Life is not all roses, especially when you are trucker – there are plenty of advantages to being a trucker, but the life is not for everyone.  Before you jump in and start trucker school, there are plenty of things you need to consider so do your research carefully.

We also found an interview with a trucker on Youtube which really paints an accurate picture:

We talked to several truckers, based in Houston TX, about what they thought were the disadvantages of their chosen profession.

Ray is a 15-year veteran, an owner-operator with a wealth of experience under his belt.  “The hardest thing I found was being able to plan for time off,” he said, “when it comes to family events, like when my wife was pregnant; it was difficult on her and the whole family.”  Trucking involves frequent stays away from home, and you have to have a good relationship with the dispatcher to ensure you get the time off when you need it; if you are looking for repeated time off at specific dates, this makes it hard for the trucking company to make money off the truck and so will you.  “Make sure you give your people, especially the dispatch staff plenty of notice,” says Ray, “that way you are more likely to get the time off without affecting your income or the company operation.”

Penny has been driving big rigs for 7 years after she decided on a career change. “I found it hard to maintain a proper diet and any thought of heading to the gym for a workout is a non-starter,” she says, “more than this, there is a lot of wear and tear on your body, you really have to look after yourself, not just what you eat but getting enough exercise too.” There is no real information on the health or physical affects of trucking, but you have to look after yourself.  Penny advises, “Take multi-vitamins and think more about where you will stop so you can get good food, and look at doing some exercising and stretching as part of your work day routine.”

Curtis has been driving for over 30 years and has seen trucking life from many different angles.  “You have to be disciplined because you are free on the road,” he say, “you decide when you drive and when you rest.” While HOS rules mean there are strict time limits on when you drive, truckers have a lot of freedom which can easily lead to developing bad habits in their work ethic. “It’s also easy to become lonely, all too easy,” he says, “ that’s why so many truckers suffer from depression and stress, so you have to watch out for the signs in yourself.”  Time away from family and lack of any real social life except what is available on the road, means long-term relationships can be hard to create and maintain. “Take extra care with your family when you get time off,” says Curtis, “get out of bed and do stuff with them, take them with you on the road when you can, whatever it takes to keep yourself grounded with the people who are important.”

Truck Driver Recruiting

Just as employers are often worried that applicants are being dishonest when filling out their job applications, potential employees often worry that the job they’ve just accepted will not have the working conditions that were advertised in the help wanted ad. But one web site seeks to end this miscommunication for trucking companies and employees.

Like many other sites on the web, truckflix.com is a free site for drivers, which allows truckers to post one application and apply for a variety of trucking jobs. Unlike other sites, however, truckflix.com also treats those truckers to a night, or day, at the movies. By incorporating streaming media onto their site, truckflix.com asserts that it has entered the technological age. If truckers and trucking companies are going to start taking advantage of new technology like GPS units and broadband Internet, the site’s creators argue, then sites that cater to them should be looking for new ways to make technology serve truckers as well.

Truckflix.com does this by allowing truckers to view streaming videos posted by trucking companies. According to the site’s creators, “seeing is believing.” For the creators of truckflix.com, companies with more to offer will have more impressive and extensive videos, and by allowing truckers to view videos of the companies that they might work for, the creators believe truckers will have a more honest and reliable picture of the kind of company they will be joining.

Truckers can register on truckflix.com for a free account, fill out an application, and view the streaming videos. The videos allow truckers to experience companies’ buildings, equipment, staff, and other advantages before they sign up. For trucking companies, the site offers a similar advantage. Companies are able to use video graphics to convince drivers that they really are the best and make new employees comfortable before their first days on the job.

In addition to web site’s innovative use of media, the site also has a variety of resources available to truckers, including one of the most extensive lists of trucking services and products on the web. Whether truckers are looking for humidifiers or truck parts, they’ll be sure to find at least a few listings that interest them. A drivers’ forum, frequently asked questions section, and articles on drivers’ technology make the forum like home for both truckers and recruiters. Additionally, the site has teamed with Trucker Buddy International to allow registered users to share photos, videos, and text about their trips.

Because truckers are using technology for the benefit of their employers, truckflix.com believes employers are only polite in doing the same. By allowing truckers to view media presentations about companies and recruiters that visit the site, both truckers and companies can help each other find the perfect match. But even if you’re not looking to search for a new job, the site’s extensive list of resources and links will make a visit to this site profitable for anyone interested in the trucking industry.