Question:
I've been reading this and a couple other forums for a couple weeks now and I've gotten some great tips and advice but I'm still looking for more. So in the spirit of sharing list the one (or 2, 3, or 4) things you wished you would have known. Whether it's about the business, living in a truck, staying in touch with the family, truck stop stuff, just anything you can think of that when you found out made you life a little easier.
Thanks.

Answer:
I wish I had known recruiters are scum for the most part before I ever talked to one. I also wish I had known how much time you have to give away for free as a driver. I wish I had known better than to listen to other drivers who told me how great the job is. Reality usually takes a couple months after starting to really set in.
It's a job, not a lifestyle.

Answer:
Use the search function and read to your hearts content. And before you take anything as truth search for the posters qualifications. You will have people never having been in a truck posting as experts.***Patience is the hardest thing to learn..

Answer:
These may or may not be on topic, but I think they are worth mentioning.
1. Never pull in nose first only to have to back out in the morning. I know refer units can be loud, but can you really see whats behind you when backing out between two trucks?
2. Keep your speed to 10 mph or lower in truck stops. Leave the speed to the Nascar track.
3. Don't tint your windows and keep your mirrors and windows clean. Just a little pet peave of mine.
4. Here is a big one!! Get directions to your customer at least a day before you get there. 07:00 in Houston is not the best time to be trying to figure out where your stop is. Break 19 for local is worthless in the middle of rush hour. Plan ahead-work smarter not harder.
Thats enough for now. Happy trucking.

Answer:
These will probably be out of order with no particular rhyme or reason as to their order because i have quite a few:
1) If you're in a driver's meeting, do not use the word "Bull----t" to managers when describing or addressing any grievances or complaints even if the problem(s) you are describing really are Bull----t.
Managers don't like it when u say that----even if you are 100% right.
Also, don't call a manager's decision on procedures "stupid" even if their policies really are stupid. Again, managers don't like it when u say that.
2) When you're dropping a trailer, back the tractor up against the kingpin; This makes it so much easier to release the fifth wheel pull handle. Takes pressure off the fifth mechanism (i think?) In other words, pull the brakes on the trailer only, then gently back up against the trailer so that there's no slack between the kingpin and fifth wheel and you can't back up anymore then pull your tractor brakes and then pull the fifth wheel handle. It will be much easier this way.

Answer:

I wish I had researched more before jumping in. Being well informed is very important when it comes to making decisions and deciding on a course of action. You can avoid much grief.
I wish I had listened more carefully to those truckers I did speak with prior and that I had spoken with a few more... or found a place like RoundTable. At the time my mind was set. Keeping an open mind is very important.
I wish I had listened to my inner voice that at one point said quietly: "This isn't for you." and had gone on to consider my other options.
Regrets, maybe some... but it is an experience I am pleased to have in my background.

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I wish I would have known how long I'd be doing this- we got into trucking with the intention of driving for a year or so. It's been 11 years so far...

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I wish I would have known that my expectations about the fairness of compensation for my time and effort would be much higher than reality.
I wish I would have known that being routed 'keep away' from my home and family for 6 weeks on an irregular basis - with an original promise of less than two weeks average out - would turn me into more of an SOB than probably anything else I've ever done.
I wish I would have known that most all of the major OTR companies are the same. Different details, same macro.

Answer:
This was a "dream job". Note I was in IT for 15 yrs. Plus I always wanted to drive a truck. Since, i was given an opportunity to get a CDL and training for FREE could not pass it up. My first trucking job, lasted 6 months pulling double tanks, bulk cement for an outfit in Lodi, CA. Thought i could make some decent money. HA!!! Got paid by the load. What a joke!!! Didn't like the dispatcher, work hours 14+, jacked equipment, poor communication between driver manager and the driver. I mixed Lime with cement by accident. Not good for a ready mix batch plant. My fault. Trucking managers are under so much pressure to get drivers to "perform", they forget that the drivers are people (who have feelings). In other words I was smarter than the driver manager and dispatcher. I wasn't some dumb foreginer (no offence) .
Checked out 2 other companies. Garden supply company, they paid by the hr. Did not like them. No Prepass to go into the Bay Area and cross the bridges. 20 bucks per bridge and I would need to cross 3 per day? It came out of my pocket, NOPE. Plus they would reimburse at the end of the month? Plus, they wanted you work 14+ hrs. Not Cool.
The next job was a Petrolum company, it paid by the hr, actually it was a cakewalk job. Refuel Amtrak commuters trains in Sacramento. 4 days on 4 days off some OT but not much. I phyiscally worked 1.30hrs during a 10 hr shift. Ok job, but the company lost the contract due to time management and equipment issues.
Last trucking job, was with auto dismanter. That lasted 1 month. Dan-ger-ous. Driver was responsable for loading crushed cars to be recycled in Oakland, CA. Well, "tieing" down crushed cars for transport was "interesting" even though I was well trained. Plus I worked in the rain. Plus demanding time schedules, If there was an accident in the Bay you can forget it and lose big money, that happened twice in one week. It was time to move on.
I started my own business in March and it slowly picking up. No turning back. I'm glad I have a lot skill sets. And I'm using them to enhance my business. Truthfully, the trucking industry SUCKS. There are some companies that are ok, but they are few and far between. My expectations about the fairness of compensation (low pay) for my time and effort was disppointing. I should have gone on welfare. It would be very hard to go back.Ivey EnviroTech Services
Start Up date: 3/1/06

Answer:
Things wished I had known
Years ago, money really doesn't grow on trees nor any where else this be true.
When I was in my twenties saved much more money, less debt and working for someone else.
Letting a good woman walk out of my life about eight years ago and that was a personal sadness.
With trucking, well, should have received my "AZ" license years ago and might have helped with one or two career moves a little easier for some job security.
Maybe after high school or even when I was in high school, considered more trade skills like truck or highway coach driver. Maybe an instructor or teacher in a certain field of employment.
With past jobs, shoudn't have listen to the BS but what my gut instict told me somethings not right with this company.
All well, remember the good times, don't let mistakes repeat and enjoy the future.