I didn't say all the industry but the biggest majority. The truckers you have here are mostly people who care about the industry otherwise they wouldn't waste there time on a computer writing about the troubles they have and trying to help others. If you took out the big companies like Swift, Jb, Schenieder, most of the bad would be gone. These guys are setting up recruiting busses in projects to recruit drivers, I have seen it with my own eyes. They are also working deals to try and get Mexicans over here to drive there trucks for a very small wage. So all the rest of us will be out of a job if we don't adapt. There again I have no problem with Mexicans, the ones that are here legally should be paid fair wages and benifits just like all the other Americans. But we can't just open up and let all who want in, in. And that includes all races.

Man, wreckless, I didn't have this much negative to say about my exwife, and I kicked her out. My point is this: If you hate it this much, why still participate? Now I'm not saying this to be mean, but come on. I would do something that I enjoy, or at least can tolerate, for less income, than to let it get to the point as you have described above. Why walk around, feeling ashamed of what you do for a living?

All truck driver's have one of two general reasons, or feelings about truck driving. They are:
1. I am driving this truck to see the country, enjoy my freedom, and to support my family.
2. I am driving this truck because I can't do anything better in life, nor will I try to.

If you aren't doing it for the first reason, you have no pride or concern for your fellow drivers. These are the guys of which you speak above. They just don't care, so, pull up your boot straps, tuck in your shirt, and show the pride that you wish others carried with them. It will make a difference. The next truckstop you walk into, see how quick you pick out the ones without the pride. It won't take long, as you usually smell them, before you see them. Now, look around, and determine if they look out of place. You will notice a lot of neat dressed, and groomed drivers, wearing anything from clean and pressed uniforms to polo style golfing shirts, and khaki slacks, and some of the worst in this category will have on one of their favorite, comfortable, tee shirts, and a pair of jeans, and both will be clean.

I just don't see things as bad as you report, but I tend to look at everything from different angles.

In closing, if you are that ashamed of what you do, go on, make a change, and find you something that makes you happy, and that you can be proud of. But I promise you, that if you show good hygiene and take pride in everything you do in trucking, it affects someone else's self image. You do your part, show that pride, and it will spread like wildfire.

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UPDATE article concerning Landstar/OOIDA

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tru...ourt-case.html

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The Truckers Report Merchandise

Thank you, Cybergal.

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I'm your huckleberry.

Well said. I didn't just fall into this business because I had no other skills. I chose to do this after retirement from the military because it's something that I enjoy doing, I do it well, I get paid very well for my efforts, and the work isn't extremely hard. In short, I get a good buck for the effort that I put in.

And though I haven't met anyone from this forum yet, I have met some folks from other forums, and they have all commented later on the appearance i hold. I am always dressed neatly in Khaki style slacks, a company logoed shirt, and clean neat appearing shoes. My beard is trimmed as is my hair, and I act like the professional that I am. And in the majority of cases, those are the other truckers that I see.

Yes, I see the dirtbag who hasn't shaved in a week, wearing sweatpants and flip flops, and a Jack Daniels T shirt with the sleeves ripped off, but i see a lot more of the clean cut professionals than I do them.

You have to make an effort to see the entire picture, not just the ones that stand out for bad reasons.

So, I am the only one here that sees this everywhere I go. I would be the first to say you can find some really good people out here driving a truck. But you and the moderator are saying the biggest majority of truckers are clean educated people who take baths on a normal basis and groom thereselves. The only walls I see not polluted with trucker trash is the walls in which truckers have no parking. When is the last time you turned on your cb without hearing some idiot talking about getting laid or someone singing trying to keep everyone else from conversating. The reason I don't leave this industry is because I have been driving a truck since I was 18 in the military, it is all I know, it is all I have ever done. To quit would be to start at the beginning on a new ladder at 33 yrs old and 3 children and a wife to support. I should have known I should have kept my mouth shut because it's just like politics. No one wants hear the truth about something they are involved in. I will keep my opinions back to myself and all of you truckers out there, you just keep beliving what you will. It really makes no difference to me, it's not like anyone is going to change this industry cause the first thing you have to be able to do if you live in a house full of (dung) is to admit, you live in a house full of (dung).

Thank you, Burky, for that compliment, and thank you also for serving our country.

Now, this is probably going to seem weird to most, but I also carry my self to a higher standard, and it has nothing to do with my Army training. I have always been impressed with airline pilots, and since I was old enough to remember, have wanted to fly commercial jets. It my twelve years of driving, that is what I imagine, everyday that I am doing. I dress neat, and walk through the truckstop, just as a pilot would at any major air terminal. Head held high, chin up, like I own the place, never rushing, but moving swiftly as I have a purpose in life.

I drive a truck, as if it were a 747 passenger liner, taxiing out of my parking slot, out to the runway, slowly and caustiously, paying attention to my surroundings, checking my guages, and preparing for that days trip. Flying through the parking lot is not what my truck is designed for.

Once on the road, I drive as if I am considering the motions and g forces my passengers will feel, trying ever so hard to make it a smooth flight. Never do I put my truck into a high g bank on exit and entrance ramps, and try to perform this roll as smoothly as possible, to where it doesn't even feel like I'm turning at all.

At the end of my flight, I once again, slowly taxi my truck into it's parking spot, and consider it a good day.

It may be considered childish by some to use my imagination this way, but in all my years of driving, I have never been involved in a roll over, or any other accident, because of my carelessness.

Next time you're out, try my method, and you'll find out that there is less stress on the driver, and vehicle.

Big trucks are not NASCAR or NHRA vehicles. They are better taken care of with a more gentle approach of their operation.

It could save your life.

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I'm your huckleberry.

OOIDA won the right to sue Landstar in a court of law, they have not won the case yet? If anyone would read this post I talked with OOIDA the other day when all this started back up again and they said the case was postponed till Jan07. I am really glad you guys can see this industry as a good industry, Maybe I should start my own business. The add would read like this. Job opening, start out at 800+ a week, no education required, no family needed as you will not be seeing them very often. No one turned down, no tests, no requirements other than you pass a two week training school. I guess my applicants would mostly be clean cut decent people. I will say this about Landstar however, there standards are very high for the trucking industry and although they do have taking your money to a legal art. It is full of the most decent people in the trucking industry I have ever witnessed, and they are the fairest people I know of, if that is saying anything at all. They do make you sign a contract telling you exactly how they will screw you and if you hire the right New York lawer he will be able to tell you how deep your going to get it. But again they are the best I have seen or delt with in this industry. And to put them lower than trucking companies like JB, Prime, etc is just plain wrong. Good luck to all and happy trails. I am done with this post.

[quote=wreckless4thf;79409]No, driver, you are not the only one that sees it, we all do, but to give it that much attention, only makes it worse. Be the man. Set the example for others to follow

Go to your local Walmart or any other public restroom, and it's all the same. If you didn't put it there, then report it to the management, and let them handle it. Come back in a couple of days, and if it is still a problem, bring it to their attention again.

There is no excuse for this, and yes, it annoys me too, but I just squelch it out, turn up the Sirius a little louder, and continue on my way. If these clowns had no audience, with participation, they would die off in silence.

Is this a plea for pity? I spent five years in the Army, at the same time, got my Electrical Engineering Degree through USC, with a minor in Political Science, and have driven trucks since then. I hate engineering. To me it was a square pegged job, and I consider myself to be well rounded. If I wanted to, right now, I could support my family by driving for a local company, and go to Tech, or take correspondence courses while OTR. The only thing holding you back, my friend, is you. You can do it. Sure, it's hard work, but it beats living in shame, as you call it.

No, you will not. Why do you want to act stupid. Sticking your head in the sand will make life better for you right? You just sat there and told me that you spent time in the military, and the rest driving a truck. That, to me, is probably the toughest road a man can travel. I know, I'm still traveling it. So don't give me none of that, "Well, I just won't play with ya'll no more" crap. With the attitude you have just expressed, you are failed to doom, and that is only by you acting as if you are weak minded. Grow up, man, and take responsibilties and pride for yourself, and quit worrying about what you think you can and can't do. You act as though you are defeated, but I know it doesn't have to be that way. It's all a matter of attitude. What's yours?

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Sure wish you hadn't gone out like that. That's weak to make statements putting down a whole industry, that you belong to, and then up and leave. I just hope you get things squared away in your life, as you sound misserable, and I would hate to see you go through the rest of your life thinking that you can't change. Sad state of affairs.

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I'm your huckleberry.