Great post! I agree with you 100%. I've had a couple months of experience and I've been in a couple of truck stops where other drivers will watch out for you when backing up, share some good jokes, and will give you a hand if you need it. I've also had some help from other drivers while on the road too. However, I haven't had too much help from drivers that were part of the same company that I drove for.

Maybe the other drivers that were sitting there watching were waiting there turn for the next available lot lizard. Who knows, but I applaude your sincerity and generosity in helping a fellow driver.

As I see it, the only way to make decent money is with a LTL company. Union or non-union, these drivers make the best money. The practically get paid for everything that they do - drop & hook, waiting for loads, fueling, etc. Benefits are some of the best in the industry too. Some are starting to hire new drivers and other have a dock to driver program for those without a CDL. Yes, when freight is slow, some have lay offs, but if you plan right it shouldn't have much of an effect on your bank account. Besides, you get to collect unemployment and if you have other skills, you can use them while you're not driving. If you have the patience while working your way up the union seniority list, you can bet on retiring from trucking a happy person.

I can remember The Old Days-I Started Out At .26/Mile Slowly Crept Up .29/Mile-Then Finally Made It To .32/Mile--I Thought I Was Cookin-Did That For 9 Years-475-525 Take Home...Then, I Got Smart For A day And Checked Into The Crazy Idea Of Becoming A Union Driver- Bingo- I Started---.38/--6mo.-.42/---.47---.54/Mile---Take A Whole Lotta patience But Now I Can Make 500 In 30 Hours And Be Back On My Couch--Thats Leave Home Drive 10-Go To Sleep 10--Drive back 10-Go Home-When The Phone Rings You Go,Doesnt Matter What Time It Is----Seniority Trumps All

Sigh. It sounds like this gent is one of those that went for the misconceptions about what trucking's like. Like anything in life, it's what you make it. Many make lots of $ and many don't, but it IS a lifestyle. One with some serious drawbacks, and some big benefits.

One of the best aspects of trucking for me and my wife is the fact that we can live almost anywhere. You could live in Orlando Florida like I did for 5 years and pay $2800 a month for a house on a small lot in a subdivision. Or you could live in Central Kentucky, like I do now, with 30 acres, private pond and private orchard with a mortgage payment of $350 a month. A person in this business has a lot more control over thier cost of living.

We like living in the country, but there are very few jobs here and the few there are pay $6-8 per hour and are only part time. This industry lets me live where I want and still make a good living. Compared to some of my friends and neighbors, what I make is a fortune.

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You might say that $800 a week is bad. But it isn't. I used to drive a cab. We would stay out for 12 hours a day. Many drivers worked six days a week, some seven. Some worked seven days a week for a month or more. Pay? On average about $65 take home per day.

Yeah work seven days a week, 12 hours a day for $455 a week!

And we're not even talking about robberies yet.

Lifestyle? Go to work. Come home and sleep eight hours. Wake up eat, ####, take about three more hours and then head to work.

Might as well drive a truck.

I recently was offered a warehouse job for 8.50 an hr. So a 40 hr week would pay $340 gross. For a month you would make $1350 gross. For a yr your gross would be $16,320 gross. Thats before taxes and insurance taken out. Keep in mind you have to put in a full 8 hr day working in the heat or extreme cold in a warehouse not to mention a boss hanging over your head. I worked in a warehouse for 20 yrs so I can trucking looks like a better deal for me even if you start at 30k a yr.

I totally disagree with the whole get in make a little and get out quick scheme .
Thats one of the things that has screwed up this great industry. You got people in here that are doing it because of a lay off or god knows what other reason. It makes it rough for those of us who actually choose this a PROFESSION , not just a job.

There is no wonder why things have got bad on Interstate, the same people who are doing the dumb s*&t in cars are now in the big trucks doing the same dumb s*&t. Because someone at the unemployment told them they could make big bucks driving big trucks, since no one else would hire them.

I've only been on this site a short time, my questions have been answered wisley and with alot of thought, so this comes from a truckers wife, speaking for my family.

As it's been said over and over on this hit and others - Trucking is a lifestyle - make it what YOU want. Truckers (the great ones) are a special group (you can defiantely see that on this site), they get out there and do what they do because they love it! My husband and I have struggled sometimes, but it's a relief knowing that he's doing what he loves, and when he gets home there's not always money to go do things, but he's happy! To me, that means everything - so truckers - keep doing what you love, and to the "new - ones" and the "I'm thinking about it" ones, read the stories on this site, and remember, these people are doing what they love, they may not always be happy with the situation at the time, but they'll be climbing back in that truck and continue driving - CAUSE THEY LOVE IT!! (and we love them)

Though I dont drive a semi, I do drive a truck in circles all day. After doing some work in the warehouse for two weeks(wasnt my choice), getting back in the truck had me grinning and blushing like a schoolgirl! That was the defining moment that I knew what I should be doing with my life. Shortly after, I applied and got a grant to pay for truck driving school; which I start Aug 13th.

Oh, for the original poster of this thread...I know it might be hard to believe, but the money is NOT the reason Im getting into trucking. Everything a trucker sees and does is the reason.