I have read story after story on here about some folks loving trucking and others hating it. Some guys on here feel trapped. I was wondering. What makes you guys get out there everyday? Do you drive a truck because your father did? Is it the only skill that you know? Do you just love the industry? Just wondering why you guys do what you do for a living. I had looked into trucking in the past but it just doesn't look like the miles or money are there nowadays.

I have toyed with the idea but I have a wife and a 9 year old kit. Just seems like a bad mixture. Some of you guys answered this...but for the rest, if you had it to do over again would you...as far as trucking goes? Or do you wish you would have went into something else?

How about money? What is the average bring home pay like? Thanks!!

 

Looks like I may be the first one here, so I'll take a shot at it.

Trapped? In a way, yes. I've put in applications in the past that would have allowed me to stay at home, or be home every night. Back when my wife was being treated for cancer, the treatments were daily. That meant a one-way trip of 36 miles for treatment. And, just sitting in the car was agony for her, much less trying to drive. The response I got from the applications I put in was pretty much the same. Since the trucking industry is so short of qualified drivers, they would not hire me away from a trucking company. Is it the only thing I know how to do? No. Before I went into this, I worked for 13 years as an electrical engineer, supervisor, and project engineer. I also know how to operate a manual lathe and both vertical and horizontal mills, and I've done a variety of welding. MIG is about the only welding I have done little of. Driving a truck was to be a way for me to realize my dream... Which is not driving a truck, but to start up my own successful business that does not directly involve trucks. So, I do what I do every day to support a nasty habit I have....

I like to eat.

 

I'm a freaking NUT and I enjoy what I do.

With that said, I would do it all over. Then again, I was only 23 when I started. Eleven years later I still enjoy what I do. I even found time several years ago to acquire a degree in Computer science. Didn't like what I could have done, stay with what I am doing and have no regrets. My family comes first, so this has provided me with what I need to support my family and keep my self and them happy.

 

i love to drive trucks!! I love my job!! i used to manage grocery stores and worked in the grocery field for about 13 years before i started driving. i was in college and have an associates degree in business administration. i make almost 20 grand more a year driving, i am happier. uhm, that is about it. i would not change anything except the amount of job hopping i have done, i would not do that or recomend it.

 

I am one of those sicko's that loves OTR :thumbsup: I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that I have always love to travel and after spending 20+ years in the Navy traveling all over the world, I can not see my self behind a desk. As for the money.....well it has a lot to be desired but it does pay the bills.

 

I am in my 16th year driving and 1st OTR. I found a company that I am more than happy with. I love my job and can't see myself doing anything else.

 

Thanks for the replies! I respect what you drivers do for a living! I have high respect for teachers, cops and most truckers. I have another question. How many of you have college degrees and switched from a white collar job to trucking? If you did that, was it a good move for you? Is there a wife and kid/kids at home?

 

I have a 4-year degree plus I worked in management for awhile. Now I drive. Only reason I stay driving is that I've got a real sweet gig...I put in 45 hours per week M-F (not trucker-math logbook hours...45 actual hours paid off the timeclock) and I start at 0900 everyday. I live 10 minutes from the terminal and I've got a sweet, gravy-train run. Then on Sundays, I do a US mail run which pays $25.00/hr for 12 hours or so of work.

This is the ONLY reason I'm still in trucking...because between both jobs I'm doing over $68,000 and home everynight. Otherwise I would not step foot in a truck for some of the rates/wages I see guys pulling for today. What a disgrace! I see loads on the load boards paying $.80 cpm and people are pulling them!?!?!? I see company jobs at .25 cpm and people are taking them!?!?!

I realize the economy is slow and times are tight...but why work so cheap? I mean, you can get a job at Wal-Mart and be home everynight for what some of these loads/jobs are paying and no truck payment. But it's all about the shiny red rooster cruiser and the miles, I guess.

It's nice to fulfill your childhood dream and drive that big rig down the highway. But why do it for peanuts?

 

I have a BA (accounting major) and left a government job that paid about as much as Mike Hunt makes at two jobs.

I have two grown sons that are still way too dependent on me. No spouse.

I work for peanuts because I am very new and very inexperienced.

My family owned a trucking company about 30 years ago. Hauled milk and had nine trucks. The company is still in business but my family no longer has an interest in it. From that time on (when they did own the business), I have always had an interest in the business and wanted to be a driver. So, that's where I am at.

Has it worked out for me? I believe so. :thumbsup:

 

Well, we're talking trucking here not accounting. Yeah, I could probably make more on the outside with my degree + my experience + I speak spanish. Sheesh...I'd be in the catbird's seat in this industry what with all these foreigners from south of the border flooding the market. But I'd rather drive for a living. I'm just not gonna do it for peanuts like you do.

All you guys working cheap just drag down the rates/wages for everyone else!