Becoming A Truck Driver - What New Drivers Need To Know

Raw Truth - The REAL Truck Driver Experience

2007-08-15T15:55:00.000-04:00

Ok, we’ll be covering some of the general information you wanted to know about the types of jobs available in the industry, but for now, let's get down to the really good stuff you'll need to know...the Raw Truth. There are a number of different entities you will have to deal with and understand as a driver including the trucking schools, your own company, the shippers and receivers, and the DOT.

Now I'm telling you, you've come to the right place.

No matter which of these entities you talk with you're going to get nothing but propaganda and/or recruiting. You need The Truth about these entities...what are their agendas, what are they really offering me, how will I be treated once I get hired, when can I expect for home time, etc. I'm going to cover all of that and a whole lot more.

I'm also going to provide you with tons of hints, tips, tricks, and my own personal stories about dealing with each entity and how to make the system work for you. Once you understand these entities and the systems they use you will be in a much better position to make things work in your favor instead of beating your head against the wall by saying the wrong things to the wrong people or having false expectations.

Ok, let's get started with your journey by telling you about mine!

Get more info on the Raw Truth about the trucking industry at: TruckingTruth.com

Becoming A Truck Driver - How I Got Started

2007-08-14T16:05:00.000-04:00

The Journey Begins

So at this point you're wondering what life will be like if you do decide to become a driver.

The path most new drivers will take will be to attend a truck driving school, get hired by a company, go on the road for a few weeks with a trainer, and then get your own truck and you're off! So let's start at the beginning with the schooling. This is my story.

How It All Started

I was 21 years old and working at a warehouse outside of Atlanta, GA. I'm originally from Buffalo, NY where I now reside 14 years later. But when we were 19, a couple of buddies of mine and I jumped in an old van and drove from Buffalo, NY to Atlanta, GA on a wing and a prayer. We were all about the adventure. Actually, I was all about the adventure and LOVED dragging others into my adventures with me so off we went!

After a couple of really fun years my one buddy and I found ourselves working for $5.50 an hour in a warehouse. We worked a ton of hours and enjoyed it. The people we worked with were great and we partied a lot! We damn sure weren't getting rich, but we were getting by.

One day we got to work and saw a large six wheel rental truck sitting in the parking lot. I asked the boss what was up. He said we had some pallets we had to run into downtown Atlanta (about 10 or 15 miles maybe) and pick up some others and bring em back.

Well, I had never even seen the inside of one of those trucks, let alone drive one. I knew they were automatics and figured I could drive it easy enough. I eagerly volunteered for the task. My boss asked with a skeptical look, “have you ever driven a truck like that before?” and like any responsible adult looking for an opportunity to try something new I lied my brains out!!!!! I said' “Oh yeah! My aunt moved twice and my grandma moved once and all three times we needed a truck that size and I drove it.” He continued with that skeptical look and said he'd talk to the other boss and let me know.

Well, I bugged him repeatedly for the next hour or two and to my absolute delight they said I could do it! I was freakin! This was gonna be a blast! At least I had hoped so. Hell, I had never done it before but what the hell... it'll be fun I'm sure! So we loaded up the truck and off I went.

It handled like a big pickup truck. Nothing to it. So I cruised down into the city, found my destination, and made the delivery. Well, before they could reload me it was their lunchtime. So I wandered the city for about 45 minutes, came back, they reloaded me, and off I went back to the warehouse.

By the time I got back there it was almost time to go home for the day. I laughed about it and told my buddy, “Wow, I really got away with one. I didn't even have to do any work today. All I had to do was drive!”, and IMMEDIATELY the light turned on in my head. What about becoming a truck driver????

I had no experience with it and knew nothing about it. I also didn't know any truck drivers so I went home that day and called the only trucking company I knew the name of off the top of my head. I asked, “how much do you make your first year as a driver?”, and they said about $35,000. THIRTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS! MY GOD I'D BE RICH AND WOULDN'T HAVE TO WORK! (I was young and getting by on about one third of that at the time remember... those were good times.

In fact we were so happy when we were told we'd be making $5.50 an hour that we did a ridiculous dance the moment the boss left.... a dance that came to be know from then on as the 550 dance!).

So I immediately called a private trucking school and made an appointment. My ma said she would pay for the schooling for me (I gave her a combination of a good sales pitch and guilt) and within a month I was in school... the start of my odyssey.

Now why did I pick a private trucking school? Well, that was kinda lucky really. There are private schools and then there are trucking companies that have their own schools. I didn't even know that there WERE trucking companies that had their own schools!

So I found a private one in the area and looked into their reputation. They seemed to be the best around...and they were. So I did enough research to pick a good private school, but you may want to attend school at a trucking company. Let's briefly cover the two types to give you an idea of your options.

Get more info on the Raw Truth about the trucking industry at: Becoming A Truck Driver

Types Of Truck Driving Schools - What You Should Know First

2007-08-13T16:41:00.000-04:00

Types Of Trucking Schools And CDL Training
Generally speaking there are a couple different types of schools you can attend. Honestly this isn't necessarily that critical of a decision. I have known tons of people that have gone through one type or the other and both seem to do just fine. There are a couple things you should know though.

Private Schools

Private schools are not associated with any particular trucking company. They are run independently so students upon graduation can choose to go anywhere they would like. The schools range in price generally from $2000-$5000 and can take anywhere from 3 weeks to 8 weeks to complete for your Class A license. It would take less time and money if you only wanted a Class B but I strongly suggest you avoid going that route. You are not only embarking on a new job, it's a new career.

By only getting your Class B license you are severely limiting yourself not only with regard to the number of jobs available to you but the amount of money you can make. It only costs a little more money and takes a little bit more time to get your Class A and believe me you won't regret it.

Almost anyone I have ever talked to with a Class B had plans for getting their Class A, but I've never once talked to anyone that wished they had only gotten their Class B. Nobody. Go for your Class A.

Many of the better private schools will have a wide range of training including several weeks of practice at backing up the truck, classroom coverage of everything from log books to maps and routing to air brakes and vehicle inspection. They will also have several weeks of training out on the local roadways. Make sure they will give you the necessary training to get ALL of your endorsements including hazmat, tankers, doubles and triples, and people (buses). Make sure you get ALL of these. It only requires a very short written test and can also severely limit your job opportunities if you leave them out.

Be sure to ask the school what their policy is if you don't pass the driving portion of the test for your CDL the first time. A reputable school will continue to work with you for a short period of time to allow you the extra practice you need. They can't guarantee you'll pass it, but they will continue to help you for some time.

Also, most good schools have a job placement program. There is a HUGE demand for truck drivers nationwide and their job placement department will have a long list of companies willing to hire you the day you graduate. You can tell them the type of job you are looking for and they will have several choices for you. Believe me, getting a job coming out of school is very, very easy. But getting the right job for you at the right company will be much more likely if you have some experienced help with good contacts.

Many schools will also offer financial aid. The money you are required to put up front is sometimes a big limiting factor on what type of school you can attend. Offering financial aid can open up your opportunities. Find out how long it will be before you are required to begin making payments after graduation. Most schools will allow you 3-6 months before you start making payments.

The advantage to attending a private trucking school is that the training is general for the industry, not specific to one company. Therefore it will apply no matter where you choose to work and will not be geared toward any one company's particular equipment or agenda.

The disadvantage is that it may cost you more money up front if you aren't eligible for financial aid.

Get more info on the Raw Truth about the trucking industry at: What You Should Know About Truck Driving Schools

Trucking Schools - Trucking Company CDL Training

2007-08-12T14:48:00.000-04:00

Some trucking companies offer their own driving schools. This can also be a good option but be aware of a couple differences.

For starters, a company is going to train you according to what THEY want out of you. They have a certain set of equipment, a certain set of rules, and sometimes a certain type of freight. For instance, many of the bigger companies now have fleets of fully automatic trucks. You won't learn how to manually shift a truck which will severely limit your options if you decide to go elsewhere.

Secondly a trucking company will make a trade-off with you. They will often require little or no money up front but instead will allow you to pay back the money by paying you a little bit less and requiring you to remain with them for a certain period of time, usually one year. This is sometimes a necessary trade off if you can't afford the up front money or qualify for financial aid at a private trucking school.

If you do decide to go this route find out what the company's policy is on paying them back if you don't fulfill your obligation to them. Generally they will prorate the amount you owe them based on how long you worked there.

An example of a company specific policy could be mountain braking. There are several different schools of thought on proper braking techniques for going down a mountain. If a company's safety department is convinced that one particular way is the best way then they may not even cover any other theories, or possibly even try to convince you that any other way will be disastrous.

As you know there are usually a number of different ways to accomplish something and since you will be the one whose life is on the line, wouldn't you like to know all of the options so you can use your own judgment and have a more thorough understanding of the topic?

Also, every company has different policies when it comes to your logbook. Some have much tighter regulations than others. Whatever their policy is will be the only way they will teach it. Often times a company will require things above and beyond the federal DOT guidelines. These requirements may be a hindrance at a company with more lenient policies. Be aware of this type of teaching.

Personally I haven't come across anybody who regretted their schooling decision. The major reason for this is that you will really only learn about 5% of what you will REALLY need to know in truck driving school. The rest you will learn from experience.

Once you get your CDL license and get one year of safe driving experience under your belt the sky is the limit. Pretty much any company in the country will hire you with those simple credentials.

Get more info on the Raw Truth about the trucking industry at: CDL Training

Trucking School - Let The Training Begin

2007-08-11T14:55:00.000-04:00

So I'd chosen my school, ma paid for it, and I showed up for the first day. Welcome. Smiling faces, hand shakes, and piles and piles of paperwork on each desk. No party hats (they really should have party hats) but, oh well, what do they know?

The schooling began with nothing but classroom study for the first week or two. If you decide to attend driving school at a trucking company....let the propaganda begin! They won't waste any chance at promoting themselves, believe me. They will also make you feel like it is your privilege to be working for them. Get used to that. Now here's your first piece of raw truth about the industry... companies are completely and totally desperate for drivers. I mean DESPERATE!

Were you ever offered a $2000 bonus just to come work for a company? Did you ever have a company offer to pay for all of your schooling if you will come work for them when you graduate? Why would someone offer such an insane amount of money just for you to come work there? They don't even know you! They have no idea what you're capable of! You don't even have any experience! They don't really care.

These bonuses are common at the larger companies. Sure they HOPE you're gonna be an outstanding truck driver, but more than anything they just desperately need your butt in one of their trucks. Period.

Well, turnover is a huge problem in the trucking industry. A driver with a clean record, even a driver straight out of school, can land literally hundreds or even thousands of jobs at any time and everybody knows that, drivers and companies alike.

So in order to put themselves in a position of authority, which is a falsity, they may try to keep you on pins and needles by implying that your job is always on the line. One false move and you could be fired. This is one of the HUGE mistakes that companies make.... its simply not true.

All that they really accomplish by trying to scare you is filling you with a lack of trust and loyalty towards them. Most large companies are full of drivers that have hit bridges, rolled trucks, been late for deliveries, and on and on. Does this mean you won't ever get fired? Certainly not. I've been fired a few times by idiots I've never met on some committee making decisions based on little or no real facts or understanding about me or my situation.

But getting another job, as long as you've never had a DUI or killed somebody, is really easy...so don't let them snow you into thinking your career is always on the line... it's a bluff. Lose your job and you can have ten new ones tomorrow. Simple as that.

Get more info on the Raw Truth about the trucking industry at: Truck Driving Schools

Truck Driving School - Part II

2007-08-10T15:01:00.000-04:00

Now if you've chosen a private truck driving school, which is the road I chose, you won't have nearly the bologna to deal with. The schools are independent of all trucking companies and they've already gotten your money so there's no reason to push any sort of self serving agenda.

They have no reason to BS you. What they DO need to do is give you the very best experience they can while you attend their school and give you the best chance they can give you at being successful once you've graduated. Their entire future is based upon their reputation. Word of mouth from former students and recommendations from the trucking companies they send students to are the key to their future survival.

If you don't like your experience and the students coming out of the school aren't satisfactory to the companies they go to work for then the school is going to die a long, slow death. Nobody will want to attend. So they will get straight to work filling you with information.... and tons of it.

No matter which type of school you decide upon the first week or two will be similar... classwork. Videos, slide shows, workbooks, charts, and a few written tests sprinkled in here and there. To be honest the work is really pretty easy. But be aware... they are going to completely and totally overwhelm you with the sheer quantity of information... and they know it.

Becoming a good truck driver, especially over the road or regional, requires far more knowledge than most people outside the industry would ever begin to imagine. Every state has its own set of rules, regulations, and procedures. Go from New York to Los Angeles and you will cross through about a dozen states. That's a dozen different sets of rules.

Some rules will be common to each state but each state will have some unique rules you must be familiar with. Now don't let this scare you... everybody has learned to deal with it and you will too.

The learning curve is really steep in the beginning. The schools have to give you all the information they can because if you get out there and make a mistake your company may call the school and say,”didn't you teach this?” The school can usually say they gave you the information but you must not have used it. That's the schools job... to give you the information. It's your job to learn it and use it. Again, please don't let this scare you. It's intimidating at first, but you'll learn as you go. Everybody goes through this steep learning curve in the beginning and you will too.

So you'll spend a week or so in the classroom and generally the next couple of weeks will be a combination of classroom time and learning to back up the truck through a variety of different obstacles. Now if you're like me you may have never even been in a big rig until now... and let me tell ya it's really, really fun.. especially at a private school.

Private trucking schools will take their time and won't pressure you. Remember, they want you to enjoy your learning experience so you will recommend their school to others. Trucking companies are hit and miss... some of them may push you and pressure you to keep their agenda alive... it's YOUR privilege to be working there so you BETTER perform. Now not all of them will treat you this way. A lot it will depend on the individual instructors.

But a lot of the instructors at the trucking companies have worked for these companies for many, many years and so feel like they're the king and you better revere them. It's just like anything else.... some people let a tiny bit of authority and experience go straight to their heads.

Get more info on the Raw Truth about the trucking industry at: Trucking Schools

A Bit About Driving Flatbeds

2007-08-09T06:54:00.000-04:00

Flatbed drivers are in a clique of their own. Their jobs involve more lifting and a bit more risk than most other types of trucking. There are several things to consider before taking a job doing this.

First of all..there's tarping your load. Any weather sensitive loads (and frustratingly enough some which aren't) need to be covered with a tarp. Now I have heard of some shippers which will tarp your load for you. Often times its because the manufacturer owns their own trucks and will tarp the loads they ship. But don't get your hopes up...it's rare.

Tarping a load is a HUGE pain in the neck. The tarps are huge and can easily weigh up to 100 pounds. A large part of the time you are simply outside in a parking lot without any protection from the weather “throwing a tarp” as they say. You take a heavy tarp and add rain, snow, ice, and mud, and you have one miserable job ahead of you. The tarps are a thick, rubber-based material which gets very stiff when it gets cold.

If your tarp gets wet and then freezes you'll have a layer of ice on it. Are you starting to see how much fun this can be? Most companies pay you to tarp the load, but whether or not it's worth the money for the trouble is something you have to decide from experience. My experience? No way.

Flatbeders are prone to injury more than most other types of drivers and the vast majority of them happen while throwing a tarp. The bed of the trailer is usually part aluminum and part wood. They put a few rows of oak boards down the length of the trailer to allow nails to be driven in to help secure the loads. Everyone has experienced the pleasure of trying to walk on wet, snow, or ice covered boards. It's a nightmare.

Get more info on the Raw Truth about the trucking industry at: TruckingTruth.com

Well, as you can surely imagine, the aluminum portion of the trailer is no better. Most injuries occur while trying to lift something heavy, falling off the trailer, or while trying to use a “cheater bar” to get leverage while cranking down on the ratchet straps.

Back and shoulder injuries are most common, while falling off a trailer can lead to all sorts of injuries to your head, knees, ankles, elbows, and hips. Now don't misunderstand me...I'm not saying you WILL have these accidents and injuries. There are a large number of drivers who haven't...but there are plenty who have. It's just a big part of flatbedding you have to be aware of.

Oversize and overweight loads are another concern. For whatever reason (I'd guess because they seem to get away with it) companies often don't pay anything extra for hauling an oversize load. But there is a lot to be aware of when it comes to hauling these loads. Every state has different rules regarding them, but there are some generalities than can be made.

Oversize loads often can not be moved at night or in poor weather. This is by law in many states. Depending on the size of the load and the state you are in you may or may not need an escort vehicle, or several of them. The really large or heavy loads often need police escort. You will also need special permits at times in each state you drive through. Your company will handle getting these permits for you but they will have to be faxed to you at a truck stop or at the shipper.

You can be almost certain that every weigh station you come to will carefully check your weight and ask you to come inside to show them your permits. One small problem and you will be shut down on the spot until your company gets whatever it is you require.

Also, finding a parking spot in the evening at a truck stop is difficult enough when you CAN fit into a parking spot. Needing two spots or parking along the edge of the lot because you are over length can really be tough. The handling of oversize loads will vary from company to company and should be a priority when you inquire into employment.

The DOT is another concern for flatbedders. The DOT LOVES FLATBEDS! There are numerous regulations with regard to strapping down your load based on the weight, size, and breakup of the load. Some loads will be on pallets, maybe 20 or so, and some may be just one piece of machinery. Depending on a number of factors you will be required to strap or chain down the load every so many feet and with a certain amount of holding strength.

The DOT loves flatbeds because there are so many opportunities for them to find a problem. Your straps may be worn, loose, or not of the proper rating. Your tarp may be loose or have loose cords hanging. You may not have enough straps or chains for your load and so on. They can see your load at a glance and often tell right away if they can get you on something. As a flatbedder you will get a lot of scrutiny.

So as you can see, there are a number of issues specific to hauling loads on a flatbed trailer. Because of this, flatbedders tend to be paid quite well. Often times a flatbed driver can make anywhere from $5,000-$15,000 per year more than someone hauling a dry van or refrigerated trailer.

Also, flatbedders are like a little fraternity within the industry and many drivers really love the unique challenges and better pay that come with it.

A Bit About Driving Dump Trucks

2007-08-08T07:12:00.000-04:00

The last separate category I'd like to talk about is dump trucks. I wanted to mention a few important points about these trucks in particular because they are so common and yet are surprisingly dangerous in a number of ways you may not be aware of.

First let me mention one minor point. Trucking companies which have 18 wheelers DO NOT consider dump trucks as driving experience per say. When those companies mention experience they generally only consider other 18 wheelers as experience. I personally think this is a huge mistake on their part.

To safely navigate a large dump truck day in and day out can be just as difficult, if not MORE difficult, than an 18 wheeler. If I was hiring someone for a job in an 18 wheeler I would be quite happy to find someone with safe dump trucking experience. Let's take a look at why that is.
First of all, the maximum gross weight of an 18 wheeler is 80,000 pounds. A tri-axle dump truck can gross nearly the same in most states, maybe a few thousand pounds less. Yet a dump truck only has 3 rear axles with brakes on them, an 18 wheeler has four. Believe me it makes a difference in stopping power.

Secondly, a dump truck usually carries loads with a MUCH higher center of gravity which makes them much easier to tip over.

Thirdly, a dump truck is often operated in off-road conditions. If you can handle a 72,000 pound dump truck with a high center of gravity on a hilly, soft dirt road or driveway, you can handle anything. Not to mention you have to find stable, level ground to be able to hold you upright while you are dumping that load. Not at all an easy task.

Lastly, like any local job, dump trucks are operated on normal streets in stop and go conditions. They are extremely heavy, not the easiest to stop sometimes, have a high center of gravity, and traffic is flying all around you. This is no easy job let me tell you.

Finally, the pay is usually pretty lousy and the hours are quite unpredictable. The work is quite seasonal in the northern parts of the country also. You can usually expect anywhere from $10-$16 per hour with the number of hours worked in a week ranging from zero in the winter to 70 or more during good weather weeks in the summer.

Because of the difficulty of handling these vehicles I don't recommend this type of job for a brand new driver. It can be done, but I would be more comfortable having a driver start out in a vehicle with a little bit less to worry about.

Get more info on the Raw Truth about the trucking industry at: Truck Driver Tips

Getting Truck Driving Training On The Road

2007-08-07T07:25:00.000-04:00

Ok so now you've made it through truck driving school, you have your CDL, you found the company you want to work for, and you've gotten hired.

Congratulations!

Your first job in your new career. You're going to be excited as hell at this point, and you should be. You worked hard at school, you spent the money, passed the tests, and here you are.... you've certainly earned it! Congratulations! Now let's cover what you can expect from your training period. Mine I'm happy to say went very well. So here we go.

Once you get hired you will be paired up with an experienced truck driver and you will travel together as a team in the same truck for an average of about four to six weeks. If the trainer feels you are ready to handle your own truck he will return with you to the main terminal where you will be issued your own truck and you will be on your own from then on.

The personality and attitude of your trainer will mean everything! I mentioned earlier that you will sometimes come across these cocky, hardcore, authoritarian idiots that take themselves WAY too seriously. If you see you have one of these types you can often times request a different trainer. But give him/her a week or so. He/she may have just been having a bad day when you two first met.

When you get hired on at a company try to request a trainer that has a reputation for being tolerant, pleasant, and patient. Learning to drive is quite stressful, not to mention the other factors like time away from home and learning all of the rules from state to state. A patient, pleasant trainer will make your experience a thousand times more beneficial and enjoyable for you.

My trainer was absolutely fantastic! He was a laid-back, intelligent, pleasant guy who clearly enjoyed life on the road and the chance to teach new drivers the ropes. We laughed a lot and talked all the time about everything from driving to our philosophies of life, love, and the pursuit of happiness. It really went well.

He told me right away he only had two rules... one, if he tells me to do something while I'm driving please do it right away even if it doesn't make sense to me at the time. He explained that with his experience he may be able to spot something that I'm yet unaware of so just do what he asks right away and then we can talk about it all day afterwards. Made perfect sense to me.

The second rule... if you are driving while I am in the back sleeping and you drive off a cliff, DON'T scream and wake me up.... I don't want to know what's coming! I really got a kick out of that one. He had a great sense of humor and we had a great time.

Get more info on the Raw Truth about the trucking industry at: CDL And Truck Driver Training

Truck Driving Training On The Road - Part 2

2007-08-06T07:33:00.000-04:00

I remember walking up to the truck, getting in the passenger side and introducing myself. I couldn't BELIEVE I had made it to this point and was actually getting ready to head out on the highway! We were in Atlanta, GA and I threw my duffel bag in the sleeper and asked him if he knew where we were going first. He said, “yap, we're starting with a short trip to Maryland.”

A SHORT TRIP TO MARYLAND????

To me a short trip was to a gas station... in GEORGIA! Atlanta, even! But to a veteran driver a 500 or 600 mile trip is nothing more than a simple everyday thing. But to me it was the start of a whole new life....and what a life it has turned out to be!

He told me the company wanted every student to have at least one trip to the northeast and one trip to California while in training. He was going to try to convince them that Maryland was far enough to the northeast and from there he was hoping we could go out west.

OK, I WAS FREAKIN! CALI-FREAKIN-FORNIA????? We're gonna DRIVE to CALIFORNIA????

I mean, I knew that's what my job would be as a truck driver but dreaming about it and being told you're about to really DO it is two totally different things! Holy cow I should have brought a diaper! No, wait, I'm ok. Ok this is GREAT! Wow what a day!

So sure enough we headed out to Maryland. He drove the first hour or so and then pulled into a rest area and asked if I felt like I was ready to drive. I really felt I was. My first REAL time behind the wheel as an official truck driver. Only 21 years old! Wow, what a day! I took off, went through the gears, aimed for the horizon, and there we were.... gone with the wind! I was smiling from ear to ear. I just couldn't believe it was real. But sure enough it was. Wow.

He was very patient and said very little for a while. He just wanted me to relax and concentrate on the road. It was easy, really. Not much traffic, open interstate, cruise control, and a warm sunny early evening in Northern Georgia in the fall. Amazing.

Get more info on the Raw Truth about the trucking industry at: Truck Driver Training

Getting Trucking Experience - Your Trainer

2007-08-05T07:42:00.000-04:00

If you attend a private trucking school, your trainer may be the first person who gets to teach you the REAL way things are done on the road. What the hell do I mean by that? Well, schools are simply a place you attend to acquire enough knowledge to be given a job. The vast majority of the skills you will learn in any trade will be learned on the job. What knowledge your trainer will give you will depend a lot upon his attitude and approach.

Some trainers are hardcore trucking company men that believe in teaching everything strictly by the book. If the law says you have only two hours of driving available before needing a ten hour break but you have three hours left to your destination a hardcore trainer may insist that you stop after two hours. The reality for most drivers is that you get the job done and get to your destination if you feel you can do it safely.

Both types of schools really have little choice but to teach things strictly by the book. They are scrutinized and would be in all kinds of trouble if they were found to be teaching you ways to cheat the logbook or run with a load that is slightly overweight. But life is simply not that black and white. For starters, you are being paid by the mile. The more miles you run the more money you make.

So when faced with the choice of continuing to run even though you are out of hours or giving up that paycheck and shutting down the truck, often times you aren't going to want to give up the money to sit around and watch TV at a truck stop. You want to make all the money you can make...safely.

Another example would be if you loaded a load that had to go 500 miles and you knew you might be overweight but there were no weigh stations along your route. The shipper that just loaded you is closing in an hour and you cant get back there to get the extra weight taken off in time. What do you do? Do you run the load anyways and make the money or shut down until the next day so they can remove the extra weight and lose an entire day's pay?

Every driver is constantly faced with these scenarios. The truck driving schools must teach you to follow the strict letter of the law. Your trainer may teach you some of the tricks of the trade.

Your trainer often times will have quite a bit of time in at your company so he can also give you priceless insight into how the company is run and who you should get to know. He can give you insight into the maintenance program, dispatching structure, management personnel, equipment the company uses, the company's best traffic lanes, ways to get more home time, how to get more miles, which divisions might suit your particular needs the best, and on and on. I can't begin to stress how huge this can be for a new driver.

Every company in the country will have a whole group of drivers who love the company and a another group who hate it. Often times the drivers are of equal capability and have the same mileage and home time goals in mind but the difference may be as simple as which dispatcher you have or which division you are in.

I'm going to go into these issues more a little bit later but for now let me suggest that you tell your trainer exactly what your goals and expectations are for things like mileage, regions of the country you would like to run, and home time. He can surely help lead you to the right people and the right divisions.

Get more info on the Raw Truth about the trucking industry at: TruckingTruth.com

They Let Me Drive This Truck By MYSELF? - Part 1

2007-08-04T08:45:00.000-04:00

So I made it to the big time! I'm going out on my own in my own truck for the first time. 21 years old and driving an 80,000 pound rig coast to coast for a living. It's nearly impossible to describe how excited I was! I knew there would be a lot of tough times ahead but I was very confident that I would be able to figure them out. Well, I'm still here alive and well so obviously I made it through. But HOLY CRAP did I have some moments! DAMN!

Surprisingly enough I don't remember my first trip. Really at this point you would think, “well, why the hell doesn't he just make something up? I want to hear about some disasters!” Don't worry, I have some truly unbelievable stories! But my first trip must have went ok or I would surely remember it.

One of my first memories was of a trip to New York City. Now NYC is the most horrific place to take a big rig anywhere in the country. To me it was AT LEAST ten times worse than the second worse place to take a big rig, which I'd say is Los Angeles or Chicago. To be honest, throughout my career I DESPISED going to NYC but there really wasn't any other city I didn't want to go to. Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, St Louis, Miami...it didn't matter. I really didn't mind any of them. Just NYC. To me, and to most drivers for that matter, NYC really is that bad.

As you might expect, one of my most horrendous ordeals was early in my career in NYC. Now you might be wondering why they would send a new driver to the most dangerous and difficult place in the U.S.? For a very good reason actually – they're idiots. Total morons. Rejects that have never been in a truck and don't have any idea what they are getting you into.

All they know is that everybody hates going to NYC and since you're the new guy it's easier to convince you that you have no choice. Also, they figure it's a good test to see what you're made of as a driver. Again, this is why dispatchers generally hide behind bullet-proof glass. Total morons.

I call to get directions to my delivery and make my first discovery about NYC...most people have no idea how to get around that city. How can that be? Because a huge portion of the population uses public transportation. They don't even own a vehicle. The streets are so overcrowded and there is such a shortage of parking that you would have to be crazy to try to try driving yourself around. Cabs, subways, and buses are far faster, cheaper, and easier to take than your own car. It's quite common to find people in the city that don't have a driver's license and have never owned a vehicle. Think I'm kidding?

Not at all.

It took like three different people before I found one that could give me directions to their place. Of course none of them spoke English as their primary language so it took a while to understand what he was saying. But eventually I had my directions and I was on my way. You have to remember that at the time there were no GPS units and the trucker's atlas wasn't detailed enough to get you where you needed to go.

I stopped and bought a detailed folding map of the city which later came in handy, but nothing could have prepared me for the mess I was about to get myself into.I had two deliveries to make in Queens. How lucky. Pffff.... I remember I came into the city from the west across the George Washington Bridge.

At the time there was a huge sign almost immediately after you crossed into the Bronx that read, “Low clearance ahead – all trucks must take next exit”. Ok perfect – I was a nervous wreck to begin with and now ten seconds after crossing into NYC I was faced with a totally unexpected situation. I didn't even have time to ask what the deal was on the CB. The next exit came up and I took it....straight into the dead center of the Bronx.

I got to the stop light at the end of the ramp and there wasn't a single sign explaining what the hell I should do now. I looked above at the expressway going overhead that I had just exited from and saw truck after truck continuing on. I was the only one that had gotten off at the exit. WHAT THE HELL? Ok, I figured the sign was old and should have been removed and I was the only one that didn't know that at the time. So I'll just get back on the expressway and continue on, right? Wrong.

There was no on ramp to get back on. I was going to have to find my way around the Bronx and get back on track toward Queens. I was nearly certain I was going to throw up. This could NOT be happening.

I wandered a bit and can't remember what road I was on but it was a four lane highway and I came to my next realization about New York...SOME of the bridges are marked a foot lower than they really are. Apparently it's to compensate for the snow and ice that may build up under the bridge in the winter. Problem was some bridges were marked with their real height, some were marked a foot shorter than they really are, and there was no way to tell which was which. My truck was 13' 6” and I came down an incline to a bridge marked 12' 6”. I stopped short of the bridge. I decided I would be safer if I went around it on a service road but would have to back up to get there.

So here I am going backwards up the hill as cars are flying by me on both sides. Nothing left in my stomach to throw up so I had to settle for the dry heaves. I get up the hill and get around the bridge and continue on.

After a number of wrong turns and close calls I make it to my deliveries. I want to kill myself. I'm told by my company I have to pick up a load of air freight from JFK airport, which isn't too far away, and head out of the city with it.

I make it to JFK alright and while I'm getting loaded another truck from my company pulls up to load next to me. It was a team of two guys that were both brand new drivers (dispatch at this company were idiots...total morons). I had a couple months experience, they had a couple weeks. They, too, had barf stains on their shirts.

We shared our nightmare stories and looked at our atlases to figure out how to get back out of the city. We had to head west and realized that our luck had finally changed and our nightmare was about to end. We had a straight shot out of the city on the Belt Parkway! Oh thank GOD this ordeal was soon going to be over!

We got our loads and headed to the parkway. It was winter time so it was already dark outside about 6 p.m. Traffic was moving ok but it was insanely busy! Our first clue that something was wrong came when we realized that we were the only trucks on this expressway. Seemed odd but who cares...we just wanted to get out of there.

Brett R. Aquila is a 15-year veteran of America's highways, logging over 1.5 million safe miles. He is trying to help Newbie truck drivers to be successful in their trade, through a dose of reality. Please visit http://www.truckingtruth.com/ for more information

They Let Me Drive This Truck By MYSELF? - Part 2

2007-08-03T08:54:00.000-04:00

Second clue that something was wrong came when we realized how low some of the bridges were. At about the third bridge we went under the other driver behind me said he had seen a few sparks come off the top of my trailer as I went under. Oh my god that was close but it was ok. Right after that traffic came to a halt.

Rush hour.

The final clue that something was wrong came when I realized the guy in the car next to me was leaning his head out the window trying to get my attention. I was hoping he was going to tell me what a great job he thought I was doing...and how cool he thought truck drivers were....but even though he MAY have been thinking that, it wasn't exactly word for word what he said. What he actually said was, “This is a parkway and you don't belong here! This isn't for trucks! You're not going to make it under the next bridge, it's too low!”

So naturally I said what anyone would have said in my position, “WHAT?”.

“It's too low for you to go under!,” he said.

PARKWAY???? Oh my God I just remembered what they told us in school....my next realization about NYC....parkways are for cars only. Trucks are not allowed there!

Oh my God.

This day was truly the worst day of my trucking life!

So here we were...stuck. Couldn't get under the next bridge. Oh my God. Just then I looked in the mirror and saw a couple of trucks with yellow flashing lights coming up behind us. Maybe this was our break. They pulled up on the shoulder next to us and said they'd help us out. They would block traffic to allow us to get to the shoulder. They did, and then they proposed the craziest idea I had ever heard.

They pointed to a roadway that was about one hundred yards across a field and up a slight incline. The guy said, “get a rolling start on the shoulder and then turn across the field. The ground is frozen and should hold. We'll go up on that highway and block traffic. You come across the field onto the highway and follow it to the expressway you belong on. It'll take you back across the George Washington Bridge and out of the city.”

Oh my God. You've gotta be mother-truckin kidding me! But alas, we clearly had no choice. So in the utter darkness we were going to take loaded big rigs across the frozen field (there was only a dusting of snow on the ground), up the incline, and onto the roadway which will eventually lead to a safe way out of the city.

Ok, sure. Hell, what could go wrong? Oh my God. So we saw traffic clear on the highway we were destined for. We got a rolling start, grabbed all the gears we could get, kept our foot on the floor, and there we went – two rigs across the field, up the incline, and bounced over the curb onto the empty highway.

Holy crap we did it!!!

Looking back in the mirror we saw that thousands of people were sitting at a standstill behind us waiting to be released so they could continue their commute home. We kept our foot on the floor and headed toward the George Washington Bridge as fast as we could.

When we made it to the bridge, the gateway out of the city, it was a rush I don't think I had ever felt before! Everything that could possibly have gone wrong that day did...except one thing...we didn't hit anything! Yeah, I scraped the bridge, but shut up!!!

I'm not talking about that! I mean no fender benders, no running over cars, nothing. I got dumped into the middle of the Bronx with no idea what to do, got lost numerous times, backed up up a hill going the wrong way to get out from under a bridge, made several u-turns, illegally got onto a parkway, held up thousands of commuters trying to get home, drove a loaded big rig across a frozen field on a cold winter's night, and nearly threw up on myself several dozen times! But regardless, we did it!

We made it out unscathed!!!! I was screaming WOO HOO at the top of my lungs!!!!! I looked out over Manhattan from the top of that Bridge and realized I had escaped the most horrible nightmare of my truckin life! Oh my God we made it out alive! Insane.

NYC is truly a nightmare in a big rig. I love going to Manhattan for vacations and holidays but I fly in and take cabs everywhere. It's a ton of fun. But driving a truck around that city is a nightmare.

I don't know how anybody could see it any other way.