My first solo run horror story.......

Wow--some thing still never cease to amaze me--BUT there really are some in here with an awful High and Mighty attitude's in here. This kid was between a rock and a hard place--and hung in there--and more of you than not wanna bust his chops about it. also if you look at the posts--IMHO--the less time a poster has in this business the more critical they seem to be! So we could go right back into the million other posts about new vs old Blah blah blah--
But it is important to me to note that for all the trash talk I hear from so many about us old school drivers--what I see is a bunch of older members trying to encourage and council someone new about life in the REAL WORLD and a bunch of others (with much less experience)trashing the guy--and I don't get it!
In all the time I have been on this board--I have tried my best to encourage--educate and occasionally entertain(albeit poorly @times! LOL)and when I have opinions about a subject--I try to state them as respectfully as possibly.
BUT comments like I see here from so-called professional's really start to get under my skin! It makes it more and more difficult to hold my tongue--and I steadfastly refuse to get into a p*****g contest about experience etc. But the fact of the matter is--if you cannot have an open mind and get involved in a rational discussion and offer some constructive solutions--why bother?
As for the OP--tough situation and it sux--BUT you did what you thought you had to do--would I have done it that way--I honestly cannot answer that question--too many variables from individual to individual--do I think someone should hsve to live like that? No of course not--but as for sticking it out getting the job done--and getting home safely--in order to look at the big picture--and make a more rational decision--kudos to you for handling the situation like an adult!

 

If you read his original post , he had a chance to LOOK over the truck before his adventure even began in CHICAGO ( SO stop with the HE HAD TO DO WHAT HE HAD TO DO BS ), um they seemed to have TOWED it to ATLANTA with another junker.

 

I think he never looked inside it, he didn't hook it to the other truck, it was already done for him.

"So, first run boss tells me he has a truck broken down in Atlanta so another driver will meet me at the yard with his truck and my truck hooked up to it"

If it was already in the air, and all he did was jump into the other guy's nasty wagon..

 

I think more concerning and potentially more damaging to the OP is the fact that this guy is paying cash and not withholding taxes. If found out the OP could be found guilty of tax evasion. Trust me, once you get in the IRS's sights it can take a looong time to get out from under. The fines and penalties are astronomical, plus he will be disqualified from many federal programs and forget about ever seeing a tax refund for many, many years. While screwing around with your log books can hamper you in the trucking industry, screwing with the IRS can hamper you everywhere.

 

Another PERFECT example of what I am saying--I see your age if it is true--therefor from your attitude I will surmise 1 or 2 things--since you have NO EXPERIENCE--this is a 2d career for you and really don't need it--so of course you don't understand and don't care--do you know this mans situation--has he been trying find a job in this economy for who know how long--did he give up and get trained to do something so he could make a living--does he have kids at home and #### near out of money? Did he just take a deep breath and said I NEED A CHECK--so F*** it!
Go ahead tell me in all your 58 years you have never done something unpleasant?

 

Stick it out? Feel accomplished? You have been driving for 32 years? That's why all you old timers hate CSA. You guys are the reason for this.

To the original poster, I would have walked before getting in that slobs truck. You have to ask yourself a few questions.

1: Who hired this guy.

2: Do you feel safe with him driving or the equipment you are in?

3: Will I need my CDL after I leave this employer?


Never forget that YOU are the boss. Get another job if you feel unsafe. They don't make all those trucker magazines because there are no jobs available.

 

Thank you for setting a good example for all of us new drivers. Good advise from a veteran is worth it's weight in gold.

 

Don't be Hatin' driver.

I love my black polo shirts (JB Hunt).

 

OLDHAND quoted "I see your age if it is true--therefor from your attitude I will surmise 1 or 2 things--since you have NO EXPERIENCE--this is a 2d career for you and really don't need it--so of course you don't understand and don't care--"

Here I will enlighten you , Drove truck from 18 to 31 ( dump , van S/A , T/A for 3 years , tractor trailer , reefer , tanker , dry bulk , flatbed , lowbed for 10 ) , did a trade for 25 years , now back trucking.

I understand / know more about trucking than most of WANABEE internet truckers on here do.

If he needs a CHECK so bad then why the I want to work part time attitude he uses, sounds like he never did a road test , paid his own drug test , thought his NAME should be on the insurance.

He did not even have to start the RUN , but you guys PRAISE him for finishing it .

 

Agreed he didn't have to--but like I said--we do not know his situation--and I like to give people the benefit of the doubt--my point is--especially in terms of money today--many people are doing things they do not want to do--and as I stated the fact that he stuck it out is comendable--vs the F*** it attitude we all see much too often--NOW after getting home and returning the junk--if he chooses to continue to do work like this--I have an issue with it--MY hole point in this--is I have a problem with all the ganging up and holier than thou attitudes I have been seeing here lately--
AND IMHO the totally out of line--know it all black and white--onre way to do it only I see more and more form new drivers--and as for driving before--good--there is nothing wrong with that--but like I said--and by your answer--you worked for 10--had a trade for 25 and now have gone back to driving--and I am assuming(bad word)that just like myself you are not nearly as dictated by the all mighty dollar as some of the people entering this industry--especially after the amount many of them paid just to get a CDL etc...
I hope this clears up where my opinions are coming from--but either way--IMHO--there is no such thing as a wrong question--and I see alot of them being posed here I find confusing and/or distasteful and some downright weird--but if someone is willing to put themselves out there--and try to find something out--then any of us with any experience should try to answer honestly and respectfully--and try to help--
Just my$.02