A few more questions for a soon to be trucker!

[AdamD]

I’m about to make the jump and become a truck driver! I’ve been reading all over this website and its helped me understand a lot more about this career. I also have come up with a few questions and am in need of some advice!

1. I hear a lot of truckers complain about the loneliness of being on the road. I’m sure at times it will be boring and I will get lonely. What are some suggestions to help beat the loneliness on the road?! Ill be fine on the road as long as a I have my music! I have xm radio is that able to be put into my truck? Or will music be the last thing on my mind!?

2. I’ve read about a lot of you veteran tuckers out there complaining about people that can’t even park there truck at truck stops etc. Is it that hard?! Or are those people just idiots? Ive seen some truck stops where there’s a ton of trucks crammed into a lot and that kinda worries me as well!

3. My biggest problem I’m dealing with in my decision to go into truck driving is the home time. I have a 3 yr old and 6 month old little girls and I’m having a hard time deciding if ill be able to be away from the for weeks and only home for a few days. I understand that at first ill have to pay my dues and put in the road time till I get jus the right job with some good home time. For starting out, what do you guys suggest I pursue in a company that will allow me to get the most out of my family time? I read that finding a company near me will help. I also heard about some companies that do a dispatch where you can call to get back on the road instead of forced dispatch?

4. Also as a rookie, I’m sure I will be getting the crap tractors. What equipment do you suggest I stay away from? What do I look for to make sure there not giving me a hunk of junk? Any tricks for getting a nicer tractor?

What are some questions you guys think I should ask myself before I do this or should I just hang it up! Any other advice in getting started to make sure I don’t get myself in a bad situation? I looke forward to reading the post! Better hurry though, I start up in a week! Thanks again

[hillbilly frog]

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http://www.truckingboards.com/trucki...ew-driver.html

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[AdamD]

Yea i read those. They gave me a good list of questions to ask before i get hired somewhere.

[win9@verizon.ne]

Thanks for this site, it is a great help.

[JLKKLJ777]

1.loneliness affects us all in 1 way or another. Staying busy helps but having a cell phone with a hands free headset is a must now a days. A good cb will come in handy and a satellite radio will keep you entertained on the long trips. As for physical loneliness save it for your wife. The girls selling their "services" out here are pretty disgusting and you do not need to bring anything home to your wife.
2.We have a shortage of legitimate truck parking spaces especially on the east coast. Truckstops go out of business and the property is fenced off adding to the shortage. Many of the older truckstops were designed for shorter trucks and the parking spaces are approximately 10 feet wide and 70 feet long. With current trucks averaging 8.5 feet wide and 75 feet in length you can see how things can get pretty tight. When parking take your time and try to center yourself in your parking spot . Dont be afraid to get out of the truck and look behind your trailer to be sure you will not hit anything.
3. In regards to your children you must trust that your spouse is capable and competent. Like it or not she will become a single parent for all intents and purposes. She will have to learn to discipline the kids, call the repair man, prepare the meals, clean the house, go to Parent Teacher meetings herself etc. You will miss birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and special occasions in general. Best advice for this is relax, take a deep breath and realize its just another day. Celebrate when you are home. Have parties on a weekend instead of the actual date so you have a better shot at being there. Being spontaneous will become the rule rather than the exception. Just keep telling yourself you are providing a good solid home with insurance for your family. Pay your dues and you will be able to get better pay and better routes as you go.
4. Equipment will be assigned based upon availabilty. Some carriers have trucks on a 3 year rotation so you will have a decent truck that should hold up. Other companies will run trucks into the ground and I recommend avoiding these guys. They may claim to maintain them but the fact is the older a truck gets the more susceptible it is to break downs. Break downs will cost you money (most companies do not pay for breakdowns until it is 24 hours and then you may get 50.00) through missed pick ups or delivery appointments.
Do the very best you can using your families welfare as your motivation.

[AdamD]

JLKKLJ777, thanks for the advice. Ive read alot of your post on the forums and were lucky to have someone like you on here to help us out!!

Ok, I’m all signed up! Start CDL training in about two weeks! I know I’m asking this in advance. But any suggestions on stuff I should by/prepare to take with me on the road? Im sure after my first time out ill be like “damn I need ____” anyone have some good ideas and clever trucker tricks I should do?