1 piece of advice for new drivers

You've been a trucker for 10 years, right? Which of the above categories do you put yourself in? Just my 2 cents worth, but I develop my attitude toward truckers when I read the posts of truckers helping truckers in the Arrow threads..........just to mention one!!

 

When I last drove OTR...I had 2 credit cards with me. Each with different banks and about $1500 credit limits. One stayed in my wallet and the other 'hidden' in the truck...hell, if my wallet got stolen, then what?!

I also kept a photo copy of my DL hidden in the truck as well, so I would have at least SOME SORT of ID in case of wallet theft.

 

I've always prided myself in being prepared for the unexpected. In my younger days I always kept a stash of get out of jail money stuck back somewhere.
As an owner-operator, I quickly learned that cash is king when it comes to roadside repairs.
Nowadays, although I don't stray very far from home, I have the means to rent a car should the need ever arise.

But I have to commend Hanadarko with sharing this innovative idea, one which I truly have never thought of. I'm making a copy of my DL and medical card before I leave the house.
Thanks for some great advice!

 

HA! - got me on that one. I didnt think of the FedMedCard...but that used to stay in the truck...so it didnt dawn on me.

But man, if your wallet's stolen...what ID do we have?!
Unless you got some company ID in the truck or something. It had always freaked me out being away from home and no way to show who I was.

Yea, I know a photo copy of a DL isnt worth much, but its SOMETHING and something to show someone (LE maybe?) and they can always look up the number at least. Now that I am older, I cant remember my DL number like I used to back when I lived in NY...

- just call me "pops" and SPEAK UP

 

I'll add my .02 here. I had a bank bag-about 10" long x 4.5" wide with a zipper. I carried a copy of my Driver's License, a copy of my long form Medical Certificate, along with my SS# written down along with an emergency number for my wife. I had a credit card with $1500.00 on it and $150.00 in cash. I never used it, guess I was lucky. I kept that bag in every truck I drove or owned. Haven't seen one of those bags in a long time but banks used to give them out when you opened a checking or savings account (I really am OLD). When I sold my truck in 2008 that I had for 5 years I still had all of the above items in it. When you are starting out I know it's tough if you are trying to support a family, pay your bills and eat but as quickly as possible get yourself a "stash" and don't use it. Takes some discipline but it can be done. Happy New Year and I hope 2010 is great for everyone!!

 

I'm puzzled as to why so many of these folks need help in the first place?
And why they stayed on the job so long after 2-3 bounced paychecks?

How much does it take to rent a car...a couple hundred dollars?
A Greyhound bus ticket?
A plane ticket?
Why are so many of these people stuck stranded all over the country with no pot to piss in?

It's because most of them are one step away from homelessness.
Living off cash advances.
No credit.

This is what trucking has become.
A haven for the working-poor class.
Like it or not, those are the facts.
It's truly sad what this industry has come to.

 

I am sory you dont like your life much mre than trucking to have nothing but worhtless negative comments. As for the working poor class i must be one along with all the others that had jobs that didnt even or were not even able to barely survive week to week I really enjoy the trucking business i am still saving money to stash off in between my bills but you must have unlimited funds not to have to worry so take your negative comments elsewhere. oh yeah you have to start somewhere and age hurts alot of us younger drivers on getting high paying jobs out of the gate.

 

Most of us realize that just starting out in the industry, you're trying to get your bills paid, maybe raise a family, and you're just starting on the pathway to financial success. You're got to start at the bottom and work your way to the top, and it takes time.

Paddington seems to think the reason many drivers have no money is because after they got out of prison, they've still got to pay their lawyer, settle the civil suits, and make restitution to the state... not to mention paying child support for their 17 illegitimate children, and spend what little money they have left over on beer, cigarettes, slot machines, and ladies of loose moral character.

Sadly, there are people of that caliber in this industry. Unfortunately, a vast majority of people seem to view all truck drivers in that negative light - we're stereotyped by the actions of a few.

 

It says we need to report the hateful posts