Rookie Who Can’t Stand Otr Training

I may sound harsh but this lifestyle isn’t for the weak. All of us seen our fair share of accidents.

Seen families burned up, crushed, truck barreling through because of no air brakes. You are driving a big weapon of death, yes death. Whatever you hit, small chance they’ll survive.

Hit someone in a car, small chance they’ll die

Hit someone in a truck, small chance they’ll live.

See the difference?

If your heart is not into this, don’t force yourself. Feel free to come back later on before the AI robots come in

Todd asks

Is the company trainer going to be like a DMV examiner telling you to turn left, turn right, slow down, make a lane change, etc?

Howard, you may have a trainer that does that but so what? Most of your time will be on the interstate but when you hit local roads I'd like my trainer helping me. You need to remember if you miss a turn you may end up driving 10 miles or more to find a place you can get turned around. You're focusing on the wrong things. Either jump into this or don't. You seem to be trying to create an excuse to justify not making the leap. Truck driving is not for everyone, but you seem to be focusing way too hard on what training is like. Old School and Kearsey (among many others) had bad experiences with their trainers. They haven't allowed that to define how their career turns out. Both of these moderators are a couple of the many drivers here making great money by being top tier drivers. While truck driving isnt a walk in the park once you're experienced enough you wont be so stressed out trying to trip plan or know where youre parking for the night.

Let's take this one step at a time. Read through Becoming A Truck Driver: The Raw Truth About Truck Driving and see if it interests you. If it does, Apply For Paid CDL Training and see if anybody is willing to give you a shot.

Whenever "driving isn't for everybody" is uttered it gives me the impression of a Marines recruiting campaign poster: The Proud, The Few, The American Truck Drivers...The highways, shippers and receivers are looking for a few good men (or gals).

"Driving isn't for everybody". It's a staple expression in the industry like the dentist's telling the patient to "open big now". But neither is working for a living. Does "driving isn't for everybody" mean "it probably isn't going to be for most" or "the odds are heavily stacked against you should you give this a try"?

One time I tried driving a cab. The company trainer on day one said "it wasn't for everyone" and I only lasted a week. Too much competition in the town I was in and no money was being made on my part. It was a loser except for the company collecting lease payments. Much like a casino: the house always wins on the losses of many. There were way too many cabs in the town competing. This was a little no-name company and not one "everybody knows" like Yellow Cab or Checker. No, it wasn't for me. If any job pays not enough money to make it worth while, then no, it isn't my bag. I was paying daily lease for the cab and for fuel out of my own pocket. I never got enough fares to break even. What this gypsy-run company does is just takes drivers' lease money for profit while drivers are turned over right and left. The owner and his two sons were arrogant arseholes too.

I've come to expect that whenever this cliche (something isn't for everybody) is thrown out it means there is a slim-to-none chance of making it.

Training is only temporary. Push through and you'll see how great this career is

"Howard" says:

The idea of having to bunk with a trainer in the cab seems a little yucky.

why? This trainer is opening up their home on wheels to help teach you how to handle a rig. It isnt ideal but it's a necessary step in becoming a safe driver. Most companies run training as a team so you'll be sleeping in the bottom bunk (with your sleeping bag) while your trainer drives and vice versa. If you're both sleeping you'll likely be in the top bunk. It's not like you're going to be spooning with your trainer. There are much more "yucky" things about trucking than sleeping in a separate bed than your trainer. Picture a 100 degree day in a truck stop parking lot. The aroma of urine is all over because a driver doesnt want to walk inside so he urinates in the lot or pours a bottle of pee onto the ground. There are also drivers that poop in plastic bags and throw them on the ground.

People, no matter what occupation, who are such disgusting pigs like that should be arrested and put in orange jump suits to scrub the streets with a toothbrush off the sheriff bus. When the law has teeth and there are consequences for doing those kinds of things, people then start to care.

I've come to expect that whenever this cliche (something isn't for everybody) is thrown out it means there is a slim-to-none chance of making it.

That's understandable.

Trucking is something that almost anyone can learn to do on a basic level - steering, backing, shifting, etc. I'm pretty sure a monkey could get a truck rolling. But trucking isn't a physical challenge, it's a mental one, and it takes a certain mindset to thrive in this industry.

Adventurous, Type-A personalities tend to thrive in trucking. They love a challenge. They love being the captain of their own ship. They love the pressure, the long days, tight schedules, risk, and of course the immense fulfillment you get from completing a difficult and important challenge safely and efficiently.

A question I love to ask is, "Do you want an easy life or a fulfilling life?" Because easy is not fulfilling.

Trucking is a great career and an even greater adventure. The pay and benefits are strong, the demand for drivers is strong, and you're paid by the mile which means the best performers make the most money, as it should be. If you're ambitious and adventurous you will probably love trucking. If you're looking for the easiest path through life you'll be crying yourself to sleep half the time.

I loved my years on the road. The moderators and many of the long-time members here all love their trucking careers. But we've watched a ton of people literally walk away crying, vowing never to return. Imagine throwing an accountant into an Indiana Jones movie. Yeah, it ends badly for that accountant. Not everyone is cut out for the challenges that truck drivers face, but very few careers are as rewarding in so many ways.

Trucking is hard. The hard is what makes it great.

Its a tough one but id give the same advice i gave my 22 yr old step daughter who went to prime on my advice even though i personally dont like the way they do things its still a company with alot of freight and the experience in all the climates and landscapes i believe is experience thats irreplaceable driving locally but more importantly she signed a one year contract and honoring your obligations speak volumes of who sheis as a person she stuck it out is at 16 months and looking for a regional job which i fully support. She faced alot of things out there and made it through it a better person in the end and is now on her way to a lifelong carreer than can provide her a comfortable life

So my advice is stick it out itll be tough at times but get your year then decide where your future is gonna take u

Howard says:

Does "driving isn't for everybody" mean "it probably isn't going to be for most" or "the odds are heavily stacked against you should you give this a try"?

Every career, hobby, sport, or pastime appeals to different people. There is no one size fits all. In the movie City Slickers Jack Palance holds up his finger in response to Billy's Crystal's question about the meaning of life. Billy Crystal says "your finger." Jack Palance says "no, one thing" and explains that the one thing is different for everyone.

In Victor Frankl's book Man's Search for Meaning he analyzed holocaust survivors and determined that those who survived had some sense of meaning or purpose in their life. He used the phrase that those who have a whyto live can endure almost any how. Again, it is different for each person.

In my opinion, people tend to view life from two different perspectives. They either have a why and decide what they want to get out of life or they don't have a why and simply have a list of things they want to avoid in life. The latter being the complain, blame, and criticize crowd.

So what relevance does this have for you? What do you want to get out of trucking? Or if I ask it another way, if you found out today you had 6 months to live (all of being healthy) what would you do?

For me, it would be to buy an RV and drive around the country with my wife. I would spend most of the rest of my time on a traveling adventure with the most important person in my life. I like travel (driving not flying), I like to explore new places, I like to see different people (but only for short interactions), I like my "ME" time while I'm driving, I like to ponder deep thoughts as I drive, and I like to write creatively.

I think that I will get most of those things in trucking. And the hard part of trucking? I can endure any how for the right why.

There are a lot of resources on this website to learn about the trucking lifestyle. Packrat just started a "day in the life" thread, so you can see day by day what a trucker does.

See if there is something trucking offers that appeals to you. If so, jump in with both feet. If not, I hope you find what works for you.

I’d also like to add that I got a preventable accident while in Minnesota. It was my first time driving in snow and I went into a median and had to be towed out. So companies I’m trying to apply for won’t touch me because of that. I really feel down and out and like I went through all of this for no reason because I don’t want to stay with prime because of the duration of the training and I’d like to be home weekly. So I want to be in the flatbed division. It seems like I’m screwed in more ways than I could imagine. Might look for another industry at this point.

Naj, you're killing yourself. Do you realize that? All of your problems are in your mind. You're working for a great company, making solid money, traveling the country in a beautiful rig. You even wrecked the truck but they pulled it out and put you right back to work.

But you've decided that nothing sounds good to you. The grass is greener everywhere else. You want to be anywhere but where you are doing anything but what you're doing.

Do you really think that's going to change if you change jobs? Not a chance. You'll just find a whole new list of problems and complaints.

You have to get your mind right and get focused on the task at hand. You're in a great position. Where is your gratitude? Where is your appreciation for what you have or your sense of adventure for the amazing journey you're on?

Your situation is a classic example of the enemy within. You don't have any problems outside of your own mind. That's the truth. Your life is awesome. Your attitude is just so sour that you've lost all of the passion, excitement, and gratitude you should have for the blessings in your life.

Stay with Prime and work on your mind. Find some good books to help you get a better perspective so you can feel that passion and gratitude again. I can promise you that changing jobs is only going to screw up your career and make things even worse. I hope you'll take a long, hard look at yourself and see that you've lost that juice for life and you need to get it back. That journey starts from within.

I would highly recommend a Tony Robbins book like Awaken The Giant Within. It's absolutely incredible. It will change your life. It's exactly what you need.

Does what I'm saying resonate with you? Give it some thought and let us know how you feel about that.

Even if you didnt have that non preventable on your record, no other company could or would hire you. You signed a contract that says you can't work for anyone else until you pay your training fee in full. If they did hire you, Prime can sue them & win.

Now you have to work extra hard to be safe. I did it & am still doing it. By Gods grace you can succeed & achieve a better opportunity for yourself. It's never free & let's face it, nothing worthwhile ever is.

Crying is fine. Just dont linger there. Find the strength & pull through it.

I completely agree with you.

Naj, you're killing yourself. Do you realize that? All of your problems are in your mind. You're working for a great company, making solid money, traveling the country in a beautiful rig. You even wrecked the truck but they pulled it out and put you right back to work.

But you've decided that nothing sounds good to you. The grass is greener everywhere else. You want to be anywhere but where you are doing anything but what you're doing.

Do you really think that's going to change if you change jobs? Not a chance. You'll just find a whole new list of problems and complaints.

You have to get your mind right and get focused on the task at hand. You're in a great position. Where is your gratitude? Where is your appreciation for what you have or your sense of adventure for the amazing journey you're on?

Your situation is a classic example of the enemy within. You don't have any problems outside of your own mind. That's the truth. Your life is awesome. Your attitude is just so sour that you've lost all of the passion, excitement, and gratitude you should have for the blessings in your life.

Stay with Prime and work on your mind. Find some good books to help you get a better perspective so you can feel that passion and gratitude again. I can promise you that changing jobs is only going to screw up your career and make things even worse. I hope you'll take a long, hard look at yourself and see that you've lost that juice for life and you need to get it back. That journey starts from within.

I would highly recommend a Tony Robbins book like Awaken The Giant Within. It's absolutely incredible. It will change your life. It's exactly what you need.

Does what I'm saying resonate with you? Give it some thought and let us know how you feel about that.