Ever say,"Im done."?

Could not have described it better myself. Try out everything and see what works for you, if none of these options work for you, it is time to choose a different path in life my friend.

 

I dropped in Sugarland, Tx, this morning. Told dispatch I'm out of hours, & going home. He said I have 23 hours to use. My old behind says I'm out of hours. My Tractor, My Trailer, my rules. Don't like it, fire me. (we do this about 3 times a year). That's the main difference an O/O has over a company driver. He laughed and said, give me a call when your ready to do some work. I push myself, I don't need any help.

 

I did. I said it in 2008, and again last year. I've done OTR, regional, and local. And I'm flat done. Trucking ain't what it used to be, and a fair number of truckers ain't what they used to be, either. Far too many undertrained, unqualified, unprofessional, and uncaring idiots sitting behind the wheels of far too many trucks. No where near enough true professionals left on the road today, and I am one less. These days, I stay completely off the interstate as I have no desire to become a statistic stuck to the front of a Werner/CR England/Covenant truck.

I work as a self-employed doer of whatever I can find someone to pay me to do (legally, of course. Crime really doesn't pay in the long term) and I couldn't be happier. I have no logbooks to deal with, the DOT ignores me as just another four wheeler, and the pay per worked hour I get is considerably better than I saw as a driver. Plus, I don't have to leave my home state of Pennsylvania, I have plenty of time for friends and family (some of whom barely recognized me as it has been so long since the last time we saw each other), and my personal and financial stress levels are much, much lower.

I'm also doing the college thing for a programming degree and considering a paid internship with PENNDOT, but I may back away from that. I'm not sure I want to go back to being a monkey for some other jerk when I can make approximately the same amount of money working for myself.

 

I was on the road 9 yrs when I thought I was done thats when I met my wife she gave me a whole new breath of life that was 12 yrs ago now im ready for another 22 yrs..

 

i say it every day. but where i'm at now. i don't say it as much. and hope it gets better from here on out.

i've put in 2 LONG MISERABLE YEARS to get here.

i miss the ole days when times were high. and home was everyday but that wouldn't get me anywhere.

 

I'm surprised more retired truckers don't go into sales. Seems like a Peterbilt dealership or any other brand dealership would appreciate the knowledge. The commissions would probably be pretty good. If you have ever walked into a dealership. Usually the first person you see looks like he/she just got out of college. lol......I'd rather deal with someone who has expierence actually driving a truck. And has expierence on knowing what specs you need for different types of operations.

 

You would prefer a driver, but most companies (who do the overwhelming majority of the buying) prefer to deal with a college-educated puke like themselves. As they say, money talks. And the dealerships are gonna keep the salespeople who will earn the majority of the big ticket sales, sadly.

 

I take out my duffel bag out every week. Leave it running, but It won't leave, guess I'm stuck with it.

 

Well, I didn't say I was done. My body TOLD me I was done. Back in 2008. Sometimes, I miss the hell out of it, most times though I'm quite content.