was just scanning through old posts and saw this thread.....well your not alone.Im going on 7 years now.I was a super trucker by the way, not an alcoholic(like it matters) I had to spend a year in hell.living on no cash becuase the stuff I carried to beat tests just went back into my pocket.Trust me,in the 15 years driving commercially(and the other 10 with a class c delivering stuff) Every employer would give me about a week and a half notice that a test was coming up. it was tough coming up with the $5000.00 to get back in good standing with DOT.I can thank all the guff I got from the I -5 drivers back in 2004-2005,that they gave me over the radio.Conway,USF (thank you for listening and giving me hell) it helped turn it around.Unfortunatly I still get crap from my employers, but not with the fear that they new they could dangle that over my head. Good luck to you Han,I hope it keeps goin one day at a time for you.It only works if you work it.

Congrads. Friend of Bill W.

I am a newbie so I know some of you old guy want like what I post...but the know pride in the job or in yourself is not just a new driver thing. I went west coast the past 2 weeks with a driver that had told me she felt like a lot of people looked down on her because she drives a truck...(she has been driving 22 yrs) When she first told me this I told her I did not see why and I had not got that feeling from anyone. She told me to wait until I went otr I would. After a few days out with her I know why she feels like people look down on her....She takes a bath and is clean...However, she likes to drive in a tank top with no bra, no teeth, sweat pants and sock. When she gets out of the truck she puts on bedroom shoes. She also has bed head....

She said she notice people did not look at me the way they do her...I wonder why? I have teeth, I wear a bra, I wear work boots, and I wear a hat for the bed head....

I told her that people did not look down on her for being a truck driver but because of the way she looked...She told me she was who she was and would not change....At no other job could she dress the way she does and talk with customers....I even changes shirts before going into a customer if I have pre-trip the truck and got my shirt dirty.

This whole job changed when our great leaders went with the CDL. Now we have as some other comments have said, to steering wheel holders. Our great leaders(Congress) has made these HOS, a tool to make some of they're voters happy. I'm waiting forthe day when these people who hate trucks(because they get in their way) go to Wal-Mart, or the grocery store, or to the liquor store and can't get what they want because the shelves are empty. The trucks that bring the stuff they want can't get there legally so they have to deliver the next day, so the store is sold out and then ''AGAIN'' its the truck drivers fault.

I too have noticed this.(15 years driving) and I see no hope in the future.We are a dying breed.

I have found that most o/o have more respect for this field than company drivers. Can't point the finger at all of them but taking pride in your job also goes to taking care of your equipment. Just look at some of these company trucks and you'll see what I mean.ive been driving since 92 and it's really a disgrace out here now. Most are just steering wheel holders. If this makes you mad then your probably part of the problem

We reap what we sow. We stopped teaching respect, accountability and the Golden Rule when we stopped teaching biblical principles in school. Now we have two generations (or three) that only know hot to gratify themselves, want everything instantly, yet haven't a work ethic.

Self respect and pride in job performance are still around, but you will find it in only a small percentage of drivers and that include both o/o and company drivers.

say afella dosnt care about his fellow humans, has no respect for authority, does not play fair with others, will go out of his way to screw someone, contributes nothing to society, is a dead beat husband/ wife, thinks way t highly o fhimself, , basically is a socialpath, wants to run the world his way, constantly is mad at the world has the view that its everyones else's fault , in other words,, he dosn't belong in the truck,, add to the foreigners from all over the world that has the same attiutude its rough, a real trucker can drive what the company says to drive, can deliver anywhere, any load, sit at a truck stop , miss a meal, a shower, what ever, and still love his job, he has a passion for it,, 95 percent of drivers out here, arent truck drivers, never will be, don't want to be, so they have to make life miserable for the guys that love getting the load through,

I have to agree. Been driving since 1990. These days you have to worry about your business and family on your own. To really make friends out here is far and few between. I use my CB rarely. Everyone argues etc. There is no solution, and unfortunately it will only get worse like most things in this country. It is what I call a Slow Fade.

DAGR

I have no idea but would so like it to return quickly and stay at least until the end of MAy and they I will gladly welcome Summmer!!!!

When you figure it out please let me know.!!

I'm pulling for any of the Roush cars, epecally Matt, but thr race is now over and at least all the Roush cars came in the top 10.

My dad always told me the older you get the time flies, I guess its fall! lol

Spring was cancelled this year - you didn't get the memo, I presume?

Wow, I was a union laborer for 10 years and blew out my shoulder. I load out Wednesday for God knows where. good luck to ya driver.