Question:
I AM my big truck! Don't slow me down.
Don't do things I would do (but would deny later.)
You wanna run legal? Join the P.T.A. Don't talk back to me on the radio--in fact, don't talk at all--you're too stoopid!
I have been driving for 200 years, my Mama fed me diesel because we didn't have food, I have been everywhere and done everything and you can't because, that's right, you're too stoopid!
If you think you can drive a truck the "right way", well, boy, are you stoopid!
OTR you will make $1000-1500 a week. You'll get home whenever you need too--yeah, right, stoopid!
OK, enough of that.
Actually, if you go with a large OTR carrier (Werner, Swift, etc.) you will have to eat a lot of it for a year or two.
You won't make much money--my first year with Werner I grossed $37,000. Really not that much for the time and expense of living on the road.
But then I hired on with a regional carrier (McKelvey) out of Phoenix, after 1 1/2 years OTR with Werner. A little better money, but still not much home time (3-4 days a month.)
Now I work for a carrier in Arizona (Chemical Transport, Inc. (CTI) and I am home most every night, each weekend, and when I am not, they pay the motel and give me $19/day for food. They pay $4.25 each day for fueling/warmup. Each hour over 1 1/2 delay they pay $8 an hour. They pay me to wash the truck ($8/hr) They pay me shop/breakdown time ($8/hr)
The point is, you have to gain good experience before you can get a good local job. Most places.
It's an insurance thing.
But if you look on going into trucking as something like a two-year on-the-job training program...where your life is not your own, where you are not allowed to call the shots (or even complain)...then it can work out later.
OTR, 48 states is like boot camp--get through it and then maybe you can make progress.
The competition is fierce, the rewards are skimpy. It's a job, but not all that great. Most people stay in it because they can't deal with the people politics of a normal job.
There are a lot of jerks out here, but that's because you can be a jerk and still drive a truck.
In fact, you can be stoopid and drive a truck. I am living proof.
May you be well and happy!

Answer:
"But if you look on going into trucking as something like a two-year on-the-job training program...where your life is not your own, where you are not allowed to call the shots (or even complain)...then it can work out later."
Very well said, but Hubby says that was a LONG, SLOOOWWW 2 yrs. at Swift.
A good attitude, calm temperament and patience will help you get through the "rookie ordeal" easier and will prevent you from getting in trouble for breaking the bones of a razzing bigrigger. (or getting yours broke).
I think most of the guys razzing the rookie drivers and training companies have probably "been there, done that" and feel the need to pass the misery on to you in return.
Or else they were rejected for hire by Swift, Schneider, etc. and are forever bitter (they must be REALLY undesirable to be rejected by one of these since they will hire ANY warm body, right? ) Now you have a little insight into the source of their misery they are trying to pass onto you.
A few of them (like our friend Bedspread) REALLY love and care about newbie truckdwellers and do have your best interests in mind so just look at them like your parents.
Remember how your Dad fussed when you screwed up and made a wrong choice? His fussing wasn't because he didn't care, it was because he was afraid you were going to get hurt in the long run and he wanted to spare you.
But you know how it is, you just have to see for yourself. I don't know why that is. I guess we all think we know more than "Daddy" and the same things won't happen to us?
Life is full of change and eventually we SHOULD evolve from "truckdwellers" into "full fledged card carrying members" after we've learned from our mistakes.
Then we too will spend all our days fussing at everyone else who is about to screw up.
A mind is a terrible thing to have.
Answer:
Well put, indeed.
It's an insurance thing.
That explains a lot. Makes sense. Thanks.
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