Better than Average

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by TripleSix, May 20, 2021.

  1. kylefitzy

    kylefitzy Road Train Member

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    I do treat everyone how I would like to be treated. That’s the only way to be. Every time I stop I pick of at least one piece of trash. Just yesterday I picked up 5 pieces of trash at the fuel island while filling up. They were less then 5’ from a trash can.

    I was loading a tractor yesterday, after being there for 17 hour waiting on a tow truck to load the non-running piece. (We gave up at 10pm and decided to start back up the next day). Right after I was all loaded and literally walking to my truck to leave another one of our drivers pulled in to load a running truck. I knew he almost exclusively pulled a refer trailer and was going to need some help with his rgn. I stayed over an extra hour to make sure he didn’t have any issues, not because I had to, but because it’s the right thing to do.



    as for the fat and smelly drivers, being overweight is pretty common in the USA. I’m over weight, have been for a long time, even before I started driving. But my clothes are clean and they fit without my gut hanging out 12” below my shirt.

    We all know that sometimes we chose to skip a stop to take a shower when we are on a tight schedule. Have those guys never heard of a wash cloth and a bowl of warm water?

    life’s all about choices. The guys dressing in the same clothes for a week straight, parking on the fuel island doing a 30 minute breaks, were the ones driving like selfish idiots. They all are making easy choice Instead of the right choice.

    I’m not perfect, but I try to get better every day. I am a professional and this is a career choice, not just a paycheck.
     
    Last edited: May 22, 2021
    Reason for edit: Added more ramblings
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  3. jamespmack

    jamespmack Road Train Member

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    Just added some spice!
     
  4. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    I figure that the LTLs would have a sloppy person or two, but that’s not the average. I haven’t seen a sloppy R&L. Do you remember the wired up drivers, with their eyes bulging, and no teeth because of the performance enhancing drugs? That’s what the average driver looked like in the 90s where I worked when the DOT started the random drug testing. There may be a driver pissing dirty here or there, but that’s no longer the average.

    You are on the two lane. The average driver on the two lane is not the same as the average big carrier big road driver. They’re usually better. If I am correct, the automated trucks will remove the bottom 3rd from the industry. If you were in the bottom 3rd, would you get off the bottom, or would you sit around butthurt?
     
  5. D.Tibbitt

    D.Tibbitt Road Train Member

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    The ltl guys are always the first one in the ditch out here in the PNW . fed ex , old dominion, ups, xpo all in the ditch yesterday for a couple inches of snow and ice just a typical day.. Ur right about the guys that park instead of chaining up. But really it is 2 different types of folks out here. The otr guys and the local guys. The local guys understand chaining is part of the job, and the otr guys see it as an inconvience that will pass , because they wont be back in this side of the country anytime soon.

    I chained up 6 times in 1 day back in february . went by the truckstop in Haugan some guys were talking on cb about how they never chained in 10 years of driving. Still there talking when i came back thru over lookout that evening after taking off my chains for the 6th time...

    Local guys understand its part of the job, I dont think saying the ltl guys doing it instead of parking is a fair argument that they are better drivers because it just comes with the territory out here..

    There is much better drivers out here than ltl guys , like the boys who pull maxi tankers and flatbed. 120k thru the mountains , ice and snow .

    But the stupid drivers come in all forms. They are not always driving a clapped out white volvo sometimes they are in a big hood pete and some of them even have many years of experience. I just think it is not good to judge people based on appearences, although the flip flops and sweatpants is something that always bothered me. It just makes us that have the pride in our work more valuable and we can get the good customers and good jobs when the opportunity presents itself
     
  6. rbrtwbstr

    rbrtwbstr Road Train Member

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    ^^^^^^this^^^^^^^
     
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  7. jamespmack

    jamespmack Road Train Member

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    Oh I agree. I wasn't driving then. But was nothing to see guys doing lines of crystal out of a shop tool box back then. I spend 90% of my time in a steel mill, of grain mill. Your gonna find my ride dirty more than clean. But you can see the equipment that never gets washed.
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2021
    Reason for edit: This phone is killing me
  8. MTN Boomer

    MTN Boomer Road Train Member

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    The fleets will be the first customers, they have already lined up to buy the hydrogen and other alternative fuel trucks. The price of these trucks alone will limit the number of people who buy them. I do not think flatbed drivers have too much to worry about automated trucks will not chain downloads.
     
  9. jamespmack

    jamespmack Road Train Member

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    And no shipper or reciver will take liability for securment. Why would they.
     
  10. Oscar the KW

    Oscar the KW Going Tarpless

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    I hope some of you guys don’t break an arm trying to pat yourselves on the back.

    Nothing has changed in this industry for the last 2+ decades. Dirty trucks, dirty drivers, have always been here and always will be. Just the same as good drivers and bad ones, and appearance means absolutely nothing.
     
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  11. MTN Boomer

    MTN Boomer Road Train Member

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    Once upon a time , everyone had teeth and hair, and was skinny, that has nothing to do with driving a truck. Other than my dog, I have never seen anyone chewing on a truck. How often you shower, I could care less , I don't get that close to other drivers. Stereotypes of drivers and trucking is a result of too much education. One shoe does not fit all.I had the privilege of starting when trucking was an occupation you chose because you wanted to . Not because that was all you could do.It was wild and everything you here is only half of it.
     
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