Profile For Michael G.

There is so much to being a professional driver, but for me, the reason I didn't hang is realizing that in order to get some loads from point A to point B you have no choice but to spend your entire 11 hours driving, and hope that you can get some sleep.

For me, I don't think I gave myself enough sleep, and instead found myself in TV rooms at truck stops later than usual watching tv and getting out to the truck later than I wanted and only getting 4 hours of sleep before getting back on the road on time. Missing sleep WILL catch up with you, as it did me. I didn't miss loads, but I was dead tired.

Get sleep. That is EXTREMELY important. Gauge whether or not you can drive 11 hours straight unless you're stopping to fuel or relieve yourself. If not you'll end up like me

The major brand truck stops (Pilot/Flying J, Loves, TA/Petro, and Wilco) almost always fill up right around dinner time as Brett said. The smaller ones usually don't fill up until later. This was my experience in my crash course in otr driving.

In the previous months I posted my experiences as a student driver, and then as a new driver for a company that gave me a chance (despite my 9 felonies). I was given that chance, then got out on the road and realized a few things that told me I wasn't fit for trucking:

1) 11 hours driving a tractor-trailer is mentally exhausting. While I love driving, and love the open road; driving 11 hours straight was extremely hard on me. When I drive cross-country in my car it's a very casual affair. Taking a load of wire from City A to City B isn't a casual affair, and I just couldn't hang. I blamed my mistakes on the new company, but it was really me that couldn't endure the 11 hours straight with minimal stopping.

2) My health: My legs swelled up to the largest they've been in years.

3) I like to be around other people and socialize. Days in a truck by myself (yes, even for the week I drove solo) drove me crazy.

Well, now I'm back at the Carnival. I'm much happier here. I am getting to use my newly earned class A CDL, and I'm getting tons of exercise. I will be driving only several thousand miles this year, but I will be much more content.

Brett, you have an awesome resource here. I have no ill feelings towards your responses to my last post. Bottom line is you're right. I just can't hang. Not every one is built out to be a truck driver. I think I'm destined to be a carny, and I'm not ashamed of that. I'm making $500 a week with free housing and use of a company vehicle. I couldn't ask for better!

For all those shooting to be an OTR or Regional driver, PLEASE, make sure you can hang with the long hours of straight driving. It's not for everyone.