Trucking Life-Trucking Day To Day
Trucking Made Easy
Driving Truck
Unless you get lucky to find a truck driving job that is strictly a dedicated or daily run, chances are you will be quite familiar with trucking life on the road in a couple years. But, until then, we can try to fill you in a bit on what it is like to live out here in your truck. What it takes to be prepared, what to watch out for as far as pitfalls, scams, danger zones, etc. There is a lot of really great things to do out here too, don’t let me get you worried about all you may encounter out here. There are just a few normal happenings or encounters you may face in certain places to park around our nation.
Having a cell phone and a cheap plan to start will be a given. Should you need to call a customer or call for help, you will need one eventually. Get a nationwide, no long distance plan. Even if you are going local or regional after training, you still will most likely to be all over the place in training. Being away from home can be a drag, especially if you never have ventured away from home for any great length of time. Keep in my potential students, you will be away from home for 2 months more than likely, without many breaks. Some companies have a program to go home midway, just be advised and prepared for this. I will tell you this only from witnessing it many times over, I want you to know what you have ahead of you.
I stayed out 8-13 weeks at a time in past years. But, now that seems a little long since I do not have to train drivers anymore. My wife doesn’t see me much, but we have got used to the job and what it brings. Since I changed companies this last year, I made it home more often, and my wife didn’t know what to do with me… just kidding.
Driving Truck
Having entertainment aboard, no..not lot lizards…, may help break the boredom. I use my laptop and do web publishing as you see here. This website was written from my truck. Books are a great pastime and make time go by. You may have a hand craft that can bring along. Pc games are my thing, you may elect for a console gaming system to pass the time and save you a bunch of money not feeding the video games in the truck stops. You can run a small 350 watt inverter that plugs in via cigar lighter and get away with it even in a company truck. Check and see what the wattage requirements are for the new systems.
Be Prepared For Downtime
Having a good supply of food for emergencies and general munching is a good rule. I have a frig and microwave to heat food up. You can keep micro meals too, but you may have to use the micro in the truck stop to heat it. They use a lot of juice and company trucks do not allow wired in inverters in most cases. I own my own truck, so I do what I want. Make that a goal if you want to. Carry water in bulk as you can, several gallons so you do not get dehydrated out here. You change altitude and climate a lot. Keep hydrated, especially in summer heat. Keep medicines that you may need for a case of bad food, headache, etc. Truck stop food is generally good, if you order fresh and not the buffet. It depends on how busy they are and if they keep the buffet supplies up. You will need soap and paper towels, personal wipes also do very well for getting freshened up.
Keep a can of Gunk engine cleaner and lots of paper towels when you get close to the 5th wheel area and get grease on you, yes, it’s gonna happen at least once. Spray soap to take off the gunk cleaner, it’s the only thing to effectively clean that kind of grease off you. Keep larger amounts of personal supplies as it’s expensive to buy at a truck stop. You will need a nice duffle bag with a shoulder strap to walk in for your shower. You should be able to fit your shampoo, conditioner, etc. and your change of clothes in this bag. You get your showers for free if you fuel at least 50 gallons, sometimes 75. Get and keep a driver payback card for each truck stop brand you stop at, you will need this for swiping at fueling to get your shower. You also accumulate points that you can trade in for neat stuff like movies, gifts, stuff for the truck, etc.
Road Hazards When Driving Truck
Life on the road can be a lot of fun most days, but it is what you make of it. Try not to let the traffic bummers get you down. Watch out for people cutting in front of you to take an exit. This happens to me daily, so be prepared. Also, watch out for the people merging, they must merge and meet the traffic flow. They do not always do a good job of it, watch for the chicken who gets to the end of the ramp with you slowing to let them in, and them hitting the brakes. It happens everyday, watch for these things. Then the ones who roll down the shoulder, with a vehicle on your left you may not be able to get over. Then watch as they look at you like you are trying to kill them, and they tell you are number one by the salute you get, boneheads.
The people on cell phones really get me, even truckers who do it. Most of us have bluetooth or a wired headset, but some don’t. Try to keep the concentration on what you are doing. I try to use my bluetooth at all times, we have to make calls sometimes for the job. The drivers you see from your perch high above will give you a new idea as what goes on in these cars etc. Like the gal changing clothes while driving, or the guy reading the paper in morning traffic, or doing office paperwork while going down the road. We have to look at a notebook for directions to the shipper or consignee, that’s part of the job. Keep a handy size notepad for such info, you will be using it daily. I keep a record of every trip I have ever pulled going back almost 9 years. That way when I look back and see a problem, I can refer to my notes.
Keep Notes
They have handy trip recorder notebooks for sale, or just use a cheaper plain notebook. I would say keep a supply of pens handy too. You will need a logbook holder and a ruler. This is if you are not working at a company that uses the qualcom like Werner. You will still have to do paper logs in training, so be ready for it.
As time rolls on and I have more time to produce more videos and and more information, I will try and post it here. I am a working trucker, I have to keep the wheels moving to make a living just like all the others, so check in from time to time and try to put me in favorites or bookmark me so you can find me again. Email me for help if you really can’t find the answer to your questions, I will try and answer it or steer you the right way.
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Happy new year and thank you for your help. Like the web page lots of good info…..Ryan Casey Swift Flatbed
You bet, I will help a fellow driver in need any day, especially a wounded veteran like yourself. Thank you for your service.
Great info dude.
Thanks a bunch driver. I am currently attending SAGE in NC and I have 2 wks left. I would love to pull a flatbed and I am currently looking at McElroy, Maverick and TMC. Any thoughts on this 3 companies or any other worth while companies to look at?
Dennis
Durham NC
june of 2012 my youngest will be 18 and going into the service I am divorced and I am well over 50 I am 53 now I have been thinking about getting my CDL and driving as a career change what do you think ?
@DBlcock: Sorry it took so long, I would say using the info I give in my site here, find the one company that has good equipment and a package that you can live with. TMC and Maverick have clean trucks. Not sure on the other.
@charles: I am 51 now. I am still pulling flatbed and am doing better with freight rates climbing again slowly back to pre-crash levels. I am seeing a better income for less miles. I have trained a lot of guys to drive, Many were changing their employment and going OTR for a life experience.
Jim,
I am a previous educational administrator, among many other titles, who has always wanted to be an OTR driver but I never trusted the “schools” lines of BS, etc., so I would look forward to hearing it like it is. It sounds like flat bed hauling is more prosperous (I do not know that as a fact); therefore, that is why I am writing you. Actually, I would just like to get some info. I would love to start a career as a driver and am currently living in St. Louis, MO. Pretty central. My BIGGEST issue is my precious baby boy Brutus. A 130 lb rottie mix. I want him to be able to travel with me. He travels very well; calm, well trained, etc. He’s my right hand bud and my therapy. Is there anyway to do this job and have my traveling companion come with me?
Thanks,
Lorrie
Hey Jim,
I\’ve been flirting with the idea of driving a truck for a year or two now. I enjoy driving 14 hours (straight) to VA Beach a few times a year this past year. See as I enjoyed that and could stay awake just fine, I figured I could drive OTR if I tried. I\’m 23 and just looking for a good profession to earn better money than the security job I\’m at now. Do you think OTR is good for someone to get into if they intend on doing local within 6 months to a year after they start? Looking to get broken in and saving some money at the same time.
Thanks,
Dan
@Dan
There are a lot of folks who go otr with the intentions of getting that dedicated or local run that will allow them to have a life.
I have been known to run my 11 hours straight through without much more than a very short bathroom stop.
The key is to build good safety habits from the start, find a really good truck driving school like Sage and go from there.
Most companies that hire need that one year over the road or OTR to get in on the ground floor.
Have and strive for a perfect safety record and you will be able to write your own ticket.
I always have the safety record part in my mind daily as I drive.
I was almost hit head-on coming home from a run to North Dakota and was heading for the ditch when this guy finally pulled out. It only took a micro second for me to react, steer away from this guy and hope I didn’t roll the truck. I was able to stay on the pavement, but it scared the crap out of me. Always be vigilant and watch out for people who may be drunk or texting. I have almost hit several people using cell phones and pulling out in front of me. Not trying to scare anybody, just being realistic about the downgrade of quality in general public drivers these days. The courtesy is mostly gone and they only think of themselves.
I would say this profession still has a lot to offer. You can get a good start with trucking. I was just about your age when I started out. Good luck to you and stay safe, watch out for boneheads!
Jim
Hi Lorie, I do like flatbed more, less hassle from shippers. There is no way I want to deal with anymore grocery warehouse people and the way they treat drivers sometimes.
I call our dogs “fat dogs”, because they are very well taken care of. I personally do not take my dogs with me on the road and will never do that for awhile.There are jobs out there that allow pets or four-legged family members, but they usually require a deposit when you are assigned your truck.
The only drawbacks are getting in and out of the truck, very tall steps and hard for them sometimes. The other is the pet hair getting into all the vents and filters and plugging them up. Makes the ac and heat not work to well. There are a lot of drivers that have dogs and kittys on the road with them, I see them walking the dogs all the time at truck stops.
My tip for you to deal with the problems is this. Try and find a ramp if your dog has problems with the steps. The next would be to buy furnace filter material and duct tape it over the air intake, usually by the floor on the passenger side and change it out monthly. This will stop a lot of problems. Taking the dash apart and cleaning the fins on that part of the ac/heat system is why they have deposits.
Hope I helped,
Jim
good artical for anew guy like me
i was married to a truck driver 20 yrs before he passed away.i love the trucking industry.all of u truckers risks ur lives everyday when u r behind the wheel.if only the car drivers knew how important ur work is, i believe there would be more respect.
now what i would like is to be w/ another truck driver,who is a widower/divorace.please feel free to email me.i am in so. california
Jim, im currently in the military and have had a very successful career so far. Im looking into becoming a truck driver. I love to drive and am no stranger to being away from home for long periods of time. I was looking at truck driving as a secound career as i get closer to retiring. I would like to start by getting my CDL and any addtional classes or licenses while im still in the military, but my main concern is applying for a job. With the economy the way it is, from your experience how long after you apply for a job do you get a response. Keep on mind i have no experience driving rigs so i beleive that would factor in on getting pickup for a position. On the other hand i have a valid security clearance that can carry over to the civilian side of the house. Thanks and any advise would be great.
I like to start a new career and have been thinking now for a while about truck driving. I am tired of working on dead end jobs and not seeing real money or a job satisfacation. Love to see the country,divorced,age 48 and think that life has alot more to offer. I realize that driving will keep me away from home and i am leaving with a great woman now but i need a better income to make our life better and future wedding. My kids are grown in collage and i hardly ever see them. Please advise..
i am just like the outhers that put ther comments
hear my 18 year old she is on her own now
and ther is reary not for me hear no mre so i was thinking about going to school with swift trucking
and driveing in the westerin us can you pls give me some info on this?
think you and let god be with you
Jim, I am a 46 yr old, clean driv rec, never been arrested etc… I was in the seat back in 07 for a while. Had to leave for home reasons. Lookin to get back in the seat. I’m familiar with qualcom and electronic logs. Should I look for some “refresher” course somewhere? Some of these companies like you said” zero tuition” and so on seem a little fishy to me. It seems not to many of the “great” cpmpanies will hire without some experience. Any suggestions would be helpful Thanks.
I myself had a different job for a few years and came back to trucking. I had to take a refresher course for insurance purposes even though I was grandfathered in from chauffeurs license to the current cdl model. I used Sage tech for that and they did a fine job of getting me back to a hiring status. I did not have long to go with the courses, and I had a bunch of offers at the end. This was over 10 years ago and I went with Werner. They have changed a lot since then, I am now at Landstar.
Good to see that a driver is really telling it like it is. As a driver and owner operator i take the time to thank you for sharing the industry with prospect driver and other drivers like myself. I myself got into the wheel while going to college to make ends meet. Once graduated i found out that seeing the country was better than staring at a cubicle for the rest of my life. I undestand that trucking is very challenging but what isn’t now a days. Been pulling reefers, vans and flatbeds for 16 years and been an owner operator for 4 years. Thank you for sharing and have happy holidays in the company of your love onces in good health and spirits.
Thank you and Merry Christmas to you and your family. I am glad you like my blog here. I am on hometime and catching up on my writing here. I hope you will visit again, I try to write as I do this work and share the ups and downs. My articles hopefully will show trucking from the advanced side of things and help those just starting out to understand more of the industry and how to stay safe and make a living.
What does “Location 44″ mean? I was told that it means that a trucker is looking for a good time.
Is that true?
Hi Roberta, I have been out here a long time and have never heard of that term, not even once. There is a lot of lingo on the cb radio that gets tossed around, I am busy with my own business and do not have the time or inclination to participate in shady activities. I am married and I work on my blog for something to keep me occupied on down time. There is way to many ways to get ones self in trouble out there, I try to keep to myself and not play around where I do not need to be.
Jim
I wanted to know if you could recommend a truck driving school in Michigan. Thank you also for taking the time to try to help others.
Jim is it true that husband and wife teams make good money on the road????
Hello, yes it is. If you are running team miles then the truck will make almost twice what a solo driver can. Team freight is usually a higher rate per mile to get the freight there on time. They may have an expedited load that has to get across country asap and they hire teams for that. You can bet that rate should be in the ballpark of over $2.00 a mile and much higher depending how bad they want it. That is why you want to be at a company that does not have fixed rates. You should be able to pick and choose your freight and the rate. I am leased to Landstar and I choose the freight I haul. You can own your own truck, choose the freight you haul and for how much.
Jim
I would look up Sage schools online or use my link below. They have one to one teacher/student ratios and will do a good job getting you the ground floor education you need to start.
Jim
Hi Jim,
After being in the restaurant industry most of my life, I’m looking for a career change. Single woman at 45 with no kids at home searching for a decent income. I’ve always wanted to travel and do enjoy roads trips! However, I know almost nothing about the mechanical side of cars/trucks.
Researching CDL schools is a little confusing. In trying to find out what life is really like on the road to avoid pitfalls, I came across your site. Thanks to you and honest others like you to give newbies a chance to see what life on the road is and is not.
A summery of the research: Good CDL schools are out there if you search for them. They will train you to get your CDL and the basics of how to drive a truck. The on-the-job training will give you the rest of the experience you need.
Thanks for being out there, posting, and hauling. If you have anymore advice or just general knowledge of day to day basics those others of us wouldn’t think about, please let us know.
Jennifer
Hey Jim, I have been reading your blog for a bit now. I think that you have some great advice for the people out there. I am hoping that you could do the same for me. I am a 38 year old male how has a felony on his record that stems back to 1992. It was larcony from a motor vehicle under $500. What can I say, I was a stupid arogant kid who thought he could get away with anything. I have no other brushes with the law since then. Well, now that I am older and considerably wiser, would I have any trouble getting into the trucking business. The last ticket I had on my driving record goes back to about 1995 or so and it was only a speeding ticket of 1-5 mph over. I have no DUI’s ever and have never had a drug probelem. I went to nursing school in Mo and obtained an Lpn license, but with today’s crappy economy, it seems that no one is willing to hire a new grad nurse these days. Also, I am a member of phi beta kappa (honors society) so I am no dummy. I am going to be a new father in about 3 months and I really need to find work, steady work that is. I have thought about driving tractor trailers for quite some time now, so this decision isnt a spur of the moment thing. I am living in Northern California (San Joaquin county) and am wondering if you have any advice for me. I.E. which truck driving school to go to/ or avoid. I am thinking about West Pacific Truck School in Stockton or maybe Acadamey of Truck driving. I am serious when I say this, I absolutely need to find work soon or I am in danger of losing my house, and therefore wont be able to provide for my family. Can you Help. Brian
Hi Brian, The felony will of course have to be reported on your application, but, I do not see any problems with some good company looking at the time period and the circumstances. I have seen people get hired with felonies. It all depends on the hiring criteria. I would take advantage of the truck driving school counselors and ask the tough questions. Your driving record only goes back about 10 years. They ask for where you lived and all employment history for that length of time also. Just be honest and up front, you have paid your debts and that is all right by me and a lot of folks who do the hiring.
As far as schools, I would see if there is a Sage tech available as they have a one to one program. I do not recall much about those other schools, ask about one to one teacher/student ratio and if they offer that. I would also ask how much driving time you get and if only in-seat time is counted on your time card for driving. Don’t allow observation time to count towards driving time. That’s not going to help you one bit when a trainer like I used to be, gets you in the seat and sees you can’t shift worth a crap. Not saying you would not know how, just saying it has happened that they do some crappy teaching out there and you deserve better than that. It’s what you are paying for.
Try vocational rehabilitation and ask them if they have any programs that will assist a felon with paying for school. This should be listed in your government offices section in the phone book.
I am a former EMT and had looked at RN school many years ago, it really sucks that you cannot find employment as an LPN. That’s just wrong in my book. They need smart people who give a damn about patient care. Well, I hope I helped some. Write back if you need to…
Jim
Hi Jim, I live in a city with alot of tourism and there are several decent bus driver jobs available. I was wondering what your thoughts on that are? In other words, why do you choose to be OTR away from family so long, when you could work as a school bus driver or something and be home every night?
Any advice on how to get trained as a bus driver? The company I want to work for requires class B with airbrake & passenger endorsements and schoolbus or SPAB cert preferred.
While searching for answers I somehow found this site and think it’s awesome. I love being out on the open road and have always wondered what it’s like being a truck driver. I stayed away from it though because it’s hard to find good info and everything these days is a scam.
I might just end up jumping into this line of work and going to Sage, but I dunno it seems there are more bus driver opportunities where I live than truck driving (I live in Southern California.)
Any advice/tips is greatly appreciated. Thanks for everything!
Hi Shaun, I live in a remote area where these other opportunities are few and far between. My population of my small town is about 145. Not much for work, so you do what you have to do. Owner ops make a lot more than a company driver or bus driver, that is the income level I need for my obligations.
Anyone who hauls passengers and uses air brake systems will have to be trained on those and pass exams. There are companies who specialize in helping people complete the bus driving portion of a class b cdl. It would be great of you could do the whole thing, get your class a with bus endorsement. This way, your avenues are wider for employment. You have to take the same air brake test.
There a lot of driver jobs down in that area. You live near San Ysidro, a major freight crossing where they need people to take freight from the forwarder companies inland for delivery. I have hauled both flat and van freight from there all the way to the east coast. The freight lanes are huge from that port of entry. You would need to apply and be careful which company you choose. Choose one that has a good reputation and safety record. You may inquire at a local DOT office and ask questions on safety record. I would also ask tough questions from the truck driving school counselors. They can steer you to the different recruiters who hire locally.
Be advised that recruiters are paid on sign ups, if their mouth is moving they may be fibbing. It is the same with armed forces recruiters, just be careful and read any contracts before you sign.
Jim
Thanks for the excellent response. I’ll call Sage and see if they do bus endorements, that would be great getting the class A&B at the same time.
I actually live in wine country a couple hundred miles north of San Ysidro. I see trucks on the freeway but have no idea where I’d start to look for that type of work here. Lots of local delivery type jobs with small trucks and as mentioned bus driving – shuttling people to LAX, commuters, and tourists. I suppose Sage will be able to help me with trucking opportunities here.
Also I’m curious – about what does it cost to buy your own truck? And do companies generally prefer to roll their own trucks, or are truck owners pretty much welcome by all?
Hello Shaun, sorry if you were unable to connect. I am melting servers here. I will be moving to a dedicated server soon due to the problems. I bought my truck for $54,000. It was used of course, but it had low miles, around 225,000 when sold on a fleet sales account. I see in this economy there are deals out there, trucks have been going cheaper but the miles on them will be larger. It is harder as well for your state for truck purchase. There a lot more rules and emissions regs there than anywhere else. Hard place to do business from what I hear. It seems that trucking companies will get more profit from their own trucks. I have had problems with that in the past. I hope that answers what you needed to hear.
Jim
Hello I have just found this web page, and i’m finding it very usefull. I’m hopeing to find a truck driving school that after i’m trained i can take my wife with me and hopefully live out of my truck.And i dont really want any home time, if i have any i would go on vacation, or just stay in a nice hotel or motel. for i love living on the road and me and my wife cant stand living in one place for very long.thats why i’m looking at a life as a truck driver, and most of our familes have told us we live a Gypsy life style. it does not matter to me i’ve been travling most of my life due to jobs like working in the oil field. could you possibly point me in the direction of a long haul and lots of time out. if me and my wife could live out of our truck and make money i dont need a home. just vacation time. thanks for all your help and the very usefull info that you post.
Hello, I would say get some OTR experience and start out as a company driver. Then, I would buy a truck and go to Landstar. You can name your loads and rates, do what you want and when you want. You dispatch yourself.
Jim
Hello Jim:
I am pursuing getting a voucher from the State of Indiana to pay for CDL training with CDL in New Buffalo, MI via p/t training. This would be a career change. Anyone aware of federal grants for living expenses if I were to leave my f/t jobs to go f/t training? I realize this would be a 1st step for newbies then to find a good co. for a regional or delivery service gig.
Thanks,
Robert
Hi Jim,
I just LOVE your site here. I have printed off numerous pages for my DH to read. I tell him about this site all the time.
He is looking into getting a notebook to take with him when he gets on the road.
Keep up the GREAT work your doing here.
Kathy
Hi Jim
I just LOVE your site. It has so much Helpful information on here. I have printed off numerous pages/comments/suggestions etc. from here for my DH and myself.
But I still MISS him Terribly. It is HARD to talk to him when he calls. I Love hearing his voice but I also want to hurry up and get off because it really bothers me that he is NOT home.. I look forward to him coming home but at the same time he walks through the door I am already dreading him having to leave.
Is there any other wives here that have or are going through the feelings I am?
Thanks Jim for being a shoulder to lean on.
Kathy
Hi Kathy, I am glad you find solace in my blog here. My wife has a page where she now has a contact form for general emails so as not to be public. Or, you can post for all to see, we made it a choice because of the nature of privacy. Some folks don’t mind posting in public and others want it all to remain private. She built an email just for that.
http://www.jimthetrucker.com/trucking-life/the-truckers-wife-purple-days/She knows exactly where you are at and the ups and downs of emotions of a truckers wife. There is a lot of her thoughts there, she wrote the pages and I posted them to help others. This site was built to help new drivers and pros alike, I had no idea it would grow like it has. We had to make room for the family aspect, especially the spouses.
Thanks for visiting and helping out, we hope to do the same…
Jim
Hello Robert, there should be a per diem provision in some states that pay travel, lodging, meals etc. at the state rate. Vocational rehabilitation helped me many years ago with the same. I have long since payed this back in the form of taxes many times over. This is their purpose and should not be considered any form of welfare, it is not. These agencies must use their funds each fiscal year or lose them.
Voc-rehab is a state agency, you should be able to find them or what they are called in your state through the unemployment agency.
Jim
Hi Jim
I visited your site and read your replies to the quires of the people about trucking industry.
I found you a very genuine, practical and ethical person. people like you are a true asset for the mankind.
I have PR of Canada and moving to Toronto or Vancouver in May this year. I am 34 year old mechanical engineer working as associate professor in engineering college in India.I have passion for automobiles and teaching automobile engineering course to undergraduates from last 8 years. I want to establish myself in trucking industry in Canada by starting as driver.
I think SAGE school suggested by you have no operation in Canada yet. Please suggest best training schools in Canada and few others important tips for beginning a career in this line.
Regards
Narinder
hello Jim i just came across your site and i like reading everything you have to say. I come from a family of truck drivers but all of them are drivers in mexico which is way diffrent from here . I remember my grandfather always taking me on the road with him. i have a couple of question for you see if you can help me. i would ask my uncles for help but like i said they are truckers in mexico cant really help me alot. well heres the first question. I am 24 years old and would love to travel the roads in a truck but i have my drivers license suspended will that affect my ability to get a job driving? and the other question is ….well in mexico the drivers can take with them on the road there familys. I in my case dont have a family of my own but can i sometimes bring lets say my girlfriend, friends with me? and one more question out of all the years on the road what has been the weirdess or fraitning things you have ever seen? wish you the best Jim and hope GOD is always protecting you on the road.