I'm out of work, Offered training and Employ as a Truck Driver, Any Advice?

Company is C.R. England, Refrigerated hauler. Seen their Web Page and It looks ok so i applied. Well aware of some disadvantages


ie: sleeping in rig, long days away from home, ect. Just looking for some insight. THANKS!!!

I'm out of work, Offered training and Employ as a Truck Driver, Any Advice?
long hours!!!!
Reply:If you don't already have a CDL license, you probably ought to do a little more research. More than a few trucking companies offer paid training (Swift and Schneider do as well) but it also indebts you to them for a set period of time to "pay back" the costs of training (usually a year) and if you quit before a year is up, you will owe them the remaining amount for your training.





So unless you want to be stuck owing money, or have your credit ruined, you should be *absolutely sure* about becoming a truck driver before you commit to it. It's not a job so much as it is a lifestyle.





To learn more about the industry and what it is REALLY like (and no- you don't get "the jobs no one else wants"....you'll be dispatched from the same load board as everyone else, nor will you necessarily "hate all car drivers" if you approach life with a laid back and safety conscious attitude).....You can join this email based discussion group for prospective truck drivers: http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/tr...





There are a lot of experienced drivers on there to answer your questions %26amp; concerns....and it's a very nice group, no flaming or rudeness allowed.





A few basic things....if you have a family, especially with kids at home, trucking is a very difficult life. You'll be pulled between your obligations at home %26amp; your obligations to make enough money to feed your family. Most of the truck drivers out here who hate their jobs, are the ones who got into it, not knowing how hard it would be to balance work %26amp; family life. Divorce rates among truckers are some of the highest nationwide.





If you are quick to anger or get frustrated, you may be better suited to another profession. Trucking can be very stressful and even the most laid-back of us gets upset once in a while. You'll have rude drivers, traffic, delays at shippers %26amp; recievers, the occasional shipper/reciever who treats you with disrespect, etc. You may have dispatchers who don't respect you, or who expect you to do things that aren't possible (time-wise). These sorts of things are easiest to handle if you are easy going %26amp; do well at keeping things in perspective.





If you're single, laid back %26amp; enjoy traveling, you may very well love your job as a truck driver. I do...and I found my husband out here, and we now enjoy it together. It can be the best choice you've ever made or your worst nightmare, there are a lot of resources on the Web...take advantage %26amp; do your research and do NOT enter into this career field without knowing what you're getting into!!!
Reply:Having truck drivers is important for society. However, it is important to remember that you aren't going to have a great career, because truck driving doesn't open up a lot of opportunities for you. In fact, it takes away opportunities in that you will be so far away for much of your time. Also, you will be under pressure from your employers and the police, because you have to meet deadlines.





I get the impression truck drivers have deadlines that have no room for error.
Reply:It is not for everyone, but it can become a pretty good career if you can handle the negative aspects of it.


1. Priority jobs go to the experienced. You will be getting the jobs they don't want.


2. You can be gone from home for two weeks at a time sleeping in the truck and cheap motels.


3. You will be paid a lower mileage rate then other drivers.


4. You will be pressured to drive longer and further than logic dictates. You will have to resist the temptation to please in order to not burn out or get in an accident.


5. You will learn to hate drivers of automobiles.


This is only a partial list, but if you get the drift.....