Truckers....not what I was expecting.

Ok now you see all is not as it looks. Some drivers really want to help, but have gotten grumbled at for trying others just don't think they have the time to be bothered and believe it would faster to sit and laugh at you having trouble than it would if he got out and made some suggestions. I dare any real driver to say that one time or another he has not had trouble or gotten frustrated trying to back in some place. it is what it is when I'm around a newbie or anybody for that matter having an issue I will ask if they need a hand if they so no off I go.

 

Millsjl01 if often felt that there was a complete lack of respect between drivers out here when I first started ... I am going out on a bit of a limb here by assuming that with the experience level in your profile being under one year that you are driving for one of the starter companies.

When I first started I drove for Werner and have to say that the level of respect I received from other drivers was slim to none, even from other Werner drivers. At times I would feel like ok I am on my own here and just better suck it up and figure it out. I believe the lack of respect that people in this industry have for those starter companies tends to get directed to their drivers.

Once you have been out here for a while you will see things differently. I have to say once I started with a company which didn't carry the mega carrier stigma things changed. I was still a green horn however over time I have to say I did meet some really great old hands who were of great help to the green horn I was and I am a better driver because of their help.

In any profession you will run across people who possess the "Super Trucker Mentality" from time to time, it's the driver who always knows more than you, is better than you, has been doing this forever, and feels he has to put all that up in your face 27 / 7! Sometimes I wish the CB had an ignore button for people like that but alas they are a part of any and every business. I have posted before that even if you are new there are people out here who will be more than willing to help you out if they see that you are trying. With the flood of steering wheel holders who enter this industry every year as the new guy you have to prove that you are not a steering wheel holder and really want to be a trucker.

It's all part of earning your way and with that earning you will see this industry differently because we really are a brotherhood out here.

 

It does seem to be that the one percentors are the majority some days. I myself, try to ignore them and do my own thing. I try to earn my own bit of Karma every now and then. It always seems to come back that way.

Speaking of Karma, a guy parked in the only lane out of a shippers yard today. Thus blocking my truck in along with several others who needed to go load in another yard. Wouldn't you know it, he came back to move and it wouldn't start for him. . . Karma!

DirtyRabbit out.

 

I think people in general are getting ruder. or maybe it's just me getting older. lol

 

also, the mega-carriers are teaching their students to buck any and all traditions and "not listen to those old heads on the cb"

this creates an US vs THEM attitude, and couple that with elogs, taking cheaper loads, corporate mentality of "dont stop to help, its not your business", and a host of other things that breed comradeship amongst drivers is taught against (anything from flashing lights when you pass, bear reports, etc)

couple that with prepass, governed trucks, iphones, people and truck drivers are being driven more apart than anything else

when you look at the heated discussions we have here, take that from the internet on the road, it may become more understandable (i dont completely understand it other than saying its our reality)

hang in there, if you give up, thats one less fighter we have on the good side

 

Hi Millsj101-How are you?Did you run into American Trucker?I see what you see every day.In and out of trucks.For some reason,i gravitate toward the ones who are more open,know we aren't out in this world by ourselves and have a good attitude with a sense of humor.The others i tend to avoid.No doubt better for everyone involved.

I started doing something years ago when i drove wreckers in Dallas for a company that had a Dallas PD contract.I had other drivers tell me the cops were jerks.After a few wrecks,i decided maybe they weren't.The first thing out of the truck,i'd find the cop and say "Hi.How are you?"I could tell by his or her response how the rest of my time there would be.

I still do that when i meet someone twenty plus years later.If they can formulate an answer to the question i figure they can think.If they can't,they don't have much to say.If they complain about something that happened three months ago,they always will.I can also tell if they have a sense of humor.If they don't,it's a safe bet i'm not going to get along with them.

I look at the drivers both "good and bad" thinking it's just another day.Which it is.Take care.Brian

 

Now you can probably see why truckers don't get any respect at shippers and receivers, because the majority of truckers don't give any respect to start with to anyone, including other truckers, so in return, they don't get shown any respect either. Well, you can see what most of the trucking companies are looking for, Dumb and Dumber... Adios