accidents helping mitigate traffic around the problem. I’ve seen a lot of traffic accidents some fatal and one day decided that even though one more safe professional driver wasn’t going to change the world, it might just save the lives of a family traveling down the boulevard.

Owned a pizza shop from 2010-2018. Been driving for Lyft since then. Got my CDL 2 weeks ago and currently looking for a local driving job. Excited to start my new career.

Graduated high school at the top of my class and went to a private college in the middle of the mountains dropped out after 1 year didn’t really have the desire to do school anymore. I worked as a butcher for 6 months after that got to the point where I couldn’t stand being around raw meat and quit. Tried factory work for 3 months but found it to be too repetitive. Quit the the factory and went back to school but this time I went to Culinary school and learned to cook graduated with a degree in Culinary arts but after your friends and family learn you can “cook” like Gordon Ramsay you just don’t have the desire to cook anymore so now I just cook for myself and my gf when I feel like it and got a job managing a gas station and working graveyard shift for the 2 years the money’s alright but the public is abusive and currently im waiting to go to school for Roehl. I was raised around trucks growing up and always enjoyed riding along with my grandpa or uncle. So here goes my start to a new career

I was a Corrections Officer in the Ad Seg Unit (formerly solitary, now called Restrictive Housing). I am a huge advocate for the prison system and strong discipline. However, viewing 500+ human beings locked in a cage 23 out of 24 hours every day plays a hit on your psyche. Plus receiving a few stab wounds from inmates who slipped other guards cuffs and weren't properly searched beforehand does that as well. Not to mention daily violence, threats to your family, and a community who sees the guards as the enemy and the offenders as innocent does not help (see every Hollywood movie ever).

I loved and still love my brothers in grey. They earn any commendations they receive by just showing up, doing their job, and being fortunate enough to make it home. Some don't.

We are the forgotten men and women in uniform. Every day we face the worst of the worst. We are not the bad guys. We are the ones who keep the bad guys locked up, and keep you safe. If you know a CO, let him know you appreciate his work.

I am preparing to be a truck driver, but I am a CO for life.

Well, after 37 pages ... this is by far a diverse group. So, I may as well throw my 2 cents of time in.

Oldest of 7, family farm, livestock mostly but grain a huge part. Graduated, BS Business Administration. Independent Insurance Agent 13 yrs, then found my love: photography. 18 year run, loved them all. Something about photographing a 2 yr old, per honesty I’d say. ... I have no idea the number of children I have photographed throughout the years, I have been blessed. But the tides of change are upon me. No regrets.

Trucking, for what I can see from the outside, is one of the last places of some semblance of independence. I’ve read and realize the time work restrictions. But in the end, it’s me. I still get to decide to take a load or not, decide if weather is permissible. And to problem solve on the fly.

I suppose I need uncertainty to feel comfortable.

Drove busses (mainly transit) for last 13 years. Pretty much done with hauling people around, thought I'd haul inanimate objects around for a while instead. :)

I served six years in the Marines. Attended college earning a M.S. and a MBA. Spent 21 + years in IT. Decided to retire early when my department at Western Illinois University threatened imminent layoffs to people who were retirement age. I'm on a partial pension until I'm 59.5. Oh, I have a son who will be attending Stanford University in California next year. I have to work, or so I reckon.

In order from high school BA in Econ from Wisconsin-Madison Line Cook 2 years Indoor water park reservations 1 year Hotel revenue management 12 years Studied Data Science - couple months Miscellaneous Driving Jobs (car) 1 year Box truck driver 1 year- current