Does anyone have ANYTHING positive?

I said it was just a job and 16 years later its all I know........don't end up like me..

 

That's easy. Because trucking companies are advertising that they need drivers and because trucking schools are doing the same.

Don't get me wrong, I agree with the rest of what you said. But you can't blame people who need a job and don't know any better for wanting to get into this field when you've got every major trucking company advertising jobs available and several of them offerring to hire you with no CDL.

Hell, I got into trucking several years ago much the same way. I slowly came to realization that I didn't like the field I was working in (professional pilot) and that I didn't want to stay in the industry. Then when the job I had at the time went away, I knew it was time to find a different path. So I bought a Sunday paper to see where the jobs were. What I saw was 2 or 3 jobs listed in computer tech, 3 or 4 in contracting trades and about 25 jobs for truck drivers. Hard to argue with those numbers. Two days later, I was enrolled in a trucking school.

And quite honestly if I had known then what I know now, I probably still would have gotten into the industry. I might have done a few things differently, but I still would have taken this path.

 

thats why my wife and i moved away from phoenix lack of work.. illegal mexicants have totally taken over the trades and even the engineering side of the labor force which is what i was involved in and they dont even have degrees... i worked hard and long at asu to obtain mine and what did i have to show for it nadda not to mention i love to drive thats why im out here

theres a ton of negative but you tune all that out and what do you have..

there are a lot of great people out here but you have your adverse as well its the same in any line of work all doom and gloom blah blah blah

myself im happy im also a realist hard combination to stay happy with i know hahha but i try to make good out all that is bad by raising hell raising hell makes me happy hahahahha 4 wheeler comes along got my signal on 4 wheeler wont move over i make them brick in their shorts makes me happy... as with any line of work you have your ups and downs.

this line of work has a lot of ups and downs.. like right now theres a security gaurd walking around checking trailers he looks like bug man with those huge old man glasses on hahahahahahha and another prime driver next to me that looks like he never gets out of his truck to do anything his arms are so atrophied its sad hahahaha ne ways i drive for prime to hahah i just like raisn hell thats all so who wants a mustache rideee??? wheres my cb.

 

Y'all want Positive??? You can't handle pos.... ooops, wrong quote.

Anyhow, here goes:

I've met some of the best people I've ever known.... and some of the biggest ******** in existance.

I've seen some of the most beautiful spots around.... and some of the most trashy and ugly.

I've seen people laugh and be at their best.... and I've seen them at their lowest and worst.

I've known rich people and poor people..... and seen both shed the same tears in misery (after the loss of a loved one for example).

In the last 38 years, I've seldom been unemployed for more than a month as a trucker. Now mind you some of those jobs were pretty crappy, but hey..... work is not a vacation. I've been a company driver, an O/O and owned my own small trucking co which I built when everyone told me I couldn't. I've ridden high and lost everything. I've been at peace with the world and been seconds away from ending it all.

I've noodled along making my "nickles and dimes" wages and watched the high-educated, high dollar guys eat in soup kitchens. $200,000 a year means nothing if you can't find work.

But best of all, I walk with my head up and look everyone right in the eye. I know every day that without me and people like me all these "better" people would not have one dang thing that they value so highly. Think about it, wasn't for truckers you'd be shivering naked and hungry in the snow.

How much more Positive do you need?

 

we want the truth !!!!!!! LOL

 

I can only guess at the moment, but like all things in life, you have to take the good with the bad...

 

I agree with walstib, you have to find your own solid ground out here. The reasons why drivers find solitude out here are divers. Personally, I enjoy the autonomy and being able to go. So, yes there are positives. You can share those with us once you start your career.

 

I understand.

We vent to eachother, but we wouldn't be doing this if we didn't have any love for trucking.

This is hard mentally because of sacrifices and all...but it is a rewarding career. I love what I do.

 

Love of trucking ?? yes..

Everything that comes with it in todays world ?? not so much..

 

Rerun8963,

I guess I'm one of those "newbies" or "wannbes" your talking about. All this guy did was try to get some info on the trucking industry and instead of adding anything constructive, you start making fun of people. I'm also thinking of getting into trucking with my wife as husband and wife team drivers. To be quite honest I'm sick of people like yourself that instead of giving any real info cry about how hard it is. If it's so bad, do something else! Also before you tell me that I have no idea how hard this type of work is. I had my shiny CDL, only I was a overhead lineman for Baltimore Gas and Electric. I not only drove bucket trucks, pole cats and crains I actually used them. As for your driving rules, every time there was a storm or major outage these rules are waived by the state. So it was nothing to work 18 to 30 hours straight with no breaks and then have to drive your trucks back, and by work I don't mean sitting on your butt behind the wheel. Your up in the air working on stuff that will kill you if your not carefull. When it's a blizzard or ice storm or 100 degree's your not in a comfee truck, your out in the elements. I'm a 51 year old ex-marine that loved this work. IT takes a special breed to do it. Trucking seems to be the same. Some of us aren't meant to have 9 to 5 jobs.

Sorry for the rant and I mean no disrespect to truckers. Have four uncles that drive. It's just that some of use would like to get info that isn't just whinning. Also so far every husband and wife team I've talked to love what thier doing so apparently some people are doing ok.


Again sorry if I offended anyone.

Thanks
Banditsbb