Does Any Truck Driver Like Their Job?

I like driving. The different company's i've worked for is always in search for the perfect company. You have to find one that suits you the best. Maybe you want OTR. Maybe regional to be home more often. You have to decide which is best for you, sometimes compromise wins.

 

southbound out of san antonio a couple of days ago i saw a rainbow that was so brilliant that people were pulling off the road just to look [including myself] over the labor day weekend,I had a relativley short run with time and a few out of route miles to spare,and spent a night at Palo Duro canyon just south of amarillo. in the morning a couple of local people showed up to watch the sunrise,and we marveled at the morning sun creeping over the rim,and had a great morning together...getting ready to leave i found i had a flat tire and had to backtrack to amarillo to get it fixed,so I went back southboung,and stopped ijn Paint Rock texas and was shown ancient indian pictographs on the rocks along the river there.The people who owned the land treated me like family,and I had one of the finest days in a long time with those folks..................The point of all this is just like any other job you can make it into a wonderfull oppertunity to meet people and confront challenges of all kinds on a day by day basis,or you can complain and make your job stressfull and misrable like so many drivers I meet. THERE IS JUST NO OTHER JOB LIKE IT,and I'm having a great time most of the time

 

The 2 key words you used in your post were " local" and "good people".
Finding a good paying local job AND for good people is a true blessing.
It's alot more difficult to find good OTR jobs. Eventually though, after you've seen enough red flags,(and been through enough garbage) you know when you've landed a "good one"

Allen

 

Skipjack what you say is awesome!
Every day when the little wonders present themselves, I cant believe I actually am having so much fun AND getting paid to do it!
I travel through fields of yellow canola blossoms, fields of blue flax, rolling hills with lakes and flocks of ducks and geese on them. Each day brings a new adventure!

 

God you guys with your scenery stories are givin' me a hard on!! I can't friggin' WAIT!! Just about 2 more weeks till I meet with my trainer. Still gotta finish school. Thanks for the inspiring thoughts skipjack and Etosha!!

 

My post that was quoted which started this thread was originally made to show the not so glamorous side of the trucking industry. The thread that was copied from was started by a newbie who seemed to be thinking this industry was nothing but roses. I didn't post it because I hate my job, because that couldn't be further from the truth. I love my job. I've also always approached this industry with little expectations of what the industry would do for me. I always wondered what I could do for the industry. I know, it's a little JFK-ish, but that's how I view all facets of life. Life, and trucking, owes me nothing.

 

LOL.. I was wondering about that.

 

I have ben driving most of my life,my father locally when he was alive up until h e retired,drove mail contracts for 20 plus years. My three brothers,local mostly.I also hve three sons two drive,one over the road flatbeds,one a local log hauler in maine.As far as I am concerned,I drive for Hartt out of maine with terminals in Bangor and Auburn maine,and one in Nj and another At Sumter S.C.,they treat you great and if there is a problem,they will lokk you in the eye face to face and debate the issue with you and when you walk away,you have that feeling,they really want you to be happy here and stay.If not for trucking ,i would have never seen all the states except Alaska and Hawwaie,not sure of spelling.Just the us tour and all the fine folks you meet is worth it.All kinds of freedom,when your on break,you can take in a movie,read,play games use your pc,sat tv,or just rest.Take advantage of what others say are lonely times,clear your head,think long and hard,you might be lonely if you don't socialize but thats not for trucking to be blamed. Enjoy the freedom,stay out for three weeks and you get a whole week off to spend a mini vacation for four or five days and be able to afford it. You can have far more good multiple days off than working in a factory sweating to death.If you want to work out,drive a reefer,lump some of your loads,or try flatbedding,car hauling etc.As long as you have an understanding wife that really knows you do what you do and do it for the right reasons you both will never regret it.You can have a nice house,cars trucks,boats,motorcycles,etc,by driving a truck.I reall have never regretted it,and have tried to work other jobs but the road is in my blood. I can retire in a year and a half but don't know if I can,theres nothing else I like better to do,can't fish full time,ride my scooter etc,,But I have always enjoyed the challenge of coming home,being a safe driver,spending 2 or three days at home,and going out again,the money is great,but,you know I love the job more than the money.If any of you new young folks want a challenge,go out and get your CDL,and personally tell me here that you wished you had done it before you did.You won't be sorry,all I do ask is be at your best,treat other drivers and the folks you work and put up with fairly and be proud you are an American Trucker here in good ole USA.

 

WOW, I don't think it could have been said any better.

 

Hmm...what is great money anyway? Its all relative I guess. $1K/wk is a number I hear tossed around a lot by truckers. I was making $1/wk working in an office in 1994. In this day and age $1000/wk isn't gonna garner you boats and harleys and exotic vacations.

Where's the money in trucking? Owning your own tractor? (It better be paid for and a late model - preferrably under warranty.) I dunno. I'm still trying to learn. I love trucking but how to make a good living at it?