Deciding to make a major career decision is obviously difficult.  Too bad there isn't a way to make it an easier one.  This site probably won't make up your mind -- but will hopefully provide you with far more information than you might have had otherwise so that you can make an informed choice.

What's this trucking life like?  Trucking is unlike any other profession... One day it's the greatest job on the planet and the next can be the toughest day you've ever had.   (For a more or less typical look at "A Day in the Life" of a Driver, you may enjoy reading "A Driver's Journal) 

Everything changes - there are few, if any, constants.  This makes trucking a job that doesn't easily become boring -- but on the other hand, even good change does produce stress.  Bad change simply generates a lot of stress!  If you're "stuck" in a job that bores you to death, that makes you feel "tied down", that you dread going to every single day, trucking could be a very liberating and exciting choice for you.  If you're into stability and like a set and predictable schedule (say you have pottery class on Thursday night at 7:00, you meet the boys at the bar on Mondays for football, etc) you may be disappointed when your activities become cut back or eliminated altogether because you can't make it home.

What a difference a few years make.  At least now -- in the virtual 2000's, you can find out so much information online, in the comfort of home.  You can do many of your job applications right on the Internet.  You can get an idea what people are saying about different carriers through Online Forums and message boards.  This should be your starting point.  Learn all you can about the opportunities available to you.  Since the CDL came into effect, the number of available drivers compared to the number of trucks on the road has lessened -- resulting in a huge demand for drivers.

Carriers that never would have accepted a trainee are now doing so -- some are finding they just can't get enough drivers if they don't.  Carriers that used to demand a driver stay gone from home for several weeks on end have shortened those requirements -- making their companies more attractive.  More and more local jobs are popping up for new drivers, as well as regional and dedicated fleets.  Yet other companies are coming up with strategies like "truck sharing"  to get as many as possible in a truck if those people are good, qualified, well-trained drivers.

With some work on your part to do the required homework and research, there's few reasons why you can't find a job that "fits" in the trucking industry.  This site will help you in this regard.  The more informed you are about what you're getting into, the better choice you'll make.  If you enter this industry blind, you may be shocked and disappointed when it doesn't conform to the wandering cowboy image that it's often portrayed as being in the movies. 

The truth is, the transportation industry can be a downright tough and cruel place... cut throat.  It's all about money -- underbidding other companies, the games played to get drivers, the games played to keep drivers.  It's about schedules and loads and who can haul the most.  The shipper does not care one iota that you have a family at home.  Mother Nature will not stop her terrible temper tantrums because your child has a birthday.  The receiver does not take your load off of the trailer any faster because there's a semi-emergency at home.  It's about freight.  Moving it, loading it, unloading it, making the dough.  This may seem extreme - even overstated - but allow me to assure you, it's the absolute truth. 

You can still be happy & content as a driver even as these little games are playing out around you.  Do you punch a time clock?  No more of that crap.  Have you worked the same schedule for years on end?  That's gone, too.  When's the last time you took an afternoon nap?  I'll bet it's been awhile.  What did you think of the last time you saw the mountains at sunrise or sunset?  Maybe you've never seen that.  Chances are good you will as a driver.  The changing of the fall colors in New England is a sight no one should miss.  Even the big cities can be beautiful, even if they aren't always fun to drive in.  There are definite positives -- as well as negatives -- that can be said for a career in trucking.

So, what now?  I might suggest that you start by researching carriers.  Do this before you research schools.  You may find a carrier that offers a tuition reimbursement program - but only through one school.  You may find the carrier you decide you like only accepts trainees from accredited schools.  With the huge number of carriers that are online, this research is time consuming, but easy.

• No loss of foot, leg hand or arm.

• No impairment of hand or finger that interferes with power grasping or no impairment of arm, foot, leg that interferes with the ability to perform normal tasks of driving a motor vehicle.

• No history of diabetes that requires insulin for control.

• No current diagnosis of myocardial infarction, angina, pectoris, coronary insufficiency, thrombosis, or other cardio-vascular disease known to be accompanied by syncope, dyspnea, collapse or congestive heart failure.

• No history or diagnosis of respiratory dysfunction likely to interfere with the ability to control a motor vehicle.

• No current diagnosis of high blood pressure likely to interfere with driving a motor vehicle. (159/89 maximum)

• No history or current diagnosis of rheumatic, orthopedic, muscular, neuromuscular, or vascular disease that interferes with the ability to control and operate a motor vehicle.

• No history or current diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition that is likely to cause loss of consciousness.

• No mental, nervous, organic or functional disease of psychiatric disorder likely to interfere with operating a motor vehicle.

• Distant visual acuity of at least 20/40 in each eye, field of vision of at least 70 degrees and the ability to perceive red, yellow, green and amber.

• Ability to perceive a forced whisper in the better ear at no less than five feet, with or without use of a hearing aid.

• No use of a Schedule I drug, amphetamine, narcotic or any other habit forming drug.

• No current clinical diagnosis of alcoholism.

The Biggest Mistake You Can Make...Is To Underestimate

8 Route Planning, Map Reading, Trip Planning...Must be able to find most practical and time efficient route while avoiding truck restricted routes. Must be able to find new places in new cities on a nearly daily basis.  Must know how to avoid dangerous situations such as low underpasses or impassable routes.  Must read road signs - and fully understand the routing/sign system in order to avoid getting lost, wasting time and fuel and other potentially dangerous situations (i.e. low underpasses).  Must know how to plan trip's fuel stops according to company policy.

8 Money Management...In order to make a good wage, a driver must learn good money management skills.  A driver must also plan ahead for job related expenses, such as tolls, unloading fees, truck and/or trailer washes, etc. He or she must keep good track of expenses for purposes of taxes and to ensure proper reimbursement for company expenses. 

Do your homework well!  Turnover in this industry is very high - due to many things. Recruiters sometimes say what they think you want to hear. Even good recruiters think things happen a certain way at their company but the dispatch department shows otherwise. Drivers can easily become restless with a company - bored even - and fall for another company's new, shiny trucks without finding out about the critical things, like home time, pay, etc. Next thing they know, they're unhappy there, too. It's a revolving door. You will build credibility by staying with a carrier a respectable amount of time. This is especially critical when first entering the industry. If you become a job jumper within the first year, already having changed jobs once or twice, future employers will probably think twice. Doing good research before changing jobs will better ensure a good match with a new company. Ask drivers of a company you're considering. Ask as many as you can - they'll give you a great deal of information. You can do a lot of research on a company through the Internet as well.

Most important, be careful about allowing your expectations to get too high! There is no such thing as the perfect job! Not in any industry! Put some thought towards what is important to you… what your priorities are. Some things that you'd "like to have" will have to go by the wayside.

The "Priorities" most drivers concentrate on:

*Pay               *Home Time               *Benefits                 *Equipment

A great deal depends on how hard you are to satisfy but it's reasonable to say that you can usually some 2 of the above priorities pretty well and the other two may "suffer". For instance, if high pay and good home time are the things that matter most, you probably won't drive as fancy of a truck and the benefits may be decent but not outstanding. If you want to drive a very fancy truck and get good home time, you will probably have to sacrifice in the area of pay and benefits. The point being - the perfect job - where all of the above are completely to your satisfaction is just not out there. Again, it all depends on how high you set your standards. Satisfy what matters most to you and be ready to "give" a bit in other places. This is NOT to say that you should take a second rate position! Just Do Your Homework!

It is not advised that you ask a recruiter every single question on the list. Identify your priorities and find the questions that address them. Your priorities today will probably change later but at this point in time, do the best you can to decide what they are.

Sooner or later, no matter who you work for, you are bound to become angry and/or frustrated. This is especially true if it is your first truck driving job and you have nothing to compare it to. Since you know you’ll most likely feel this way at some time, when it does happen, don’t make a rash decision about changing companies!

1. How long is your program? (Hours, days of week, etc)

2. How much time (in hours) is spent behind the wheel?

3. About how many miles will I have driven upon completion?

4. Where is driving done? (city, highway, interstate)

5. How many backing maneuvers will I learn?

6. How much time (in hours) is spent driving forward versus backing?

7. Do you hook and unhook the tractor/trailers every day?

8. How much time is spent in the classroom?

9. What subjects are covered in the classroom?

10. Do you offer a PTDI certified course?

11. Do I have a full class A CDL upon completion?

12. How many students per truck?

13. Do you have non-modified sleeper berths?

14. How much experience is required to be an instructor at this school?

15. What is the student to instructor ratio?

16. Is financing available? What type?

17. What are the requirements? What is the APR, details of repayment, etc?

18. What is the cost of this program?

19. What if I don't pass the CDL the first try?

20. What type of equipment? (cabover versus conventional, length and type of trailer(s))

21. Do recruiters come in to your school? Which ones?

22. How many power units do you have?

23. Are your trailers loaded? How much weight?

24. Which transmission(s)s will I learn?

25. Is there any Night Driving?

26. Do you teach Map Reading and Trip Planning and will I get the chance to use these skills?

Driver's ABC's has explanations as to why these questions matter.