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[Seamas]

I've been doing some thinking, and I think I'm going to become a trucker.

The open road of the USA is the temple by which I achieve communion with the constellations of my own cultural lore, which are scattered wide across the road map.  I love to drive, and for any reason at all will happily go on road trips of all kinds.  One of the things I dream of doing is to travel the United States (even Canada, no matter) by highway before I die, and why not do it and get paid for it? 

I don't know what my family will think.  I graduated from college last year with a liberal arts degree (read: worth about fuck-all) and really couldn't give a shit about a career at this point in my life.  They would never understand - they have Great Expectations for me; of course one day I may fulfill them, but I'm not interested just yet in doing that.  Mostly I've traveled and worked just enough to get by until now.  I think disappearing for a year, traveling the continent as an over-the-road trucker, sounds fine. 

I understand that this line of work means being lonely, far from home for a long time, and pushed around like a pawn; yet I've read trucker's blogs, researched day and night, and even looked into CDL schools near my hometown.  After all that, I still think I could swing it.  I could come up with the cash, put in four weeks training, and have a slew of doors open up for employment just by bearing that license.  Never be unemployed again.

I'm thrifty by nature.  I could save everything I made in salary aside from necessities and put aside a comfortable wad of dough by a year's end.  Then walk away if the job didn't suit me, and begin anew.

Anybody out there whose got the experience to shoot me down, or encourage me?  For some reason this notion has taken me by storm and won't budge.  I realize the realities of the work, but as far as work goes, I think I can handle it.  I'm a young, single guy and don't have to worry about leaving a girlfriend or wife behind, no bills really, and am about the most highly mobile person I know.  What do I have to lose?  If it really sucks I could always walk away.

Anyway, if I wasn't sauced on a space bag of wine I wouldn't have written this anyway, but the feeling is true.

[nenjin]

I'll say that right now, companies are desperate for long-haul truckers. So you should have no problems getting hired, assuming you got your certs, pass your drug tests, ect....

Just watch out for dem truck stops. Nasty places full of nasty things.

[pisskop]

Do try to follow the laws.  All it takes is one cop to pull you over, or one guy to grab your plates.  Also follow regulations and remember that the economy is going to turn around in a few...

[lordcooper]

I couldn't do it, but good luck to you

[Zrk2]

Sounds like you've researched it, so if you really want to and won't be leaving anything to important then I say go for it.

Zrk2 is not liable for any damages incurred as a result of this post.

[kaijyuu]

Well if you think it'll be good for you, more power to you! The truckers I've met all hated it though, mostly due to long hours on the road and utter boredom. Having to stay alert the entire time (since you're in a several ton deathmobile) would be what would kill it for me.

[gimlet]

I already hate traffic and dealing with the herds of complete morons on the road, doing it for 8+ hours a day every day would probably pop a blood vessel within a week.  So yeah, good luck to you...

[sneakey pete]

I get the impression from people who do it here down under that the biggest issue is that there's no room for overtime etc. You have a set number of hours to drive and you're expected to be able to drive at full pace for all of them. Get delayed? your fault. something happens? your fault, etc.

That being said we don't have that nice of a highway system here.

[nenjin]

Also note that your every move as a modern trucker is under surveillance by your contractor/yard. Depending on how fancy schmancy the place is, you'll be monitored via GPS and possibly even on-board cameras. They'll monitor your speed, driving performance and, as mentioned above, time most of all.

Personally, I wouldn't want a job where someone is constantly watching me over my shoulder. Particularly not as it relates to my driving.

[kaijyuu]

On the plus side, if you've got onboard cameras, you can sing along to the radio and totally make someone's day (or want to jab a pencil in their ear).

[Seamas]

Also note that your every move as a modern trucker is under surveillance by your contractor/yard. Depending on how fancy schmancy the place is, you'll be monitored via GPS and possibly even on-board cameras. They'll monitor your speed, driving performance and, as mentioned above, time most of all.

Personally, I wouldn't want a job where someone is constantly watching me over my shoulder. Particularly not as it relates to my driving.

Actually, the idea of being watched from afar by some corporate goon scares the living hell out of me.  GPS I can deal with, and if they know every minute-by-minute detail of my driving, well I could learn to deal with that, but being watched/listened to against my will or knowledge is an absolute deal-breaker.

What a world we're living in.