Why are there so many cry babies out here? Can't you read?

I remember in a safety meeting one time (circa '78 or '79 )...a FM saying..."truck drivers are a dime a dozen" Only thing is....he said it where the terminal Mgr. could hear it. That was on a Friday evening....Monday A.M. the "suits" from the home office showed -up and sent him off the lot with an "escort" on each arm.......

 

*Edit* I have nothing to add that can be anywhere near as good as the OP

 

Personally I think the answer to this question is because sadly, there are few drivers entering this industry who do so because they truly want this as their career. I think most new drivers are here because they have no choice due to personal circumstance, criminal history, whatever. You have to do this job because it's what you want, not because it's your last resort.

 

You seem to forget the people that do it because
A. Trucking is easy I failed at everything else and driving a truck is easy so I'll do that.
B. Think we make a killing and make #### good money
C. Think they want to get paid to see the country
D. I'll do this for a couple years and then get out of it (these are the people I don't understand at all)
Then there are the others like me and a lot of other drivers that get asked "what the hell is the matter with you" because you grew up around the industry and still became a steering wheel holder. I figure I'll graduate to trucker in a few more years

 

I think what I said about doing this job because it's what you want pretty much covers all those points. If a guy is here for any of those reasons, then he doesn't truly want a career in this industry and won't last. As for B, I'll throw in there the fact that very few actually take the time to research what this industry is all about, the schools, the companies etc.

 

OP is right, in every sense of the word.

Great thread.

 

But the recruiter promised me ........

 

There have been cry babies in this business since the very beginning. One of the first things I learned to do when I first drove a truck was to turn the CB volume down, way, way down.

 

After talking to a few want to be drivers, they all have a starry glazed over look in thier eye. Its the same look they get when they get roped into a l/p deal. Nothing you can say will deter them. When it goes sour, I just tell em "I told you so", and walk away.