If you go over the road you will have NO life.
I only got my cdl because I thought I would be able to drive for a local company
where I live in Chicago but as it turns out everywhere you go everybody wants at least
2 or 3 years of over the road experience. I know that is my fault for not doing my
research on the industry before I paid the 2 grand for the training that helped me get my license.
So here I am out on the road, big bad trucker man.
Sure you get to travel the country but its not like you get to do much other than drive
past places you wish you can stop at. You drive all day anywhere from 8 to 11 hours daily. Then comes the hassles of trying to find a parking space at a truck stop when its late at night.
Most of the bathrooms are disgusting to say the least. I dont understand why there are so many of you out there who dont bother to lift the toilet seat before you pee. You rather just pee on the toilet seat and let some poor soul clean it up for your selfish, thoughtless *****.
Not only that but you will be there standing by the sink soaping and washing your hands like a decent person would and you see guy after guy just zipping up after using the urinals or toilets and heading straight out the door. Then your having to use your paper towel or the sleeve of your jacket to open that germ and fecal matter infested handle to open the door and get out of there.
You go inside to pay for your fuel, come back out, pump your fuel, and sit in your truck for the next 25 minutes waiting for the jerk in front of you who decided to get a shower and something to eat and leaves his truck parked in front of the fuel island.
I have met some really cool drivers out here, guys you can have a few beers with at barbecues. And I have also met a lot of really arrogant, ignorant drivers you wish you could catch in a dark alley all by themselves so you can get the ski mask on and go to work on a fool.
What is it with you guys who have those "Say no to cheap freight" signs on their trucks?
Have you guys forgotten about how new guys are supposed to get started in this industry?
Only the big carriers are willing to take a chance on a new guy.
Instead of blaming the larger carriers for offering such cheap prices to move freight you should be blaming the insurance companies who charge trucking companies outrageous fees to insure a new driver.
Whenever people call me and ask me what im doing I always tell them "Im driving my life away". And they always get a laugh out of it.
I dont understand those guys out there who act like they are big ***** just because they drive a truck. This job is nothing to be bragging about. This kind of job just makes life pointless. No amount of money is worth being stuck in a box that moves at 61mph every single day for several weeks at a time. This is not worth being away from family, girlfriend, friends, and pets. At least in my opinion.
Every job I have ever had I always exceeded what was expected of me. I always became the best at whatever it was that I was doing. Somewhere along the way I convinced myself that this is something I would be great at and that I will love to do.
To those who are considering this as a carreer move I would tell you to do a lot of research into the industry and ask a lot of questions to anybody that you may know who has done this job at sometime in their life. Think about it long and hard.
I understand some people out there have to do this because there arent to many other options left for them and the financial rewards can seem enticing but if you are young and have no obligations then please, PLEASE, educate yourself in something and be somebody productive (not to say truck drivers arent productive). Let this be your very last resort.
I am 25 yrs old, I have no wife, kids, mortgage, or car payments to make. And I still technically live at home. I have a girlfriend that I have been with for 3 yrs who hates my job as well, a car thats all paid for, and a cat. As soon as it becomes possible for me to leave this job I will leave, finish my degree in economics, and pray to God that I never have to go back to this again.
To those who have driven and continue to drive these roads, my hat goes off for you ladies and gentlemen. You are truly the knights of the road. America breathes because of you, and you do not in any way receive the appreciation from your country that you have earned.
This is not for me. I have become very good at it but I cant see myself doing this for a lifetime. I look forward to the day that I could finally hang up my CB, pop open a beer, and smoke me a fat joint (thats right).

 

If its a dark alley why do you need the ski mask? Saying no to cheap freight is how our company stays in business without cutting pay, benefits or jobs. Sorry about your dam luck.

 

The cheap freight stickers is for owner operators spreading the word to not haul for cheap rates. Last I checked, carriers weren't paying anything to move freight, the shippers are.

I'm 26 and also live out of Chicago. I went to SIU and got an engineering degree (and minored in economics) and love my job. I came straight out of school and went right into trucking as an o/o.

I'm glad you give the folks the props/respect that like OTR, unlike some people. You made a choice, it didn't work out, and you got a plan out, and thats the good thing.

BTW, all of my girlfriends hate my job

 

I am sorry that things have not worked out for you. Most of us enjoy what we do. And there are many of us with a good education who choose to do this for a living. It is not a career of last resort for many of us. There are some who may look at it the same way as you, but for those of us who have done this for a number of years it is something we enjoy. I would think that someone in your position with no obligations or bills could put back a lot of money driving as long as you manage your spending. It would be a great time to save for your future. Put money back to buy a house or invest. I think that getting a good education is one of the best things one could do for themselves. If you are not happy driving then by all means do something else. Not everyone can or will make it in this business. It takes a certain type of personality to do well driving otr. Those who are successful tend to be a bit of a loner and enjoy their own company. They enjoy the pull of the open road. They have a need to know what is over the next hill or to see the next sunrise. If you are not happy driving then go back to college, get your degree and hopefully the economy will improve where you can find a decent job doing something that you do enjoy.

 

Trucking is not for everybody its a tough job at times and its a awesome job at times You have to be able to roll with the punches. I finished college myself and come august i plan to get into the trucking industry. Most of my friends think im crazy or weird but whatever ive been out with a friend who is an O/O for a month at a time and i love it.

 

Getting your degree is a good idea. If things don't work out in trucking or your health fails then you have a backup. Whether you utilize your degree at this time or not it is always a good idea to get as much education as you can. An education affords you options. You can earn as much driving as many college graduates. Whether you have a life or not depends on how you define having a life. There will always be trade offs. We sacrifice one thing for another. Most successful people spend time away from their families to earn the big bucks. If you spend more time with your family then you will likely sacrifice some of the lifestyle or money. That is the way it is with life.

 

As soon as it becomes possible for me to leave this job I will leave, finish my degree in economics, and pray to God that I never have to go back to this again.



thats why for some, education is smart. finishing & getting a degree in economics may have taught you trucking is not a good business to get into right now & the warning signs have been out for close to a year or more, that is was going to get rough out here.

 

Driving OTR is definately not for everyone...but, for some reason after 17 years I still enjoy it even though it has it's moments. Would it be a career I'd recommend to someone else??? All depends...but, for a young person...or thinking of marriage and raising a family....get the education and something that allows you to stay home. After 20 years in the Army and 17 years of doing this...my wife (bless her heart) and I wouldn't know how to handle being around each other everyday. Anywho...best of luck.

 

Guys he's a Swift Driver!! I completely see's why he's mad lol!!

But on another note like most guys said some people can do it some can't... I can do OTR but only for the right pay, right equipment, and right situation.. You would have to pay me an min. of $55,000 or more annually for me to do OTR/Regional.. Like Wal Mart Guys.. i wouldn't dare complain about being OTR with them.. Pay is far beyond good.. Equipment is Superior.. and i never ever ever have to worry about being parked at a truck stop for more than a 10hr break..

With me sleeping in truck stops/rest areas/shippers doesn't bother me at all, but with the company and situation i'm in.. I can't do it for them.. So i'm about to take a Cut out of fun at times just so i can have my life back and make hard earn dollars...

P.S. plus i want to coach youth league football!! i'm like the next bill blecheat!!

 

you have a very valid point about the dark alley. As to your 'cheap freight' remark, its industry wide. It isnt just one or two companies doing it (all by themselves) bringing the freight rates down. It is the economy. Everybody has to undercut the other in order to get the contract. Same holds true for those load boards at truck stops. a 700 mi run that pays $350?

its funny to listen to drivers who would rather sit for a week than haul cheap freight....but then again, they are rich, so they can afford to sit and not roll.

being a company driver, it works for me, i accept every load, even the ones that only deliver 40 miles, and the ones that deliver 740.