Profile For Paul V.

Yes, it'd be better to reconsider that choice; with that psychological history, the mental strain put on truckers could endanger your progress, yourself, and everyone around you. It's, unfortunately, a psychologically demanding job.

Go on the internet and check out lots of pictures of cancer victims. Those should do the trick, but if not, do the math on all the money you've wasted on Big Tobacco. Price per pack X packs per day X 365 days X years you've smoked. That should scare you straight.

Harsh? I'm a two time cancer survivor and a heart transplant recipient. I quit smoking more than 15 years ago. It's a tough habit to shake but YOU TOO CAN QUIT.

I can confirm that it does the trick, it's what allowed me to stop smoking. This, and caring for my grandmother when she died of her own tobacco-induced throat cancer. It drives the point home when you realize that smoking exposes everyone around you to these risks... It does get hard, especially in the beginning, as you reprogram your body to stop mechanically grabbing a cig and putting it into your mouth, so when possible, I'd advise finding another mechanical thing to do instead. You can check your e-mails, text your wife/girlfriend/mother/kids, eat a Tic Tac... Anything mechanical, but not tobacco-related, could work.

Man, that's my big issue with that job. I just love carbs, be it bread, pasta, potatoes, they're quite literally my bread and butter. When I'm home, I can exercise or just do physical activities like digging in the garden or going on a bicycle trip, but when I'm in my truck, I have trouble exercising and eating normally... I'll try the paleo diet, with veggies and some meat, as it does sound interesting.

Well, I did never need one when I was in my truck, but I avoided serious issues because I was carrying a couple times, when I was beginning to work and still lived in a bad neighborhood. I haven't had to pull out my gun since moving away from that place, but I still am really glad I was carrying at some moments in my life.

These issues with company policies, state laws etc really are a pain... When I started in the trucking industry, I was mostly remaining within the borders of the state and carried my gun as the company did not forbid it, but I had to give it up when I started doing longer trips, as I didn't really have the time and willpower to read through every single state's gun laws. Sure, I'd rather carry in some places, but I'd rather not carry and have this job, than carry without this job.

I just hope - although I've got a feeling it's not going to turn out like that - that they're going to implement that plan in an efficient way and not bungle it up. Because as I read the law project, I see more potential issues ("solving the issue of trucks parked in non-sanctioned areas" is in my top three, that sounds like we're going to be fined more often while "sanctioned areas" aren't expanded or are put in unpractical places) than potential improvements.

Yeah, when you'll leave the military, you'll see that the trucking business is actually easier! (I was a 0351 in the Marine Corps, I got a LOT less BS in my life when I EAS'd and started my trucking career... be careful of your eating habits though, it took me some time and 30 extra pounds to adapt my food intake to that new lifestyle without morning PT) By the way, I know it's a trucking forum, but if you can take advantage of the GI Bill, do it. If I'm not mistaken, you can use it at a trade school as well. I didn't, started working as soon as I had left my cammies, and am kinda regretting it now that I see other former Marine who went to college after their service and earn their lives better than I do.

You can be home every day, don't work at night and get almost 4 grand a month, that's pretty great if you ask me. Of course, there's always a way to earn more with extra contracts, or if you start working at night or on weekends, but right now, you've got a job that's as comfortable as it gets in the trucking industry, which is nothing to scoff at.

I've always been had a thing for Kipling's poetry, and it's always great to find his works in the wild every now and then! And yes, when you're a trucker, these words do ring true... (although they rang true in every other independent-ish and demanding job I had before as well)