(Work Related) Truck Driver

[1978Blazerk5]

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well i was thinking about when i finsih school,going to a truck driving school, and becoming a truck driver. all my friends are calling me crazy, i think it would be cool to see the country on someone elses pocket. If you drive a company truck they will pay for your gas breakfast and dinner. and you make pretty good money.

by the way i am talking about 18 wheelers

Just wanted to share.

[76 StepAside]

if you can handle riding alone in something that you aren't *supposed* to go over 55 mph, do it.

I wouldn't make it driving one of those things every day. they are cool though.

[1978Blazerk5]

Originally Posted by 76 StepAside

if you can handle riding alone in something that you aren't *supposed* to go over 55 mph, do it.

the riding alone wouldnt bother me to much. the speedlimt might drive me nuts, i suppose that most trucks do 65ish anyway

[fred2mihi]

Well I'll be darned here it is 42 years after I graduated from high school and another young boy is in love with the lore of the open highway. My best advice for you is go to college get an education and make something of yourself.

I haven't driven over the road for quite a few years but never in my experience have I had an employer pay for my meals while I was on the road. Over the road driving sounds like a dream world job but I can tell you it isn't. Have you ever been on the east coast and gotten lost in a large city? The possiblity of someone highjacking your load looms large, better carry a gun and know how to use it.

Are you experienced in running an area where black ice is a possibility, nope. Have you ever come down off of a mountain top with your brakes on fire, pray for a runaway ramp!

Although I've never gone to truck driving school it appears that what they are teaching drivers is how to drive from terminal to terminal. Drop your trailer and hook another, go on your way. They forget to teach you how to back a 53' trailer around a corner and into a dock. Terminal to terminal is fine but I can tell you that sometime you are going to have to put a trailer into a dock so you had better learn to back up.

These are a few of the things I have experienced and obsevered over the years, so think really hard before you go over the road.

fred2mihi

[walla2k5]

Fred has some good advice, go to school. I never have or wanted to go over the road, had a few friends that tried and failed. If the tires don't roll, you don't get paid. New drivers don't get the big miles to start out with. I instead drove dump truck, in a very large city, you better learn how to use the steering wheel. Home every night, make great $$ and when you break, there is someone very close to fix you. Not to burst your bubble on the career you have selected, just looking out for ya'.

[1978Blazerk5]

i think a dump truck would be pretty cool. the local part would be awsome IMO

[Craig Artzner]

Also, if you become an over-the-road truck driver and are gone all week your wife will get lonely and easily be drawn into the arms of another man. At least that's what country music teaches us...

[fred2mihi]

Sorry if I burst your bubble about OTR. I also currently drive an assortment of trucks for a local Sand and Gravel Company. When I hired on I primarilly drove an 11 yard concrete mixer, now I drive a tandem axle dump truck with which I can pull a pup trailer when needed. Today I drove an 18 wheeler belly dump tractor trailer. I do enjoy the local hauls generally averaging around 250 miles a day.

fred2mihi

[1978Blazerk5]

Originally Posted by Craig Artzner

At least that's what country music teaches us...

i accually like country music(older country)

[1978Blazerk5]

Originally Posted by fred2mihi

Sorry if I burst your bubble about OTR.

dont worry about it. i talked to my friend who used to be a truck driver, he said he perfered the dump truck