5 month member

Driving a truck is not an amusement park ride where people should just be able to give it a "whirl". Turnover costs money,money that could be going to me. Turnover cost money that could be used to maintain equipment.

This industry is loosly run by groups of people that understand if they can exploit a driver or "cheat" a little when it comes to the rules and laws,then they can add a few extra dollars to the bottom line.
A driver getting pounded on a forum is nothing compared to what they will experience once they're inside a truck and running down the road with little to no recourse against a company that tells them how they'll be running. We're actually doing them a favour.

You've been driving your whole life........so we have to assume without any experiences outside of this industry we can safely say that you have no basis for comparison. Many people here have had other careers than driving to develope a basis for comparison. Driving a truck is becoming a "third world" job. The wages have not kept pace with inflation and over the last two decades we have watched freight volume shrink to the point where wages are beginning to move downward.
In the current economy,this is not a job I would want to start out in.

Many driver with experience have a positive attitude and it has come at the hand of experience. I know where not to get taken advantage of and what to say "no" to. Therefore my days unfold the way I want/need them to. I am happy and have a positive outlook because I have learned where and when to say "no".
Many new drivers through the driving schools and companies are told "this industry is what you make of it,a good positive attitude and being a team player is key". For any new employee that seems like what you would expect to hear......but that's in english, in truck lingo it translates into "never say "no" and don't turn down and assignment".

If a new driver can learn something here,then they won't have to learn it 600 miles from home on no sleep.

 

You were right bfs89c. The very next comment was pretty negative. Gentlemen (and ladies) you do have a choice. Believe it or not all companies are not like the ones you talk about. There are segments of the industry that pay better than others. I have always worked bulk haulage - mostly tanker, and have always been treated very well. Not only does it pay better than average but I have always found that I get treated with a lot of respect by shippers and receivers.
Start treating the people you deal with every day with courtesy and respect and you will see that it actually gets returned. #####ing and complaining and feeling sorry for yourself will get you nowhere - no matter what you do.

 

Although I no longer have any love for driving(gave my 2 week notice last Friday, and have no plans to drive anymore), I still don't hold Trade up's disdain for the trucking industry. If I can find different places to work at that treated me well, then so can others.

 

Now there's two places Hank Snow hadn't been to I had a driver working for me this winter from Zama. I've only been through there twice on the way to Bischu (sp) lake. Nice place

 

bfs, life is hard. By coddling any one we imply expectations that cannot be met.

 

I'm really pleased with the way you handle this topic bfs89c. I'm 68 years old, retired, volunteering 4 days/week, enthusiastically into GoldWing touring, and wave at every semi I pass (not meet). They usually wave back. I try to raise them on CB 19, and often it works. Keeping a positive perspective applies to life itself, not only to to trucking!

 

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