Why did you become a TruckDriver?

Casper Girl · #1 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 02:17 PM

I am sure somewhere on this big ol site this has been done before. But I guess a lil rehashing doesn't hurt.

Why did you become a TruckDriver?
How long have you been a TruckDriver?
Have you tried doing something else after becoming a TruckDriver and
how did that work out?

Inquiring minds want to know.

I became a truckdriver cuz all the textile factories in my area were closing down and the jobs going to Mexico. So one day I got the idea I can be a truckdriver. Thought it over for a while then said hey I can do this. 7 and a half years (yeah I know I still a rookie) I am still out here. I tried a local job for about a year and almost went bankrupt. So I am out here over the road again. I can't really imagine doing anything else now. Guess it got in the blood. Grrrrrrrrrrrr.

NORTHERNHAULER · #2 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 02:31 PM

why did i become a truck driver??i was young and thought it would be cool.

if i only knew then what i know now.how long have i been a driver??to long.have i tryed some thing else?yup!for 3 weeks i tryed brokering it suckt.

LTL Lifer · #3 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 02:39 PM

Been in the business for 34 years. Drove city for 7 of those , here in TX. and somewhere else. Worked in other areas of LTL trucking business. Been on the road in shuttle for over 10 years.

Decision was made to pursue driving back in the 70's after major motorcycle accident that messed me up bad. Hostled for a while (best thing one can do for backing and manueverability skills), worked the dock for a while, and did other things as well.

Got REAL tired of a lot of aspects of this business and decided to get away from it all and run shuttle. Tuth be told, it is one of the easiest jobs out there. Think about it. No phones, unless you choose to do so, listen to anything on radio, XM, Ipod that you want, and not manual labor intensive, climate controlled year round on the inside.

I always liked to drive when I was younger....Not so much anymore. It is a job to me and that's it. However, getting to sleep in your own bed every day has it's perks. Nice to have the time at home to myself in the mornings. Can enjoy peace and quiet.

The downside is driving rain, wet roads, unattentive traffic, FOG (the worst), fatigue (another biggie), northern drivers have the frozen stuff, not at home with the family at night.

Other than that, on a scale of 1-10 on the job scale, I would give it a solid 7.

Cerberus · #4 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 03:08 PM

Originally posted by Casper:

Why did you become a TruckDriver?
How long have you been a TruckDriver?
Have you tried doing something else after becoming a TruckDriver and
how did that work out?

I kinda fell into it accidentily. After i got out of the military in '90, i took a year off and started to work at the farmers market in Atlanta in '91. I started out working nights loading the trucks . In just weeks i found myself moving the trucks around from dock door to dock door. A few weeks later i got suckered into driving them to deliver when the driver would not come in that day. Made for some really long days, i would come in around 9pm and not get outta there til 1 or 2 o'clock in the afternoon. About a month of this and i was offered to just drive full time and i jumped on it. I was there for 7 yrs before i moved on. I made some really good money driving back then. So april this year it will be 18 yrs for me behind the wheel. Never tried anything else besides driving since i started. I don't really know much else besides driving or driving related.

bulktanker34 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 09:13 PM

This might sound silly but for me driving a truck is not a job, it's something I love. As crazy as it might sound even with everything we have to deal with I am happiest when I'm behind the wheel. I have tried retail, sales, food service, and the military but wasn't really happy doing any of those things. I think it stems from when I was younger if I was mad I would get in my car and road trip just drive no planning it was fun and I enjoyed seeing where I would end up

grocery thrower · #6 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 10:59 PM

Its all I ever wanted to do.. I have done it around 18 years, I went into warehouse mgmt. for a bit, still drove part time, fill in what have you, did sales, traveling, still drove a truck some, I always found myself wanting to be back in the big truck.. stupid..stupid..stupid..I shoulda studied harder in school, now I'm 41 doing a 25 year olds job, although I love it, the physical aspect is taking its toll, I suppose its in my blood, I really don't desire any other kind of work.