the attitude of the "new breed of driver"

Ok I'll bite. Do I use a cell phone or PC for all of these posts I make?

Been in IT way too long to tell you it has nothing to do with what type of keyboard you use.

Now back to the original subject.. I personally resent the fact I am lumped with the 'new breed' just because I have had my CDL less than a year or there is something special about the old breed.. I watched a so called old breed trucker cuss out a J employee because the half and half despenser was empty. His hand, he was pounding on the counter was 8" away from the little half and half thingies. Two days ago I saw a 'new breed' trucker changing some older gentlemens tire..

We are/were all 'i know everything' idiots at one time or another.. take a deep breath, say 'thats nice' and go about your business.

 

But....but....I DO know everything.

 

Well, I can only speak for myself but, I had the obstetrician sign my DOT medical card, ran outside to a long hood pete and took off for six months driving cross country; only stopping for my required vaccines and phyicals.

 

who knows where it's coming from.....it isn't just trucking....it's the world as a whole i think.....i manage 80 employees at my present job and have been in charge of this thing for almost 20 years and it seems the generation gap gets wider and wider with each successive generation.....those in their 40's and older are my best employees and always go the extra mile, do more than is required and take immeasurable pride in their work....the ones in their 30's are 50/50 between the old school professionalism and the complacent "i'm going to do no more than is required" attitude and those under 30 are just plain useless....there are exceptions to be sure, but it is consistent enough to make the generalization....and i find it even in my own kids, who certainly were raised to know better and were given better examples of what it means to be successful and what it takes to be successful and have the attitudes and integrity it takes to earn respect. that's one of the reasons i'm not feeling so bad about my current job going away and making the career change to driving. i won't have to depend on the lacksidaisical and disrespectful attitudes of the young folks coming into the workforce to depend on for my success and reflecting on me as a manager. put me in a truck and let me go and let me be responsible for myself. i know it isn't that cut and dried and that easy, but after managing a large workforce for so long, in some ways it is....

 

U4EA

Now you did it , going to be nothing but that some NEW guy got a long hood PETE

 

Well i'm old school with 32 yrs. OTR running all 48 and some.lol....But i run the old way, the radio is on, but i dont talk unless i need too, If someone wants to blow smoke up my ### i just ask if they want to stop and say it to my face, If a truck or car is on the side of the road, I stop. It could be me setting there someday, as far as the new breed, I see older drivers doing the same thing then ##### about new guys,Mostly alot of the drivers now days are just to lazy to get off thier duff to get an item 5 ft.away.If you want respect, you have to respect yourself first and also give it. But i do get away with things out there due to the fact i keep my ride clean, talk to the cop in a cival manner and stand my ground. A smile goes a long ways.

 

I agree,I worked for a couple outfits in the past that had a dress code and they paid for pants,shirts,jackets and shoes.
I really liked that and it gave the driver and the company an overall better look.
Nice thing about it too was they paid to have it washed pressed and folded.
Image means more than some people think.

I see some of these guys that look like they have worn the same filthy T shirt for weeks and never shower.
I might skip one night without a shower but never more than that.
All my bedding gets washed every weekend and the inside of the truck gets wiped down too.
I guess i'm a clean freak!.....

 

mr billy, this is how i was taught years ago!!! My father a trucker for 30 yrs.. Yes sir ,I own a long nose pete....when i say i own ? i have the title, I do most my own work on it, i keep it clean, i shower regularly, an i run a stepdeck... an Yes sir, I stop for broke dorn truckers, an some cars....I keep enough tools an extra water on my rig, lights, ...i call it my bag of tricks... estra clamps, hoses,, Why should i pay for a machanic when i can do it my self.....soap an waters cheap..An this might be the difference between me an most, I take pride on my truck . It's all i got..To be in this buisness there has to be , want ,an disire, an motovation.........My step mom had a saying , When you wait on someone else to help you ......the world will pass you by....So needless to say, I dont wait on anyone. ....A along with a very dear friend that is on this forum fighting for his life in the hospital.. who took the time to help me when I decided to enter back into this world of trucking again.......I ride with pride ...........Southernpride that is the man has 45 years in the biz a i have the ut most respect for this man...truckings not a glamous life , but it makes a decent liveing, but , i dont claim to know it all..... I just do the best i can ,show respect an try to learn...so far its worked well for me

 

No sir, you live in that truck 3-4 weeks at a time , Its called personal hygein..good for you

 

I think that most of the problem isnt if a person is new or old school. The problem is the attitude of the person themself. We have a couple of "new breed" drivers and one gets it and the other doesnt. Some guys know what needs to be done to do the job the right way and some will never understand it.