Advice? Don't become a trucker.

Exactly. We all judge by our own standards. Trucking isn't a laid back job, and to those who think that are delusional. It's a lot of hard work, but if you have a good attitude and good work ethics, it isn't bad at all.

 

Wow. Some of these posts are just mind boggling. I've been driving OTR for 6 years now, and although I do not love it, I do like it. However, I also go in with the attitude that I will choose what's best for me and my family. I choose to drive somewhere that has me home every weekend. I choose to drive somewhere where I am paid $0.40/mile plus pay for loading/tarping, plus any layover. I choose to not let anyone else dictate my life on the road. Therefore, I choose not to work for a nightmare of a company.

Let me recommend some reading material for those thinking of driving. 48 Days to the Work you Love, by Dan Miller. Excellent book that gets you to really search within yourself about what your calling in life is.

Also, let me recommend some reading for those who like to complain about everything. QBQ, The Question Behind the Question, by John Miller(no, they're not related). Great book dealing with how people should be assuming personal responsibility.

Not just trucking, but everything in your life is dependent on what you want to do. You either take life by the horns, and say what is going to happen, and make the tough choices you need to make for a great life, or you can sit and let life lead you down whatever road happens to be in your way.

It's your choice.

 

I only read the first page of this thread, thats all i needed too. All i have to say is if you dont like it ###### or get of the pot man more loads for the guys that want it, there are some of us out here that really want to do it and have always wanted to do it, if you dont want to, no one has a gun to your head go quit. I for one am not gonna let some glass is half empty kinda guy tell me how much i like my job. Even if the pay isnt the greatest, somebodys gotta do it right? I mean think of the guy that comes to pump the crap tanks out, i bet he doesnt want that job, but he does it anyway because someone has too.

 

I have driven across the country several times. I enjoy being on the road, it's in my blood, and it will be even better to get paid for it. Loading and unloading? I did it anyway for another company, staying in shape and eating right is important especially as you get older. I don't expect a gravy train, I expect to work. My big concern is a company that doesn't lie to drivers or keeps it to a minimum. Honesty goes a long way with me. So does consistancy. Any company run by Bulsh*t artists is a company built on a house of cards.

 

If you want to work,Trucking will make you a living. Just do your job and don't think the job will change for you. It won't.

 

Then don't work for Averitt! They say this and that..but that had me home like.. 4 hours one weekend, then about 30 hours the other weekend, in a month. Their dispatch was the most arm twisting that I EVER encountered in 20 years. They were the worst. That company also seems to think it's the cat's meow.. BAH! That company SUCKED.

Also really two faced.. "oh it's safety this..safety that.. " BALONEY! They cared about their equipment and that's it. Their dispatch acted like you were a dumb farm animal or something. Always putting the prod to you.

I done this for 20 years. I know what it is to run two or three logs..that's the way we had to do it back then.. I was thinking times have changed.

The niche jobs are the good ones. I had a local job just shuffling around trailers..paid decent..that was a good job. However, MOST of these companies SUCK..they just SUCK. An' that's my opinion. I ain't looking back on NONE of 'em with any joy whatsoever.

 

Not trying to be an arse, I'm really not, and I fully understand that some drivers like OTR but it took me all of 18 months worth of driving at 22 years old to figure out that a local job with good hourly pay for all work performed was the only way to go for me.

Can any of you disgruntled 10-15 year drivers comprehend how well you would now sit at a good LTL company right now if you had said enough is enough 2 years into your driving career? My job and company suck at times but I pat myself and company on the back every Thursday morning when I see the direct deposit statement while sitting on my couch in my townhouse..

 

Well I can't comprehend working any job that requires me to work when I don't want. You found what works for you and I found one that works for me: No boss.

 

Well let me say this. I got my chauffer's license in 66 or 67. I have driven for good cos. and bad. Had my own truck for a while. I've driven trucks, busses cars farm tractors,you name it I've driven it. Reading your posts I got to thinking that I can remember a guy just about like every one of you.from the grizzled veteran to the bright eyed new comer. I have enjoyed the transportation industry for the most part but it is one of the hardest and most dangerous jobs you can do. I've run west coast as a team and as a solo. By the time we got to El Paso I was about done.That didn't matter cause we had to press on. I've seen all these initiatives for safety come along and it get more dangerous every year. This latest one I'm glad I won't be around for it. It really looks like a doosey. When they start charging you for speeding whether you were or not, and charge you for an accident whether you are at fault or not I don't want any part of it. I have driven slow trucks and I have driven fast trucks.I had 1 chargeable accident and it occurred because the brilliant engineers who designed the mirrors for my truck made them large enough for a car to hide behind them. I looked twice as I pulled up to the intersection but the car was behind the mirror both times. The industry I feel is going down hill and fast. The last co that I worked for was good. We worked 9 to 11 hrs a day with wekends off,had ins. and holiday pay plus the last year I was there I had 5 weeks vacation,but it was starting to go down hill. Our pay was cut by about 30%. I retired a year ago and I thought I would miss it but I don't. I see what is coming up and I am glad I am out of it.

 

There will be a time 20 years from now when truckers will brag on the CB (in Spanish) how they made .34 cpm in 2010.
This industry is going to hell in a handbasket, that's for sure.
It's going the way of landscaping, construction, food service, port drivers, etc.
Most folks are oblivious to the storm headed their way.
But their day of reckoning is coming...