Most companies will tell you that you are their main representative to their customers. This is true, and many of the customers will take advantage of this. They know that you will have to put up with a certain amount of delays and inefficiency without complaining. Patience is an important attribute to cultivate, not only in dealing with shippers and receivers, but also in dealing with law- enforcement officials and customs officers if you haul into Canada.
In most cases, the company you work for will want you to look neat, speak intelligently and courteously, and not make the people you have to deal with mad. If you aggravate these folks, it is just going to slow things down and delay your completion of that haul. This may screw up the company's schedule and cause it to put you at the top of the list for the next bad load.
The trucking company you work for will also expect you to be courteous to the general driving public. Many companies now put phone numbers on the back of their trailers so that other drivers can report improper driving.
Danger
There is a certain amount of danger involved in truck driving. The most obvious, of course, is an accident. Any time you spend 2,000-plus hours a year in motion, something can always go wrong, be it a four wheeler that pulls out in front of you or one that comes across traffic, an animal crossing the road at night, or the possibility that you let yourself become too tired or inattentive to your driving.
Some other serious hazards include slick roads, fog, high winds, and steep mountain roads. All of these must be treated with respect and handled properly.
Other dangers are more remote, but have, none the less, killed drivers, such as objects dropped off of overpasses and snipers that shoot people driving down the road. Drivers have also been shot in rest areas or truck stops and at various other locations in order to rob them or steal the truck, load, or both.
It will only be safe to pick up or deliver at some locations during the day, and even then it will be necessary to always be aware of what is around you and to take prudent precautions. Many drivers have been knocked in the head when getting out of their truck in a truck stop and have awakened without their wallet, CB radio, or other items of value.
Health considerations
Trucking can be hazardous to your health. If you want to eat right and get enough exercise, you will have to make a conscious effort to do so.
Most truck-stop food is still high in fat, and the healthier items, such as salads and buffet foods, are considerably more expensive than the traditional burger and fries.
You can always walk for exercise, and quite a few drivers now do, but finding time to do this will sometimes be a problem, as will finding a safe place to walk.
Another serious problem is the beating your body will take from riding in the truck. Although trucks ride much better than they used to, they are still a far cry from a decent car. Back, kidney, and prostate problems are still prevalent among drivers.
Hard to get the truth
Although many trucking companies are now very honest about what you can expect and what will be required of you, there are still plenty of people who will paint a picture that is much rosier than the one you will encounter after you go to work. Do not be afraid to ask questions to pin down the exact nature of the job. Speaking with drivers who work for the company you are interested in can be invaluable.
When talking money, find out if you will be paid off the hub (an odometer mounted to one of the trucks wheels), in which case you will be paid for every mile driven, or paid by computer miles (mileage determined by a computer program). Computer miles are fine if they use the "shortest practical route" option, but if they use the "shortest route" or "household carrier's mileage" you will be paid for 10-15% fewer miles than you actually drive, because the shortest route between two points will include roads that are not suitable for trucks.
This, plus the large variety of benefit, bonus, and incentive plans used by different companies - means that you have to be very thorough when deciding if one job is better than another.
