Jewels: Don't feel hesitate about learning a new profession. I too was concerned about "trucking". After the first week of classroom instruction we all went out to the "driving range". There were nine of us in the class and I was the only female. We all got into one truck as the instructor explained what we were expected to do. He let me get into the driver's seat and all the guys were terrribly envious. I was scared to death that I would hate to drive but as soon as the engine started and I took off I knew that I had made the right choice.
I was an Accountant making a lot more income than I am in trucking. I had been married for 1/2 a life time and put my husband through two degrees. He is quite well off now and I left without taking alimony. I am proud to say that I am living on much less and am much happier.
Every once in a while I tear up when I remember how miserable I was in my marriage and in the office with a lot of "bitchy" women. I tell people now that I don't know if I made the right choice because instead of bitchy women I work with horny men. However, I'm just joking. I'd much rather work with men than women.
I've had an awesome ride and will finish my third year in a few months. I've done driveaway [delivering new trucks to dealerships] and learned every gear pattern the first 21 months I drove professionally. I learned about things such as teflon fifth wheels and air tandems that I would have never learned by just staying in one truck the first 21 months. I also learned how to put trucks on the ground and install the axles in the back drives. It's made me a much more confident person knowing that I can handle what ever is thrown at me. Although, I prefer driveaway to freight I'm back to freight because our company quit hauling trucks.
I was hired by the competitor who took over hauling trucks from us but they wanted me to move east and I live in Colorado. You make considerably more income doing driveaway than freight. I say I live in the postcard and won't move for a job. Hence, I've sacrified income again for happiness.
Good Luck and you'll be more comfortable the more you drive and gain experience. We all did some unbelievable things when we first started driving. Anyone who tells you otherwise isn't being honest.