What Do You Think When........

My job description says Motor Vehicle Operator ......so I'm not just a driver.

 

I saw an old high school friend one time & asked him to come to my home and meet the little wifey & kiddies. He had no idea I'm a trucker. He saw my home in a very nice subdivision. The house is almost 3000 sq. ft. with 3 full baths of which 2 have whirlpool tubs, 2 car garage. nice big fireplace, etc. He said, "my, my, what do you do for a living?" When I told him I'm an OTR driver, I could tell he was a little angry. He and his wife are in upper management with different companies. He was a little cool toward me afterward, but I acted as if nothing had changed. As the old saying goes, "you can't judge a book by the cover." Some of those old scruffy looking drivers are sharp, bright, well educated, successful guys, that choose a non-traditional job.

 

Just a driver? I thought I was a dry bulk commodity relocation technician. ######

 

Having done both jobs mentioned, my opinion is that it takes allot of time and dedication to learn to do each one well. When someone makes a comment like that belittling your job classification, it's usually due to their own ignorance of what that particular job might entail and if they were forced into the position of doing one of these jobs would likely be totally lost not even knowing how to begin. Have respect for all who do their jobs well, no matter what the job may be.

 

I wouldn't let it get to you or let it make you feel badly about yourself. I didn't go back to college until I was 31 and worked as a machinist for a while...and other blue collar jobs which I was fine with. If I had it to do over again, I would have done things differently. My two siblings caught some grief (still do a little bit) for not going back to college and getting additional education but my sister loves working as a waitress and my brother is happy with his delivery job--and that is all that matters. It should be all that matters to others but unfortunately, people can't seem to resist comparing themselves to others...or one person to someone else.

You are obviously happy in your career in driving a truck, and that is what counts. Thinking back on it, I was happiest wrenching on machines on the shop floor but I've kind of painted myself into a corner now since it has been almost 8 years since I have even touched a machine (to repair anyways). If you have found what makes you happy, don't let someone else's negative judgment take it away from you. Your co-worker who feels that his education allows him to be somehow superior to you is just wrong--education does not equal 'better', 'smarter', or anything in particular. I hold 2 master's degrees and will tell you from personal experience that there are just as many (if not more) intelligent people out there with high school educations or less as there are people with some kind of education.

 

Yeah, right! A sharp-as-a-tack, sassy one!

I is not a truck driver, I is a very edjumicated carhauler!

 

Yup, that i am!!

And Yup that you are Hammer!

 

I bet those same people who think driving is easy and anyone can do it ,would freak out if told to drive a truck for a day, I
love truck driving and don t know why any would want any other job,this is truly the best job in the world

 

I'm not a driver... I'm a "heavy equipment relocation engineer".

When people say something like that, I chalk it up to ignorance. Because, typically a converse reaction is when they get in the truck and see rows of guages and switches, and ask "how do you drive this thing?"

 

I'd laugh. I was never "just a driver". Even when OTR, I also served as a part-time farm hand for the boss man. But my driving experience has primarily been sitework driving, where I'd also operate equipment, finish concrete, and do asphalt work. Now, I work as a diesel tech for an aggregates and construction outfit. Someone wants to tell me I'm "just a driver", I'd just shrug it off.