Help Wanted: 500,000 Truckers

Seriously I find the Hours of Service to be really ridiculous I'm frustrated with the parking shortage. Also having to dodge the creeps lurking around the truck stops.

Or feeling like I'm caught in a catch .22 between Safety, Dispatch, or the DOT. I often felt it was a careful balance trying to please all these agencies.

So I've decided to try my luck with a Cargo Van. It is smaller and feels a little cramped but as far as operating the vehicle I feel like I have a lot more freedom and less frustration.

I think there is so much crap put on truck drivers trying to micromanage them I'm not surprised they quit.

 

No disrespect to anyone other with this, but it seems like they are trying to do something with the over weight out of shape truck driver too. I have read a lot of talk about sleep apnea, and fitness test before getting hired too. Seem like some of this has to filter back into getting a medical card too?

Also what will this CSA 2010 thing going to do with the Trucking Industry and who is hired tomorrow too??

 

I think thier main goal when hiring drivers is to hire people no matter what shape ,size, or age that can do the job and not fall over dead after doing your pre-trip or dollying up a loaded trailer thats to high to hook to with 43k in the box. thats why they have you carry a 75lb box the length of a 53 foot trailer and back and check your heat rate.

You have to be able to do the physical part of the job, along with the sitting on your behind for 11 hours driving. Believe me sleep apnea is no joke. I used to be that guy that was fighting being drowsy in the afternoon. I was tested and glad of it ! I feel so much better now that Im on a cpap machine, and guess what ,no more mid day drowsiness for me.

That means Im a safer driver and the people around me on the road are safe. As for the medical card, I have to get a DOT physical every year due to the high blood pressre. I dont have a problem with that, because I know everyone else out here driving has the same medical DOT requirments to pass, which keeps us all safe .

As far as csa 2010 I think its a good thing. You follow the rules and drive like you got some common sense, and you have nothing to worry about.
But If you drive like some of these so called super truckers tail gating and
and speeding, then I would say your days are numbered and its just a matter of time before your trucking days are done

 

Again, no disrespect to anyone with what I said.

I understand the physical aspect of the job. I also have a good understanding of the Apnea issue too. I know of a couple of people that went thru that and sleep with one of those machines.

 

this is a good read so far