Is it a good time start "truckin"

I own my own equipment. I started with Systems Transport and they have been good to me. PM me with any questions.

 

I think I would agree with you somewhat. I use to pull reefers and I couldn't believe some of the smack that drivers would talk to these shippers and receivers. That is not to say that some of them did not deserve it but I understand your opinion.

I use to keep extra pens, hats, and little "gifts" on my truck with me to help smooth things out or make a good impression if needed. It didn't happen often but I have showed up for appointments and been "worked" in ahead of some of those "potty mouth" drivers because I kept a calm, cool, attitude.

I've never worked in a warehouse but for me it just comes down to treating people like I want to be treated. I don't have any idea what type of day that other person may be having and you certainly can't make everyone happy but I try to keep a positive attitude about the situtation.

 

You know what gets me about trucking is hometime. Most companies want you out for weeks at a time. They'll tell you you'll be home every weekend, but they'll "encourage" you to stay out for weeks. I mean, like i can be home every weekend..for 24 to 34 hours. Why would i bother? What's one day of gonna do for me? If i do that, i dont get any miles at all either. I usually go home every 2 weeks and i do alright, im staying out a little longer this time because im intending to become a trainer. But this is a company with decent hometime. I get a day off for every week im out, and i can usually scam an extra day or two if i time it right..dispatch doesnt really care as long as i tell em when im gonna be back. If i forget to tell em i get a call in the middle of my hometime, "hey when ya gonna be back?!" lol..

But like, JB hunt for example, like most of these companies, they really want you out for 4 weeks at a time or more...but if you take more than 2 days off you lose your tractor?!

But what's wrong with taking time off more often? I don't get what the big problem with it is.

And theres a lot of drivers on here that flame me when i bring up hometime. Things like, "if you want to be home every day dont be a trucker!". I just dont see why we shouldn't get a little time at home when we go home, and when we feel like going home, you know?

I just learned a neat little trick though. I broke my cellular modem and sent a message on the qualcom explaining that i have a warranty replacement in my mailbox and i need a load past the house because if i dont get the old one in the mail, by friday, they'll charge me a bunch of money. Now, i just meant i needed 20 minutes at home, within the next week.

But what'd i get? I immediately got an 800 mile load going right past my house, with an extra 14 hours on the load..LOL. I could've spent almost a day at home without it counting against my hometime, but i was told the load could deliver early if i wanted...so i took a 10 hour break at home plus a few extra hours so i didnt have to wake up real early, and trucked on. Oh, but then i had to sit for the rest of the day, so i guess i should've stayed home for "almost a day"!

Anyhow, when i get pissed off at my job, it is so nice to be able to take a nice relaxing motorcycle ride! I might pull that one more often LOL.

 

First of all, I think no one should have to deal with these potty mouth ######## drivers. I think if they deal with them they should be able to pop em one right in the jaw. I cant stand these guys. They usually fit many other stereotypical attributes of the steering wheel holder as well.

But i also think it should go the same way when i have to deal with ####### grocery warehouse workers. *I* should be allowed to pop em one in the jaw

But seriously, the one thing i like about grocery warehouses is that they're used to being treated like crap. I have a personal policy: I treat people like they treat me. If the customer wants to treat me like crap, I'll treat them like crap. For the most part, the customer treats me normal and I treat them great.

I mean, if they're being decent, i'll usually treat them better than they do me. But if they make me want to punch them in the face, I'm going to make them want to punch me in the face...

For a while I used to just take the #### that some of these people dish out. But I decided if they're going to be that way, so am i. The nice thing about the grocery warehouses...the ONLY nice thing about them...is that you can treat them just like they treat you and they dont do anything about it usually. And if they do, then fire me, i dont care. I don't deserve to be treated like that.


I have not had any customers treat me extraordinarily badly since I made that decision though. However, I have used that policy on several drivers. Nearly got into a fist fight at the TA in Pembroke, NY once but I...I felt like I couldn't do anything but walk away. It was so weird. Like my maturity was controlling my body. I couldn't even say anything to the guy. I wish i woulda told him off right in front of everyone (I dont actually fight)

Usually it's more in the way that i can tell they're spouting total BS so i start BSing them back...

I wonder how my visit at C&S in North East, MD would have gone if i treated them like they treated me.........

I wish i would have gone in there after 2 hours and told them i was leavin cause it took too long to unload me. (they have a policy that you have to hire a lumper if it'll take more than 2 hours to unload + breakdown!) LOL...

 

You make some great points. I will say that some of the people I worked with in a warehouse were bigger jerks than any of the truckers they provoked, but I think it is like that in most fields. Civility and manners are becoming lost arts