What things should you consider before deciding on a career as a truckdriver?

1. 81

   Wayne Brownposted 13 years ago

   What things should you consider before deciding on a career as a truckdriver?

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2. 60

   Truckstop Sallyposted 13 years ago

   I should have some thoughts, I guess.  You know, spending so much time at the Truckstop. 
   
   Seems like you should consider a balance of
   negatives: family time (including kids), short v long hauls, night shifts, lots of time alone
   
   
   with the benefits:
   independence, new places, new situations

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3. 67

   imichelleposted 13 years ago

   I drove over the road for six years.  Over the road truck driving means putting in a lot of hours behind the wheel, being away from home a lot, driving in all kinds of weather and through all kinds of neighborhoods, and spending a lot of time sitting in warehouse docks and not getting paid for it.
   
   It also means an "office" with a great view, meeting hundreds of interesting new people, seeing the country's cities, towns, and open spaces, and not being micromanaged at work.
   
   So the things I would consider the most would be whether or not you like putting in a LOT of hours far away from home for your weekly pay and whether or not you can work independently and make good, split second decisions even when you're so tired you can barely function.

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4. 59

   beckyefpposted 12 years ago

   I'm spending the summer on a truck with my mom (long haul driver) and my brother. What's surprised me is how much of your life revolves around the job. Truck driving is really more of a lifestyle. In our case, the electronic log books have a lot of say over when we can and can't drive, meaning that we won't always be allowed to drive when we feel up to it, and you we have to drive despite being incredibly exhausted. So I'd suggest reading more about the difficulties of working with electronic logs.
   
   You might also feel limited to rest areas and truck stops. It's hard to find truck parking other places. Even shopping for groceries at Wal-Mart can be extremely difficult.
   
   You can make a good amount of money from truck driving, however, because you don't have to pay rent (if you don't already have a family to support, that is). You might be able to save a lot of money while you work. Then, if you get tired of truck driving, you'll have a nice amount to invest into settling down somewhere. Plus, you'll have the advantage of seeing the whole country and deciding where you'd most like to live.

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