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Is it really this bad?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by NobodysFool, Oct 9, 2010.

Page 1 of 6
  1. Oct 9, 2010 #1
    NobodysFool

    NobodysFool Bobtail Member

    17
    4
    Sep 30, 2010
    Newport News, VA
    0
    Wow, talk about taking the air out of your balloon.

    I’ve been on this Blog for several weeks now researching a driver career several years from now and I’ve read the good and bad, discovered the good and bad companies, ups and downs. A common theme is long hours for low pay or either low pay due to low miles. Average life expectancy for new drivers is less than a year for the majority and a small handful make it the distance and actually make it a career.

    I was never aware of deregulation because I never knew there was once regulation. I do remember my best friend’s father selling his truck in 1980 and opening up a restaurant that seemed to do well. I was 17 then and did not know or make the connection between deregulation and this event. I do know he had 5 children, his wife didn’t work, there was always at least 1 new car in the driveway and he bought his son (my best friend) a nice car on his 16th birthday. They also had a nice big middle class home. I just thought he wanted to be home more.

    Part of what I’ve been doing besides reading this Blog is to watch YouTube videos on the subject and there is a ton. I was hoping to find a good trucking video or two tonight before I wind down the day and see some of the neat stuff truckers get to do and see. But instead I found these two videos that completely turned me off to trucking in less than 20 minutes. Even one of the best companies (or so I thought), Schneider, is made to look like an evil monster willing to financially destroy a family for their own gain. I am left with a feeling that trucking is nothing more than a “sweat shop on wheels”.

    Watch the videos below if you dare but be forewarned that this will deflate your ambitions of being a trucker as it just did to me.

    Trucking: Sleep when you can, Drive when you have to (Parts 1&2)
    http://www.youtube.com/user/truckingresearch#p/a/u/0/ICC3nW4PP7o

    If the link doesn’t work just type in the title on YouTube.

    I still plan on becoming a driver in a few years just to say I done it and fulfill a long time dream of mine but when I do I will already be collecting 2 retirements and have my house paid for. In other words, I won’t be doing it for the money and good thing!
     
    NobodysFool, Oct 9, 2010
    NobodysFool, Oct 9, 2010
    #1
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  3. Oct 9, 2010 #2
    AZS

    AZS Honk if anything falls off

    2,912
    1,303
    Sep 30, 2010
    PHX, AZ
    0
    Two videos turned you off of trucking in 20 minutes? Yeah, you probably shouldn't do it. :biggrin_2559:

    EDIT - I did (I tried) watch the video, seems a little radical and very bitter.
     
    AZS, Oct 9, 2010
    AZS, Oct 9, 2010
    #2
  4. Oct 9, 2010 #3
    KE5WDP

    KE5WDP Road Train Member

    1,587
    1,030
    Mar 11, 2010
    Caddo Lake, Texas
    0
    Check out my vids. Look up "Trucker Rag Chew".

    I have some stuff on the road...some of my pet peeves and just some random stuff.....

    Better yet, here is a link to my channel.....
    http://www.youtube.com/user/KE5WDP
     
    KE5WDP, Oct 9, 2010
    KE5WDP, Oct 9, 2010
    #3
    AZS, ac120 and LindaLou Thank this.
  5. Oct 9, 2010 #4
    RESPECT

    RESPECT Light Load Member

    66
    5
    Sep 24, 2010
    Jasper, AlaFreakinBama
    0
    if the person talking would shut up i could enjoy the old music in the background. i start school in 2 days and these videos did nothing to change my mind. maybe some1 on here will figure out what the guy is tryin to explain and break it down for people like me
     
    RESPECT, Oct 9, 2010
    RESPECT, Oct 9, 2010
    #4
  7. Oct 10, 2010 #5
    Milk_n_Cookies

    Milk_n_Cookies Light Load Member

    78
    37
    Oct 10, 2010
    0
    The video gives an accurate description of the trucking industry.
     
    Milk_n_Cookies, Oct 10, 2010
    Milk_n_Cookies, Oct 10, 2010
    #5
  8. Oct 10, 2010 #6
    JimTheHut

    JimTheHut Road Train Member

    3,983
    2,164
    Sep 26, 2009
    Central Ohio-Go Bucks!
    0
    I am sure that it is true for some...but it is not even close to my reality!:biggrin_25513:
     
    JimTheHut, Oct 10, 2010
    JimTheHut, Oct 10, 2010
    #6
  9. Oct 10, 2010 #7
    truckerdave1970

    truckerdave1970 On Probation

    2,988
    3,289
    Dec 15, 2008
    Rochester, NY
    0
    Just wait and see, junior!

    It might be all unicorns and rainbows for you now, but the pot at the end of that rainbow sure ad hell ain't full of gold!!!
     
    truckerdave1970, Oct 10, 2010
    truckerdave1970, Oct 10, 2010
    #7
  10. Oct 10, 2010 #8
    o.m.d.

    o.m.d. Heavy Load Member

    827
    2,130
    Aug 15, 2010
    massachusetts
    0
    sweat shops of the 19th century haha! what the hell do you want? a mobil five star hotel!? hahahahahaha!! bare minimum, all this whining, every single job field is taking hits in pay hits, increased hours, low pay. SUCK IT UP. VOTE. i was making 10 dollars an hour doing carpentry when i was out of work and couldnt find crap.

    these people are talking about 2 mortgages on their house? let me guess, they're one of the ####### that paid 2 or 3 times what their house was worth, got a shady mortgage, and now are going omg what am i gonna do!!? i'm 22 years old, i've already bought a house, my bills are totally maybe 1200 a month, and that includes the internet and all the little luxuries! i'm making 600 a week at my job. i'm doing great! it's called living within your means and being realistic about what your income is and might be!! i was making 10 dollars an hour and barely scraping by, but i can do it if i need to!
     
    o.m.d., Oct 10, 2010
    o.m.d., Oct 10, 2010
    #8
  11. Oct 10, 2010 #9
    Hubcap

    Hubcap Medium Load Member

    547
    1,547
    Dec 29, 2009
    Rhome Texas
    0
    I wish someone would call me junior.

    I require a burger from Voss in Cuba MO.
     
    Hubcap, Oct 10, 2010
    Hubcap, Oct 10, 2010
    #9
  12. Oct 10, 2010 #10
    Milk_n_Cookies

    Milk_n_Cookies Light Load Member

    78
    37
    Oct 10, 2010
    0
    I hear you driver but you have been driving 6 months.

    Yes, there are exceptions, but with yearly driver turnover rates between 90-130% depending on the economy, I ask you to take a step back and look at the situation a little farther back than personal.

    Clearly this is not the experience of "some" but the vast majority.
     
    Milk_n_Cookies, Oct 10, 2010
    Milk_n_Cookies, Oct 10, 2010
    #10
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