The Biz

Being new to trucking be prepared to be out for long periods of time. If your doing long haul you can expect to go to places that the experienced drivers won't go to. I've said the same thing to all newbies. That is what ever company you go to drive for, stick it out for at least the first year. The first few months are the hardest and then it gradually gets easier. If you like home time this isn't the job you want. You will be gone for weeks at a time and home for 34 to 48 hrs. When companies tell you 2 days home after so many days out it is actually 48 hrs. No matter what company you talk to will sugar coat many things.

Comment By:
Roadhzrd on Fri, Feb 02 2007 @ 11:04 PM [EST]

Listen to roadhzrd, he's got a lot of smarts. He is 120% correct you will be gone especially the first few months probably the whole time. I don't care what the recruiters say its pretty much an industry standard. Recruiters put bodies in the trucks and could care less about the truth. Roadhzrd,..brother... we ought to start our own website to teach these guys the ropes so we can save a whole lot of typing over and over again. When I started I saw home probably once a month for two or three days..any longer and your check becomes mighty lean..If your married with children this is a "bitch" of a business. I missed the better part of my daughters first years thanks to the road. It broke my heart when I came back and she looked at me like a stranger. Not trying to scare you but I'm telling you how it is and think about that if your willing to make a sacrifice of your life on the road. Its almost like if you went to jail for a while voluntarily..VM-out!

Comment By:
VM on Sat, Feb 03 2007 @ 3:27 AM [EST]

Hi Scott!!! I'm not a driver but have some in my family and used to sleep in my grandfather's tractor when we would go to visit because we thought it was fun. Above all else, beware of the idiots on the road - as frustrating as they are when you're in a car it's 100 times more in a big truck. I ride with a friend regularly and cannot believe what I see people do around you guys. Take it easy and try to have fun; go with the flow and never count on being where you think you're going to be when you think you're going to be there and you'll do fine. Godspeed and I'll add you to my prayers.

Comment By:
Dawn on Tue, Feb 06 2007 @ 11:45 AM [EST]

It is a choice to be a driver and also something that runs in your blood.I got granfathered in and have been driving 16years.I have mostly had jobs where your home weekly and they pay well.I have also been long haul for a large company.I enjoyed being out a month and home 3 days although I had my wife with me and wouldn't have done it otherwise.My advice to you is see the country and stay with a job a year or 2 and then if it's for you can will have no problem finding a local job,unless you don't have a very good track record with tickets LOL.It is a wonderful and rewarding job as far as sights and meeting new people.Don't do it just for the money.You will never get rich.I do it for the beauty and truly I don't see it at all as a job.I see it everyday as an adventure and I guess that's why it never gets tiresome,although i would be lying if I said it eas perfect because trucking is far from that.

Comment By:
Joe on Sun, Feb 25 2007 @ 5:06 PM [EST]