Why are there so many cry babies out here? Can't you read?

Why is it that so many new drivers that spend the time to read these forums, and ask questions, still end up in a jam? There are literally hundreds of very experienced drivers on these forums that take the time out to inform you all of what to expect, and yet you are still surprised.
There are lots of threads about how you were lied to, you never get home, you don't get paid enough for your time, or you name it. Don't you bother to read what everybody is saying? Or do you chose to only focus on the good stuff, and ignore the hard part?
I will tell you all that after over 35 years in trucking, almost all of it as a long haul trucker, that I still believe it is a really good profession to be in. The experiences I've had, and the people I've met over the years are priceless. I wouldn't trade them for anything.
But, if you think it was easy money, you are dead wrong. Trucking is some of the hardest money you will ever learn. It is mentally and physically demanding.
Here are some things to remember:

!. You will work between 60-100 hours per week as a driver, regardless of the 70 hour rule. there is always something that will add to your work day, such as traffic, weather, lack of available parking to sleep, etc.
2. The majority of shippers and receivers could care less about your 14 hour clock. in fact, there are many who will intentionally do what they can to make your life miserable.
3. You will drive all night to get to your delivery, only to be told to wait in the lot with your c.b. on channel ##, and thery will call you. You will not be able to sleep, because there are always some yahoos on the radio who insist on talking about nothing, and you can't turn the radio off or you'll miss your call.
4. You will run out of hours, and when you tell the shipper/receiver they will tell you to leave their property or they will have you towed.
5. For many of you who work for companies with electronic logging, if you stop to take a nap, your dispatcher will call you and tell you to get moving, because you still have so many hours to drive, so you will drive fatigued.
6. You will spend your off time in truck stops in some pretty boring locations, with nothing to do after you've done everything you can think of to do.
7. You will make less than minimum wage, when you consider the number of hours you spend doing work related things divided by your gross pay. If you divide your pay by the number of hours you are away from home, you'll find you make nothing.
8. You will not get home hardly at all while working for these companies, whether it's Prime, C.R. England, Swift or whoever. There's a reason they buy trucks with sleepers on them. If you want to get home more than once a month or more to start, then you're looking in the wrong place. They will promise it to you, but you won't get it. Read the forums and you'll see. It is a logistical nightmare for a company to get a team where one driver is from Arizona and the co driver is from Georgia home on a regular basis. And where do you go on the weekend when your co driver is home? you need you consider this stuff.
9. the fact that you work for a "Bottom Feeder" company means that you will spend a lot of time on crap loads. These companies are well known for cutting the rates on their loads, and so they get a lot of loads that require a lot of your time to get loaded and unloaded. they are not all like this, but you need to be prepared for when they happen to you.

Am I saying you shouldn't work for one of these companies? No, of course not. But you need to know what you're getting into. You have to get your experience, and that's where you go to get it. Just don't expect nirvana, because you won't get it. You will work hard, and many times you will be home sick and miserable, but you will be learning. That has a value, and you need to consider it.

So, you may ask why do I think it's a great profession. It's because after you pay your dues, and learn the ropes, you will be in a position to work at a better place. There are lots of specialized carriers that pay very well for your time and experience, but you have to get there. The companies that pay so well don't want inexperienced drivers, and they pay enough so they don't need them.
There are companies all over the country that pay well over $60,000 per year and get you home regularly if you want.
But you have to go through the garbage first.
I'm sorry this post is so long winded, but you all need to put your "Big Boy" and "Big Girl" pants on and grow up.

"REMEMBER, USUALLY THE GRASS IS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE ONLY BECAUSE IT SITS OVER THE SEPTIC TANK." Be safe out there, and good luck with your new profession. It really is a good one in the end.

 

I agree. There are too many men and women out there who see those big, shiny trucks going down the highway and then think, "Wow, I want to do that!" I was the same way when I was growing up. It's all I wanted to do.
But they don't look at the bad stuff, and there's lots of it, just like with any other profession out there.
If they would just go into it with their eves wide open, and prepare for the bad as well as the good, they'll be o.k.
I see you've been driving for 40 years. You know how it was in the 70's. with 10 drivers for every job. We were told to do it, regardless of what it was, or clean the truck out, because there are plenty of drivers out there to drive the truck.
That's the way it is for the training companies. There are "want to be" drivers lined up to get those jobs. New drivers need to be patient, and get the experience and professionalism needed to put themselves above that level. There is a driver shortage, for the safe, experienced drivers. But it takes time to get there. Getting mad and quitting when you don't get what you want sends the wrong message when you are a new driver. New drivers are a dime a dozen. Million mile + safe drivers are somewhat rarer, and are in high demand.