Game: State 2 Things You Love About Trucking

We stress here that trucking can be tough and pushing hard will make you some awesome money and gain you respect. On this game i want to hear some positive things about trucking as a whole, not just your particular company.

1.) Freedom - I park when and where I want. I nap and sleep when I want. I have the ability to run hard and make great money or slow down and take it easier. I only truly deal with people i want because i work alone. I can turn off the phone and QC and not be bothered by anyone. I can take hometime anywhere in the country. If i want to train i do if not, i stay solo. The financial freedom of not having rent or a mortgage has allowed me to save a ton of money in a short time. After the first year, i could have gotten hired almost anywhere. After 2 years, i did apply to fedex and was approved within 2 hours, pending drug test.

2.) Job security. Even if my company closed tomorrow, there are millions of companies out there wanting experienced, safe drivers. We will always be in demand.

Your turn.... go....

Not going to lie the money, my new runs that starts in 2 weeks will be a 100k a year route, not bad for a drop out with a GED and no college.

Also nobody is breathing down my neck all day everyday as long as you show up on time and do your logs correctly it is very rare to hear from the higher ups. Along with no drama with coworkers, since we only see each other a few hours per day unlike my sister has to put up with in her office space.

I love the freedom as well. As long as you're doing what's expected of you and doing it in a safe, professional way chances are you wont hear from any of your bosses.

I also really love the time spent alone in the truck, especially those times in the super early morning with hardly anyone else on the interstate , just me and the open road. It gives you plenty of time to do some deep thinking. The only downside of running at night is lack of scenery, and most people are asleep so I cant call really anyone if I feel up to. For me, 230am-330am is usually where I have a little trouble focusing. Any other time I'm great!Getting out of the truck and moving around usually solves that problem.

Rainy, you do like to play games, do you not?

Ok, maybe I can respond as an old guy. I'm just a rookie, started driving at 66. I'm old enough to know when I started I might not like it. But I have not just liked it, I love it. It's a great adventure and learning experience. It's a great second career and sure beats growing old in a rocking chair in front of a TV.

I've had an opportunity to encourage young people who want to be drivers. That is a great joy whenever I can do that. I've had the opportunity to try and slow down a few young bucks and maybe influence them to be more cautious and balanced.

I've had the opportunity to learn from the experienced drivers here who freely give their time and vast knowledge to us rookies. I don't want to list their names because I might miss someone. But they know who they are.

I've benefited from correction by more experienced drivers, both here and with my company. It has helped me know what attitude and practices contribute to being a safe and successful driver.

Plus, it's fun.

That I immediately no longer had to incur the cost of $1725.33 + utilities/month for rent.

That the money I may be losing in salary, will be surpassed in savings because of the above point, and even more once I'm able to turn my vehicle lease in and be free of a lease pmt + ins. leaving me w/ just my storage unit to address. It's only $100/month...but that's still spending money to store things I must not need, because if I needed the stuff, then it's in my truck already.

Secondly, I now have a skill that I can fall back onto should I decide to move on from it in a year or 2 (actually part of my long-term-plan), and that is what excites me the most. That I can now go try new ventures, and should they not pan out, I'll still have my CDL. Whereas before I was being paid 90k/yr and scared to death that one day that could all go away and then what...go do the same work for 30-40k/yr and try and maintain a 90k lifestyle. That wasn't going to happen, and that's my fault for not having a valuable skillset.

But now I have an in-demand skill and that gets my creative juices flowing for things outside the truck.

1) There is something about the act of accelerating smoothly onto the interstate and merging with traffic that I find satisfying on a very basic level.

2) I *love* that I've been able to meet five of my friends across the country and I am getting /paid/ to travel to their locations.

I used to be in the restaurant business and had to deal with employees and customers and though I really love dealing with people, there's always the 1% that are a total pain in the ass. And I'm being kind when I say 1%... I love being on my own most of the day. Also love to listen to talk radio and hearing different voices and personalities across the country.

Just went from Phoenix to Idaho back through Wyoming and back to Kansas City and I can't believe how beautiful our country really is. Almost wish I was driving in a car so I could just pull over and take pictures of the things I saw. But those things are still etched in my mind and I am so thankful to experience that.

I used to be in the restaurant business and had to deal with employees and customers and though I really love dealing with people, there's always the 1% that are a total pain in the ass. And I'm being kind when I say 1%... I love being on my own most of the day. Also love to listen to talk radio and hearing different voices and personalities across the country.

Just went from Phoenix to Idaho back through Wyoming and back to Kansas City and I can't believe how beautiful our country really is. Almost wish I was driving in a car so I could just pull over and take pictures of the things I saw. But those things are still etched in my mind and I am so thankful to experience that.

Junkyard K9, man I totally agree with you. I envy you for getting to drive the western routes. I haven't got to do that yet, but I hope to in the future. This country is truly beautiful.

1. Never knowing where I am going next, most people don't like forced dispatch. But i absolutely love the excitement when i get a Pre-plan for somewhere i've never been before!

2. The money, my wife and I make stupid money for simply driving everyday. I get to see the country with my Wife and my Puppy. Its amazing, at home i busted butt and risked my life everyday working Corrections. And now I'm making double what i was making doing almost none of the work. Dropping trailers and dealing with shipper/receivers beats getting gassed every other day haha.