Question:
hello folks, i want to be a driver and have looked at several company's that sound good. so far SNI sounds the best place to start. i have not driven before and i really want to now. what kind of advice can any of you give me. i do know what i'm getting into and am willing to go for it. just some advice for a female please.
thanks, Becky

Answer:

Rethink your thoughts.

You may be willing but you have no idea about what you"re getting into.
What have you used for research? Why do you want to enter the vocation?

Advice or confirmation of what you already believe?
Answer:

That's what they all say before they've tried it.
Answer:
Becky, you might want to click on the Newbies link, that sits on top of this thread. That will produce a list of pages full of topics, that will keep you busy, for a while.
RABELAM and highwayman are NaySayers. They believe, for some odd reason, that there are too many drivers on the road, today.
They also believe that there is no driver shortage, and that is the reason that wages are low.
The one you must worry about, when reading their posts, is the Happy Dweller. There are a few of them, around.
The Happy Dwellers are the ones responsible for a lot of profanity and personal attacks. In other words, their argument is lacking.
BTW, I am a NaySayer, as well.
You have a lot of work ahead of you. Here is the link, in case you are still learning how the board works:
Newbies Forum - Click HereGovernment Ain't YO' Friend. Nor your Servant.
A Tax Reduces Incentive & Capacity. A Regulation is also a TAX.


Answer:

Unless you have spent a good amount of time in a truck shadowing a driver doing OTR you really don't have much idea of what you are getting into... and even if you have done so, it is very different when you have all the responsibility and are doing the work yourself.
The above is the number one reason so many new drivers don't last, that and a unwillingness to put up with some short term grief (~1 year) to eventually get to a better place with more options on the other side.

Answer:

You're mistaken sir,concerning too many on the road.
There are too many unwilling to improve the employment conditions.
There are too many that refuse to acknowlege there's little reward for
the scarifice put forth.

There's no Driver shortage,the wages in fact would be higher if there was.
The training carriers classes are filled with thousands of Newbies yearly.
Answer:
I stand corrected. Government Ain't YO' Friend. Nor your Servant.
A Tax Reduces Incentive & Capacity. A Regulation is also a TAX.


Answer:

Oh no!...I've been pigeon-holed!!

Answer:
Actually 55sams is pretty much down to earth when it comes to trucking. He won't paint a pretty picture to show how cool he is.
Thats a fact and if you pay much attention to them you will be one miserable newbie in a big truck. Trucking is never what you think it will be and no one has a clue what their getting into until they have done it. That is as said above one of the number one reasons so many newbies do not make it.
Schneider will be as good a place to start as any out there. probably a little better than some. But just like any company they have their rules and their way of doing busines. It won't be easy.
When you find out that you are actually being micro managed as all newbies and most truckers in general are and your freedom on the road is very limited that is when you will have a clue what it is like.

Answer:
"Trucking is not for everyone"....so why spend thousands $$ for truck driving school in the first place, get your CDL..AND, then, LOG onto Trucknet and whine/cry how terrible trucking is, how trucking has ruined your life, how trucking was "so unfair to you" Yada Yada Yada.
Stay with your job at Home Depot and cry there.
===========================================================
From the Trucknet front page:
So You Want to be a Truck Driver
by K M Fink
Truck drivers are strong and independent people with those back home waiting for their safe return. Trucking is not for everyone, so you must know the lifestyle of trucking before even thinking about going over the road for weeks on end. Can you take weeks away from your family? Are you willing to miss school functions, weddings, funerals, anniversaries, special dates that matter to your heart? Can you handle not knowing where you’ll be one day from the next as dispatch will be exactly that. Don’t expect to have a nine to five schedule a job as a truck driver will not be that.
There are those days that being a truck driver can be the greatest day you experience and then there are those days you’ll be kicking yourself wondering why did you enter into the trucking world? Needless to say, being a truck driver is stressful and there will be those days you feel alone.


Answer:
dak1 = Happy Dweller


Answer:
I am young (23) and in good shape I have been driving for 2 1/2 years. I did the OTR thing for over a year with SNI and Werner and a small co. (I now do statewide deliveries and get home every night and weekends off) and let me tell you it sucks. Kiss any social life you had goodbye. I missed several funerals (family and friends) I missed weddings and anything else that was special and a family event. It put a big strain on me and my woman and I pretty much lost all my friends.
The road breaks you down little by little it makes you tired and bitter towards other people with better jobs than you, that are happy, and if you want to talk about tired well thats pretty much all the time. I can't tell you how many times I bought cases of energy drinks and tubes of caffeine and poured it in the energy drink and chugged it, jack me up, just so I could make it to the next rest area/truckstop to sleep.
I mean I am young and in shape and it did that to me I can't imagine being older and getting into it for the first time. Seriously think about it and remember that its not fun or cool or easy going or a lifestyle. For whatever reason I wanted to drive and I stuck with it (perhaps I am nuts), I plan on getting out of it soon enough but it's keeping me going for right now.
I don't know what you are going for? Making $350/week for 70+ hours of work away from home for weeks on end? Why do you want to stick with it other than just being able to say "I drive a truck" to your friends and family. SNI is an o.k. company I don't miss it thats for sure, they are a good babying company they will hold your hand until you quit. Every company is the same basically, I would advise you to stay away from Swift and CR England. Well have fun and goodluck and don't lie on your SNI app they will disqualify you immediately.
Didn't mean to complain or b*tch, I stay quiet for the most part, but I see too many noobs wanting to go into trucking thinking its something that its not and I feel I must say something, once in a while I feel like screaming at them "Work at McDonalds or Lowes you will get paid more and be happier!"
Answer:
Interesting:
It's not a "lifestyle" but they are sleeping in a truck stop!
They are not dwellers, but, they are sleeping in a tin can!
Interesting indeed!

Answer:
Truck driving is like any other job. You either like it or you dont. If you dont like it. GET OUT. Driving is NOT a prison. its your choice to do what you want to do.... If you do like the Job , do it. Find the company that fits your needs..
I personaly love driving. I have tried to quit driving several times in my 30+ years driving. But I cant .. Its im my blood to be out in the open , something different every day.
I am married,3 kids 3 grandkids and that dont seem to be a problem. In fact , my driving helps me to visit family and friends through out the US. My wife is a school teacher and goes with me during easter, X-mas and summer breaks... We take a BBQ
grill and have a blast cooking at truck stops with other drivers. I take fishing pole and am lucky enough to go fishing once in a while.. I recall seeing somewhere here in forums Driving is what you make of it ! that is very true.........

Answer:
I just had to jump in with my 2 cents worth..
Trucking isn't for everyone.. That is true.. The "trick" to making it out here is to find YOUR happy medium.. Wheather it is Flatbed, Reefer, Car Carriers, Tanks, End Dumps, RGN,Household Goods, LP Gas, Oxygen, Livestock, Plate Glass,Dry Bulk, Roll On / Off, Radioactive, Haz Waste, Ammo & Explosives, Linehaul, LTL, Expedited, Hot Shot ..... ect..
Too many people here only see 1 aspect of driving.. They think all there is to driving is driving for one of the mega carriers, pulling a van or reefer or flatbed.. They are looking at the industry through a toilet paper tube... literaly LOL
The less popular trailers are often overlooked.. True they have their own set of faults as well as skills needed to operate them but it can make your job more satisfying if you open your eyes into more "specialized" types of driving..Only YOU can decide which suits YOUR needs..
If your overweight climbing on a trailer to tarp might not be such a good idea, Get the idea????
If you want to stay on the road.. then fine.. but to say you must "pay your dues" and do your year OTR is not always true.. there are pleanty of local / regional jobs avail in "most" areas.. ya just have to pound the payment to find them.
Open your mind to "alternative" types of freight.. who knows you just might find your "nich" and like it????