Hi everyone Im 22 years old living in the Seattle area and looking to start a career as a truck driver. I just recently left college after realizing school just isn't for me. SInce I left school my parents wont let me come back home so I want to start over with an exciting career path. I have the money to get my CDL and want to focus my attention on becoming a local driver. I want to start a family some day and would like to be home at night. I think I want to become an owner/operator since I have a buddy who is a dispatcher and can help me get some work. Where can I start? Thx

Hey everyone, last week was my first accident in 8 years of driving and I feel like such an idiot. I was finishing up my last load of the day and the dispatcher had me change to a 53' and pick up from a yard I've never been to. I tried to turn around and misjudged the amount of room I needed to turn with my tandem placement. I dented another drivers exhaust stack and backed into a utility pole.

I told my supervisor obviously he was not happy. He told me that I've shown to be a competent driver over the years and values me as an employee- but wants to touch base this week. What do I do?? Could I be getting fired?! And advice would be great......

I am a former librarian who just started driving trucks for a living. I started because I used to accompany my fiance on some trips and thought it was such an exciting job being able to travel the country! We are now thinking about getting into team driving for long hauls. He's been a driver for over 15 years. Neither of us have kids, just two mini schnauzers who we'd be having on the road with us.

Has anyone been on the road with their SO? Did you drive eachother crazy? How difficult is it to find a team placement? I only have about 5 months experience. Any info would be awesome because we're trying to start ASAP.

TIA - Sienna

Saw this post on Facebook or somewhere and saved it because it's SO true and sharing it with this group.

1- Cover your ass. Take pictures, get it in writing, scale everything, get a dashcam and run it all the time.

2- NEVER trust a dispatcher.

3- Never enter any place you don't know how to get out of. Throw the brake, set the 4 ways and walk yourself in. always make sure you can get out.

4-. Don't screw over the next guy. Leave the truck clean, get out of the fuel island, fix the incorrect directions/address, don't leave trash, etc.

5- Get out and look/don't hit anything.

6- We are all truckers and in this together. Help a brother/sister out. Let them merge, explain how to get places, help them back, etc.

7- Thou Shalt Not Lease.

8- Never do favors for dispatch. (also never do anything for free. need that empty moved, no problem, how much you paying?)

9- Trip plan everything. Even short little runs. How are you getting in, where are you going, when will you be done? When do you need to leave by, where's your parking? What's your secondary parking?

10- Protect your license like it's gold. If you don't think it's safe to drive, don't. Ain't nobody going to die cuz your semi truck load of Huggies is 5 hours late.

Anyone else agree with any of these? My favorite is the second one for sure.

I drive safe and when I see people on the road doing these things it just pisses me off. Let's ALL be safe out there and use our heads.

1- Driving under bridges that are too low
Just because you THINK you can make it doesn’t mean you can! Read the clearance signs people! I have seen guys take out the tops of their trucks before. What a mess.

2- Skipping your walk around
Don’t get lazy! Check your damn tire pressure and your lines. PERIOD.

3- Not strapping down the load right
Yup this happens a lot. Before you take off make doubly sure that things are nice and tight so you don’t lose the damn load or kill somebody.

4- Not checking cargo
Plain and simple KNOW what you are hauling. So unless the government says don't look, you LOOK. Don’t get caught hauling things you shouldn’t be, end of story.

5- Not using your mirrors
Why....why do drivers do this?!! If you back up use the damn mirrors. I mean WHY wouldn’t you?! Just looking aint going to get it done am I right?

Anyone agree with me here on these or see em happen?

What was this guy doing that he couldn't see my truck in the middle of an intersection? the news paper said the truck collided with the car. The guy killed his passenger, but the out of state truck drive got blamed. I was just making a turn on a green light. The vehicle was owned by the state, so who do you think the cops covered up for ? I lost my CDL after 38 years of safe driving. No one person stood up in my defense. Sorry,Couldn't get the picture to come out right side up.