New here.

I'm sure you'll all be just thrilled to see another newbie/wannabe

I have paid attention to what I have been reading and a common thread keeps coming up.... everyone keeps complaining about how truckers work more hours than they get paid for, get to spend little time with their families and don't make much money....

I have been lurking for quite a while and I would like to know (from you long time truckers)..........

How many teachers in this country get paid for every hour they put into their job?

How many men in the military leave a pregnant wife and come back months later to meet their 6+ month old child for the first time?

How many farmers end up harvesting a crop that is actually going to end up costing them money because the market is so bad?

What is your idea of a "good" job?

Too bad there isn't an incon of a big bullseye for me to put by my name.....


Dictionary.com........ WORK: exertion or effort directed to produce or accomplish something; labor; toil; the result or product of exertion; to make way with effort or under stress...

Yes they do all have thier problems.. One thing about an OTR driver its also a lifestyle, you live in that truck and your life will revolve around that truck the entire time you are away from home..

And some companies are a lot worse then others even though they do the same thing, deliver freight..

My ideal of a good job?
no set schedule, no 9-5 another words..
Freedom, don't have to see the people I work with everyday..
Give me a job then leave me the heck alone till I am done..

How many teachers do you know that live in a box? How many teachers get paid for their hours teaching and nothing else? Or how many truck drivers are on salary?

How many truck drivers can retire with benefits after 20 years?

How many farmers are at risk of being hit by a drunk driver? And there's plenty of times a truck driver could lose their pay for many things.

Why don't you figure up the hours that the truck driver is away from home (or just the time spent in the truck) and then figure his pay. It's alot lower than any job in the country.

You can go on and on with comparisons and find good and bad with every type of job. But you'll never be able to convince me that a school teacher, or serviceman has the hardships that ALOT of OTR drivers do. Farmers are a different story.

I've retired from the Navy and I've been OTR and I'll take the service any day of the week. The problem is the pay. If they paid by the hour it would be much different.

My idea of a "good job" is the one I've retired from (yes I've retired twice) hauling gasoline locally at an hourly wage.

The founder of Boelk Trucking served in Korea during the war. He told me that he had more free time in Korea than he had when he became an owner-operator.

GasHauler,

Actually, driving a tanker is what I am aiming for .... I live in Kern County so there are a few around here....

I know the job is difficult (especially OTR) and the current climate isn't helping...... I'm just disappointed that people don't try to look on the bright side a little more...........

I've never complained about my last job but I fully understand why drivers become negative OTR. If they would let the drivers just drive then it would be another story. If they just followed their own rules and regulations that would be fine too. But you have too many double standards and too many people trying to ruin your day out there. And that's not counting the other vehicles on the road either.


I don't think there's much work as a tanker driver in Kern Co. I say that because a friend of mine moved away from there so he could drive. You'll need to relocate to a large tanker area to get hired as a new driver. Almost all of the tanker companies want experienced drivers. You can try the oil fields in Bakersfield they might hire you but you'll have to get out there and look.

I have patience but I know I dont have enough to be a tanker.. Sure if I "had" too then I could do it but I sure will not choose too. My hats off too Tanker drivers. (at least to the ones that do a goo job at it.. seen scary tanker drivers.)

I sometimes wondered the same thing, storyteller. My guess is that for every complaint these folks have, there are off-setting positives in their jobs of which they don't speak. Otherwise, they'd be foolish to stay. And I really don't see these folks as fools. Behind all the grumping and grousing, I think they secretly enjoy their big truck driving.

My buddy tells me that I always have to remember this about him and his fellow drivers:

"What's the difference between a trucker and a puppy? Eventually, the puppy stops whining."

You know I love you guys/gals!

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I think Ducks pretty well said it. If folks are REALLY unhappy driving a truck they will (should anyhow) go find something else to do. Most folks won't spend a life time working at a job they hate. If they do it will likely shorten that life time by quite a bit. . .

The thing about a forum like this is that it gives folks a chance to unwind, a chance to blow off steam that they just can't do towards their employers or their customers. Sure there is a lot of negativity that is a part of this.

OTOH, it also gives folks a chance to get some feedback from their peers, (not to mention all them "cottonpickers" out there,) that just may give them a different slant on their problem. We come from all kinds of different backgrounds, education levels and experiences, so we are able to kick things around and maybe help each other out a little.

That's what I like about this forum. Yeah, there's venting, but more so there's also a lot of what I see as really good information here -- for both newbies and veterans. It's reassuring to know that there are new drivers out there willing to seek the veterans' advice... and that there are veterans willing to share their experiences and guide the newcomers toward a successful career.

And for the four-wheeler? It's one heck of a learning experience. I'm lovin' it!

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