The business of truck driving is thriving! There are private and public schools’ offering the opportunity for a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), and gets you started in knowing what is expected for the writing portion, and has vehicles to gain the ability to navigate these big machines. There is only one catch…you really must love the idea of driving, and for long periods and distances. I don’t want to steer anyone away from this opportunity, but it must be the individual’s desire to drive a tractor trailer (specifically over the road, since many of the big businesses are honing in on this experience).
I have much to confess before luring anyone into this type of career. First, I grew up always considering these huge trucks as twenty ton projectiles. The idea of knowing that if the driver should lose his concentration, even for a second, these big rigs can do great damage and harm. Secondly, law suits. This always made me think if I would ever be up to the task of awareness, since the cost could keep you in debt for the rest of one’s life. And thirdly, my father worked nights, and came home to sleep all day, throughout my childhood. For many years (I am now 43 years old), I did everything BUT aspire to drive a tractor trailer. I enjoyed my time in Service in the Army, as a Military Policeman, drove taxi’s, and even worked as a courier for a company. Much of my love has been toward computers, networking, and writing. And still, recently, I went through a school (I had the money), and worked for two well established trucking companies.
So what made me go this route? Well, it was a long winded dream to start my own computer class business for residents, to build and create ideas, and I found many of the older people just could not get passed seeing these as complex machines, with icons and messages popping up all the time. My business concept was good, even without any certification; it was to be a business of ability and crafts, and not a business of schooling. In short, I wanted to give the parents and grandparents the understanding of what their kids took for granted. So, let’s say I had a class of individuals, who learned how to be creative in writing, poetry, and even making cards. And, some even aspired to digital photography. What else could I offer? Hey, how about excursions to parks and even computer exhibitions? That is going to depend on a bus. How about owning a bus? I was ready to run up a big bill starting a business anyway. That means a driver. And, should I hire, and he calls out sick, what do I do then? I was challenged to be as independent as possible in the business of computer classes. Owning a bus calls for at least two years driving experience. So, it looks like I was in for the long haul. I did go to a bus company to work in between these two businesses, but again, this was not a career decision. And, later I realized the concept of chartering anyway.
But the money spent and with ten months driving under my belt, made the experience worth it. I have driven through the four seasons, and saw almost all the forty states. I got to enjoy the hot summers, even though while driving, the trucks have air conditioning. The lure of watching the sunrise and set on the open roads were breathtaking. Even through some of the hardest rains, if you were looking forward to the storm to end surprised and rewarded me with some of the most beautiful rainbows over a country setting. There is so much to praise about over the road driving. You meet all kinds of different people, and see different lifestyles, that make us all unique toward each other. And, if you drove far and long enough, the scenery would change with just a turn of the road, or the peak of a hill top. My most enjoyable time was winter and I even learned to put on snow chains. A day could start me racing towards an incoming storm, while driving through Wyoming and by the time I got to Sacramento, all you saw was clear skies complimenting the snow covered surroundings. On my way back (after an over night in Los Angeles), the ride from dry roads through California and the north west corner of Arizona, only meant that as you reached Nevada, the scenery would change again. The routes depended on the load, and this time it was a trip through Colorado. You hear how beautiful Colorado is, but experiencing the countryside after a snow fall makes it hard to describe, whereas even using the word “picturesque” does it no justice. Its not the cities like Denver I am talking about (although it is quite beautiful), instead, it is the countryside ride to and from any city that just makes a driver feel so free. Oh yeah, driving. You do have to pay attention to the driving.
My experience had turned my perspective of these “monster mobiles” completely around. Yeah, there are times where you hear of a Truck driver at fault, but there are still more automobile accident blamed on careless or fatigued drivers. And should I mention inattentive? Well, how about naive. I think maybe that is the best approach. I am not out to anger the average motorist. The point of this article is to make the reader more aware. Besides, at forty three years old, I have enough adversaries. There are just too many programs and procedures for the truck driver to be oblivious to the dangers. Yes, you still see an occasional trucker on the cell phone, and it may not always be business. But that driver is always aware of the weight of the load he is carrying, the conditions of the road, appending traffic and construction, and how long he has been continuously driving…for the most part.
My point is that there are safety meetings and federally mandated procedures to follow, that it is those prone to human nature that may fall along the lines of my childhood fears. But what became equally discerning was now being the truck driver, and dealing with the automobiles. Who is telling them about the dangers of cutting in front of a big truck, just to get ahead? And no, I am not talking about just passing.
You see, in schooling, and throughout the rest of your trucking career defensive driving and driving distances are always the main topics. After all, its one thing to think of a truck running into the back of another truck, but what about the automobile (especially the one car that races to pass, and then cuts across the lanes to the quickly approaching exit ramp). No, there is more to it. Typically, the truck driver is reminded to stay seven seconds from the vehicle in front (that’s one second for every ten feet of truck. A tractor trailer is approximately seventy two feet total, when pulling a fifty three foot trailer). And depending on the weight of the load, the average stopping distance is about the size of a football field, and in a dry road condition. Basically, it’s these types of concerns that safety religiously repeats to the truck driver. So, who is warranting the typical automobile driver of these things, and in just as much detail? Only recently have I seen in one or two states, regulatory signs showing to pass a truck, and come in front after providing plenty of space between your car, and that heavy machine that is now behind you. But does the average automobile driver know why? Through the perspective of a truck driver, and automobile can “stop on a dime”, and sometimes without any warning. Strangely, this is also communicated the truck driver quite often. The trucker is aware to expect the unexpected, although it only needs to be that one in a billion moments to be unprepared for the unexpected. And how about stopping on that dime? I never saw anyone line a sideline with dimes, even if to just make a point. And yet, this is just part of the job, and nothing to even make me change my mind. It is a negative to the job, but a minuscule negative, which one can definitely choose to accept as a responsibility (although bringing it to your attention is also a responsibility).
My downfall…well, it does have a regulation, and a responsibility. Sure, I outwardly blame not getting home when I want (with some validity), but that would be not addressing my issue. I am the type of person who can get up and go. Just wake up, have a pastry, and be on the road. It’s really not a bad thing, in fact, many companies like that…and I am still not addressing my issue. Alright, with no place to hide, here is goes. In those regulations, a commercial driver must only drive no more than eleven hours in a twenty four hour period, and can only work a total of fourteen hours in that same twenty four hour period…and I already stated, I get up and go…and go…and so on. Now, this had to be pointed out to me, but only once. It can happen to anyone, to lose track of time, and even miscalculate from time to time. And at a check point, it is by law to show the past seven days records. In my defense, that one time pointed out over the past seven days did show I violated the fourteen hours, and I was given a warning. It was me who had found out that I had a problem, after reviewing my logs over the course of four months. And, it was me who pulled the plug on this career. How? Simply, by me knowing to call it quits from this career. Hey, not everything has to be done by a trial, nor a third person. Sometimes, we do police our own actions, as individuals.
Alright, so there are companies that adhere to hours where I could continue to drive, especially those ten hour a day, five days a week deals. But autumn is approaching. The leaves are about to change, somewhere, heck, everywhere! And I do love the ever changing scenery. There is a certain romance to waking up, and drawing the curtains (Many cabs of the trucks have these), and depending on where you decided to park, the horizon is there to greet you. Even better, it is different from the friendly surroundings the day before.
So what’s the big deal? Well, I’m accustomed to working until the job is finished (as I said, I have done many things before this), and by learning to restrain myself to a time limit, well, it’s just not in my nature. This goes without saying anything that could be used against me should I continue. Maybe I will find a trucking job that is only local. But already, it’s not the mountains nicknamed the Sisters (mountains with female names), nor Sherman, nor Donner’s Pass that’s calling my name. No, instead it is me calling out to them. And damn, now I know why my last check was bigger than before. It’s not a good practice. And, believe it or not, I’m not out to get rich, well not by creating shortcuts or enduring a bad habit. And, I also lose track of the days. Sure, I can choose go out for as little as two weeks at a time. But me, when I’m out there, it’s an adventure. So many roads not traveled so many sites still unseen. This is indeed a beautiful country. My last trip was nine weeks, before saying its time to go home. Of course, that’s when I started screaming to get me home. Eh.
Believe me, there is so much regulations and practices to be followed, and all of them are based on safety. Whether it is about load limits or time limits, highways or truck routes, low clearances or weight limits, there is so much to know. All of it falls on responsibility. And that is not including the various physical portions and endurances of the job. It is the driver who can tell the company when conditions are unsafe to continue and the reasons, not excuses, seem limitless at times. Rarely does one reflect back and see no room to improve on themselves…except maybe me. But that’s me.
So what do I say to those who are interested in truck driving? It’s a profession. There are regulations and risks in any profession. So it should be based on what your expectations are. The money is there to be made…over time. The roads are always different, and sometimes as diverse as the people. The weather can catch you off guard, and challenge you to define what safe is. And, there are those naïve automobile drivers to deal with. I purposely did not mention rush hour. You see, unless you have a delivery in a city or narrow town that falls in between the hours that everyone is going to work or back home, you are the truck driver. You can always get there earlier and wait. If its rush hour a Truck Driver talks about, he must like putting himself in that place. I myself always liked the early proposal. There was always a diner or restaurant where other “early birds” were there to talk to, and pass the time.
It is work. There are load planners and dispatchers who plan that specific load to arrive based on what remaining hours you have, and sometimes without including rest stops or lunches. That falls under the politics of the job. And every profession has politics in one form or another. No, for the individual, it has to be based on what you are looking to get from it. And if you believe that there is certain kinds of romance in driving a big truck over roads you have yet to find, I will be the first to tell you that it is there, just waiting to greet you.
Should you find that you have planned to drive Interstate Eighty, through a place called Cheyenne, and a few hours you pass the statue of Lincoln, I only ask tearfully, that you remember me wishing to be there again, as “Sherman” is what you are about to approach. I truly will miss that route. And should you be there in the dead of winter, planning to continue towards Sparks, Nevada, and the snows create a whiteout condition, that is just “the Sisters” having fun. I’ll miss them too.
If I was to find one last excuse not to pursue this lifestyle, it would be that I live alone, and with property and bills. It is complimenting to have a partner who can do these things for you, and a reason why you work so hard, and are away time and time again. Give them credit where credit is due, fore even they know that there must be an easier way to make a living. And depending on how jealous they get…maybe you shouldn’t mention anything about the romance that comes with the freedom.
Stay safe, make every move deliberate, and always be aware for the unexpected. Let nature provide the sights to enjoy, and know that there is a lesson to be learned everyday.
