Whats the good, bad and ugly sides

if you scroll thru the differant threads on this site you can read all the differant experiences of new and experience drivers. good luck

 

For me there is a lot more good than bad about trucking. I love the autonomy in trucking. I find it fun to try and figure out how to get a load somewhere on time, especially with small windows. You'll eat good out here for sure lol. Of course I love the scenery from one part of the country to another. You'll learn from other people, be it drivers or regular workers. The vast knowledge and experience you get out here will be endless so for others it may be job, for me it's more than a job....more like a journey.

 

Seems like we've been down this road before.....

 

This job is mission oriented so it's satisfying to complete trips on-time, despite everyone around you seemingly trying to prevent that outcome.
Outside of the Eastern 2/3rds of the country there is scenery you fell lucky to witness.
Sometimes it feels fun to camp in your self-contained camper and listen to a thunderstorm.
I always enjoyed the multi-day trips where all you do that day is drive, no customers or dispatcher. It's fun to get an early start, no wait for a shower and to be parked for the night by early afternoon.
I did enjoy a perfect excuse for NOT dealing with issues at home.
I did like the few jobs when I could bring my dog with me.
I did like visiting 48 states.

I did not enjoy, especially during Covid years, being treated like a rabid skunk by every customer and experiencing the treatment Hobos got during the Great Depression.
I did not enjoy the angry, fat black women in shipping/receiving offices arguing with everyone and frustrated you didn't already know every answer she had to tell you, she said all of this 300 times yesterday and you should have got the info from one of the other drivers.
I did not like the extra 1-4 hours after getting empty at food warehouses waiting on the Lumpers to tell me how much money they demanded so I could pay them and wait 1-2 hours to get my bill of lading BOL signed and returned, so I could leave.
I did not like the new excuse at every customer why my 3 hours of waiting would not bring me any detention pay.
I did not like being the subject of each customer and dispatcher lying to each other through me and about me, instead of doing their job on-time. "Your load is late probably because the driver over slept or is stuck in traffic or stopped for coffee", when that liar was the person delaying the loading by 4 hours.
I did not like that 75% of drivers would be happy to block a road to all traffic if it allowed them 3 fewer steps to a bathroom or restaurant.
I did not like learning an important company policy mostly by being told "oh you aren't allowed to do that, who told you to do that?"
I did not like getting lost looking for a customer when my company has known since 2018 that every new driver going to ABC Warehouse doesn't know you have to go via Elm St since Maple was closed in the 1990s.
I did not like customers beginning every excuse for making me late with "relax, go get some coffee we'll start on your load next."

 

It is what you make it. After you get some experience the money can be good depending on who you are working for.

 

You’ve been on these threads for years and you haven’t figured this out yet?

 

The list can be long. I will start with the bad, being away from home is on.the top of my list. As for the good, I am an independent, and the money tips my good list.