Does Any Truck Driver Like Their Job?

I chose to do this work and enjoy my job greatly. I would say that at least 90% of the time, I look forward to going out and getting into the truck and taking off to wherever I am heading. But, the fact that I have a good job that I like doesn;t mean that I am blind to the problems that beset the industry and the issues that face a lot of others. There are a lot of things needed to make trucking better. Some of those things are within the control of the trucking industry, like pay and benefits, hometime, customer issues, and reasonable expectations, and some of them are changes needed outsode the industry, such as improved parking and services.

Most people gripe and complain on here, and that's fine since they need an outlet, and the outlet needs to be populated with people who understand what the complainer is going through. But overall, a greta many of us do this out of choice, not out of necessity, and have no issues to complain about.

I just posted about having to work weekends, and I complained a little bit, but this is the place to do so. It doesn;t mean that I am really unhappy with my job, just that I voiced an issue on here for others to comment on.

 

I worked hard at 3 LTL companies. Made good money
but was miserable. Almost gave up trucking. Now
I work for a small company directly for the owners.
They like me cause I make them money. I like them
cause they treat me good, no nights, no weekends.
At the end of the day I am dirty, sweaty and know
I put in a good days work. The money is not
as good as LTL but I see my family every evening
and I love it.

 

Yep, and what he says is soo true. crazy thing is I wanted to do this since I was a kid but 38 yrs later (outsourced) I'm a 8 month noobie and love the open road. wish I would've did it earlier but better late than never.

 

Supercat- Please don't think all drivers hate their jobs. Like any job, you have people who would be miserable in any job. Many of these people would find $10.00 dollars in a pair of pants they hadn't worn in awhile and then complain because it had lint all over it. When I first started with the forum and started reading I almost changed my mind about changing careers because of the negative comments about the profession. ONLY YOU can determine how your career in trucking will go. And as many negative comments that you will read, you will read honest, straight forward feedback. Joining the forum, Burky became and still is my main go to person.
There are many, many more like him out there. Take it all in and make your best judgement call. Do I like my job?
#### straight! I work hard but I make excellent money
and will be getting a dollar more per hour since they are moving us from Gary, In. to Harvey, Ill.(extra 10 minutes for me) I get 4% commission of total dollar amount on my trailer minus returns/damages. Home most nights by 5:00pm
off every Sat./Sun. Coming from management, you bet I'm happy. Over the road is a totally different ball game
but I'm sure there are those fellows that enjoy their jobs as well. Like I said before and feel even stronger about today, truckers, local and OTR stick together and have each others backs and all go through the same things as waiting for docks, rude receivers, etc..etc..there is a unspoken understanding, much as bikers have that makes this profession distinct.
Hope you find the answer(s) your looking for.
Toby

 

Like they said, and I think you can tell it's true - their trucker's because they want to be. This is a place for them to come and vent - I guess it might look bad to some, but a true, blue trucker will become one and stay one because it's what's in their heart and blood. You have to really want it and believe in it - if you do - then you'll become one of the best. Good Luck and best wishes in whatever you do!

 

At the end of the week, like most jobs, you try and have more good days than bad days. Most bad days are voluntary. Like the Buddhists say, there are a lot of hells and the only person who has the power to take you to any one of them is yourself. Make the best of it and don't sweat the things that you cannot control. It only make the bad parts of the days drag out longer.

 

Just read my signature line, it says it all! Keep that attitude and trucking can be everything you want it to be or everything you don't want it to be. I believe 90% of it is how you look at each day.

 

i have worked alot of different job in 30 years. i like trucking the best, i can get up and not hate to go to work, unlike other jobs i have had. i work local and most days enjoy sitting there listening to the radio, seeing the sights and getting payed for it. no one to tell me what to do, or how to do it. they only tell me where and when.lol sure i get mad when my day is messed up by some moron driver, or my dispatcher over estimates my efficiencie.lol but i really like to drive and i really like to hear that mack talk to me. so life is good for the most part. my company only has about 15 tractors and couple hundred concrete trucks, so everyone knows each other, and the owners are good people. that goes a long way. poppy