What does R3V know aBOut TrUCKdrIvING?

[10Toes]

This looks like tall fun. Do you have to shift?

Yeah I run it with 12 speed manual with the horn button being the high/low selector on a Logitech G25.

[xxx-Lost-Soul-xxx]

Well from someone who's actually made a living at it...

Same as you, I had always been fascinated with big trucks since I was a kid. From the early to mid '00s I worked for Turner and initially got my CDL as another feather in my cap as a race mechanic. To have a crew member who can also drive the rig is a huge asset to any race team.

I wanted to drive full time for a little while to get my feet wet and get some real experience and miles under my belt without putting a million dollars worth of vehicles and equipment at risk. Not to mention take a break from the racing lifestyle which was burning me out by that point. I got a local job with a contractor for Gap/Old Navy, figured I'd do it for six months or so, then go back to racing.

Well, I ended up loving the hell out of it! Just being out on the road, on my own was fantastic. Other than deliveries which were kind of a pain in the ass, it didn't even feel like work. Those were only three days a week though, the other two days were usually line haul, point-to-point drop and hook stuff. Yeah, it had it's ups and downs like anything else. Yeah, the hours were odd and I worked long hours, but the days would just fly by.

I ended up staying there nearly three years, and probably would still be there now. Unfortunately, the Gap contract was coming up for renewal and I saw the writing on the wall that they weren't going to renew with my company, despite the management swearing up and down that everything was fine. I left and went back to spinning wrenches since I had a standing offer from the former Turner crew chief who had also gotten burned out and opened his own shop. Sure enough, a few months later I got word that they did lose the contract and I would have been out of a job.

Those three years were the break I needed; working on cars is fun again now, but I still miss trucking. If I wasn't married, I'd sell all my shit, sign on with one of the big companies and go out over the road in a second. Of course it's not for everyone, it takes a certain kind of person to really love it. But if you're that person, it can be a fun, satisfying way to earn a living.

There were drivers at my company who were there only because they had no other options, no education or marketable skill, so what else were they going to do? They were the ones who would bellyache when they'd get long runs, would complain all the time in general, and yeah I imagine it was a pretty shitty job for them. And it's not just for uneducated idiots like some here seem to be suggesting. Hell, we had one guy who was a former bank manager in his 50's, just got sick of dealing with the bullshit and had always wanted to try trucking, so he did. He was one of the "love it" guys.

I'd say do it now, while you're young, and YOU decide if you like it or not, never mind the naysayers. If you don't like it, whatever. At least you tried, just move on the next thing. Like you say though, it's a job you can take anywhere. At the very least, it's always good to have that option to fall back on.

I was waiting for you to say something. I saw your aviatar a while back.

Thank you.

[kway]

I saw your aviatar a while back.

Thank you.

Well, Pete's are more gangster, but my initials are KW lol.

No worries, mate. Best of luck.

[Roland H]

FedEx Express (NOT GROUND) will pay for your CDL and give you a job driving trucks if you throw/deliver boxes for them long enough, worth looking into. Good pay & benefits.

[Vedubin01]

FedEx Express (NOT GROUND) will pay for your CDL and give you a job driving trucks if you throw/deliver boxes for them long enough, worth looking into. Good pay & benefits.

There are many long haul companies that will pay for your CDL if you sign on with them. When or if you get into Heavy Haul you can make some serious money. Before I started my latest venture I owned a trucking company with 5 trucks 3 48' flats and 2 48' step decks. I hauled cranes and aircraft parts.

I got out due to the economy and my main bread and butter was highrise cranes. When building slowed my business also slowed. It was better to sell out than lose everything I worked hard for.

If you would like the names of some companies that will pay for your CDL, PM me. But know you will not see much of home. You will be on the road 3.5 weeks a month.

[xxx-Lost-Soul-xxx]

FedEx Express (NOT GROUND) will pay for your CDL and give you a job driving trucks if you throw/deliver boxes for them long enough, worth looking into. Good pay & benefits.

Yea i found a few companys that will pay, there was a few that will even give a bonus if i stay on for two years.