Question:
Hi everyone. Okay, so I'm a stay-at-home Mom who is thinking real seriously of a job in trucking. I have been interested in the job for several years, and have done research in it on and off alot. The last few weeks I've been doing as much reading on this forum as my life allows, reading posts that say everything from trucking is wonderful to it sucks arse. I've read posts that gives me all kinds of glimpses into what it's like, but I still feel I need to know more before I can make a sound decision.
Before I ask my question, let me just dish out real brief info on myself. I can' t lift anything real heavy, cause I got real bad carpal tunnel syndrome from my first pregnancy. I've got this real nasty stress disorder that only acts up when I have to deal with superiors or equals a whole lot. Basically, if I'm left to myself most of the time, and not constantly pressured by people to "do this and do that" than I'm okay. I like being left alone on the job as long as I know what I'm doing. When I'm alone with the kids in stressful situations I'm a real pro! Once I got stuck on Interstate 95 alone with my two young daughters when my minivan broke down and my cellphone wouldn't work. One girl was crying and the other was whining her head off and I wasn't phased a bit! So I can handle stress, just not from bosses and stuff.
So basically, I want to know what all to expect once I'd be on the road. I've read that there are all kinds of regulation people from the DOT and other departmental places that you need to answer to, and I've read from some people that dispatchers hassle drivers alot sometimes, and I've read a little about audits too. So I just want to hear from a range of people, what all should I expect on a daily/weekly/montly basis on the job other than just driving. And it doesn't matter if you do OTR, regional, or dedicated. I want to hear from people doing all three. I seriously want as much info as I can get.
Also, I know that pay is not nearly as much as what companies want you to think it is. I've already read tons about that here. So you don't need to tell me that, I believe you already! My husband has a descent paying job, so my job would be making extra money, so any money at all that I'd make would be better than what I make on Government Disability, which is what I have right now. I yearn so much to work for a living. And I have loved big trucks and travelling for as long as I can remember.
-Rasciana

Answer:
Welcome! Ok, now that the pleasantries are over....
Three things jump out of your post:
1 I'm assuming you're talking about a "local" delivery job, and not living in a truck working OTR (on the road) and away from home most of the time. The first is a difficult jobs to get, and the second would nix being a stay at home mom -- more like a mom abandoning her family (excuse my bluntness).
2. Tthere is frequently pressure from dispatch (and others) to "do this and that". There's a lot of accumulated stress sometimes. Never ending patience, a calm personality, and ability to deal effectively with difficult people -- many of whom have no idea what they're doing but insist you do what they say -- is an asset. A "real nasty stress disorder" is, frankly, very problematic. It almost makes me wonder if this is a real post, or a "troll" post to see how we'd respond. No offense intended if you're serious, but dealing with traffic, machines, dispatchers, truckstops, customers -- not to mention other truck drivers -- is sometimes too much stress for drivers who don't have a stress disorder.
3.
Most jobs require certain lifting abilities, although medical waivers are sometimes granted in special situations. Depends on the job. Simple dry-van OTR work doesn't require much, if any, heaby lifting since you rarely touch freight anymore. But local delivery, or dedicated "line" jobs usually involve lifting and moving freight or rolling dollys to hook doubles (etc).
Tell us more.
.http://www.weather.gov/forecasts/graphical/sect...onusWeek.php#tabs

Answer:

Your first priority is your children. Being a mother is a full time job. Even local trucking jobs will often have you out of the house for up to 12 hours a day. Then when you come home you will be tired. When will you mother your kids?

Sounds like you choose not to handle stress from superiors. Because if you really had an actual disorder, you wouldn't be able to handle stress from anyone.
Like the people who justify and excuse their behavior of verbally assaulting people, claiming they have no control over it, yet those same people don't seem to have any trouble controlling it when, say, they are talking to the traffic cop who just pulled them over.
My opinion aside, trucking is often a very stressful job, you need to be able to handle all kinds of stress from a variety of sources.

Correct.

Sometimes intentionally, most of the time unintentionally out of ignorance. Either way, the drivers gets hassled.

It isn't just about the money you make, have you thought about the cost? I mentioned one of those costs in the beginning of this post.

Mothering isn't work? Damn right it is!
And travelling in big trucks isn't the fantasy you likely think it is. At the very least, when you come down to it, it is still work, it is still doing what your boss wants you to do when he wants you to do it.
Answer:
Highwayman and Shuffler, I appreciate both of your replies for your honesty. And I apoligize for the length of my post and my reply, but my situation is kind of odd in many ways.
My mother in law just came to visit yesterday and I told her about my serious thoughts about going to trucking school and becoming a trucker, and she started saying some of what you guys have said. Mainly about how I'll be gone from the kids for so long, and there still so young [1 and 4 yrs to be exact] and that at the very least I should wait before entering a job that will have me away from them so often and long. And I did listen to her. It's not like I'm only listening to one side on this whole issue. But then my own husband, her son, who was in the same room heard her steering me away and was waiving his head at her, indicating not to dissuade me from it.
So my husband actually wants me to think about it and do it, or at least find some version of commercial truck driving job that I can do to make money. As our finances go right now we're kind of tight on money. He makes a good amount of money, but when we moved to Baltimore the cost of living was more then we expected, and we had extra costs we weren't thinking of, and he wants to go back to college, yet again, and get his masters degree. So I think he thinks it would be good if I could "find some courage" sorta speak, and find a job that I'd like and that wouldn't agitate my disorder. So whereas he's not pressuring me to be a trucker if I don't want to, he IS encouraging others not to dissuade ME, and encouraging me to do it if I still really want to, if that makes sense.
As for my stress disorder, I am probably real bad at describing it sometimes. Actually it's like depression, which I also have when I'm not on medication for it. I'm easily stressed by all kinds of things, I've just worked really hard at dealing with certain kinds of stress, like stress with the kids, so that it doesn't effect me the same way, but I can get stressed out by real small stuff that doesn't upset other people, or sometimes if I'm having a bad day I can get stressed by nothing at all, just be stressed because chemicals are in the wrong place. But, I do better when under a good medication. I'm currently in medication transition, and wouldn't even think of starting any job at all until after my doctor gets me settled on another one that works again. So you could say that I'm doing research for trucking for a year or so in the future.
And please don't think that I don't take being a mother seriously, cause I do. It's kind of hard to explain what it's like to want to work a job that makes money, a career, and not be able to for a long time, to someone that has never had a problem with it. Though really even that comes out wrong. I really don't know how to explain it. And I don't want to accidentally offend anyone by wording something the wrong way... I just want to find some kind of job that I can actually do, that brings money into my family, and that I can feel proud of, and that I can come home from and say, "Hey daughters, Mommy did ____ today and is proud of it!" I'm also desperate to have a life outside of just mommyhood, even though I do have a social life and stuff. I want a work life or something. Again, I don't know how to explain it... *sighs*

Answer:
Fantasy Island provides some unusual entertainment from time to time.
Well meaning folks fall victim to Trolls. My warning light's flickering tonight.
Answer:

If you've have been in treatment of any kind, you know that stress and depression are two sides of the same coin. As OTR is stressful, the isolation, lonilessness and sometimes overwhelimng stress increases depression in those prone to it. And you can't be taking medications with any unpleasant side effects out here, or expose the motoring public to the possibility you'll get the least bit self-destructive if things go bad.
Add to that your kids, your "Mom" (who's right of course, as you well know) and everything else......
I don't want to sound demeaning, sexist or patronizing --- but! From everything you've posted I'd strongly suggest entering the work force in another way, and maybe look to trucking after you've got your feet on the ground with a more normal job first.
Just my opinion -- but seriusly, you fit the profile of someone who will not last long for several reasons. Do something else first.
.http://www.weather.gov/forecasts/graphical/sect...onusWeek.php#tabs

Answer:

Look at the bright side Mike, it makes Shuffler think he is helping someone. Gives him something to do on those 34 hour resets.

Answer:

You can expect to drive a truck, and be paid for it.
You can also expect to perform other duties, for no compensation whatsoever, which will most likely take up 50% of your time.
To answer your question bluntly, not much.

Answer:
No one understands women better than another woman. Go to the nearest truckstop, look in the drivers' lounge area, and look over the free magazines/publications for truck drivers. I forget the name, but there's a monthly or bi-monthly magazine for women truckers. Grab all the free publications and look them all over. Look for articles written by female authors. These female writers can get you connected with groups/organizations that give morale support to women truckers. There's usually an email address to contact either the author; or the editor who'll forward your email to the intended recipient. If I was a woman, I'd be looking for a company with female driver trainers on their staff. Another option is to find a female owner-operator who'd take you as a trainee. Talk to as many women truckers as you can to get their feedback.

Answer:
with children as small as yours you should not even consider a job driving yet. I am a woman driver, and you have a job. Mother to your kids.
And I don't want you on the same roads where I travel, if you have depression and trouble dealing with stressful situations.
Driving a truck can be VERY stressful.