The trucking industry

No problem man.....that 4 to 6 week of training is going to go by so fast. You'll be surprised how the time moves when you're in the driver seat on these highways. I think you'll be great! You have any idea where you're thinking of signing on with?

 

His whole above post is very good -- but I have found that the above paragraph...is especially accurate.

You can....to a considerable extent....sidestep the above-highlighted problem....if you work/drive in the tanker sector of the industry.

This disrespect problem seems to be at its worst if you pull "boxes": dry van....& especially refrigerated freight.

Why?

If you pull boxes -- you will consistently deal with warehouses & (thus) warehouse/food-related workers.

Generally speaking -- these people represent a large part of the "bottom of the barrel" for what you will encounter in the trucking world.

-- L

 

You know, I can count the times on one hand that I've been disrespected at a shipper or receiver. I'm of the opinion that some drivers don't do themselves any favors either when it comes to their customer service. I'm somewhat drawn to your choice of words, "bottom of the barrel" when it comes to talking about those workers. Reason being, I think many drivers look down on folks who do those unskilled jobs, and think that those workers are their to serve them and them only. I've seen many drivers talk to these folks like trash. Even I’ve got into it with a shipper/receiver a couple of times in my younger years and needed to check myself. Sure there are socioeconomic levels. Sure there are jobs that are considered better than others, but I'll never ever consider those folks bottom of the barrel. I'll never refer to anyone with those words. Don't get it twisted, I'm not saying this to come down on you because it wasn't my intent. Just the phrase sparked a different thought and it made think about what I've seen in the past. It was more of a condemnation of many truckers' attitudes of entitlement.

 

The respect for Truckers just isn't there anymore as a majority. Even when driving on the road four wheelers look at truckers funny and cut us off half the time. Shippers/Receivers think we're dirt and treat dogs better than a trucker. It's actually very sad how a once respect career has turned into what it is today.

 

Truck driving is just a job. If you want to be popular, be a fireman. Or a gynecologist.

 

The disrespect I'm talking about would be like showing up somewhere and they've got filthy porta johns or no restroom facilities period. Or you show up for an appointment on time but end up waiting uncompensated for half a day or more which is routinely a problem. A truck driver's time is expendable by everyone because it doesn't cost them anything and if it does it's usually peanuts. That's about as disrespectful as it gets. To me that was always the worst part of the job.

The bathroom thing doesn't happen as often but it does happen. Guaranteed every driver on here has a story or even stories about it.

 

I understand. Sometimes the wait times aren't always the unloader fault. If I take in a Hershey load of 4000 cases, I already know that's bout 4 hrs so that's a nap time. I understand they gotta count it. Other places like McLane, for instance the location in Fairfield, OH, they dont have that much space to work with so they may the a couple of pallets off, break it down, and repeat the process a few times before empty. I don't know that it's always blatant disrespect when I'm sitting in the dock. Then more often than not, a lot of these places are short staffed. That's going to create delays. I know drivers don't think that's their problem, but if delay is that serious, then the real issue in my mind with that driver's company. The company should not let a driver be uncompensated for that long of a time. The driver is doing the company's business so if he's held up why not the care of him or let some other sucker have that customer? Now the porta potty thing, I just can't get with. I've got to the point to where I try not to eat certain foods prior to a delivery because I know ridiculous these shippers are without a legit bathroom. They know they wouldn't use a porta potty, so why ask anyone else to?

 

You better say this again.

 

Western was actually fun when I started. I don't know if they would satisfy your desire for regional though.