Why do you truck?

For the money, for the glory, and for the fun. Mostly for the fun.

 

Is that you Bandit?

 

For me its not the pay otherwise id be more motivated going to work.It does pay the bills though and that's about it on the pay.There's really no freedom in this industry.Companies,your dispatcher,DOT and FMSCA all control us.I have noticed companies are having a tougher time finding drivers.Thousands have quit driving because of all the laws and companies are more strict on the hireing process because of your csa score,you have too many points,they disqualify you.You have too many out standing marks on your mvr you're out and then the ever popular DAC that companies love to use to ruin drivers carreer.So for me its just to get my bills paid and that is it.

 

There is no driver shortage, we have too many drivers right now.

 

I like working at my own pace, I like trucks, older stuff in particular. I am not a big people person, I like them but in small dosages. Seeing different places that I enjoy from time to time.

 

I truck because it's the only way I have found to make a living that doesn't involve dealing with people all day.

I have trouble dealing with folks on a regular basis, it makes me want to bash my (their) head in. Repeatedly. Not saying I used to daydream about it back when I worked customer service and similar jobs, but I had a 20 lb sledge in my living room for home improvement purposes.

I'd rather put up with the stress involved with cranky shippers, rude truckers, or moody dispatchers any day over the douchetastic entitled attitudes of supposed "customers" (when half of them think they're a customer for ordering a freakin' water... for free.)

I hated the human race before I got into trucking. Now I just hate 4-wheelers. It's an improvement.

 

For me, it was a combination of circumstances. I started a little over 2 yrs ago. I had recently divorced, I hated my job at the time, kids were grown. I needed an adventure and to find out what I'm really all about. My plan was to drive for one year and decide on where to settle. Now, 2 yrs later I'm still at it and have revised that plan. Now I'm in a money-saving mode and if and when I come off the road, I'll be able to buy a pot to piss in.

 

Because I like to drive. And it has been said when you like to do something, find a job doing it and you'll never work a day in your life.

 

I started driving over 45 years ago. I started because I like trucks. I like the money and I was home every night. I had an uncle in trucking and he had some great stories to tell about his experiences on the road. I began my career as a city driver in Chicago. What a commute to the windy that was every day.
I never said no to a job change such as will you go on nights . Sure when? . I also got involved big time with CB. began talking to lots of people to take my mind off stupid people driving to and from work. Then the OTR bug bit me. Yeah, we had some stupid people in 4 wheelers back then too.

I did that for a short time of 13 years then bought my own truck. Now that was an eye opener for sure. Loved my truck and loved doing what I did. I bootlegged ( shhh you did not hear that) lot of freight and worked with one or two agents..Yes I had signs on the door but cash was the loudest and I did not ignore it. Made money and moved with wife to KY. That was a lot of log hauling and finished wood delivering. I made money there also.

All this time I was learning things from other drivers that benefited me from that point on in life. We communicated with each other. The TS had the round table that if you were a truck driver you sat at if you wanted and by the time your meal was over you had made a friend. I wonder if the driver that called himself Dirty Book is still around?
I found i did not like sitting at home and not be trucking.. I had to go go go. Today the better half calls me an old fire horse. I sold that truck ( wish I hadn't) and became a company driver again. What a trial. but stuck it out as long as I could there.
Moved to Kansas back home after my wife died. Changed companies due to management being stupid and two faced. Bought another truck. Love the road but not like years past. .

Trucking has changed for the worse. No helping hands. By the way it was a compliment to be called a Hand by another trucker back then.
Useless regulations began to fall on trucking like a hail storm. Equipment was not the solid well made truck like in the past. Pay began to get messed with. Shippers and receivers began to hold you longer and longer. Compensation began to get harder to collect. Rate tariff was discarded in favor of what was lovingly called competition and deregulation. A buck a mile became the norm for some reason. We dumped the DOT. Fuel went sky hi to a $1.50 a gal.
But with all this I still like driving a truck. I guess part of it is I am a people watcher. I like to look at the license plate on cars as they pass. Some personal tags are very unique.
I try to ignore the many idiots I have to share the road with. I refuse to let them ruin my day. I still smile at people and now and again I get one back. I have in all these years tried to learn many different facets of trucking. I have not learned one useless thing as of yet. .

I learned to drive tanker and haul lots of products . virgin oil, crude, gasoline, acid for just a few. Then I pulled an RGN. Removable Goose Neck trailer. Low boy to some. Now that is a job I really did like. It was not work at all .Dirty ? yes. Couldn't wait for the next big load to challenge me. That even got too regulated for petty stuff. Rates plummeted. States could not get together on anything as far as permits went . so I went into another area of trucking.
I began to haul explosives. nuff said there.
Today my Freightliner has 1 million 677 thousand plus miles on it. I'm going for 3 million if I can but think it will be closer to 2 before I retire. I don't find many drivers today that were like those of yesteryear.
The today drivers for the most part like to use foul language in everyday conversation,in person or on the CB. Truck stops are no longer the friendly place they were back then. Years ago you pulled into a truck stop told the fuel attendant how much fuel you wanted if not a fill up and walked inside. You sat down and ordered your coffee or meal. The attendant came in told you where the truck was parked. You also could leave a wake up at the fuel desk. They ( many times a female) would knock on the door at the time you wanted up and hand you a cup for coffee FREE. I still like trucking but not like years ago.

It has made me a very good living. bought me my man toys, paid for hobbies. lets me ride motorcycle and helped out a few others that were in worse shape than me. It cost me a wife and more than one retirement plan. Trucking is not for the weak, it is not for those that need to be led by the hand to do something. It is not for the ones that cannot handle the stress of an unexpected situation. It is for free thinkers than can see the whole picture. One has to understand the world of trucking as a whole to experience the real benefits of driving a truck.

Just because the dispatcher sent you on a load to get you home and then tells you it has been canceled after you get there and you have to take this one going the opposite direction does not mean he or she had lied to you. More than likely the customer found a carrier to move it for less money. Happens every day many times a day. expect it.

Remember. If you tell the dispatcher you need to be home on such an such date do NOT say OK at the end of your statement. By saying that you are now asking a question. When you don't get home when you needed the answer was NO.
Trucking has been very good to me. Today I am considering leaving this industry due to EOBR ,Stupid regulations like that useless 30 min break. The goofy 34 restart that really is not necessary. The ridiculous CSA crap.National registry for DOT physicals. Poorly trained officers writing tickets for what they think the law should say or be.
It is not trucking I am considering leaving but the BS being heaped upon the trucking industry.
Back then it was not us against them when it comes to leo's. We worked together a lot of times. Tickets were fix it tickets for equipment such as mud flap torn or missing. Head light out .and negotiating was not unheard of. Things like that. No quotas to make .


Hope this gives you some insight. Sorry for the length.