What Are The Rules For Posting Here?

I need to know what all the no-no's are.

Is this forum a place to talk casually, shoot the breeze?

Well, yes and no. Primarily this is a question and answer forum for people who want to become truck drivers so we try to focus on answering questions for new drivers or those seriously considering trucking as a career.

However, a lot of us have been here for a number of years and sometimes we go off on tangents and just have a fun or off-topic conversation. There aren't many, and they don't last long, but we throw in a few here and there.

The reason you're getting some resistance is because none of us thinks there's a one in a thousand chance you would ever go through with this, and if you did you almost certainly wouldn't last even a week in training, let alone months or years on the road. So it kind of feels like we're chit-chatting with someone who is bored and on a whim decided they would pass their time being slightly curious about truck driving. That's not a crime in itself, and many of your questions are legit and our answers will certainly help others, so we're happy to answer them.

Other times you just have some quirky notions or diva-like preferences and after a while it begins to take away from the precious little time we have to help people who are actually on the road driving, or are about to be in school pursuing this career.

So we're not just chit-chatting to pass the time. Almost everyone here is actually very busy. Most people here are working full time, raising families, going to school full time, or have a million things going on. I'm honestly amazed at the time people manage to put in here knowing how busy and exhausted they are. These are truly giving people.

So if your questions are legit and they will help others who are preparing for this career, we're happy to answer them. But when you go off on long explanations about.....well.......if I'm being honest, what a diva you are, well we just really don't have the time or the interest. Trucking requires some seriously hardcore compromises, risks, and sacrifices. These men and women are out there every day risking their lives and working the equivalent of two full time jobs to feed their families and keep a roof over their heads. They're dealing with an endless stream of serious and complex issues, they're away from their home and family and friends, they're exhausted much of the time, and they either need our help or they're here to help others.

So it's nice for you that you can afford to be a picky diva about little silly stuff, but we're up to our chins in life or death issues, helping others survive out there, or trying to survive out there ourselves, making tremendous sacrifices trying to make a living in this industry.

So we're happy to have you, but please do keep in mind the circumstances these men and women are dealing with out there.

Well, I have a lot to learn and know about this line of work.

I am not trying to be picky. When I ask questions about what is available to drivers on the road in terms of food, I meant well.

I was expecting to hear from those with first-hand experience. If one has been driving for a couple years, i figure those people can easily say what exactly is out there along the routes and what is not. A truck is one large ball-and-chain to have in one's livelihood every day. I sort have figured that. I have never worked in the transportation industry, except as a vehicle mechanic, before so any traveling-type jobs are somewhat of a mystery to me.

It was not intended to be as stupid question.

I fear dying of a heart attack from improper dieting and lack of regular physical workouts much more than getting killed in a trucking collision.

A truck accident is the least of my fears quite frankly.

Please correct this line above.

I fear dying of a heart attack from porn dieting and lack of regular physical workouts much more than getting killed in a trucking collision.

should have read

I fear dying of a heart attack from poor dieting and lack of regular physical workouts much more than getting killed in a trucking collision.

I wish we had an edit option to correct post typos.

I fear dying of a heart attack from improper dieting and lack of regular physical workouts much more than getting killed in a trucking collision

Then don't drive..

This isn't the right fit for you and that is ok man. No need to waste anymore time. If I remember correctly you were the one demanding a super sleeper truck...

I fear dying of a heart attack from improper dieting and lack of regular physical workouts much more than getting killed in a trucking collision.

Well what's interesting is that you said your doctor has you on a strict diet. So I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess you're not exactly eating healthy at home and you have all of the free time and resources in the world to do so.

You can be healthy on the road just as well as you can be at home. It takes effort and discipline. So does trucking, in very large doses.

A truck accident is the least of my fears quite frankly.

If you were to drive professionally for a living I can assure you that you'd change your mind on that almost immediately. Every year trucking is ranked as one of the most deadly jobs in America, and it isn't because we're eating too many cheeseburgers. If you've been following the other conversations we've had several regulars here have very close calls in just the past few days, accidents that would have almost certainly involved fatalities.

I don't think your questions are dumb and no one has a problem with you wanting to eat healthy. I eat healthy all the time. Many of us do. I'm just saying that when you say things like "I won't eat out of a crockpot. I can't live that way!" or "I've never had a good buffet" it makes us laugh because if eating delicious, slow-cooked food from a crockpot or having all-you-can-eat meals is more than you can bear then trucking is going to be way, way beyond anything you would be able to tolerate.

Eating out of a crockpot is the best part of our day!

Brett replied to Oscar Graham:

So if your questions are legit and they will help others who are preparing for this career, we're happy to answer them.

My assumption? The answers we provide to your inquiries will only help someone else, difficult to take you seriously Oscar. As a result I totally agree with most of the responses on this thread. Eventually very few drivers will respond to your posts because as previously demonstrated, you are focusing on the minutia, the superficial aspects of the job, and not the true essence of being a truck driver. "Yes" with effort, you can eat healthy (I do), "yes" you can exercise (I do, I walk 30 minutes every day), "yes" for the most part Walmart's allow truck parking, "no" you are not going to be assigned a fancy long-nose Petercar by most carriers (wouldn't want it anyway), and "no" they will not provide you with a phone.

Granted all of those things might be vitally important to you and that's okay; "for you". However none of it really matters if you are not medically qualified, do not get your permit, do not attend a school and do not pass your CDL tests. You have a long way to go before you need to worry about any of that other stuff. Not trying to sound harsh or callous, but when I seriously considered truck driving full-time, none of your issues ever crossed my mind. Your focus is not where it needs to be if you are genuinely interested in trucking as a career.

Case in point and why I believe (hope I am wrong) you are just passing through, kicking tires so-to-speak purely out of curiosity. Top performing truck drivers are motivated, take-charge individuals uniquely gifted at adapting to change, constantly making adjustments, never stop learning, and rarely sweat the small stuff. You must compromise, think on your feet, and effectively deal with the deck of cards you are dealt on a daily, at times hourly basis. I am not convinced you are that "type" of individual. And again, totally okay,...we say it all the time; "most people are not cut-out for this job."

As an example supporting my point; on Sunday I had to deal with several issues, the least of which was assisting a store manager hand unloading about 1500 pounds of product that was seriously leaning (two pallets) in the wrong direction, the result of a careless or complacent forklift operator. The problem was not caused by me and not within my control to prevent. However as the driver I had to deal with it because it affected my productivity. Did I get upset? Did I complain? NO. I offered to pitch-in to down-stack the "leaners" because due to the holiday weekend, most of the receivers (labor) called-off. I notified my DM , communicated the delay and why. That's it...part of the job. Now I could have sat on my a** watching the manager do all of the work,...however the delay would have been significantly increased and cost me additional money because I had a time-sensitive reefer load waiting for me as my second dispatch of the day. I had to get back to the Walmart DC by 1400, otherwise the second load would have been removed from my truck and given to someone else. The net effect; about $125 less pay if I did not take the second load and yes an additional problem for my planner he did not need on a busy holiday weekend. In the process I also made a friend with this store manager and professionally represented my company. As an aside, the manager gave me a $20 credit voucher for his store as a thank-you. I may need to call-in the favor someday if I show up at his store with limited hours...it always comes around. (Pay it forward folks...!)

Here is an image of the offending pallet (the first one). Had the manager attempted to remove it using the electric pallet jack, the top 1/2 would have dumped on the floor, and would have likely been damaged. This issue occurred due to an 18” gap in front of the pallet ahead of this one, caused because it was spotted on an angle and wedged between the pallet next to it and the trailer wall.

Oscar Graham wrote:

A truck accident is the least of my fears quite frankly.

I am not trying to pick on you, but this kinda supports everything that's been said. The above, although we do not talk about it much, is always a concern and the fact it has no bearing on your thoughts right now is telling. The day I stop thinking about the inherent risks involved with this job is the day I must retire.

I fear dying of a heart attack from improper dieting and lack of regular physical workouts much more than getting killed in a trucking collision.

A truck accident is the least of my fears quite frankly.

If you were a student on my truck while I was training and had uttered those words, you would have been back at a terminal hoping for a new trainer. It tells me you don't take the risks seriously enough for me to allow you to drive my truck.

I fear dying of a heart attack from improper dieting and lack of regular physical workouts much more than getting killed in a trucking collision.

A truck accident is the least of my fears quite frankly.

If you were a student on my truck while I was training and had uttered those words, you would have been back at a terminal hoping for a new trainer. It tells me you don't take the risks seriously enough for me to allow you to drive my truck.

I have not decided to make trucking a career yet.

I would rather voice my concerns here than to an employer later on.

Over and over I keep hearing in the news media about drivers who are overweight and lacking in fitness.

I am here just to brainstorm. Tell you all what's on my mind. I am innocent.

I really don't know most of what needs to be known about this job.

Is this NOT a job for an analytical person like me? What type of personality is generally required? What type of mental state is needed?

Yes, I hate nasty surprises and like things in my life and at work neatly structured and organized. I don't like to ad lib things, I like things well-planned in advance.

I really don't know what the risks are. I have not been yet formally trained and educated about this job.

Should I be SCARED? It can't be quite as hazardous as being a soldier or a fire-fighter. Maybe I am wrong, though.

I think most trucking accidents have been attributed to lack of sleep on the part of vehicle operators and/or the use of substances. I don't smoke, drink or do any unlawful drugs.

Most accidents are due to human error and not mechanical malfunction.

One has to be well-rested to remain alert on duty.

Nobody here knows me to be making final judgments on me.