Game: Why Do You Love Trucking?

Experienced drivers, let the newbies know the positive side of trucking.

Got into trucking because it would be a rewarding career once you get the hang of it, that is after learning the lifestyle. For those of you that always wanted to see the country, what better way to see it and get paid for doing it?

For me, I can summarize it in one word - adventure!

I've always been an adventurer. I have always pursued excitement, challenge, and uncertainty over money, prestige, or security. The world is a giant amusement park and I want to ride all the most exciting rides. I want to live a fun, engaging, and challenging lifestyle that helps me grow as a person and experience as many amazing moments as possible.

Trucking was a fantastic adventure. It had it all. I was challenged, stressed, and tested every single day. Each day was unique and unpredictable. I lived in the truck and traveling was my lifestyle for most of my adult life.

After 15 years of driving, I felt I had squeezed every ounce of adventure and unique experiences I could out of trucking. It was finally time to move on to new adventures. It took 15 years to get to that point, which really speaks volumes for what an amazing time I had and how much trucking had to offer. The endless stream of difficult challenges and the knowledge that I really was making a difference as part of the lifeblood of our economy made trucking a truly gratifying experience.

I was lucky; I could have literally been a rocket scientist or a brain surgeon. I was even accepted into the Coast Guard Academy and would have been an officer my entire career, starting at 21 years old. I chose instead at 19 years old to head off with my buddies in an old Chevy van to seek out adventure and live life on my terms, whatever the heck that might be. I chose trucking on a whim at 21 years old because it seemed like it would be a grand adventure, and it certainly was. I would do it again in a heartbeat if I was magically transported to my youth to start all over again.

I’m not exactly experienced at 6 months, and I’m a regional driver, but what got me it is the freedom

I get in my truck and I can forget everything except getting my load where it is going. On the way, I see lots of interesting things. Places, wildlife, people.

I also enjoy being in control of my earnings. I’m paid for what I do, not what someone else thinks I do. Being previously self-employed, this is as close to that as possible.

Adventure and good pay.

This is a big country with some amazing sites to see. From sea to shining sea. The Cascades, the Sierras and the Rocks are all so beautiful. Although, treacherous during the winter, they just as breathe taking as in the summer. The southwest has it beauty too. One of the few places on the mainland US where you can find lava fields that were active less than 1000 years ago. The Grand Canyon is stunning beyond words. Even some crazy place like Wisconsin has awesome beauty.

I'm on target to make well over 50k this year. While to some this may not be that good. But, for me come from a bass-ackwards state, it's a step up. Even coming out of the IT field.

I got into it for the chrome!

I got into it for the chrome!

Is that gonna be your new song: "It's All About The Chrome Baby!"

Brett called it:

Adventure!

You go places you've never been to. Prickly pear cactus flowers along the road in West Texas in summer. Watching thunderstorms across the prairie in Kansas. Late March in Vermont, when the land is thinking about thawing out. Driving a 2-lane highway across Georgia and just breathing the history.

Making a delivery into the Radford Army Ammunition Plant and driving by the Nitrocellulose Office . Stopping at a small truck stop in Colorado, and watching the prairie dog town in a field behind your truck.

Making sure your schedule will get you to your destination with time for a few miles before turning in. Listening to the rain on the cab as you close your eyes for the night.

I hope I can join this conversation even though I'm not an experienced driver. But I love a challenge and getting my CDL and going OTR for Schneider, was a very satisfying challenge and something I'm proud of. Now I'm working on a different challenge, but I know I can come back to driving when I can no longer swing a hammer. (Except a tire thumper). I met quite a few new and interesting people, saw parts of the country I'd never seen before. I really enjoyed the mental aspect of trucking. Anybody who thinks a driver is just a steering wheel holder is greatly misinformed. It takes a lot of brain work to do everything involved with driving. The top tier drivers are all students of their profession and teachers also. Pretty cool way to make a good living!