Werner - Not What I'd Heard (Thank God.)

And nobody is going to try. It isn't my goal to "get you to believe" anything. I simply present an opinion or a perspective then you decide if you wish to accept or reject it.

 

Watched video #3, it was good--better if it was about half as long. Made some good points. But did you really think driving a truck was going to be like it REALLY was ???

 

Yes. The job was exactly what I expected. How I responded was not what I expected. I'll explain, but first concerning the job itself. It was driving and delivery. If there was a surprise here it would have to be the monotany of driving the interstate. There are a lot of hours between picking up and dropping and those hours seem to get longer with every trip across I-80 in Nevada! Running teams, as you do while you are training, meant constant hard running. We would have preplans before we dropped a load. It always seemed like we were in a hurry. That isn't bad, it's the nature of the beast. Since I could neither rest nor sleep in a moving truck it was also my downfall. It was kind of like you were always on a mission, which was kind of cool, especially if you like a little pressure.

The frustrating part is that operations people (dispatchers), safety people, mechanics, and management all have slightly different agendas. Unfortunately, these differing agendas seldom contribute to harmony.

Mechanics - Just like IT people, are incredibly self-important. They will get to your truck when they do and there aint ###### you can do about it. They will do as good a job as they like and there aint ###### you can do about it. These are the most useless people that work for any trucking company.

Managers - These folks just pull it all together. They do the best they can but, the culture that is in place for the rest of the company is what it is and managers cannot overcome that.

Safety - Their job is documented by rules and laws so there is no arguing with them. They are really trying to get you and the load there safely so they are really on your side. Many times it is hard to see that, especially if all you want to do is go.

Dispatchers/Operations - As much as I would like to hammer these folks for just existing, they are trying to do their job too. They are saddled with getting freight to point B on time. They hear excuses all day from cranky or whining drivers so I imagine their frustration level is off the charts. Unfortunately that contributes to increased frustration for the drivers and the circle begins. You can see how this self perpetuating animal eats itself.

OK, now what parts weren't what I expected, or more approprietly, what I learned about me.

I got very little job satisfaction while driving. I spent a hundred years in jobs contributing to the whole product. A driving job is more like a factory floor job. Where an assembly line worker is responsible to bolt on an assembly, a truck driver is responsible to deliver the freight. There is no way to see how this action fits into the bigger picture. I need to see and feel the contribution to the bigger picture. Bottom line, I guess I worked in management too long to shift my perspective.

I didn't know this about myself before I went out in the truck. So... even if I had continued to drive, I don't think I could have really enjoyed it the way some guys do. This has nothing to do with the job itself and everything to do with what makes a person's stinger quiver. I think I could be more satisfied as a dispatcher than a driver. At least as long as I was allowed to work with the drivers as a team.

I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks but, he may not fit in.

Sorry for the length, I don't seem to be able to answer a question in 25 words or less!

 

this is going to be fun then my only stick time was school when i was with pam it was auto cascadia

 

There's plenty you can do about it, when the mechanic is done working on your truck tell him to sign your logbook saying whatever defect you had is fixed and working properly. If they won't, don't drive the truck because he obviously didn't do a proper job. You could also try being respectful and treating them like they're people. I never had a problem with mechanics ever when I drove. One mechanic let me take his car when I was getting my truck worked on so I didn't have to wait in the garage for 4 hours (and no I had never met this person before, all I did was tell him I was going to get a coffee and asked him if he wanted one too). You get what you give. Not saying you have a bad attitude or anything but I wouldn't be in too big a rush to get you going again either if I was a mechanic and you talked like that around me.

 

I agree. I treat everyone with the utmost respect. You catch more bees with honey. Therefore, my opinion was formed after I did my very best to create a good working relationship. They still proved to me that they are what they are, in two different terminals. I had to keep my trainer away because at that point he was all attitude.

 

Shifting is easy. You will pick it up quickly. Remember, if you love your tractor it will love you back.

 

thanks lost
just hope i need get the timeing down agin and they dont drop me over this

 

how many hours a week as team over 14k??

 

sorry how many miles do teams average in a month