Yes... Great read. I hope to have a similar product when I am finished. There is also a book called "Independents Declared: The Dilemmas of Independent Trucking" by Michael Agar. Both showcase the hardships of the industry.

__________________
Dan H.
Sociology Student
Studying the Work Lives of Truck Drivers

Have a story to tell about your work life?
Send me a Private Message

Howdy folks-

I just wanted let people know that I am still interested in talking to as many drivers as possible about their work experiences. I have conducted about 10 in-depth interviews so far and have met some amazing people from it.

Please send me a PM if you are interested in being part of a project that has the goal of letting the public know how hard truckers work! Your location does not matter, as I can conduct the interview over the phone.

Thanks again,

Dan H.

__________________
Dan H.
Sociology Student
Studying the Work Lives of Truck Drivers

Have a story to tell about your work life?
Send me a Private Message

AND ALSO if you don't have 50 posts to send a PM, please contact me and I will forward your email to SOCY GRAD for an interview.

Thanks

I agree with Native D. Get this book and read it. The author's name is Michael Belzer, and he actually used to drive. He's a professor at Wayne State these days.

__________________
--Paved Dudley--

Yeah I drive a Swift truck
And that means one thing
It means she's slow
It's a typical company truck
It's just all show and no go

I'm gettin' passed by Yella
And even Overnite
I'm gettin' passed by ever' body in sight
46 days on the road
And I'm not gettin' home tonight

No, my hometown's nowhere in sight
And if you think I'm pissed off
You're right
46 days on the road
And I'm not gettin' home tonight


Love pissing off those trucking company insiders.

I have read Mr. Belzer's book, and it is a fine one. However, Belzer comes from an economic standpoint, and I wish to focus on the day-to-day lives of drivers: how they maintain normalcy with their families, how they are harassed by enforcement officials, how they work much longer and much harder than the average American and how they are often treated negatively by shippers and receivers. Belzer mentions none of these aspects and I certainly think they deserve a lot more attention.

The reason why I decided to focus on truckers is because I found an industry that was unlike any other (this one), and found a bunch of hard working individuals who are increasingly facing difficult times, be it the fuel costs of OO's or the pressures that a company driver faces to perform and deliver a load on time. I believe that the more the public knows about drivers and their unique lives, the better off the industry (and it's drivers) will be in the long run.

Anyone who would like to share their story in an in-depth phone (or in-person) interview can help get the story out there. All interviews are anonymous, protecting your privacy. I can also email anyone more information about the study if they have any further questions.

__________________
Dan H.
Sociology Student
Studying the Work Lives of Truck Drivers

Have a story to tell about your work life?
Send me a Private Message

50 posts?!! Dang I have a looooong ways to go! LOL

Not if you take advantage of all this site
has to offer, B & J.

Here's what I suggest ------
Hop over to the
A Discussion About Everything section.
and check out the threads,
Word Association
and/or
Make a Word Game.

Play along and you'll be passin' 50 posts in short order.

ALSO!
If you're feelin' lucky,
cruise over to,
The World Is A Joke section,
and enter by just posting in
The Last Post Wins thread.

And, as an added bonus, you'll get to meet other posters, and they'll get to meet you.
How cool is that?

It's more fun than a human being should be
allowed to have.

Hi Dan, You are certainly on the right track here. America pretends to want and love its drivers but corporate need for cheap labor has cheapened our life style. State and federal regulation only serve to keep drivers impuned and fined. Drivers problems is they are not able to come together over issues. An issue at company "A" may not exist at company "B". Please look into driver retention that is a hot subject.

Thanks for the support Jazzman.

I am seeing a lot of issues with driver retention and turnover. I agree that "cheap labor" has indeed had a large impact on the industry, shippers are trying to find the cheapest rates possible, and drivers wages have been fairly static for some time now (See "Sailors of the Concrete Sea" by Bellman, Monaco and Brooks).

What is really interesting to me these days is the amount of unpaid work in the industry... pre-trip inspections, weigh stations, time at shippers and receivers, etc. These things make the occupation unlike any other.

And I still haven't had any "takers" willing to be interviewed yet...

__________________
Dan H.
Sociology Student
Studying the Work Lives of Truck Drivers

Have a story to tell about your work life?
Send me a Private Message

*********** SIDEBAR FOR SOCY *********
One of our non-trucker posters is making the trek from California to Arkansas in a U-Haul, purchased, truck ---
and has a hand-lettered poster board taped to the back asking other drivers to log on here, and report to her friends that she's alright.

Your thoughts?
Predictions?

Thanx in advance.