Documentary on Truckers.

Honestly I think the whole thing would be pointless.

Take a topic on the forums fight now, about the left lane restriction in Mo. And the politician making comments that he felt most of the general public saw trucks as a nuisance. Closed minded, self-serving, ego-maniacs like this charcter would never watch it anyway. The only people that would really watch it would be us. It is a sad truth but we all know that most of the public does see us that way. And that part of the public would never even entertain the idea of going to the theatre to se such a film.

Heaven forbid it actually taught things that might save someones life, like how to drive around a rig. I honestly believe that 90% of the public have no idea how much room a truck requires to safely operate. They all think we are just "road hogs". So those that may benefit will continue to be too self centered to watch anything that might actually help both them and us.

I respect the efforts film makers give to a project like this. I just feel it will be wasted on closed minds. If it ever hits the big screen, watch its debut. You will need truck parking if you intend to fill the theatre.

 

Things to check out:

- Extremely high turn over rates
- Hours of service rules
- Effect of time spent away from families
- Poor hygene and health of alot of truckers (not all)
- California's anti-idling law
- CDL Mills
- Crime and prostitution at truck stops
- Lack of respect that truckers get/public perceptions

 

"Film" does not necessarily mean in the movie theaters. Any type of documentary would be seen and watched by the general public by putting it on TLC, Discovery Channel, History channel etc....I don't think his goal is to compete with Hollywood here or ever put it on the "Big Screen"...

 

Ever heard of DVD? Seems to me there wont be any parking problems for that? If we dont try to change attitudes, we may as well stick our heads in the sand like an ostrich. I admire people who are trying to get the truth and realities out to the general public, and allow them to decide for themselves.

 

People "out there" do not really want to know us (truckers) if they did all they have to do is ask us...but to take our lives and put them up for others to see I disagree...I am a personal woman and all I want to do is my job and be left alone....the folks "out there" have called us (truckers) all sorts of names...they think we are dirty, have filthy mouths and have sex with all the other truckers and we drive like maniacs....well man they are wrong...I am a respectable woman that drives a truck for a living,...we never get any respect from anyone...so why do you think you can take our stories and have an audience that gives a rip?

 

Because "dirt", "filth", "sex" and "maniacs" sell and that's what they'll assume they will get. I think this is a great idea for a documentary and you never know if you can change perceptions until you at least try.
The History Channels "Modern Marvels" did an entire episode on truck stops so why wouldn't work just as well to do one on truckers?

 

We (truckers) will never be accepted by the public eye and I get so p^^^^^ when I hear some idiot say something derogatory about any trucker...perceptions?????
I will say good luck on your documentary....

 

Well, just to set the record straight, I shower every day, I make a point of it, I will usually put up at a small truck stop, I never stay at the big ones, or I just put up at a rest or service area, I usually start to roll around midinght or somewhere there after, then I will stop at Ta, or pilot, around 4 or 5 am fuel, and shower, at that time all the nuts are leaving, I get a good spot, shower get coffee, and finish up my day, the shower thing is imporatant to me, it makes me feel good, I use a nice exfoliating face scrub, neturalizer and moisturizer with a 8 spf, then I use an eye creme, all from the arbonne line. for men. nice stuff, when I am done I feel like a million bucks. I dress neat but functional I need function I am a flat bed driver, so knives and tools are a must. Big logging boots with steel toe are the norm for me, but when on a long run and behind the wheel for a stint Yoou might find me with a nice pair of lined crocks on my feet, (comfy) black only! Ok so do I sound like I am gay, well nope I am not. just like to look, smell, and feel GOOD!,,, I am a professional and like to look and act like one, I have been at this all my life, it's all I know. I feel like the demize of this industrie has a lot to do with people who took it on as a last resort job and dont give a crap, Well I am not on of thoes, I do give a crap and I play the part, I love trucking and all that goes with it, it is a good and lucrative carreer if You know how to make it that way, I live in a very expensive state, Mass. I hate it here, but I have made it livable for my family, I have a nice piece of land 3 arces and a nice log home, I heat with wood, and hunt, my family lives well. My kids have what they want and are good rounded students, I have no neighbors and am secluded, Mass is a lousy state for someone like me but I have made it my way here, and it is all through my being a truck driver,, And when people come to our property and see the house, the toys, quads, bobcat, big chainsaws, and a nice size shop, with all you need to even pull a MBE4000 out of a freightliner and put it back, they ask what do you do??? I answer I am a truck driver, they do a double take.. Ha ha.. I love it, I am good at it, and I take pride in it,, I don't smell. I dont swear... in public :biggrin_255,, Ok so I am sorry to carry on, but I hate it when people say we are smelly dirty sex pigs, I am not, and from what I have found neither are most other drivers,
Happy New Year
Oh yeah Lucky thoes are, Phew,,,,Nice

 

truckin916 and Etosha you are both right. And I apologize for my earlier remarks. I still dont think it would reach as broad an audience as it may need too, but then again if it saves just one life it is more than worth the effort.

For that reason I would support any effort to help educate the public on why we do the things that we do. We all have bad days where we loose objectivity to some extent and I do apologize for that. I think there are a lot of people on this forum with a lot more experience to offer such a project, and I respect and thank them for all the help I have recieved along the way.

Good luck on the film!

 

I'm sorry to say this, Lady... but your attitude will only broaden the understanding gap between truckers and four-wheelers. If you get angry everytime "some idiot" says something derogatory about "any trucker", then you'll be defending not only the good conscientious drivers, but those who toss pee bottles out the window and drive under the influence.

Just because a driver holds a CDL/A doesn't automatically means there is a halo on his/her head.