I Just Quit Trucking After Giving It Everything Over A 5 Month Period.

Counting 2 months of schooling and 9K miles. I have thrown in the towel. I was a Tanker Hazmat hauler with 2 Companies and there were many cool things I liked about the job. The people I worked with within the company, the adventure, the danger to a certain extent, the respect of barreling down the highway with 45k lbs of hazardous material. The trucks were modern and fun to drive. This was the closest job I have had that almost felt like my time in the Army although still vastly different. So these were some of the very cool parts.

The thing I could not get over however was I had to wake up 2:30 am to 2:45 am every morning, commute 35 minutes to work 45ish back home due to rush hour. So my average day came out to just over 13 hours so I had to put in14-15 hour days counting the commute. Also unloading at the chemical and paper mills a couple of times a day really felt like I was shortening my life span with all that stuff I was breathing in continuously. I would do unloads in places where there was stuff literally spraying everywhere, smoke bellowing from above creating its own weather, large pools bubbling just a few feet away of gods knows what. Last week I drove into this paper mill that felt like a disaster ride at Universal Studios or something. There was so much stuff spraying all over the place, things rattling it was unreal. And some of the spots you have to back in those plants are insane also!

Another issue I had was the pay. They paid us $12 an hour when waiting around to be loaded, unloaded or even doing it ourselves. Per Load pay was more on average however. But for the amount of skill involved with the self loads and unloads, the chance of injuring yourself with the product, the hazardous environments, having to wear full chemical suits, dealing with the careless 4 wheelers every day that almost don't see you in time to prevent an accident made it feel like I was being taken advantage of.

Really cool job overall. But for me the Hours (1 day off a week 65-70 a week), low pay for the work involved, literally came out to $7.10 last week (net take home) to haul hazmat over 300 miles a day. The health concerns with sitting most of the day, breathing the fumes from the product and whatever stuff is floating around at the plants makes this career option a no go for me. I feel like I can do better. Such as work 40 a week and make the same pay and not sacrifice my health or social life in the process. Having done this job just enough to get a good taste of it I have the utmost respect for most truck drivers out there now. The ones that give a dam about the profession. You guys definitely deserve to make more for the hours and stuff you put up with. A part of me will miss being a part of this daily carnage and abuse.

There are many other options in Trucking than that one. Sorry it didn't work out for you. This Business certainly isn't for everyone. Good Luck!

You're the first person I ever heard of that went straight from school to hauling hazmat liquids. Not surprised that it wasn't worth it.

Perhaps some simple van or reefer hauling would be a more satisfying entry into the business with a regional company. Maybe be a trainer after a while for more money (I assume money is a bit of priority else why haul deadly shiz?)

Rock, you've stumbled upon a few pretty common issues with that job.

For one, a lot of people want local work to be home every day but you soon find out that most local jobs entail 60+ hours of work per week. With the commute added to the equation you're lucky to be home long enough to eat, shower, and catch some sleep before it's time to do it all over again. And the money isn't normally as much as you'd make out on the road. Often times a regional job that gets you home every weekend is a better bet. You're enjoying life on the road, you're making better money, and you're probably going to have as much good quality time at home as you did running local.

Also, chemical tanker is a rough job. I pulled a food grade tanker for a year one time and loved it. I hauled honey, orange juice, saltwater, vegetable oil, and things of that nature. Pay was good, job was fun. I would never drive a chemical tanker knowing I can make just as much money in a food grade tanker without all of the hazards and red tape involved with hauling hazmat.

There are a million opportunities in this industry. Hunt around and try something else.

I'm thinking maybe, leave the door cracked instead of throwing in the towel on trucking. There are many different types of jobs that require a CDL. Generally speaking they aren't going to be a "9-5" but I can more than see why you've thrown in the hazmat towel. I would have too!

Thank you for sharing your experience! Better to have tried it, than to have been left with always wondering "what if". : )

Rock, I can fully understand you wanting to get out of the Hazmat / local job. Sounds like a nightmare. There are other jobs you might qualify for. CDL-B jobs driving dump trucks, etc. A lot of them will also have 14 hour days, 5 days a week, but maybe on a timetable better suited to human life.

Thanks for the honest view. There are way better jobs out there. Quitting is a setback but i hope you dont totally give in. Im keeping an eye on this thread.

Rock, I was surprised at your math. If what you said was correct then you were only making 400 - 500 dollars per week. There are plenty of trucking jobs out here where you can easily make twice that and mostly you are just responsible for driving the truck and opening the back doors. Plus, you had barely even gotten started because it looks like you included your school time and your training in that five month time period. You had barely even gotten your feet wet yet, and you started out hauling some ridiculous stuff. This is why we try to get people to not try going after the big money at first, and just learn the career at a regular trucking job. You put way too much stress on yourself by starting out like you did. Step back and reassess the whole situation. There are a lot better ways to get started at this career.

Old School has many valid points. You did the job so you are not lazy. I to think you stretched way to far way to fast. If you want local, like Brett said, you can do better for more. I will add that if you do find something else that suits you, bust it out like you did the first opportunity. I think you will be surprised at what your results are. Good luck. Soulbrutha out

I believe our friend Rock had left the TT building without adding comments. I wish him well.