So contrary to what a lot of you may believe, I didn't get into trucking because it was the "family tradition." My parents were I.T. people of all things! Join me as I ramble about how I started out on the road, haha.
The single greatest decision I made was to build a shop. Myself and 5 of my buddies, all owner ops, we split the cost of a 60x80 steel building. We split the cost of the tools and equipment and the utilities. We save a ton of money doing our own repairs vs sending trucks to a shop. My recent engine swap was done in our shop, saved me thousands of dollars vs an outside shop. We coordinate our time home and help each other out with the labor. Good luck with your planning, you have a vision, stick to it my friend.
Man, that sort of community sounds so awesome. I want to reach that point sometime in the near future with my brother in law. Can't wait to leave the company driver life behind!
1st generation driver here too. Dad was a banker, mom was an office administrator. I mucked about with college for a few years, and it wasn't for me. Taught snowboarding for a few winters, and eventually replied to an ad for a G class driver. Boss took a liking to me, and asked if I'd be interested in upgrading to my AZ. Did that, and here I am, 14 years later, hauling over dimensional loads all over the map...
I just thought I was thinking like this. In fact, my father is a lawyer and my mother is a professor at a university, and I was in my country studying history and at the same time working in interior decoration. One day I got up and immigrated to Switzerland and here I will have my exam at the beginning of the year on 3/1/2022 and I have a big project in the future that I will work on and have my own place💪. Someday I will visit the USA just to see how it goes and learn some things from you of course🌹. Please accept my highest respect🙏🏻
my grandparents were carpenters, my dads an accountant, and my moms a cashier, somehow i became an o/o pulling super b's on the west coast! love my job
ROCK STAR 😍Is that yoyr CB handle? It definitely suits you! What a wonderful story with a goal. You are a breath of fresh air consistently, a happy camper, smart and with extra skills to boot ❤ HELLO from Florida, the Sunshine State for today Drive safe!!
Guess things have changed a lot with truck driver training in Ontario. In 1985 I had 2 one hour lessons in Hamilton, then the truck for the road test in Burlington. First job was with White Oak hauling steel with A trains and B trains, zero training, learn as you go ! 🙂 Good luck with the future, sounds like you're a smart guy, with a good plan.
Seriously, best haircut on RU-vid! Thank you for keeping the Canadian mullet alive driver! Love your channel and that you're following your dream grabbing gears. Keep up the vids and living an honest life! 👍✊ You're an inspiration driver to others.
Thank you, RU-vid recommendations! I like trucking videos and have watched many creators but only consistently watch @supertruckerdan and now, just subscribed to you after this one. Great energy, great story and I look forward to binge watching to catch up. Stay safe.
Man you are on your way!! Your demeanor about taking advice, and your go get er attitude is gonna take you far!! Onwards and Upwards my fellow Ontario Trucker!!!!
Love how you wave to all the other large cars, it rarely happens anymore! Good on ya for finding your own way in this upside world man. Trucking sadly has fallen by the wayside...stay safe out there driver!
I sure enjoyed this video and your story. One nice thing is you won’t have to look back later in life and wonder,what if. Kindest regards,Sunshine Coast B.C.
Best of luck to you in the future in your goals you mentioned. Sounds like you have a good plan and a good attitude. Your good attitude and motivation will take you anywhere you believe you want to go. 👍 Ps I'm a 1st generation trucker too from New Zealand. Been driving for over 20 years now, it's treated me really well all and all and taken me to both the USA driving for a year and over to Australia for a few years too. It's a good job. Keep on truckin brother🤙
I took music at western didn’t t even want to play any more know my guitar comes every where my truck goes and I still love to play keep on keepin my friend
1st gen trucker here i started out in 1992 after my father and papa passed away i was working as a diesel mechanic for the company i started out with and 28 yrs and 2.6 million miles later im medically retired ...i miss the dtiving but not the other bullshit keep on trucking brother !! Be safe
It seems you have made the right choices despite going for different path compared to "family tradition" and initial plans :) Also I quite like these talking and rambling videos. I have a bit similar thing, parents have high education backround and I went to study forest sciences in university. But here in Finland we have semi-mandatory military service, which I decided to do in the middle of studies to get some breathing break from uni. Tried to get in air force as a pilot, didn't quite make it. So decided to get the military service done as fast as possible and tried to have a 6 month role over there. But no, I was put as a truck driver, who have longest possible, 12 month service. The best decision of my life, not even made by myself :D Continued the uni studies after military service but now work as a trucker in forestry business. Not always the best job but pays well, good workmates and in good times (which it quite often is) it is pretty cool job!
My Dad as been trucking for 42yrs. Since im 2yrs old been in trucks machine. My line when i apply for jobs. Is diesel runs threw my veins. First time shifting i was 12yrs old. Got my license in 2010 started on b-trains for Lexon hauling drywall. Super happy new generations starting. Keep on trucking!!!
3rd gen myself but didn’t start driving until I was in my 30’s after wanting a career change and always having that itch to drive trucks. I’m Australian but my father has always drove for himself and has built up a few trucks. He always keeps his trucks very well maintained and has enough money in the bank to cover major breaks like rebuilds on engine diffs gearboxes ect. They also own an older truck that’s on local that can be used to cover an interstate trip if they are busy or have a breakdown with one of the other trucks!
Really interesting to hear how you got started. I just passed my cdl test a few months ago. I failed the pre trip inspection on my first try that thing is absolutely ridiculous lol. The second time I passed everything. I never went to school or anything for it I just studied on the internet and practiced on my dads hauling truck. He owns a excavating business I’m hoping to start driving otr soon
@@callthemall I’ve been hauling equipment for my dad for the last few months I’ll have to see what’s out there I’ve been having trouble getting a job because I’m not 21 I guess it’s an insurance thing
I asked the question on one of your other videos, you answered, then u find this doozy! I'm hoping to do the same thing so I have something for my kids to be proud of and elwant to partake in. Long ways to go now.
Awesome videos dude,lol super b tricky first few days backn up after awhile guy no think about it and think about where want pup trailer,and not let 2nd firth wheel get past a certain point, otherwise no catching pup
Man this is so cool. Stumbled on you randomly and started following along. You’re from my area and I can usually tell where you’re at if you’re in ONT. But this one I notice you’re coming south down M-33 through Mio, MI. My grandparents cottage is not far from that intersection. That’s cool. Super cool what you’re doing too. Videos are awesome. Loved hearing about your journey. Keep it going man.
I won't get into too much detail but I have a very fond memory of hanging out with you back when you had your "bigger" band van and I had my Malibu and it was the winter time at Oxford and Wonderland parking lot.. Old memories are the best I swear. I loved seeing some of the old footage in this video , great stuff!
I have worked as a teacher and football coach for years. I am getting ready to start trucking school. I am really excited about it. Wish I would have done it years ago. I'll make far more as a blue collar trucker than I did as a teacher. Vocational school and job ready training really needs to be pushed as an option for high school students.
Hey man, yeah I had my own software company for 20 years and into electronics technology now for 30 years. Well, I got everything taken from me by me being complacent and now I'm getting into trucking to help fund my new tech startup.
3 weeks late but I finally got time to watch this video. Great story Matt!👍 I wasn't sure what your parents did for a living but I was kind of curious watching your earlier videos. Did I hear you correctly, 3 years of driving school. WOW!! I thought that the 4 weeks I went to school was long because most schools are about 2 weeks. I did have about 16 hours seat time on the road, 4 were at night & more drive time than the other students. But these schools only teach you how to pass the CDL Test. Ya don't really learn anything until you get past your "trainer" at your first company. I had to teach my trainer how to throw tire chains 😲🙄🙄, among other things. LOL I learned a lot in my first 6 months of OTR. If your interested in good good information on having your own authority and owning your own company, check out Tim Ghorley at Life is Good. I have been watching him for quite a few years now. Stay safe and healthy out there! Have a good day and a better one tomorrow! I'll spoke to ya later and I'm back quiet.😎
Ahaha I meant to say 3 MONTHS not years! And actually looking back at it it was May/June and I was working by the end of June, so I think it was only 2 months 🤣 I was pretty thankful for a lot of the in class stuff at the school. We were taught all about load securement on flatbed, because “some of you unlucky suckers might end up doing flatbed” 🙄🙄🤪 but that was more training than I got at the actual company. We did a couple days at the yard strapping and chaining stuff down at the school, you know, hands on stuff, whereas my first company was an hour PowerPoint presentation, then you’re on your own!! I’m going to look into that channel, thanks for the recommendation! 👍👍
I feel you on the driving part. Had a job for a few years as a van driver for frozen foods, came to realise that I love driving. Issue is that here in the UK it is so damn hard and so damn expensive to get a HGV license. No company will sponsor me for a license. I can't earn enough in the middle of this pandemic :(
your story sounds pretty similar to mine! wanted a change so I signed up for trucking school. sounds like you're pretty close to my neck of the woods too. did my training at OTDS in London (I was also the only one to touch a manual there haha) and a week after getting my license I was off for my first solo cross border run. only did it for 8 months or so, running dry van from the GTA to Ohio/Indiana back and forth way outside my hours every week burnt me out pretty quick. hell, crossing at Ambassador 3 or 4 times a week was almost enough to make me wanna call it quits. been about a year since I've been driving full time, but your vids sure do make me miss it. preferably not doing cowboy shit like dodging scales and fudging logs for a sketchy outfit this time around though.
I’ve been keeping an eye out for your rig after finding out we truck in some of the same areas around GTA, and today I finally caught you driving east bound west of Milton😎👊
Not a trucker, but a first generation construction worker from a family of writers! Well uncle is a contractor, but yeah. Feels good to start a new path
Graduated from university eons ago but always loved trucks and trains. Not trucking full time now but haul fuel regionally in Alberta/BC on a part time /casual basis hence the Casualtrucker name. Often go back and forth between getting my own and staying company but alas age is creeping up on me! Like hauling fuel though. Did a lot a hopper work and some flatbed and pneumatic but prefer fuel in super B.
Thank you for sharing your story. It’s one of my favorite things to learn how drivers came to the industry. I’m a new subscriber to your channel. Forgive me for asking a dumb question but I really want to be sure I’m reading it right. Is it Call the mall or Call them all? Lol
Haha it’s call the mall, little 2007 me thought of it on a whim when I started this channel. “You can’t call the mall, you can call the stores in the mall, but you can’t actually call the mall!” (Turns out you can)
Gramps was the only trucker in the family, and he took up the profession as it was easy work after his cancer diagnosis. He passed when I was 15. I got my license a few months after I turned 21, and I’ll be 29 next month. I’ve been in and out of the Industry but I always find myself back, I’ll be here for life
im 22 yrs old got my license about a month ago down here in windsor. been driving since I was about 15 with my uncle on construction sites and finally bit the bullet to spend 10k for a license lol. but its well worth it😀 when you do start a company think of me im in ontario so im sure it would work out possibly. cheers man
and hell l thought you were like me, cant run a shovel or a rake cause it tickles my hands and I can't work when l'm laughing, and your to light for heavy work and to heavy for light work and not dumb enough to steal for a living, so the only option left was to drive a truck lol.😂. been driving since I was 12 yrs old and l'm 57 and still driving rgn quad axel. it's a good living l'm company driver and average 150 to 200 grand a year here in Ontario. doing what I love. best of luck junior. do you get down here in central eastern ont . bancroft area? have a good one and keep the greasey side down buddy 👍 👍 💯
Mic works nice, hear you clear and the truck is not supper loud to not hear what your talkin' about! Really interesting story , thanks for sharing! If this is to personal of a question I understand How much of a Down do you need to purchase a truck as Owner Op in Canada?
truck driving was my dream job since i was real young , i started in 2008 with schneider national at 22 years old found out real fast i hated being away from home and otr wasn’t for me . i now work for a mega carrier in mississauga running local pays not the greatest but we get overtime after 9hrs and i’m still able to pay my bills and have some extra for what ever. unfortunately for me now trucking has just became a job for to pay the bills and with all the changes with the industry and talk of self driving trucks coming in a few years i’ve been thinking of trying to get into running heavy equipment to be honest
I knew it!!! I was going to ask about you about music but never got around to it. We need to no more, lead, rhythm, bass or drums? Any RU-vid videos out there?
Bass! Everyone is always missing the bass player 😂 I’ve got a playlist on my channel for music stuff, haven’t done much recently on it, maybe it’s time to dust off the ol geetars...
Started doing yard work and started off as a yard jockey. Trailers are easy, Gonna go for class A by end of the year. Just trying to stay on track and focused on it. I enjoy the work
Moin Interessante Geschichte....!!!ist echt nice, dir beim fahren und erzählen zuzuhören......!! Grüßt du eigentlich jeden entgegen kommenden Trucker...??.....und ist das so ein ungeschriebenes Gesetz wie bei uns bei den Motorrad- und Busfahrern....?! Ich finde es jedenfalls ausserordentlich freundlich und es macht gute Laune.....☺️☺️
Cool man, yeah I've been leasing for like 4 years and I would like to purchase a truck but I guess I'm a little sketched out by it. You know like what if something major happens and I don't have the money for it or something.
Good to see that y'all wave at one another! Incidentally, YOUR loves (music - although I am hopeless at it) and education and such are not that dissimilar (I am also 1st generation)..... although my history is quite different .... I went into the military and from there into trucks - because they don't give you a whole heap skills for civvy street! LOL
Very interesting. Today, I very much regret that I did not start my own business 20 years ago; now, at 60, it is too late.If I understand you correctly, you prefer local transport. Otherwise, I would have asked you whether you could also imagine a future in heavy haul à la Sergej Dratchev (whose YT videos you are probably familiar with), with which you can obviously earn decent money and they never get boring. Best wishes from Germany, Steffen.
I'll never forgot my road test. I was the only one to put the trailer in the cones first shot. Only ding I got was for shifting an a intersection while corning. Which your not suppose to do on your road test. I'm also first gen driver nobody in my family has done this before me.
All i can say is don't pour all your money into a boat or Bike just so you can fish or Ride on your day off, Your truck OWNS you and i can tell that you love it. Plus you can listen to the best rock in the world from your cab, Have a safe one. That's on me. Chook. Keep it coming, love your feeds.
I am trying to figure out, how to be a owner operator the problem is that I don't have experience over the road only local. I fill like I am lost I too, I need some advice. I wish you the best in trucking and on your life.
Be honest with yourself first and it may save you some grief. Do you rage in traffic? Do traffic jams bother you? Do inconsiderate drivers irritate you to no end? How do you handle stress, strange hours, and messed up sleep patterns? Are you single? If not, are you ready for a divorce ? I guess what I’m getting at is that driving is a life and not just a job. If it’s just a job you’ll blow out fairly quickly. If it was easy and as high paying as companies would have you think they wouldn’t be begging for drivers on the back of every truck going down the highway.
I recently got my AZ license, and im finding it difficult to find a trucking that pays decent. Any advice on where to look, or what to say on my resume that might attract a company?
I got my class 1 licence in Manitoba in 2011 so I didn’t have to take any courses or nothing luckily. Then I drove for a redimix company hauling stone with midland sidedump b trains. Now I’m a farmer…
