Maybe It's Just Not Your Gig

When one has to navigate a 70-odd-foot rig, driving not only for him or herself but also having to drive and think for all the four-wheelers (not to mention a great number of so-called professional drivers out here today), not being able to let your guard down for a moment, and planning your day up to 14 or more hours in advance....yeah, it's hard work, made even harder by the malcontents who legislate our every move.

But it beats the hell outta telling a 16-year-old to get off the phone and take care of the customers!

 

For the most part I agree with the OP.

There is another side to the equation. Just as some people are not cut out to be truck drivers, there are lots of trucking companies not cut out to be in the trucking business.

By this I mean that they do not know how to treat people. The bottom line is money. The company is of course in it to make money. Well so is the driver. If the driver isn't making money, he isn't going to stick around.

When the company hires dozens of drivers, and there isn't enough freight, or the trucks are broken down junk, they are wasting a good driver's time.

Unfortunately there are very few companies worth driving for. Most have taken this "drivers are a dime a dozen" approach, in the process losing good potential drivers who cannot earn a living due to:

Poor planning
Poor equipment
Wages that are 20 years behind the times
Lack of freight

 

I wish I'd written that lead post. Agree 100%.

 

Does all hard work have to be physical? And yes, some truck drivers do hard physical work.

 

injun hit the nail on the head. i have known that i am abnormal for 48 years

 

So you are a former firefighter...and you wanted to be a cop? That's a first. I have never met a fellow firefighter that wanted to be a cop.

 

REALLY? Last night my landing gear shaft broke (going to the other side)
had to have the "yard dog" raise it up.
then I raised EACH side about 6 in.
he dropped it, then I let my air bags deflate on the tractor and backed under it, aired them back up and spent 20-30 minutes twisting on a little stub to get them roadworthy.
even after a life of construction crawling around in attics in FLORIDA this was still work for me.
granted, sometimes it IS EASY, but ypou better be ready for when it ISN'T

self-discipline is another story altogether LOL

 

Exactly!

We have a couple places we deliver that is hand unload. Carry 6000 to 7000 pounds of product up steps in 50 pounds per box.....Whips my arse!

Many trucking jobs are hard labor along with the long hours and stress of driving.

 

Just sold my truck and am home.Ive landed a job that has me home everyday and am using my mini van making deliveries.after 10 yrs otr,I hate my new job.Evertime I pass a truck I wish I was driving.