The day of the outlaw

It's guys like you that think you are above the law that give the trucking industry a bad name. I have known so called "outlaw" truckers and guess what, every one I have ever known is out of business. Trucking is a business not a "lifestyle". One thing I have learned about guys like you, it's not a matter of if you get caught, it's a matter of when. Hopefully in the mean time you won't kill a family while running illegal.

 

One of my interests is history, and another is of course trucking. By combining these two pursuits.....

Every last regulation passed regarding the trucking industry was supposed to end the outlaws (called wildcatters back in the day), and stop companies from taking advantage of the driver, and generally fix all of the problems in the industry.

I'll believe it when I see it.

Grizzly, couldn't one argue that the government is trying to make criminals out of the trucking industry? I'm not necessarily saying it's true, but it could be argued.

 

Wrong, it's your type that has changed trucking for the worst. The "outlaws" or true truckers I've known are either still trucking or died doing the "one" thing they loved,and have done it safer than any school boy, and it is a lifesyle and family of drivers and not just a business. Most are the kind of people who have defended what they believe in and just don't like policies and being told to lick boots. Good day

 

Ditto to what southern pride and puncher said. Trucking is NOT for sissies (I stole that from blackw900) but he's right. I read on here about drivers who complain about their GPS not showing a truck route. Tell you point blank if you can't or won't learn how to read a road atlas then you better get out now. They complain about their dispatchers(he or she has a job to do and that's keeping you moving)if you don't want to do it than you are in the wrong job. I spent 30 years in this industry and don't regret one minute of it. Like southern pride I hate what the politicians and bureaucrats have done to it. Call me an outlaw if you wish (personally I could care less) but there's a job to do and I'm gonna do it the best way I know how and I don't or didn't need a GPS to find my way, my dispatchers told me where I was picking up, where I was delivering and when and what time. From there on it was up to me and I sure as hell didn't need a GPS or a bureaucrat to tell me how to do it. Outlaw? you #### well better believe it!! Hell if wasn't for the outlaws no one would have anything to talk about. Personally I think todays drivers to a certain extent are a bunch of whining crybabies. You're spoiled period! You have a dispatcher to hold your hand from pick up to delivery. You can't fix minor things on the road like lights, air leaks,replace ws shield wipers, etc without going to a shop. Jeez. Grow up! Sure there's companies out there that aren't worth driving for, dispatchers that don't know how to tie their shoelaces and cops that don't know the difference between a turn signal lever and the gear shift but inspect your truck and you know what- Its been going on for more years than most of you are old. The government knows nothing about running a business (any business) and even less about people so it's up to you to handle it yourself. Been that way for a good many years. If you plan on staying in trucking you had better learn to do for yourself,stand up for yourself and get the job done. We all had to pay our dues. Some of us just didn't need anyone to hold our hand or nursemaid us so we got the job done, broke a few rules along the way and did pretty well at it. Someone didn't like it so they decided we were "outlaws". WRONG!! Just common ordinary people who got a job done that not very many people can do or are good at. We don't complain about the dispatchers, we don't think we're smarter than the company (though most of us are) we just get r done. There's no "atta boy"(or girl) no ticker tape parades or back slapping just a pride in we do it "my way". Outlaw? Yep. and was #### proud of it.

 

couldnt agree more guys---its really going to far the other way now---told where to fuel--how much to put in---wich road to take--and yet people expect and want this type of employment
thankgod i have never had to work for one of these outfits ---yet----
i would be like a virgin---not a clue ----
i think maybe it is cause so many people come into trucking cause they need a job--any job
not because it is something they have always wanted to do

 

To the Outlaws, I understand where your coming from but, those days are coming to an end. E-LOGS will be the end of the Outlaw. (When this becomes law) Don't assume I'm advocating E-LOGS because this isn't what this is about. In order to keep Truck'n you will have to change your ways. I think the bigger problem is with the Outlaws that don't have Tags,Insurance,ect. than cheating the Log book or running a little heavy ect. Untill this becomes law do what you gotta do. Be safe.

 

Last carrier I drove for lets just say there were a few of us in the Fleet that well he knew WE COULD GET THE JOBS DONE. When you have 44 Hours to go Salinas CA to the St Louis Area Solo and you get it there with time to spare. There is NO WAY IN HELL YOU CAN LOG IT LEGAL. I was one of them there that did what ever whenever it took to get loads there. Made more Coin that I care to think of also. Now all I can do is remember thanks to a 78 Year old woman that rear ended me Labor Day weekend in 2000 at my folks house.

 

Some folks believe in freedom and some believe in regulation.

Take gun control for example.

What some rightly call a "private sale" others stupidly call it the "gun show loop hole".

While we all view life through the filters of our own paradigms, one thing remains a fact. Government screws up almost everything it touches.

Just like gun control again......when guns are outlawed...I'll be an outlaw.
Somewhere in between freedom and regulation the line must be drawn.
Don't count on government to draw that line straight and true..........