You’re going to want to come up with a few things to do aside from just driving and thinking about driving. And looking through loadboards like you’re 9 again and Super Smash Bros just came out.

People have a lot of preconceptions about truckers. Some are correct, some aren’t but one thing is certain, there is something mysterious about a man or woman who drives three to four thousand miles a week. Knowing how to slide into conversations easily with the non-trucking population will make your ride a lot smoother overall.

I made $3,700 this week, after taxes and deductions, writing this from the back of my truck. If you’ve got a clean record, a decent work ethic, and you’re sick of the job you’ve got, here’s why trucking might be the best paid road trip you’ll ever take.

Flatbed, reefer, dry van, lowboy, tanker, bulk. Every trailer pays different, works different, and can hurt you different. Here's the straight rundown on each one so you can pick your own adventure instead of letting a recruiter pick it for you.

From steam wagons to the Jake brake (thank God) and DEF (curse whoever invented it), trucking has been reinventing itself for over a hundred years. Here’s a quick history, where the industry is headed, and why good drivers aren’t getting replaced by a kiosk anytime soon.

Trucking won’t break your back, but it will test your body, your patience, and your heart. You’re going to get lonely out here, and that’s OK. Here’s how to stay healthy, keep your head straight, and pay your dues without losing yourself or your people back home.

Some companies will hire you day one, others won’t look at you without years under your belt. Don’t take it personal, plan for it. Here are the companies that train new drivers, the ones that pay the most, and how to know when it’s time to call their bluff and move on.

Getting your Class A CDL isn’t rocket science, but it does take studying, a state-approved course, and a folder of paperwork you clutch with white knuckles at the DMV. Do these nine things, shoot me an email telling me how it went, and boom, you’re a truck driver.

Mental notes are NOT real notes. Show up to class with a shirt-pocket notebook, a tidy backpack, a headlamp, a decent knife, and your own shower shoes, and you’re already ahead of half the room. Here’s the full kit and why each piece earns its spot.

Nobody remembers everything, and that includes you. Capture, organize, distill, express: a dead simple note system that turns orientation chaos into a second brain you can actually search. Plus the list of exactly what’s worth writing down.

You’re a trucker. You hunt for paychecks in industrial parks and emerge victorious. Here’s a big ass list of GPS units, CB radios, parking apps, fuel finders, and weigh station tools so you never have to be scared of where you are or where you’re headed.

“OK STUDENTS, LISTEN UP!” Remember that one? Welcome back to class. Here are the note-taking tools and study tricks that’ll get you through CDL school and orientation without losing your mind or getting a hydration headache in a hot parking lot.

Every orientation class, somebody gets sent home for forgetting something. Don’t be that guy. Here’s the checklist for orientation, hotel stays, and moving into your truck, so you show up with everything you need and your recruiter’s promises in writing.

Your first month on the road goes a whole lot smoother with the right gear. PPE that fits, a mattress that doesn’t suck, a cooler, a tool kit, a backup atlas, and cleaning supplies for whatever the last driver left behind. Here’s what to grab first.

Safety’s the goal, but it isn’t where you start. Nail your pre-trip, strap your load right, watch your weights, and talk clearly with dispatch. Do every small thing correctly and safety takes care of itself.