jetcareers - View Single Post - Is flying like being a truck driver in a sense?

Polarbear · March 16th, 2005, 18:31

[ QUOTE ]
Truck drivers have an advantage...they can listen to XM radio while they're on duty! And they don't have the TSA to hassle them!

[/ QUOTE ]

Pilot's have more advantages. I drove truck for three years(exactly because I thought it would be close to flying), and it was not a very great QOL. You are never home(I was out 2 months home for 4 days at one point). You sleep in your truck with management complaining you are using up too much fuel idleing to keep the a/c going because its 100 deg out or the heater running because its zero degrees. You have to take showers in some pretty filthy places. If you get a motel room from the company its ussually a ratty roach infested place in the middle of a ghetto. You have to deal with millions of people who think they know how to drive but really have no training at all and often times cut you off not realizing you weigh up to 80,000lbs and can't stop on a dime. Then the biggest reason I left the road was everytime I'd pass an airport my eyes would be on the airport instead of the road. I never had an accident but I always said if I did it would be in sight of an airport, lol.

However I must say I did enjoy my time on the road. I have now been to every state except North Dakota(anyone want to fly from Chicago to Fargo and back? PM me, lol

). It is a very independant job where you rarely ever see your boss and set your own schedule. As long as the freight is there safe and legal noone cares what you do(well dont drink or do drugs of course). If your young, can't afford flight school, want some adventure and sight seeing, I deffinately would say being a paid tourist(aka truck driver) isn't a bad way to go. Just dont expect to have a social life or be treated very well because it doesn't take a rocket scientist to drive a truck and to the companies truck drivers are a dime a dozen.

March 16th, 2005, 18:31	#23
Polarbear Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 391	Re: Is flying like being a truck driver in a sense? [ QUOTE ] Truck drivers have an advantage...they can listen to XM radio while they're on duty! And they don't have the TSA to hassle them! [/ QUOTE ] Pilot's have more advantages. I drove truck for three years(exactly because I thought it would be close to flying), and it was not a very great QOL. You are never home(I was out 2 months home for 4 days at one point). You sleep in your truck with management complaining you are using up too much fuel idleing to keep the a/c going because its 100 deg out or the heater running because its zero degrees. You have to take showers in some pretty filthy places. If you get a motel room from the company its ussually a ratty roach infested place in the middle of a ghetto. You have to deal with millions of people who think they know how to drive but really have no training at all and often times cut you off not realizing you weigh up to 80,000lbs and can't stop on a dime. Then the biggest reason I left the road was everytime I'd pass an airport my eyes would be on the airport instead of the road. I never had an accident but I always said if I did it would be in sight of an airport, lol. However I must say I did enjoy my time on the road. I have now been to every state except North Dakota(anyone want to fly from Chicago to Fargo and back? PM me, lol). It is a very independant job where you rarely ever see your boss and set your own schedule. As long as the freight is there safe and legal noone cares what you do(well dont drink or do drugs of course). If your young, can't afford flight school, want some adventure and sight seeing, I deffinately would say being a paid tourist(aka truck driver) isn't a bad way to go. Just dont expect to have a social life or be treated very well because it doesn't take a rocket scientist to drive a truck and to the companies truck drivers are a dime a dozen.