Pros and Cons

ATruckGuy · #1 (**permalink**) 03-18-2007, 03:56 AM

Hey all,I am new to this board.But,I want to know the pros and cons of being a trucker for a living.Thanks,Aaron Gosnell.

heyns57 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-18-2007, 10:34 AM

Long haul and regional can be tough on family and marriage.

Truckers smoke too much, eat the wrong foods, suffer sleep deprivation and irregular sleep patterns, experience hernias, hemorrhoids, and gingivitis. Plus, they get no respect.

Truckers are not directly supervised. Some are true independant contractors. Some have the pride of ownership. The freedom of the open road is an illusion. Truckers are chained to their schedules and ruled by dispatchers and shippers.

Most of the time, the job requires only a minimum of direct attention. Therefore, truckers can listen to the radio or daydream while they earn a living.

CFer · #3 (**permalink**) 03-18-2007, 11:54 AM

Welcome to Truckingboards ATruckGuy. It's good to have you with us

tramp1155 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-18-2007, 01:16 PM

Trucking has been good to me.If you are serious about it look into Interstate Distributors Tacoma Washington.They have a yard in Fontana and in my opinion one the best OTR outfits on the left coast.Get yourself 4 or 5 years of experience try to stay with that same company as trucking is an easy occupation to switch jobs with a phone call.But if you can stay put get your experience and try to get on with one the big LTL outfits (Roadway,Yellow,ABF,FedEx Freight,UPSF,UPS) as these companies offer considerably more money better better benifits and more home time.There are alot of cons in trucking as a career but if you love it that over-rides all the negative.

HeadRush · #5 (**permalink**) 03-18-2007, 04:23 PM

Pros

Good money without a college degree

You meet a lot of cool people while on the road

Shortage of qualified drivers, open job market

Not having to be stuck inside of a building all day

Cons

Industry is under scrutiny from safety groups

Bush Administration is attempting to ruin the profession by allowing Mexican trucks to deliver freight within the U.S.

Dangerous working conditions

Irregular schedule, which leads to weight fluctuations if you aren't careful

Always under the watchful and sometimes childish eye of DOT

Some trucking companies have a hurry up and get it there so you can wait attitude

I'm sure that there's tons more, but I haven't experienced it yet. I'm sure that the other drivers will slowly but surely chime in.

ATruckGuy · #6 (**permalink**) 03-18-2007, 08:47 PM

Thanks guys.I appreciate it.There are pros and cons to everything.Thank you for filling me in.