The real reason so many new drivers don't last...

Because I have friends in the industry, and after being in it for 10 years, I like to see what the latest news, and driver opinions on it are. The technolology is improving, yet the industry has gone way downhill. What a shame. Yet I still have a current class-A CDL. If the govt. puts me out to pasture, and I need a job someday who knows? It would definitely be a last resort though.

 

It's so cool to read something that comes straight from the heart, tells it like it is, and is written without sarcasm, venom, hatred or attitude. Thanks blackw900.

 

Then you should speak for the drivers than have only 1 year OTR experience. You're also very lucky to work for the government and make what you claim. You have to be around a GS12 step 4 now which is rare for 7 years. All jobs have different scenarios and you just can lump the entire industry into one category. I was non-union making $23.50 an hour straight time and anything over 10 hours was overtime. My job was my goal that I worked very hard to get at. Many years OTR and I ended up with a clean record. So there are many drivers that make more than you do since we get overtime when it takes alot for the government to grant overtime. So your $30 is not that great since your daily pay is $240 and you make $1200 a week. No thanks I'll stick to my $1650 a week plus better benefits than the government.

 

D0es that $30 an hour include locality pay?

 

Concrete mixers count as truck driving also. Try navigating an 80,000 lb. truck off road on grades, soft dirt, etc.

Yes I am lucky to have a federal job, but serving in the military helped me get it. My military service counted towards years of service (WG-11, step 5).

Yes, I live in Houston, which has a higher locality pay.

The original thread was about why drivers leave the trucking business. No matter what industry you work in, there is always room for improvement. Well in the trucking industry, there is a whole lotta room for improvement. I'll agree that some people are not cut out for truck driving, as with any industry, some can do it, some can't. The shame of the trucking business is that it could be a decent industry, but its not because of the love it or leave it attitude.

 

I can answer that.

The most important thing he said in his last post was, "I dont know".
He hasnt been OTR since 1991, yet he's giving out advice. Sort of like Oprah Winfrey does (never been married, no kids, yet she's an expert on family), but the networks havent picked him up yet.

He states that he drove trucks for 10 years, only made rookie status, and has been out of the game for 18 years, YET, he's an expert on the entire trucking industry. Gotta laugh at that one.

Why is he here? Comic relief.

 

Whoa...

Who claimed to make 3500 a week?

 

After being out that long, most companies would want you to go back to a truck school for retraining.

Trust me I had folks in my class that had only been out of a truck for a couple of years and couldn't get a driving job with bigger companies without retraining.