What does R3V know aBOut TrUCKdrIvING?

[mrsleeve]

^

Or Oil to the rail head shipping terminals

[Npulver]

Get your CDL and move out to North dakota temporarily, currently frack drivers are making 80k+ a year currently (hauling water or waste water)

[mrsleeve]

Unless you can get on with a local stable hauler that will put you at home most every night you will hate your life.

If you own your own truck and are getting your loads from broker you will be luck to cover your costs anymore. As nearly every one shipping goods is looking for the the cheapest haul. They dont care that fuel is 4 bucks a gallon and you have family too feed and will only be profiting 12 cents a mile on the load, the middle men suck up all the margin at the brokerage houses.

As mentioned its a hard lonely life, its not what it used to be to say the least. Lots of guys I grew up with fathers were drivers many Owner Operators as well, and all have either moved on to other careers, or sold the trucks and hired on with decent paying local haul outfits (very hard to come by in many cases).

The teamster has always been a job that carried a certain stigma with it, but you used to make a fair to a great living doing it, now thats not so much the case anymore, I am not saying you cant make a living at it, but putting 6 figures into your personal account is a very very very rare thing for the OTR driver anymore.

My advice if you go this route, is once you get your CDL you move North Dakota, or PA, WV, or TX, AR and try and hire on as a water or sand hauler for the oil/gas fields. You will make shit hourly for the 1st year or so, but you will be likely working a DOT maxed log book every week. In PA about a year ago they were giving hauler jobs anyone with a heart beat and CDL, even if you had just got out of school.

[e30e]

I just sent in Another Application with UP today. Tucson service unit.
I doubt it will get anywhere.

:-|

Have you thought about trade schools? One of my professors was big into committees that were women in the work force, I know she was in charge of an organization that was about women in agriculture.

If the rail road doesn't work out for me,
I want to get into underwater welding.

[xxx-Lost-Soul-xxx]

I drive 12-15 hours to get my work site; it gets tiring and I'm not rowing gears or towing anything. I have my class a and it's obnoxious that California has there own cdl laws. They have weight stations everywhere and it hinders getting anything done or getting anywhere.

Truck driving sucks!

I just sent in Another Application with UP today. Tucson service unit.
I doubt it will get anywhere.

:-|

[e30e]

I drive 12-15 hours to get my work site; it gets tiring and I'm not rowing gears or towing anything. I have my class a and it's obnoxious that California has there own cdl laws. They have weight stations everywhere and it hinders getting anything done or getting anywhere.

Truck driving sucks!

[future rs]

Personally, I hate myself and couldnt do it

[slammin.e28]

Seriously.....shit would suck. Ever been in a truck stop? They make the restrooms out back of the Chevron look like an oasis.

[Stanley Rockafella]

Is it just me or do european trucks look more slick and aerodynamic?

they have daycabs...meaning no bed in the back. They ultimately occupy less space on the road. Since trucking laws are stricter in Europe (log books must be kept in tight order), truckers are not allowed to go on as little sleep as they are here in NA.

My brother used to do it but gave up when he and his wife wanted to have kids and start a family. The risk of so many guys dying and being injured in accidents was far too risky, esp. up here in Canada with the terrible winter conditions (ever see ice road truckers?).

I consdiered it when I was in HS and helping him on a few summer trips all over western Canada, but gave up on it as it's not the life for me.

Just like Blunt said, the unhealthy food, always busting you ass in -40C temps outside putting tarps on loads of drywall, and my bro started smoking cigaretts to stay awake. Shortly after his stint of truck driving, he got diabetes from the unhealthy lifestyle and stress

[blunttech]

I cant think of a much more lonely or unhealthy career.
You really need to bust your ass to make a dollar too.
eating shitty unhealthy food and sitting on your ass all day. Showering in jizz laden shower stalls. Taking stimulants to stay awake behind the wheel.
Initially it sounds cool as you are your own boss but I think after a couple weeks it would grow tiresome.
On the other hand, If you like to be alone with yourself its probably ok.
Personally, I hate myself and couldnt do it

[bmw325csi]

Is it just me or do european trucks look more slick and aerodynamic?

[xxx-Lost-Soul-xxx]

I'm pretty much a professional trucker now, I have been playing Euro Truck simulator 2 for the past two weeks. This game is fucking awesome.

http://www.eurotrucksimulator2.com/

[cale]

Find a career where you're valuable, not one that is more often than not a second choice. Let's be honest here, those making big bucks and have bright futures aren't aspiring to transport toilet paper and spaghetti sauce around the continent. Not to speak ill of those who do it, but underachieving much?

[10Toes]

I'm pretty much a professional trucker now, I have been playing Euro Truck simulator 2 for the past two weeks. This game is fucking awesome.

http://www.eurotrucksimulator2.com/

[Todd Black 88]

My step dad was/is a truck driver.

As said before, it can be expensive and very repetitive. As a kid I used to do different shorter trips with him, and it was pretty cool.
I think it really depends on the job specifically. My step dad used to fly from Vancouver to Montreal and drive, piggybacked, three new Frieghtliners back to the west coast. That was cool. For a while he used to fly back east and pick up new HUB fire trucks and drive them to thier destinations on the west coast. THAT was awesome for me to hop on board at our home and complete the trip with him, onto Vancouver Island etc.