Episode 74 - What You Should Know Before You Start A Trucking Career

Jan 23, 2018

Thinking Of Becoming A Truck Driver? It is very important to get the right information and clearly understand it before you start your new truck driving career. Far too many new drivers don't. That helps make the washout rates extremely high - and that is a shame for everyone concerned. Especially when the trucking industry desperately needs good drivers - and you need a good job and a good career opportunity. The truth is trucking IS a GREAT opportunity! However - there are some hard realities you must understand and be willing to accept in order to be successful in trucking. Most people don't know what they need to know and others don't want to accept the realities they are getting themselves into so they quit. Here are a few things you need to be well aware of and consider before you start;  

1. Recruiters are sales people - That means they are trying to sell you something - a job, so they can fill an empty seat. Some are better than others and some give you more accurate information than others do. Even then it is information that may be second or third hand - meaning they are just repeating what they were told to say without having first hand direct access to the people that actually control the things they are quoting. So the information you get is often exaggerated at best and flat-out wrong in some cases. Caveat emptor!
2. Most new drivers do little to no real research or study on their own. Instead, they rely on recruiting information alone. See number 1 again.
3. You will almost certainly be gone far more than you expect and you will be paid far less. Pay will get better over time - and faster if you truly learn more about what you are doing and how to maximize your benefits. More opportunities will also become available with more experience that will allow you more time at home - though this will always be a balancing act and a challenge in trucking - even if you own your own truck with your own authority someday. If the wheels aren't turning you aren't earning...

Try to visit a company terminal if you can and talk to current drivers there. Ask them about starting pay, time at home, time out on the road, equipment, loads and how the company treats drivers and staff. If you cant make it to a terminal go to your local truck stop and keep an eye out for one of their trucks - get ahold to the driver and offer to buy him or her lunch or coffee in exchange for a few questions. Do your homework. Learn about trucking. Do your research and learn about any company you are considering going to work at. In all cases be prepared - trucking is hard for most people especially their first few months through their first year. For those who survive past that - it does get easier and it does get better. There are big rewards if you are among the best and if you are motivated - but sadly most drivers - even those with years of experience are not the best and many are not very motivated at all. So they barely get by. That is not unique to trucking either - it spans all industries and all walks of life. So if you want to do better than that you are going to have to work at it and put in the effort. Check out www.ldsewell.com for free resources and additional information.