Why Do You Want To Become A Truck Driver???

For me it is adventure, challenge, pay and solitude. Adventure, love seeing new places and different views. Challenge, whether it be backing into some podunk budweiser distributor or the road itself. Pay, I'm making twice if not a little more than my last 4 jobs and the same if not more as I was in IT. Solitude, I don't need much human interaction.

My first career goal was to play for the L.A Lakers, but after decades of waiting for them to call I kinda of decided it was time to move on and so here I am a rookie truck driver

I wanted to get away from co-workers, do my job, and be left alone. My friend told me he only deals with his "boss" dispatcher once a week and that sounded great to me.

I would have to word it in a more professional way. "I am an independent self started who feels trapped by the limitations of working with others. I wish to excel where others fail, and I want to allow dispatch to provide attention to those who are most in need."

Translation: Leave me the hell alone, and I'll do my damn job.

Rainy, you sound JUST like me!!!

I would have to word it in a more professional way. "I am an independent self started who feels trapped by the limitations of working with others. I wish to excel where others fail, and I want to allow dispatch to provide attention to those who are most in need."

Translation: Leave me the hell alone, and I'll do my damn job.

Eloquently stated...either way! I just might have to steal that quote if you don't mind.

A lot of reasons, but it's not going to happen because i dont have 3 years of verifiable work history, even though I've never stopped working. ive lived in Hawaii the last 6 years, and people use cash and trade out there. they dont like government involvement or taxes, and neither do i, so I'm pretty screwed. Maverick wont even consider my application. Not sure why any other would if this is a requirement in the industry. im pretty screwed. bummed out about it.

I believe in self fulfilling prophecy. If you truly believe you're screwed, then you're screwed, because you've apparently already given up.

Quite honestly, I know several people who have lived and worked in Hawaii (and still do) and don't seem to have that problem.

I will say this lifestyle requires much commitment and dedication.

The 3 year FEDERAL requirement for those never having held a CDL (10 years for current or previous drivers) is to simply verify your whereabouts and activities.. basically that you weren't in some rogue terrorist training camp somewhere.

Some companies are more strict on this work history requirement than others, because they've discovered people that don't have a good work ethic don't tend to last in this industry, where we commonly work 70 hours a week.

That doesn't mean that companies won't give you a chance. You may need some sort of alternative proof of your activities for the past three to 10 years. Yes, some companies will want 10 years of history even for new drivers.

A lot of reasons, but it's not going to happen because i dont have 3 years of verifiable work history, even though I've never stopped working. ive lived in Hawaii the last 6 years, and people use cash and trade out there. they dont like government involvement or taxes, and neither do i, so I'm pretty screwed.

Funny, my sister has lived in Hawaii for about 20 years. I bet she would love not to pay taxes. lol

You hate government involvement? Then stay away from trucking. they tell.us when to break, when we can drive, what meds we can take, and if we even qualify.

Translation: Leave me the hell alone, and I'll do my damn job.

Funny Rainy, thats the ex-postal worker coming out in you!!!

At this point I only do it for the money, but when I first came out here a big part of it was the adventure. I got bored with otr pretty quick as I didn't really take the time to explore on my own when I wasn't behind the wheel.

I've started to enjoy the adventure aspect again more recently as now I actually deliver to people's homes all over the country. I almost never go to the same place twice and I get to see alot more of the country than just the same interstates over and over again. And it's cool meeting all sorts of different people and seeing what it's like to live in different areas. I've delivered to people who can see the beach right out their back window and others in the Ozarks surrounded by forest.

But, while it's super fun and all, I'm using trucking as an opportunity to better myself. I'm paying off debt, in the process of buying my first house right now, and I'm planning on finishing my degree starting this year. Trucking has provided a clear and amazingly quick path to accomplishing those goals--much quicker than almost anything else out there.