Ramblings from an old timer
Background: Drove my first time in late November 1984 in a Freightliner cabover with a super 10 transmission from Orlando, FL to Everett, WA. School of hard knocks. Since I'm in the waning years of my career and looking at all these questions from new drivers I've felt compelled to post the following.
The ONLY job of a truck driver is to keep himself and the motoring public safe, everything else is secondary. Nothing, including your desire to make money, or company policy, should distract from this singular focus. Thou Shall Not Kill.
MONEY, one of the very few reasons why we do this job. Learn to drive 600 miles per day consistently and in as little as 3 years you will make 50K a year or $1000 week as a company driver OTR. Don't lease, train, or whatever program they offer.If your in your first million miles and want to be successful as a rookie you must learn this industry, learn to drive, and make mistakes on the company dime before you become a business owner, owner operator, or whatever fancy name they give it. PLEASE DON'T LEASE.
Last but not least. If your goal is to truly be a professional in this industry and an exemplary highly marketable driver GET YOUR ***** TOGETHER. Get your hazmat, TWIC, and passport, keep your nose and driving record clean and no matter your DAC (many a lie has been posted on mine in 35 years) you'll be hired anywhere.
This industry is not kind and difficult on family life (2 marriages later) but I still enjoy the challenges and drive food grade tanker for a company that provides me a brand new truck yearly. I drive a little over 150K miles per year and make a decent living.
Maintain your health and God speed.
Last edited by fz1rider; 05-04-2015 at 07:26 PM.
Reason: grammar
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