Some folks call it a "braindead job"

[Kobalt]

All right, so, starting school on Monday for driving. A lot of my family tell me I'm "too intelligent" to drive a rig, say I won't like it. They say it's a mind-numbing or braindead job. To that I replied: Wal-mart isn't? What job could I get, realistically, without a college degree at this point, that would *not* be a braindead job? (I'm using their vocabulary there, no offense to anyone.) I am 21, with a house payment and a car payment. I live in a trailer, so the total on it is about 22k, and if I had paid in cash the car was 18k (29k over a 6 year note). I figure, assuming I'm a good driver and keep a clean record, giving the average salaries I've seen over two+ years experience especially sticking with one company for long periods of time, that I can have both the house and the car paid off in about five years, wasting little money on interest, having a savings account and 401k or IRA started to boot. What the hell is wrong with that? I have no idea what I want to do with the rest of my life- in fact I don't think I want it to be any one thing. But if I'm going to spend 8 to 10 hours a day doing something that is only tolerable-- I'm assuming that I will not despise trucking and that it will be at least tolerable, probably even likable considering I, like others I've read here, do good thinking while driving-- I may as well get PAID WELL for it. I'm sick of 8.69/hour jobs.
Oh. Look. I'm not even a trucker and already I'm complaining... Looks like it's in the blood.

On a side note, what does everyone do for Wi-Fi access? Verizon? Truck stops? Leech off unsecured networks?

[Apostolic]

Well trucking is kind of a funny type of a carrer to begin with thats for sure.
Its a trade that will never go away.
There will always be a need for truck drivers.
This is one carrer that won't ever be replaced by the computer.

Trucking is something you will really grow to love,or hate.
A lot of it is attitude,how you view yourself,and your place in this world.

Safety is a must,you have to pay very close attention to what you are doing at all times.

Way back in the old days of trucking, it may of been a no-brainer to be a truckdriver.
But in this day and age,it takes a person that has to think about what,he,or she is doing,in regards to the requirments of the companies they are working for,as well as traffic laws,and of course the DOT rules,and regulation.

No not everyone is cut out to be a trucker.
But if thats your choice,and you get used to doing it.

Also over time you get into a company,and a job you really like.
Theres no better way to earn a living,as far as I'm concerned.

I just turned 63,and am in my 44th year of delivering freight on a city route,for UPS Freight.
meeting the every day challenges,of playing in traffic,and talking with many different types of people, from owners of companies to the lowest shipping ,and receiving personel in their companies.

I may be a little different than most drivers.
I thank God for everything,and do all my work to please him.
I concider every breath I take a gift from God,and look at every day as a new adventure.

One more thing driving a city route is the same type of work every day,but every day is different in how the route goes.

To all the people that say this is a brain dead job.
Lets see you do it for at least one year,and let us all know what you think after that?

Looking from the outside of anything is a lot different from actually being involved with doing it.

I hope this post helps whoever reads it, to see what a trucking carrer is really all about,in my opinion that is.

[Booboy]

There other jobs beside being a semi truck driver.I just got hire on as a yard waste truck driver for allied waste.Its start out at 17.00 dollars and you get a raise every six months through out your employment with the company.There is no top pay.The raises can be up to five dollars at one time so the recruiter says depends on your performance.If you are doing good they try to catch your pay up with the other drivers.Now i actually talk to a driver who work for allied waste a typical driver make around 25 dollars at two years of service with a good safty record and can perform his duties.Its hard work the route can consist of 800 houses a day,But you are young.If you are a hard worker you can handle it.

[kikbxr]

Originally Posted by Kobalt

All right, so, starting school on Monday for driving. A lot of my family tell me I'm "too intelligent" to drive a rig, say I won't like it. They say it's a mind-numbing or braindead job. To that I replied: Wal-mart isn't? What job could I get, realistically, without a college degree at this point, that would *not* be a braindead job? (I'm using their vocabulary there, no offense to anyone.) I am 21, with a house payment and a car payment. I live in a trailer, so the total on it is about 22k, and if I had paid in cash the car was 18k (29k over a 6 year note). I figure, assuming I'm a good driver and keep a clean record, giving the average salaries I've seen over two+ years experience especially sticking with one company for long periods of time, that I can have both the house and the car paid off in about five years, wasting little money on interest, having a savings account and 401k or IRA started to boot. What the hell is wrong with that? I have no idea what I want to do with the rest of my life- in fact I don't think I want it to be any one thing. But if I'm going to spend 8 to 10 hours a day doing something that is only tolerable-- I'm assuming that I will not despise trucking and that it will be at least tolerable, probably even likable considering I, like others I've read here, do good thinking while driving-- I may as well get PAID WELL for it. I'm sick of 8.69/hour jobs.
Oh. Look. I'm not even a trucker and already I'm complaining... Looks like it's in the blood.

On a side note, what does everyone do for Wi-Fi access? Verizon? Truck stops? Leech off unsecured networks?

Apostolic; put it in a great way. I`m only goin 2 piggy-back unto what he has said. After being in the industry for 27+ years and being 46 years old,,, i`ve found that while looking back over that time span, i believe that i`ve made a great carreer choice. i`ve left the industry on several occasions due to personal reasons and pursued other options only to return to the trucking industry. yet the flip side is the industry is continuosly changeing with a lot of governmental politics beeing involved. trucking has always and will always contribute to the growth and continued developement of this country. there will always, always ,always be a great need for truck drivers, whether exp. or not. may Gods` blessing be upon you while pursueing this potentially great carreer. well wishes.

[HeadRush]

Kobalt,

It sounds like your family is just like mine. My father is a retired truck driver himself and up until I got my first trucking job, he discouraged me from pursuing this as a career. The reason being is because he had higher expectations for me like computers, engineering, etc. Good parents always want the best for their children, but they don't always see eye to eye with what their children think is best for themselves. I tried working in corporate america and got screwed over despite my ambition and intelligence. There are some things in the trucking industry that I know I will not agree with, but at least it's still a challenging job that pays well and will constantly be in demand. Follow through with your plan, stay safe, and I'm sure that your family will come around. Just don't smack em' upside the head with the "I told you so" line. It'll feel a whole lot better when their sitting around the dinner table talking about how well you're doing for yourself.

As far as Wi-Fi access, I'm usually too tired to jump on the PC. However, there are more and more rest areas that are offering free wi-fi access, and the LTL companies that put their drivers up in hotels offer free access as well. A lot of drivers use Sprint, Verizon, and Cingular broadband as well.

[RevItUp]

Originally Posted by Kobalt

All right, so, starting school on Monday for driving. A lot of my family tell me I'm "too intelligent" to drive a rig, say I won't like it. They say it's a mind-numbing or braindead job. To that I replied: Wal-mart isn't? What job could I get, realistically, without a college degree at this point, that would *not* be a braindead job? (I'm using their vocabulary there, no offense to anyone.) I am 21, with a house payment and a car payment. I live in a trailer, so the total on it is about 22k, and if I had paid in cash the car was 18k (29k over a 6 year note). I figure, assuming I'm a good driver and keep a clean record, giving the average salaries I've seen over two+ years experience especially sticking with one company for long periods of time, that I can have both the house and the car paid off in about five years, wasting little money on interest, having a savings account and 401k or IRA started to boot. What the hell is wrong with that? I have no idea what I want to do with the rest of my life- in fact I don't think I want it to be any one thing. But if I'm going to spend 8 to 10 hours a day doing something that is only tolerable-- I'm assuming that I will not despise trucking and that it will be at least tolerable, probably even likable considering I, like others I've read here, do good thinking while driving-- I may as well get PAID WELL for it. I'm sick of 8.69/hour jobs.
Oh. Look. I'm not even a trucker and already I'm complaining... Looks like it's in the blood.

On a side note, what does everyone do for Wi-Fi access? Verizon? Truck stops? Leech off unsecured networks?

Some of what they say is true. But what do you want? I know for a fact I'm overqualified for this proffession but I like it. My brother is a high school teacher and doesnt make anywhere near what I make. He went to school for 4 years and I went for 6 weeks. Different strokes for different folks. Just because you have the ability to do something else doesnt mean you have to. A "braindead" job is exactly what I was looking for!