So Is It Just Me? Or........

So as I sit here researching, considering and dreaming about a possible career change into trucking. (My wife says I over think and over analyze everything). All I seem to find online (aside from this site) is drivers that hate the job and the industry. Over and over I find guys that say things like .. You can't make money anymore. You are looked at like a second class citizen. ( that one doesn't bother me because I've spent the last 12 years as a realtor so most people would consider a truck driver a huge step up! lol). My company sucks It's way to much work. It's way to dangerous. One tiny mistake and your career and maybe life is over. Way to hard on the family. Not worth it mentally or financially. And no way a rookie can survive and on and on and on. It's kinda taking the wind out of my sails.

So my questions are these. Does it suck that bad? Or is it one of those things that for every 1 guy online *****ing there is 4 guys/ladies that love it and have great lives and do well financially? It just seems like this profession has way more than its fair share of negativity ? Or do truckers just have a predisposition to complain. Lol . I have tried to research a ton both online and off before making the leap but aside from this site it sounds like a bad idea for a whole host of reasons. I'm not naive, and I don't have nor want rose colored glasses going into this. I know it's hard work. It's a lifestyle and just like all jobs there ups and downs. But it's hard to find anyone that says the positives out weight the negative. I'm from a small community and only know a few drivers. But those ones I do know seem to be happy with great lives great families and seem to actually be fairly well off.

Let's be honest. None of us would probably work if we were rich! I know I wouldn't ! I actually picture myself spending my time on a beach somewhere haggling with the kid that sells beads and cigars to the tourists! ( that's a whole other topic).

So is it just me?

I am trying to make the leap into trucking like you. I think the internet in most cases is not a good place to go for advice. It seems that when you can say whatever you want and dont have to put your face next to what you are saying it just makes people mean. I have been trying to look at the facts like most drivers are around the age of 55 so I would like to think if was that bad they would have gotten out of it a long time ago. If you look up almost any job on the internet you would find people talking bad about it. I am not going to let someones bad attitude turn me away from trying something. I am sure like anything else it comes down to the individual. I would like to think if I go into it with the right attitude I will be able to make it work out. If it is really that terrible of a job I will just get out of it and do something else. It is something I really want to do and be successful at and I will work very hard to make it work. I know I did not answer any of your questions but I dont think you should not try it. If it works for you and it is something you really want to do then go for it 100%. Good luck.

A recurring recommendation here is to spend some time at a truck stop and speak with the drivers you meet there . You will get insight as to the companies moving freight in your particular area .

You will also get first hand information from somebody who is currently working for these companies , not someone who failed at a company for any particular reason and feels the need to go on a web site and bad mouth the company for not kissing his royal derriere to his/her satisfaction .

You should be advised as well that while at a truck stop drivers who appear to push their name/driver # on you during the informal interview maybe searching for bonus money from your potential application to the company they work for . An honest and unbiased opinion will not involve a driver # .

Hope that helps . `S`

A recurring recommendation here is to spend some time at a truck stop and speak with the drivers you meet there . You will get insight as to the companies moving freight in your particular area .

You will also get first hand information from somebody who is currently working for these companies , not someone who failed at a company for any particular reason and feels the need to go on a web site and bad mouth the company for not kissing his royal derriere to his/her satisfaction .

You should be advised as well that while at a truck stop drivers who appear to push their name/driver # on you during the informal interview maybe searching for bonus money from your potential application to the company they work for . An honest and unbiased opinion will not involve a driver # .

Hope that helps . `S`

Thanks for the responses! I guess I wasn't talking about specific companies just the negativity online in general on the web for the whole industry . It just seems this profession as a whole has more than its fair share then any other jobs?

It just seems like this profession has way more than its fair share of negativity ? Or do truckers just have a predisposition to complain. Lol

Yes AND yes!

To address the second point first...I've had a lot of careers and I've never in my life been around a bigger group of whiners and crybabies than truckers. They're famous complainers. It's unbearable at times. If you ever pull up on the scene of a truck accident the first thing you want to do is make sure the driver is complaining. If so, he's fine.

And yes, the trucking industry has an incredible amount of negativity on the Web. It's something we try to help people understand.

For one, trucking is a lifestyle, not just a job as I'm certain you've heard numerous times already. And if you look at it from the perspective of simply a job where you put in your time and get paid your money I would say that trucking isn't worth it. When you look at all you go through - the stress, the risk, the DOT , protecting your CDL , the drug tests, the long hours, the erratic sleep patterns - it's a lot to put up with day in and day out. But what makes it worth doing in my opinion is the travelling lifestyle. There's nothing like it and no other career offers anything quite the same. To travel this beautiful country, see the incredible scenery, meet tons of interesting people, experience the culture, drive a super cool American big rig, and have fun in places like Vegas, New Orleans, and Miami or go to sporting events, concerts, and festivals from coast to coast - it's an incredible lifestyle. To me, that is what was so great about trucking.

Now on that same note there's a lot of people who simply need a job. Nowadays with our lousy economy and utter lack of blue collar jobs that pay a living wage a ton of people have turned to trucking. Well unfortunately a lot of those people either don't belong in trucking in the first place, aren't prepared properly for what they're going to endure trying to get their career underway, or both. Go to any truck stop and you'll find drivers that come from all walks of life...accountants, computer programmers, pilots, factory workers, teachers - everything and anything. But a lot of them are not there by choice really. They just couldn't find anything comparable in their field any longer and ran out of viable options. And many of them are not happy about it. And they'll certainly let you know.

If you love a challenge, you love adventure, and you want every day to be utterly unique and unpredictable then trucking is an awesome option. You're playing a vital role in the economy that you can be proud of, you're driving a rig which is a dream a lot of us have had since we were little kids, and you're living a truly unique lifestyle. But think about most people you know. Do you think that describes them? Nope, not most people. Most people want an easy, predictable job. They want to know what to expect from each day. They don't want risk, they don't want stress, they don't want to really challenge themselves if they can help it. Unfortunately a lot of those people accidentally stumble into trucking thinking, "How hard can it be? It's just driving." It doesn't take long to figure out just how hard it can be.

If you dig deeper you will find as i did that the people that complain about making money are the old school guys that ran multiple log books and never followed the rules. With the new electronic logs everyone has to follow the same set of rules and their are a huge new set of rules. You can make decent money and still be in compliance with DOT. I have a wife and 2 kids and am able to support my family just fine.

Trucking is like a family. It is no different from any other trade. We look out for each other no matter what and if you are not in the family then you do not know anything about it. I have had a few things that i didn't like but for the most part everyone has been very nice and helpful and i will pay it forward as most do. This is not just a job but rather a lifestyle.

Thomas...you wound me !!! Theres quite a few of us "old timers" on here who ran multiple logs AND multiple CDL's....So the whiners and complainers and not the old road hogs..I won't even put an age on them...but I will say that in every profession you will find a certain amount of people that "can't take the heat" and so they just stand by the kitchen door whining and complaining, rather than getting the heck out of the kitchen and going to work in the bathroom....Alot of people have this idealistic view of what being a trucker is. Its NOT romantic, its not exciting, and its not for sissies..Its a lifestyle, and its mentally, emotionally and physically challenging. So yeah, theres a ton of folks who have been burned in one way or another by trucking schools, companies, trainers, whatever. And I'll tell everyone of them to pull up your adult panties and get on with your life, cuz the only person you are making miserable is yourself.

Starcar hit the nail on the head and i could not have explained it any better. I have a wife and 2 kids and they are very supportive because they know that i have never loved any job more than driving a truck. I wish i would have gotten into the trade 20 years ago instead of computers, but better late than never i guess. I ave worked in several trades over the last 30 years and have never felt more welcomed and accepted as i have since i started driving. I feel like i belong to a family and not just at the company that i work for but feel welcomed at every truck stop and rest area that i stop at.

Don't get me wrong though it is not an easy job by any means and it is not for everyone but i don't think there is another job where the people will readily accept you and do not care about your background, age, where you live, or anything else beyond your attitude and willingness to extend your hand and help out the next guy. My trainer was a 37 year veteran and all he ever wanted from anyone was for them to say thank you and hope that they will help someone else someday. Always pay it forward and enjoy the life or get out and do something else.