Violations Paperwork and settlements Time management Parking Delays Preventative maintenance Repairs Difficult customers Communication Physical demands Loneliness/isolation Trucking school gives you the basics — how to handle a rig, a rundown of the parts of the truck, and how to pass the CDL test. But as any experienced driver will tell you, that's just the beginning. The real education starts when you hit the road solo, navigating tight turns and impossible shipper sites, dealing with unpredictable weather, and figuring out how to manage your time when your delivery window is tight but your tank (and stomach) is almost empty.

You’re driving down the road, living your best life, singing Celine Dion at the top of your lungs, when suddenly you hear a gunshot and see sparks in your mirror. You freeze. There’s no one near you on the road, so unless someone’s randomly shooting off a gun nearby, you’ve blown a tire. Womp womp womp.