Question:
Hello everybody! I am considering a career change, and have read many of the postings and archives, trying to think this over for myself. One thing really comes through in reading them: Many of the men are grumpy and seem to dislike driving and the women are happy and seem to love the job... So, I'm sure that's a study in itself.
Anyway, I am a clinical social worker with 19 years experience working with people with all sorts of troubles. The thing is, funding for working with human beings is being cut so mercilessly that the job is getting harder and harder, with fewer workers seeing more people, with fewer social welfare programs to help the disenfranchised. It is not much fun anymore, AND the money never was worth the big-(edited) education required.
I have always adored driving, and when I was 19 worked at a repair shop in Tuscon which required that I drive large telephone company trucks out to their yard once they were repaired. I LOVED it, and remember so clearly the sign on Route 10 (?) for El Paso. I would imagine myself taking that road.
So, is it as lonely as my friends tell me? Is it as rough on the back and body as I have been told?? Is the pay for (edited)? One friend told me that he knows all kinds of truckers, and "they only do it because they have nothing else that they can do".
One last thing and I'll shut the hell up... does anyone remember that pediatrician who changed careers and went into trucking? She and her dog made the cover of Parade magazine many years ago. Possibly the 80's. She has been my idol ever since.
Sorry so long, but I am really looking forward to whatever thoughts you may have. Oh, and I am going to the local technical school today to listen to a recruiter. It seems that one needs to take what they say with a grain of salt, eh?
HAT850

Answer:
Sorry for the long post hang in there.
Well the thing that women like it more than men may be because most women team up with the hubby and only have to drive the interstates and hubby has to drive the city's and do the docking. I have met a lot of very grumpy solo women out there since the trucking industry is no where for a woman to be, not in the sense that a woman can't do it, its just all the harassment that a woman not may but will face on the road, plus the added risk of sexual assault for women. You gotta remember trucking is a male dominated industry.
Driving for thousands of miles for weeks at a time by yourself is very lonely. The way guys cure the boredom is cellphone, cb, laptop, books, tv, videogames, and b.s.ing with ppl in truck stops. The pay is not worth it for the amount of hours and work put in average first year earnings are $30,000/yr and expect to make that or less despite what some company may say.
Your friend is right for the most part many do it because there is no other job out there that you can sit on your butt all day and make $35,000/yr and do the most least amount of physical activity possible all the while eating snacks and going to buffets. I'm sure most of these guys could do other things, but thet can't do not do anything and get paid as much as driving they would hav eto work.
Trucking will take a toll on your health as well, average weight gain for first year drivers is 40lbs or more, I don't gain weight because I stay active and trust me its a lot of work and self discipline. The truck does beat up your body for the most part especially an older truck, I am only 22 and I get out some days feeling like an old man my back hurts my legs hurt. I am already hard of hearing from being in the truck all day, so if that is some indication of what a truck can do to you.
As for your experience it sounds limited just imagine a 53ft van behind you going around the tightest of streets and backing into the tightest of docks all the while some bbr is breathing down your neck wanting you to get in. Plus just imagine going 500+ miles a day everyday and your time off is spent in a fiberglass box. Truckstops and rest areas are no place for ladies after dark. Go to one at about 10-12pm and spend a few hours there try to talk to people and decide if you can do that day in day out. It's rough trust me.
As for the pediatrician I don't know, you hear all kinds of fairy tale stories of people like that on the road the doctor turned truck driver, the stock broker that wanted to see the country, the old retired couple that wanted to see the country casually. One thing is trucking in the 80's is a lot different than the trucking of today.
Your right about the recruiters you will get lied to from the schooling to the company. Don't believe anything that you hear and ask lots of questions. Do some research first, a lot of research. One option would be to get some company sponsored training than spending an arm and a leg on some technical school. My suggestion would be to try Schneider National and see what they can offer you. It sounds like you already have your mind made up I doubt there is anyone here on this board that can talk you out of it, as with most newbies, but just be sure to ask lots of questions and be safe.
Answer:

Please refer me to the women who actually prove this stereotype. I'd looove to meet some.

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With the exception of a few. (There's some womens around here who would beat my butt if i didn't add a disclaimer ) Have you seen most of the women in trucks? They look like most of the men in trucks, NASTY.
Long, lonely, low wage for the most part and health destroying is what trucking is for most.
Do yourself a favor and believe what your friends are telling you.

Answer:
Hi Shuffler and Stuffs, I posted this in the Professional Women Driver's forum as well, and a few have answered regarding how much they love the work.
Maybe driving is just well-liked by those on the board, not elsewhere.
Anyway, since I am not a bathing beauty myself, I might just fit in quite well with other women drivers, although I wouldn't characterize myself as NASTY actually
I do appreciate your feedback though, and will continue to scope out my options.
I absolutely love to drive, but my experience is limited to cars, pickup trucks and motorcycles for the most part, and the few larger trucks from my Tuscon job. Yes, I do have the "romance of the road", which is why I do need to hear the gritty details.
Thank you for your honesty and for taking the time to write!
Is it worth asking a friend if I can ride along? I know most of the bigger companies dis-allow that, but I know a couple of O/O's.
On another note: One time while I lived in DC I watched a Schneider driver back from a narrow street into an very narrow ally, and around the corner of a building into a small lot. I was deeply impressed, and still wish I had that kind of skill. How do you learn about the realities of this job prior to committing your time and money to the training? It seems almost like medical school: once you've committed, there's not much opportunity to turn back...
HAT850 (850 Norton)

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That's actually the best thing to do. To ride along with an O/O will give you a good idea as to whether trucking is something you want to get into. The "romance of the road" will get old pretty fast. Rider insurance policies are not that expensive anyway. Somewhere around 20.00 dollars a month. IF you know an O/O you can ride with I would take advantage of the opportunity.
Good LuckDisclaimer:Pick too ugly to post at this time,LOL.

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Thanks Jack, I'll see if I can ride along. And yes, I imagine that the road looks pretty disgusting many days. But I guess that's why they pay you to do it. No job is all roses, for sure. Unless there's a job somewhere that allows one to lie on the sofa eating bon bons...
HAT

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Not trying to give you a hard time.............you just hit a raw nerve subject me................
my wife was a "Social worker" when she first graduated from College........it didn't take long to realize that these "Parasites" live better than most of us, compliments of the generosity of the taxpayers of the United States of America...............
prime example, when Ms. X, who has lived in Welfare housing her entire life, needs a new couch, they (Social Services) would go get Ms. X, a "New" couch better than the one we had in our home at the time (money was NEVER an obstacle).........only to be destroyed again by her and her "illegitimate" wards (multiple choice on who the Father was) of the state in hardly any time..........
First off, let's get some "facts" straight...........most, certainly not all...(I am not speaking of the ill and mentally incompetent, nor am I talking about race.....all race's are included in my assessment).................of these "Parasite's of Society" are in the position they are in, because of behavioral decisions they have made in their lives.........whether it be education, alcohol, drugs, lack of job skills, children having children, refusing to work when offered the chance etc.

Good...............To be quite honest about it, I'm sick and tired of hearing about or even seeing these so called "disenfranchised"..............................it's about time the "Federal, State and Local Government's" woke up and made these "Parasite's on Society" pull their load...............hopefully the "Free-ride" is over..........it is not my responsibility to provide for some person who will not even try to help his or herself...............you would not believe how much better these "Parasites" would feel about themselves if they would only try a thing called, "an honest days work".
Once again, let me refer to my assessment.............these "Parasite's of Society" are in the position they are in, because of behavioral decisions they have made in their lives.........whether it be education, alcohol, drugs, children having children, refusing to work etc...............quite frankly, I'm sick and tired of this "I'm a Victim and YOU owe me" mentality..............it is NOT yours or my responsibility to take care of these people from cradle to grave.
You got to love the 2000 election................99.9 % of the people of this country had no idea what the word "disenfranchised" meant, much less had even heard of it...........but, thanks to "Professional Poverty Pimps" (who's best interest is to keep people down)..........it seems to be the "Buzz Word" of the new bleeding-hearts of this society............ please explain to me where these "Parasites of Society" were deprived of their rights.............which is what "disenfranchisement" means............I DO NOT believe it is their "RIGHT" to be a "burden on society"..........their entire lives.
I guess the bottom line for me, I'm sick and tired of these "Professional Parasites".............it must be "Friggin" nice, never to have to take responsibility for one decisions and actions made in life.
Like I originally stated, it certainly isn't all............but, the majority are in their position as a direct result of their own laziness or decisions they made in their "meaningless" live's..........
BTW.............best of luck on your trucking adventure............
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Hi Ardmore,
Yup, I too have some pretty strong feelings about people who milk the system, and yes, they are definitely out there in force. There are lots of people of low moral fiber in all walks of life. Even in government. and trucking.
My work has been strictly in mental health, which, as you so aptly point out, is a bit different than welfare queens. The recent rash of homeless mentally ill people being beaten (to death in that FLA case) is a good example of the contract that our society has with those who really can't care for themselves, and who really do need our care. Same with others who cannot provide for themselves, or have already paid their dues, like the elderly. They cared for us when we were kids, we owe them the same in their infirmity.
Anyway, I too came from a family with little money, but never once did we go on the dole, and I never, ever want to either, because if you do have a work ethic and some self-pride, it's humiliating to go on welfare. As a kid we ate many many cans of tomato soup for dinner, and a new couch was unheard of! I did go to college on government sponsored low interest loans (and scholarships), and I am so sorry to see them voted out of existence in the senate and house.
Nonetheless, I do find the notion of driving for a living much more palatable than denying mental health services to people who are in serious need of them. I am so happy that you and others have been generous in your time and thoughts as I try to figure this out.
BTW, the trucking "consultant" (read recruiter) that was coming to speak with potential area candidates got delayed in the storms last week, so I did not get a chance to pick his/her brain.
HAT
Ps- have you ever heard of the Sheepdog/Wolf/Lamb theory of society? It's pretty interesting...

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Yup. Can you stand to be by yourself all day, sometimes with no other human contact other than a disembodied voice through a phone or radio, or a message on the satellite?
Can you stand to give up your social life? You will lose your frinds and family, because you will never be home. When you are home, you will be too tired and wiped out to do anything.

Yes. Many drivers have back problems caused by long periods of sitting and being thrown around the truck cab. Compressed spines, slipped disks, etc.
The sedentary life will take a toll on the rest of your body, and the disrupted sleep schedules will compound everything. Chronic fatigue, sleep apnea, diabetes, hypertension, hearing loss, arthritis, bad circualtion...all are problems common to truck drivers in high numbers.

I think so. $700 a week is a realistic earnings figure. Now many drivers think this is great money, but consider that you may put in 100 hours a week on the job for that money, and it comes out to $7/hour. $7/hour for never being home, eating all your meals out, and being "on call" 24 hours a day. Personally there are far better ways to make more money.

True to a large extent. Many truckers will tell you that if they couldn't drive a truck they'd be working in the local factory. Someone with an education and options is not limited to working in a factory or driving a truck. And when you look at alot of the drivers out there, it becomes apparent why they are driving trucks - because no other line of work would have their slovenly and uncivilized butts!!!

I trust used car salesmen FAR more than I do truck company recruiters.
Answer:
You know, Highwayman, come to think of it, I really do NOT see very many truckers out on the roads who actually look very happy.
I appreciate your taking each of my questions and really taking the time to answer them. You are very kind. Thank you.
When I went into my current profession, nobody told me that I would hate it, and that it would take a toll on my body. They did say that I will not make much money, because you don't go into social work to make money. (everyone knows that)
"It's a wide person who learns from other's mistakes"- Ben Franklin.
I may not be all that wise, even with your experience and input, but I AM trying to cool my jets on this.
I talked to a guy yesterday who does strictly local runs (Maine to Boston daily). He loves it, and really likes being home every night. He too mentioned the idiots on four wheels, though.
I went to Schneider's website, and they have some sort of job sharing program where you share your truck and runs with two other people, doing OTR, but having a week off between runs. That might be a better option... Whaddaya think?
HAT

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Hat,are you married? IF you are that could be another problem later on down the line going OTR. Im not sure if schneider's program is a good idea since sharing trucks can be risky and you might slipseat. In other words switching into different trucks. How much are you expecting to make going OTR? First-year earnings are not very high. Usually around 25 to 30k and that doesn't even include taxes and road expenses. After 1 year better opportunities start to open up. The CDL itself can be a valuable tool to have even if you find out OTR is not for you. I used to run through Maine almost every week when I was leased to MTC out of Fort Worth. MTC has some accounts in the northeast and they run from TX. to New england and Maine pretty often sometimes. Maybe that's one company you can look into when you get your CDL. It's not a good company for the long-term but it's not a bad place to start.
I think shaffer runs the northeast a lot too. I think Shaffer has the highest starting wage for new drivers,but I could be mistaken. Right now I run mostly the west coast. I would have been happy to talk with you in person but I haven't been to Maine in 3 years and am starting to forget what New England looks like. . That area is a little bit off my map,but I rarely might go thru there soon. Good Luck. Disclaimer:Pick too ugly to post at this time,LOL.

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Heh heh, that look may just be indigestion! Eat at truckstops all the time and you will understand!!
I have met truckers who are happy, but that doesn't stop them from bi+ching about anything and everything. To paraphrase a military saying, "A bi+ching trucker is a happy trucker".
However, there are indeed alot of drivers who are unhappy about trucking but for whatever reason continue to do it.

Don't say that too loudly - but thank you. And you are welcome.

When I got into trucking, nobody told me that I would hate it and that it would ultimately be hard on my body - and many said I'd make GOOD MONEY too! Well, come to find out that my definition of "good money" and many truck drivers definition of "good money" are not the same.
And I actually don't hate trucking - it could be a great job if the biz didn't have so much BS flying around it. And so there are easier ways to make more money than waiting for the BS to cease!

I'm not all that wise either, but experience has slapped me across the face and butt more times than i care to recount.

THAT is one of the BS points. No matter how cushy the trucking job, it is ruined by the environment (dealing with idiot drivers and bad roads). Sort of takes the fun out of it.
However, local driving does have it's advantages. Often the pay is equal to or better than OTR pay, and since a local driver becomes very familiar with their run and all that comes with it (since they do the same thing every day), they can better adapt to cope with the crap.

Many companies are doing derivations of this idea. it is an effort to keep/attract more drivers who want to have a life outside of trucking, but who still want to drive. I think it is a good idea in theory, it remains to be seen whether the execution of this idea will actually work out like it is intended.
Used to be drivers were expected to stay gone weeks or months at a time and no one questioned that, especially because the pay was so much more than could be won doing any sort of local job with equivalent education prerequisites. But not anymore - it isn't uncommon to find local warehouse jobs that pay nearly what trucking pays nowadays. My ex-wife drove a forklift at the local factory, and she made more money doing that than i did driving the truck that delivered to that same factory. And she was home every night. I have been to warehouses where the lumpers who unloaded my trailer were paid far more for doing that than I made for the whole trip.
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Trucking - where the men are men, and so are the women!
I met a woman driver awhile back who had a better moustache than I could ever grow!! And i bet the BBRs still hit on her when she comes rolling into the truckstop at night!
"SHOW US YOUR HOOTERS!" Ugh.
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Trucking is trucking.....It's a lot of stress, sometimes difficult or uncomfortable working conditions, extended periods of loneliness and boredom, an occasoional episode of sheer terror, and general disrspect - if not outright contempt - from the public, customers and the management that employs us.
That's why your social worker skills will come in handy. The most difficult part of trucking is the physoloigical, not physical. Empathy for anothers' points of view and the ability to be philosophical about the experience will pull you through many difficult situations. I'm not sure if this is really an advantage, since it sometimes overides the common sense many new drivers employ when they say, "..to hell with this, I'm going to go do something else..." But a lot of drivers "live angry" or suffer from cronic (but functional) depression. Your background may give you some advantage to maintaining your mental health.
My best friend from college got a social worker degree, did that a few months, then got into real estate sales, rose to the top, and now lives on a 60-foot yacht.
If you're really good with people, you may be wasting that skill here in trucker-culture where it's generally unrecognized as a legitimate attribute.