So I often hear truck driving sucks but consider

[Frogman]

Always entertaining to read that trucking sucks . . . especially since I haven't started CDL training yet!

I'm sure it does suck in many ways. For one thing, you're essentially powerless (unless you're union . . . and even then ).

The "powerlessness" aspect of trucking is that the true money is earned not in % of Load or CPM . . . but in the type and number of loads and miles you get. That's all determined by someone above you.

Of course . . . try going to work as a university professor or salesman and see what "powerlessness" is all about!

For another, there's a huge disparity between hours on the job and pay.

But a lot of jobs have that disparity. For example, a manager/executive making $100K is doing pretty good nowadays. But, it's common to see managers/executives who make $100K, work 10-12 hour days (with commute) some weekend work, take stuff home at night, do extensive travel, etc. That's around $25 - 30/hour.

There are probably truck drivers out there making more per hour (if not necessarily for the year) . . . and having a lot more fun doing it.

The bottom line (for me) is that trucking appears to be a Way Of Life.

In that sense, it's a lot like being a cop or a priest or an explosive demolitions guy.

It's not all about the money. You either love the work or you don't. You can do it for the money and a lot of Americans who have no other choice do . . . but there are also a lot of others who looked around at other things and decided this Way Of Life would be pretty interesting.

[teamster]

..I don't know.....
how 'bout being a Cracker Salesman in Harlem? :?

Sounds like something Kramer would say.

Are you hoping to insinuate something about me.... :evil:
Because of your misplaced humor in the Comedy Club?
You are some class act.
Really now....who is acting like Kramer???

I dont think anything was being insinuated. I think he was just making a joke and maybe you took it the wrong way.

Just keep in mind that when you turn that key to the right and become a first seat driver you will...

1) Put in an average of 80-100 hours per week on the job
2) Eat, sleep, breathe, and live in the truck 24/7
3) Not see home for at least a week or two
4) Be exempt from the FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act) which means among other things, no overtime after 40 hours.
5) Be employed in the 9th most dangerous US occupation
6) Perform a wide assortment of freebies for your employer

The only reason you can still make decent money in what basically amounts to an unskilled profession is that the job can't be outsourced. But the trucking companies are doing their darndest to get immigrants and foreigners behind the wheel. In addition, Celadon, Schneider and other carriers are actively hiring Mexican-based drivers to run US freight. Oh yeah, and don't forget about the NAFTA superhighway either.

Despite what you hear from the media/trucking companies, there is NO shortage of drivers. The truth is that there's a lack of people willing to put up with the low pay, freebies, poor treatment, and time away from home in irregular-route OTR truckdriving. That's why the majority of these outfits sport a massive 100% - 130% churn rate.

Got it? This job SUKS unless you're a little crazy and have nothing to lose. It's an irresponsible career choice if others depend on you, or you want anything like the "normal life" so many truckers come to miss after the novelty wears off.

40k may sound like pretty good money, but it's crap for the quantity of work, the responsibility and risk, the toll on your mind and body....and most of all, the family who'll see precious little of it from the dad who abandoned them to go live on the road.

The job doesn't reaaly "suck" per se. Besides that, he's right on the money, tho.

[Roadhog]

I dont think anything was being insinuated. I think he was just making a joke and maybe you took it the wrong way.

You are too late. It was already ......asked and answered.

[GMAN]

While it is true that there are hours in which you are not paid, many professions are in the same boat. Some have already been mentioned. Just look at school teachers. They are paid for being at school, but most take papers home to grade ON THEIR OWN TIME. I have known of teachers who spend about as much time home working as they do at school.

Driving a truck is a lifestyle change. I think the main difference is that you sleep in the same place where you work. I rather like having my bed with me. When I finish working I can park, stand up and walk into my bedroom. There is a downside to being on the road. You are away from family and friends, but there are other professions where the same is true. Traveling salesmen, construction workers, oil field workers, etc., are away from their families for a week or longer. Most salesmen are not paid for their travel time. They don't get paid until they sell something. No sales, no paycheck. Construction workers who work away from home may travel several hundred miles to their work site. They may spend hours traveling and not be paid for their time. The same with oil field workers. Each of these professions can earn an above average income. They also have hours related to their work that they are not compensated. You either enjoy your job or you don't. If you don't like it perhaps you should go to work for McDonald's where you punch a time clock and will be paid for all of the hours you are at work. Wait....you will not be paid for driving back and forth to work. I suppose that won't work either.

While it is true that there are hours in which you are not paid, many professions are in the same boat. Some have already been mentioned. Just look at school teachers. They are paid for being at school, but most take papers home to grade ON THEIR OWN TIME. I have known of teachers who spend about as much time home working as they do at school.

Driving a truck is a lifestyle change. I think the main difference is that you sleep in the same place where you work. I rather like having my bed with me. When I finish working I can park, stand up and walk into my bedroom. There is a downside to being on the road. You are away from family and friends, but there are other professions where the same is true. Traveling salesmen, construction workers, oil field workers, etc., are away from their families for a week or longer. Most salesmen are not paid for their travel time. They don't get paid until they sell something. No sales, no paycheck. Construction workers who work away from home may travel several hundred miles to their work site. They may spend hours traveling and not be paid for their time. The same with oil field workers. Each of these professions can earn an above average income. They also have hours related to their work that they are not compensated. You either enjoy your job or you don't. If you don't like it perhaps you should go to work for McDonald's where you punch a time clock and will be paid for all of the hours you are at work. Wait....you will not be paid for driving back and forth to work. I suppose that won't work either.

Look, I'm just stating the facts about irregular-route OTR truckdriving. If you want to compare your job to other low-paying lines of work so it makes you feel better, then knock yourself out. Whatever rocks your boat.

To the original poster, if you feel that driving truck would make a good stock-n-trade, then by all means GO FOR IT! All I'm saying is don't settle for less than what you're worth because that's exactly what these OTR companies demand from you. And it's essentially a battered-wives mentality. Instead, do a little digging and you'll find that there are trucking jobs that will pay you a great wage for every hour on the job and get you home every night and weekend with your family. However vitrually NONE of these jobs are in OTR. Nor do they require the much-vaunted "lifestyle change".

You will more than likely have to be abused\exploited\ripped-off by some pack-mule, coolie-carrier OTR sweatshop outfit for a year or so to get that one-year of experience. I won't deny that. But once you get your chops, there's a whole world of opportunity waiting for you: LTL (line-haul and P&D), parcel (UPS, FedEx, DHL), post office, foodservice (Sysco, US Foods, Rhinehart, etc), fuel-hauling, tankers, dumps just to name a few. Or you can get your -P- endorsement and work for the bus lines. It's all a matter of choice whether you want to be exploited or not. And I suppose that's the great thing about this country is that you still have the freedom to choose. That can't be said of many countries in the world.

Tthere's absolutely no reason to do this job and clock-in a gazillion hours per week while putting up with all the freebies. Nor do you have to live in/for the truck or spend your nights/weekends/holidays in pickle parks, truck stops or deserted off-ramps. Leave that for the Supertruckers.

[GMAN]

There are ups and downs to every job. Trucking is no exception. Whether one achieves success or failure in this business relies more on your attitude. If you have a poor attitude, then you are likely to not enjoy your tenure in this business and not last long. It is a radical change from what most are accustomed. If you don't like change, then you probably won't enjoy this business. Just because some either couldn't make it in the business or chose not to stay doesn't mean that you should discourage others from pursuing their dream. There are other professions which have just as many negatives.