Truck Driving. Pro's/Con's of the job?
Asked by Dan
What is life like for a truck driver. Is OTR or Local tougher? What are the Day to Day / Week to Week struggles that you face? Where do you Sleep/Shower/Change Clothes at? Any Physical Discomforts (knees, back, arms, etc? Schooling/Tuition/Gauranteed Jobs? (B.S. or real), Etc... I'm basically trying to see if the job would be a good fit or not, for me. I'm 32 yrs old, I don't own a home, do not currently own a vehicle, I am intelligent, the lone-wolf type (always have been, always will be). I love the road and have what some would call either a free spirit or adventurous spirit. I'm also not married and will never plan to be. From those stand points, the job could be right for me, but I also have some physical ailments like bad knees, mild scoliosis, mild c.p) that may be a problem. The money sounds pretty good; hell, even great. Other than my pets, I don't really have anything to tie me down at this point in my life. My main concern is the daily requirements, the finances, and physical nature of the job. It sounds like it could be fun but I want to know what are the short-term and long-term realistic expectations I should be aware of.

Best Answer:
I would highly reccomend you join this Yahoo email group, Trailertruckintech: http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/trailertruckintech/ It's designed for folks just like you who are thinking of a career in driving but have many questions. There are so many facets of this industry and so many things to consider, that it's hard to answer everything, completely, in one shot. This group has a bunch of experienced drivers, some with 30+ years in the industry, and there are a lot of good issues being discussed. It's free, there is NO spam, and rudeness/flaming is NOT tolerated. It's a polite, pleasant, informative discussion of trucking issues relating to new drivers. Just write a short note that another member (Danielle) suggested you join, and they should have no problem approving your membership. The job is what you make of it. It's by no means easy, but many of us enjoy most of what the job entails, enough to make us keep going. There is a certain freedom that the road offers, but it's also one of the most highly regulated industries in the country and becoming increasingly more so.....no, you don't have a boss looking over your shoulder and you aren't tied to a desk....BUT you are under scrutiny by the DOT and your company to meet all the safety requirements. Sleeping and changing clothes takes place in the bunk. Most companies nowadays offer condo or mid-roof bunks with enough room to stand up and move around a bit, behind the curtain. Showering takes place at the truck stop. They have private shower rooms, set up much like a bathroom at home....shower, toilet, sink. You get a free shower when you fill up with at least 50 gallons of fuel. The major chain truck stops have "frequent fueler" cards so you can "save" showers as you go....you can fuel at a TA in Dallas and shower at a TA in Shreveport, for instance. Without fuel, showers run from $7-10 dollars. Towels and soap are provided, though you may choose to bring your own. Flip-flops/shower shoes and a can of Lysol or similar disinfectant are good ideas, too. The regular struggles sometimes seem endless, but may or may not be a big deal depending on how you handle stress :) Bad weather, lack of quality sleep, lack of available parking, inability to find restroom facilities when you need them, not always getting a shower when you want one, disrespect from shippers, recievers, people on the road. Boredom. Loneliness (it happens- I thought I was an introvert but by God, there I'd be in the truckstop looking for human conversation at least once a month). Not being home when you need to be is a big problem for most folks- but the fact that you're unmarried and unburdened is a big plus. Many trucking companies do allow pets so you may be able to take them with you. Being away from family obligations is perhaps the main reason why people quit trucking....so you have that in your favor in a BIG way :). For some, local is harder than OTR and for others, it's vice versa. For me, I'd take OTR over local any day- I've done both. Local jobs often entail 14 hour days- and that doesn't include the time spent "commuting" from home to the terminal and back again! You're lucky if you spend 8 hours per day at home, which gives you enough time to eat, shower and sleep....and you're back at it again. Many local jobs will also expect you to work 6-7 days a week, too! I HATED being a local driver, even though the pay was good.....I'll trade dealing with LA rush hour once a week over driving in the same city's rush hour every day! There are some companies that will offer "free" schooling, the catch is that you must sign a contract to work for them for a period of time (usually 12-18 months). Swift, Schneider and CR England all offer this....paid transportation to the school, paid lodging, and in many cases, at least some of your meals are covered. On the other hand, you can usually get some sort of financing or financial aid to attend a regular truck driving school. The ones associated with a community college or vo-tech school are usually the best, and are also cheaper since tuition is set by the state. Graduating from an independent driving school enables you to pick and choose ANY company that hires new drivers....and there are considerably more to choose from. First-year's income averages from $28,000-35,000. The less hometime you take, the more you make. As your experience level increases, so does your pay. And pay close attention to safety- a safe, flawless record is your ticket to some of the "ultimate" jobs out here. Wal-Mart, Fed Ex, UPS, car-hauling, oversized load hauling, hauling explosives, government/military loads....are just a few of the options out here that can pay upwards of $80,000 per year. But they all require 5+ years OTR, with a very good safety record. I don't know much about physical problems, though I know I've met plenty of drivers with more issues than you seem to descr

I can't answer most of your questions, but since you mentioned scoliosis, you may want to pay special attention to making sure your truck seat is comfortable and supportive. Long haul trucking may be harder on your back than local trucking because you may not be getting as much time for stretching or walking around. You'll need that.
Answered by Scott B