Where Are You From, What Did You Do, And Why Be A Trucker???

I grew up in a family business my grandfather started in 1956. Been a welder and mechanic my whole life. my uncle taught me to drive big trucks when I was 16. I am 50 now the kids are grown and trucking is something I have always wanted to do so my wife and I are hitting the road

Exactly, kids grown, no tie downs, travel all over America, AND get paid to do it!!!!

There's already a very long thread with this very info!

OOPS, totally my bad. I just went and read the posts on that thread and they are great. Mr. Brett, is here any way to add the posts of this thread to the one that was already there. Mea culpa, I'll do better in the future...

That's still right, Jerry. Most of the people in my old thread have probably moved on from TT, any way. Keep this one going.

I feel that if people solely relied only on existing threads about all the different subjects we can write/ask questions about, then there wouldn't be much action or lively presence in the forum. I don't mind if a new thread is started about something that was already talked about maybe a gazillion weeks/months/years ago....lol it brings new blood and keep people interested. :) (at least , that's my opinion)

That's still right, Jerry. Most of the people in my old thread have probably moved on from TT, any way. Keep this one going.

okay dokay boss

That's still right, Jerry. Most of the people in my old thread have probably moved on from TT, any way. Keep this one going.

I posted this on your original thread, but decided it was significant enough to post here:

Hi there Buddy, I started a threa he same as yours here by accident, Mea culpa. I just finished reading all of he posts here on your thread and one thing came to mind, diversity!! We truck drivers come from every walk of life. I have even heard of doctors, lawyers, engineers, CEOs of million dollar companies, Etc. that burned out on their first career and just wanted a change. I'll tell you what I think. With the combined strength, numbers, knowledge, and drive of truck drivers, there is nothing we could not accomplish. There must be hundreds of thousands of us. Just imagine if we came together and elected one of our own to run this country. Think about that???

I'll bite...but first since I a love trucks, especially older ones, Jerry what did you learn on?

I will pause an let you answer this question...thanks G

That's a short story on its own. I went to work for a Caterpillar, Equipment Rental Yard, in San Diego, CA, after high school, July,1979. I was hired as a mechanic's helper, lot cleaner, equipment washer, etc. for minimum wage, $3.10 hour. The yard had a 3 axle Kenworth, Cummins motor, 13 speed RoadRanger, pulling a 45' long Trail King. Our driver was Junior McDonald, a 60+ year old, log truck driver from Oregon, He was a Stud Driver. There was a mechanic, Mike, that had his CDL and did the back-up driving when Junior was off. Every year, Junior went to Oregon, the first 3 weeks of October, to tend to a ranch he owned there. Well my good fortune came in August, that same year, 1979. Mike quit to take a job at a Caterpillar Dealership in northern California. Now they needed a driver by the time Junior left for Oregon. I suggested, or should I say, begged, them to teach me. I thought it would be so cool to have a CDL Class A at 18 years old and drive a semi hauling skip loaders, track loaders, road graders, etc. Junior taught how to drive and what it meant to be a Professional Trucker and the responsibilities that go with the title. The rest is history.........

Very cool, thanks.

For me; a 1972 IH 2070A with a throw-away 220 Cat motor, a 10 Speed Spicer gearbox and a 1968 IH R190 6-wheeler, gas, straight six, in-line 5 speed. We used to remove the lower sections of the butterfly hood on the 190 during the heat of the summer...like a hot rod!

1)- I am a Philly product, born in Ridley Park PA, moved to King of Prussia PA in the mid sixties. I currently reside in a north-western suburb of Philadelphia. I bleed Eagle Green...no comments...have nothing left at the moment.

2)- I worked my way before and through college, Temple University, by driving (surprise) dump trucks for a local excavation company, eventually moving on to a 10-wheeler. Loved driving, really did. After graduating, I continued driving part time for that company until the mid 80s. Full-time I worked in the computer technology field for over 30 years, specializing in transportation automation/process and change management in; trucking, distribution, manufacturing, railroads, and a brief stint in pharma. Through my jobs I was able to travel the country and for a short period Europe.

3)- Is it any wonder that I ended up here? For me the journey was always more fun than the destination. I love driving and I love trucks. Almost four years ago (now) at age 52, I had become rather burned-out with technology, corporate politics, and finally realized that I was not happy working in the field anymore. Truck driving is what I turned to. Although it's a demanding, at times thankless job, I thoroughly enjoy it and the dedicated account I am assigned to. Everyday there is a new, sometimes unexpected challenge. This is what I will be doing for at least the next 10 years (God willing) until I am finally ready to retire.

Don't worry Chip Kelly will be gone soon enough.

1)- I am a Philly product, born in Ridley Park PA, moved to King of Prussia PA in the mid sixties. I currently reside in a north-western suburb of Philadelphia. I bleed Eagle Green...no comments...have nothing left at the moment.

2)- I worked my way before and through college, Temple University, by driving (surprise) dump trucks for a local excavation company, eventually moving on to a 10-wheeler. Loved driving, really did. After graduating, I continued driving part time for that company until the mid 80s. Full-time I worked in the computer technology field for over 30 years, specializing in transportation automation/process and change management in; trucking, distribution, manufacturing, railroads, and a brief stint in pharma. Through my jobs I was able to travel the country and for a short period Europe.

3)- Is it any wonder that I ended up here? For me the journey was always more fun than the destination. I love driving and I love trucks. Almost four years ago (now) at age 52, I had become rather burned-out with technology, corporate politics, and finally realized that I was not happy working in the field anymore. Truck driving is what I turned to. Although it's a demanding, at times thankless job, I thoroughly enjoy it and the dedicated account I am assigned to. Everyday there is a new, sometimes unexpected challenge. This is what I will be doing for at least the next 10 years (God willing) until I am finally ready to retire.

Don't worry Chip Kelly will be gone soon enough.

Big Red (Andy Reid) is looking mighty good at this point...c'mon back.

My first "real" job was at a massive chrome plant in El Monte Calif. in the auto- polishing dept.My uncle spent 40 years there.I was the only "white guy", who stuck around. I learnt spanish, and helped train newbs for the job.

Ran our dept somewhat, lol our boss did his 20 and retired @ 40 , Buddy got the spot, so was no where for me to go further up, so after 7 years, I just up quit, burnt out.

Trash/Diesel truck mechanic where dad worked, in Baldwin Park, Cal. 1 year on lube rack, then to the floor doing Cummings & International in-frames and all repairs as needed. Later on, we got bought out by Waste Management. Stayed there 7 years, then took a spot @ Pepsi Cola, worked there between 2 locations for 9 months, then back to Waste man. for a $3 hour raise. (same teamsters union)

1 year later, I got "hooked up" thru a friend, with a hazardous waste tanker outfit in Los Angeles, that needed an engine guy. My boss and I kept fleet up and running, he was old school trucker, taught me about the log books kinda, updating permits n tags etc for rigs. Sucks is he died a year or so after I left there, loss of tons knowledge! That Job was "Iffy" cuz owner had a coke problem. Never knew if paychecks would bounce.

I moved here to Arizona, w/ a girlfriend and our 3 kids. Worked for the Ford Dealer 5+ years, Dodge dealer 1 year. Diesel jobs paid crap. Raised my 2 kids after divorced alone.

Moved back to Cali in 2001, worked at couple small independant auto repair shops. Did u-haul rentals + repairs, road service for U Haul @ 1 auto shop job. off & on for 8 years Went to work for Nissan forklifts '06-'08, got certified & learnt sumpin' new.

Moved back to Arizona when my mom got diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately she died 5 days before I got moved here. my 28 year old son died a year after mom from a drug O/D :( Kinda been stuck here since, now broken leg at job, still dealing with that 14 months later :(

I've and been researching trucking, since I found this site by accident! Wheeewwwww anways I been a round a bit, just hoping this leg thing don't kill my shot at the open road, career change.......So actually, I have been a mechanic the past 35 years.... Nothing to hold me down now days.

Anyways thats the shortened version minus boring micro details lol

Stevo :)