What has happened to this industry???

So in addition to the companies a couple of you listed, are there some others that look at reality rather than a suit's ideal driver. I'm looking to use equipment that you don't have to baby sit or have to worry about sitting behind every scale house watching the inspector fill every comment box on his report. I talked to a guy at one of my local companies last week. Made it to a road test. The tractor was an '07 and all 8 drive tires were mismatched and shot not to mention retreads. The frame had no paint left on it and the interior looked like some one purposely destroyed it. When I saw the crack in the frame rail, I decided we need not go any further. How can a tractor that new be so badly maintained? The 15 or so donor trucks sitting behind the shop should have been an omen. Used parts, really?
There's got to be some one out there that recognizes practical experience that also runs decent equipment. I'm not set on driving a "big ol' large car", I just don't want to look like Elmer Fud when the car he is driving falls apart around him and he comes to a stop sliding down the road on just a seat hold a steering wheel in his hands. HA HA.

 

rockstar_nj- When I was 4 years old riding along with my mother in the old cabover Pete, I saw well organized parking when we stopped for fuel. I also remember watching drivers back in to docks and parking spots on the first try, WITHOUT hitting the guy next to them. As for the time I spent with my father, I was taught to back the manure spreader and wagons with our John Deere A. No power steering and a hand clutch. Had to use that tractor because I wasn't tall enough to reach the clutch pedal on the other tractors yet.
Double clutch? I watched my step father fire a driver for that while we were pushing his truck in the shop for a new clutch as he broke the hub right out of the center of it while down shifting with the good ol' double clutch. Transmissions have syncronizers in them. That grinding you hear and feel is not gears unless the driver is really doing something stupid.
WE hired a fella out of a driving school a few years before we sold the trucks. He had driven for a "big" company for a year before he came to us. Wanted to work for us because of the equipment. Hit a post at a fuel island his first week out and was canned when he got back. Said he could drive, maybe in a straight line down the road in a Volvo. Not so good in tight quarters with an EXHD Pete however. From the looks of the dust line on the cab shock rods, he couldn't handle 600 horse either. He had rocked the cab pretty good.
As for my mill and a half mile 359, it had the original front bumper when it left. It was sold local, restored and comes out once a year to go to Walcott IA.
Drugs, I don't know how old you are but they tested us then too. I used to love getting inspected at a scale. I knew I was good to go before the clipboard came out. Perfect MVR. Not one ticket, not one accident, not one failed drug test, never had a reason to fail.
Check Celadon trans. new policy. Had to tell their school taught drivers not to use the cruise or the jake on ice. 2 people lost their lives because of that mistake. That driver had just graduated trucker school 18 months before he killed those people. I'm thankful for the school taught drivers though, without you guys we wouldn't have automatic trucks and cruise control that hits the brakes for you, cameras in trucks, oh and good entertainment in tight spots. Look up "stupid truck driver" on Youtube and try not to laugh. OOPS! I forgot I was pulling something when I made that turn.
Flashed my lights in front of a trooper three weeks ago. Where's my ticket? In a real truck, the headlights are on their own switch.
On second thought maybe I should stick to wrenching, with you schooled guys out there I have great job security.=+

 

There are many types of degrees for it. Would you want the guy working on anything you own to just guess at it? And yes I have six of them including a masters in GPS communications. Use that one for working with AMS systems in the ag market, Pays pretty good. Going to Pasadena in 2015 to finish my graduates degree in mechanical engineering at Caltech. Always worked full time and went to school (at a university). Haven't lived with Dad since I was 17. Worked hard for everything I got. Probably why I have no trouble with my DOT physicals.
Wasn't talking about the Mexicans. I was talking about the guys from across the pond. Have you tried to understand one of those guys? Apparently not. Yes most of my family is Native American thank you. Are you one of them there fellers that don't want the American folks to have their second amendment right? I'll bet you are just by your use of the word inappropriate. How many trucks have you scratched up???? Liberals!??????????
Next time you are looking for a place to park for the night and can't find one, remember what you said about the immigrants. More people here trucking, more trucks, less room for them. But that's okay, lets welcome them and keep this great thing we are all experiencing going! It's working just fine.

 

How many degrees have you earned that aren't an online degree? I would say none by the lack of accuracy on your blind horse comment. There were prerequisites required to get in to where I went. You weren't smart enough to pass those, you didn't get in. Watched a lot of guys like yourself go home before they ever got in. "College degrees no longer means anything", really? I can see why that would be your opinion. With grammar like that, you won't get in to mine.

 

If you don't like what you read, don't read it and don't take the time to follow it. If I don't like a conversation, I surely don't get involved.