I become a driver because I was sick and tired of working with bitchy women. I would make twice as much back as an Accountant. However, I decided sanity and adventure sure beat sitting in an office and dealing with bitchy women all day long. Although, I tell people that now I'm working with horny men not sure I made an improvement. HA!!! :wink:

I was married for 1/2 a life time and after divorcing I thought I wanted to change my entire life. Moved back to Colorado and took two years off to decide what I wanted to do "when I grew up". Found myself driving to Cheyenne and on 80 almost daily for driving therapy instead of psychiatric therapy. It's amazing how much your psyche can be damaged in a terrible marriage.

I think the driving therapy ended up costing me more due to the miles I logged on my car and the gas prices. But I sure enjoyed myself. Oh well, put my ex through two degrees and didn't take alimony. When I returned to Colorado all my friends told me if you're going to drive every day at least get paid for it. So here I am. Thrilled to death making 1/2 of what I could/would make. Family is upset with me, I come from a wealthy background. I say, "what the hell-I'm happy being a poor truck driver and too bad what they think." Never had any blue collars in my family-all highly educated. It's the first time in a couple of decades that I'm happy. Money does not buy happiness. Although, I'm sure going the other way probably would be more comfortable. I still have Champagne Tastes but now live on less than a Beer Budget.

Never had any children, so I don't have little ones at home to worry about, no boyfriend, husband, roommate or pets. I'm foot loose and fancy free. I can stay out as long as I like. I do see why the average woman doesn't do this job though. I tell everyone it takes more guts to be a driver than brains to be an accountant.

In my short 33 months as a driver I've been in a major accident-ended up in a levee in Yakima, WA-thanks to an idiot four wheeler, been in a minor accident, had blow outs, blown out all the coolant on top of Lake Shasta and the fun continues. People are always amazed that I drive by myself. I had no idea that most women are with men on the road. Oh well, I hauled trucks for the for 19 months out of my first 21 months of my career and learned how to put axles in the back drives and put the trucks on the ground. Dealerships don't unload the trucks-drivers do.

Before I did that job, I didn't even know what a ratchet was. I contended that I had a husband, brothers and father for utilization of tools. Now, I not only know what the tools are I've actually used them. It's been a great confidence builder to learn to take trucks apart and put them together. I also learned every gear pattern my first during my driveaway period. Everytime you haul new trucks they have different gear patterns. Learned about teflon fifth wheels and air tandems also. What an experience.

I wear skirts so everyone assumes I'm a wife or girlfriend, unless they see me get out of the driver's side. Men have treated me pretty well for the most part, when they're not either hitting on me or trashing me because I should be barefoot and pregnant at home. It's been women, yet again, that have treated me poorly. I think they were the ugly girls in High School and want to pay back the pretty girls. Oh well, I'm having fun and don't want to go back. I think it's in my blood now.

I'm happy and really don't get treated well by my company-a huge company where you're just a number but I have a great Driver Manager who usually lessens the blows they send our way. What passes as professionalism in trucking wouldn't pass at all in an office. I've learned to be humble for sure.