My impressions of drivers from being on this board 2 months

I have been on this site a lot in the past month and I LOVE reading the posts. Some people are harsh, but the majority are very kind and helpful. I like reading the stories here and I like the people here. If/when I get to driving, I think this site will be VERY helpful to me. It has already. I just hope this site reflects the rest of truck driving community. Thank you all that visit and comment on this site and especially the moderators, they are very fair and observant.

 

For one thing, I haven't figured you out yet Endzone...if you are just an Intenet troll, looking for some good arguments, and/or just enjoy insulting others (at no risk to yourself since this is mostly anonymous on forums). Or if you are a "student of people" just trying to get some inside information on a "group" of people.

You did make one intriguing statement in your opening post. The one about the newbies or wannabes just asking questions and "seem better able to communicate" with "normal" people. In this statement (or following...maybe preceding it), you indicate that the "truckers" are (to use my terminology) defensive and can't handle others disagreeing with what they say. It occurred to me, that you tend to lump all CDL holders in ONE LARGE GROUP, no matter the experience level (time at the wheel) or experiences "survived". In my years, I have found several groups, and I tend to group people (posters) on this forum in these categories:

1. Absolute Zero; individuals that have no concept, experience, or curiosity about a Professional Driver, quick to "blame" all the ills of the roadway on truckers.

2. Considering the business due to no other employment options; these people have a negative attitude going in and very little will, or can, change this negative concept, along with, the attitude gets "saltier" as the weeks go by.

3. Considering the business as a "second" or "final" career; these people have led a "complete" life, retired from one or two career fields, (military retirement, then private sector for many years) and are looking for a new career, with lesser demands (financially and/or responsibility) and tend to want to "see the country". Almost an income producing tour of America.

4. The newbie/wannabe that has a family background in trucking; the next generation of the family that has Dad or Grand-dad currently or was a Professional Driver.

5. The "Greenhorn"; less than 3 years experience driving big rigs.

6. The "Interloper"; greater than 3 but less than 10 years experience.

7. The "Experienced"; greater than 10 years experience.

8. The "Used to was"; retired or just got out of driving. and consider the length of time in the industry, along with the positions experienced in the industry, not necessarily only driving.

Now there are categories that fill the system with different "takes" on our industry, that aren't the "driving types":

1. The "spouse or significant other" of a driver; this group can have "the other half" filed into one or several of the above mentioned "driver categories".

2. The ones who are "in the industry" but not drivers; could be owners, DM's, and even Recruiters.

3. Younger children; these are the children who are using forums to "follow and communicate" with Mom, Dad, and even Grand-dad who is a Professional Driver.

So with such "variety" and obvious differences in background, attitude, and especially experience in this industry, how can anyone "group" so much diversity into one or two "groups"? When reading a post, or a group of posts from any individual, a reader should first look up in the personal history box (upper right corner) of the poster and consider the information presented from an overall experience level. To often, our society "cubby holes", and/or "stereotypes" an individual by speech patterns, appearance, job status, political choice, gender, and hundreds of other "monikers" of life experience...and offers little, if any, allowances for finding the reasons the person thinks or acts the way they do.

Endzone, you have entered this arena of truckers and others, by "enticing" if not "attacking" our industries actors, claiming or "inferring" our members of "stupidity", "uneducated", and just all around clowns (to coin a phrase), and in return you haven't offered (except AFTER receiving rebuke from our members) any reasons why you have "come after" our members. Past tense redirection of claims to smugly hide a possible "contempt" for our members and our industry. And in each new thread, have attempted to return to the first threads and the "direction" of that thread.

Why don't you find out for yourself by getting your CDL...yes ANYBODY can do it...and experiencing OUR WORLD from within...now wouldn't that be a hoot?!

 

Simple, basic, "sight side" maneuver! Especially with a day cab...(no sleeper)...but even with a sleeper...there appears to be plenty of room to do the back to the dock!

 

What are the jokes and photos all about? Trying to make amends after insulting quite a few people?
Ya know, at least I tell people that I'm under a rock or a log. I don't try to hide it.
I know as well I'm not the only one here that see's your feeble attempt at being accepted. My suggestion? Just go away, but stay out from under my rocks and logs.