Pros and cons of being a truck driver.....agree or nah

The Pros and Cons of being a truck driver
PROS
1. YOU GET TO SEE THE COUNTRY. This is very true, you will get to see this stunning and amazing country. We have seen some amazing sights and met a lot of great people. My wife and I have seen Moab Utah, Multnomah falls, Oregon, the Bonneville salt flats, the Golden gate bridge, Las Vegas strip, Albuquerque, NM, Flagstaff, AZ, The Everglades in Florida, the New York city skyline, as well as Canada, and many, many, many more not listed. It has been an absolutely stunning experience in that regard
2. YOU MAKE REALLY GOOD MONEY!! Hummmm, well…..it is good money until you divide the hours worked to earn that money as well as all the risk and danger that is part of this profession. I do make about $900/week avg. However, I also work 70+ hrs a week to make that money. That comes out to around $15 per hour. This is also with no OT after 40 hrs. So is the money that great? It really depends on what you are expecting, especially after reading the Cons, you decide.
3. FREEDOM OF HAVING TO WORK AROUND OR WITH OTHER PEOPLE. Well this used to be the best selling point of being a “trucker”. However, with the onset of all the gps tracking, ELD's and cameras, the so called freedom has been greatly diminished. Not to mention that most of these companies have gone to inward (driver) facing cameras, so that they can literally watch your every move. Even when the truck isn’t moving, the camera can and has come on to watch me.
Cons
1. AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY. If you are any sort of a family guy, especially if you have young children at home. This is not only not a job for you, but it’s also not fair to your children or wife. You will be gone constantly, for weeks at a time; only to get a few days home before going out again for up to a month if not longer. You will miss a lot of important events that will take a toll on your marriage, your kids and even you.
2. IT’S A VERY DANGEROUS JOB. This job is listed as one of the top five most dangerous jobs on almost any list of dangerous jobs out there. It’s very dangerous for good reason, first you are driving a vehicle that weighs nearly 40 tons. That’s bad enough but then throw in rain or snow slickened roadways, Other motorists that are not paying attention or just too incompetent to be driving in the first place. This doesn’t even begin to touch on the issue of Antifa and BLM activist and thugs targeting truck drivers as they are just trying to do their jobs. Than there are the oddball things that can happen like blowing a steer tire. Not only can this ruin your day, it can kill you. This only barely scratches the surface on this subject. There are almost too many things too list that make this job incredibly dangerous. And YOU are the one liable for all this potential danger!!
3. BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH. This job is stunningly bad for your health and well being. Remember you are just sitting in a seat for up to 11hrs every single day. Sure, you can stop and take a break but than you risk being late to your next stop. Most, if not nearly all of these trucking companies really don’t care about your health, they are only concerned at making money. I have seen drivers out here with legs swollen as large as my thighs due to this constant sitting. Some of these drivers even have to wrap their legs as they are leaking due to their skin bursting. They can barely even get into or out of the truck, let alone walk. It’s very sad to see this but the company just wants to know when you are ready to go back out. Again, only worried about the Almighty dollar. Once you are gone, they will have a newbie in your truck in under three days. This doesn’t even touch on the Covid 19 pandemic that has gripped this nation for the entire 2020 year. My wife and I drive through this entire pandemic with barely just a thank you. Do not think for a moment that these trucking companies have your best interest in heart, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Then there is the mental anguish that comes with this job. You will get more lonely than you could ever imagine. Do not underestimate the power of loneliness and your thoughts. This may be the most damaging but hidden aspect of this job!
4. THE COMPENSATION RATE FOR THIS JOB IS NOT IN YOUR FAVOR. I talked with a guy the other day that had just signed on with a company, he was all excited that he was getting .50¢/mile but he than asked me why he was only getting like 90% of his pay. I informed him that you never get paid for all your miles driven. He was instantly disenchanted. He told me that he didn’t work to get only 90% of what he earned. I simply winked at him and said; welcome to trucking!! He told me that he was done with this if what I said was true. No one had informed him of this hidden little secret. I’m pretty sure that the only thing he’s driving now, is a forklift. Let’s not forget that there is WAY more to this job than just driving. You will be expected to inspect the vehicle before you start your day…rain of shine, hot or cold. Load securement. There’s lots of computer work that needs to be done as well as paperwork that will need to be done at both ends of the trip. There is minor maintenance that will need to be done, things like keeping fluids full, light bulbs replaced etc. The more you can do on the “maintenance” end the better you will be off, however, keep in mind all of the above will be done, by you, for free! You are not in any way compensated for any activities other than driving the truck, and remember your only compensated for 90% of that. You most always remember that you and your time will not be respected. If you are late to either a pick up or delivery, even if it’s out of your control, you will get harassed and told that you are a work in. You may sit for hours if not days before you are “worked in”. If you are truly dependent on this income, you will be screwed for the week.
5. LITTLE TO NO RESPECT FROM ANYONE. You will get little respect from the company you drive for. All they are concerned about is you getting the load to it’s destination on time with no issues. They will constantly be pointing out your faults. Even at your yearly evaluation, you will most likely be evaluated by someone that most likely hasn’t spent that first day in a truck. They will not congratulate you for being on time at every stop for the year or not having any accidents for the year, but they will point out log book violations and nag you for being a little behind on watching your safety videos that by the way, is another thing that you do for free. People driving cars loath truck drivers, you will get cut off, you will get the finger if you slow them up at all. They will call your company and complain even if it’s something they did, the company will in turn call you and berate you without even getting your side of the story.
6. YOUR TIME IS NOT IMPORTANT. You are to be on time all the time. Remember, even if you are on time, you may still be waiting for hours to get either loaded of unloaded. If you complain, you will wait even longer. You think well, at least ill get detention time; LOLOLOL sometimes you will get some detention but you will most likely need to nag your company for weeks to get it. Most of the time you are just waiting for free. Some if these places dont even offer a bathroom while you wait. If your lucky, you might get a port-a-jon. Which isn’t too bad…..until it’s -12 and the wind is blowing at 30mph.
7. THE ONLY JOB THAT AFFECTS YOUR PERSONAL LIFE FOR YEARS TO COME!! There are not many jobs that if you make a mistake in your job that it can greatly affect your personal life, or that your personal life can affect your employability at your driving job. If you get a speeding ticket in you car, not only are you responsible for the fine associated with the ticket but, you will also have points assigned to your drivers license. This can cost your much money in raised insurance premiums for year’s down the road. In a truck however, that same speeding ticket not only cost you in fines and higher insurance premiums but it could even cost you your job. If your are driving down the road in a truck (commercial vehicle) and your headlight goes out. You can and most likely will be pulled over and ticketed. Even if was working during your pre-trip inspection. You are still wholly responsible. The odds are never in your favor.
In closing, I’m always telling my wife that I truly don’t understand how or what keeps this profession alive. I just cannot wrap my head around this profession. I most say that this may not be indicative of every company, just my experience at my company. Your experience may greatly differ in the positive of possibly negative. If you are a owner/operator your experience will be greatly different, however, that opens up a whole other can of worms. Truck driving used to be a highly respected and noble job but like all things that the government intervenes with. It has gone to hell in the last twenty years. I highly respect and admire the men and women that do this job day in and day out. My hat is truly off to you and I salute you. You are truly Americas backbone.