When do you know its time to get out of trucking,20 yrs feeling burnt out

Discussion in 'Driver Health' started by natemn57, Jan 13, 2015.

  1. natemn57

    natemn57 Bobtail Member

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    Dec 27, 2011
    Fergus Falls MN
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    Been driving over 20yrs all the new reg 14hr rule Just don't look forward to driving like Iused to wiil this pass or should I get out:biggrin_25510:
     
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  3. Giggles the Original

    Giggles the Original Road Train Member

    ummm dont look now, but your profile says 4 yrs...lol

    really tho, the rules will continue to change...in the 20 yrs you have been driving, they have changed...its part of it...only you can decide if you are tired of it, not us....best wishes either way
     
    "semi" retired and Dinomite Thank this.
  4. Air Breeze

    Air Breeze Heavy Load Member

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    Jun 19, 2009
    Tennessee
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    It isn't going to get any better. This has always been a thankless job. The pay isn't what it used to be and the
    government just keeps adding more regulations every year. If you can find something better go for it.
     
    "semi" retired and heyns57 Thank this.
  5. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    Apr 16, 2014
    high plains colorado
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    Hi natemn, I agree with GtO, if anything, you ain't seen nothing yet. I guess you can still be an outlaw trucker, and lie like a rug on paper logs, but eventually, everything is going to be electronic logs and such. I haven't driven in over 8 years, but still have a valid CDL, and could drive, if I had to, and I may yet have to. I think you get used to it, like anything else. 10 years ago, I drove for a company that had electronic logs, and I was very hesitant about them. I had never done anything like that before, but after a while, I actually got to like them, especially at a scale. I had nothing to hide, and was sent on my way in short order. The one thing I didn't like about them, was if you were delayed, and there was a function for that, but the company would always question it. Today however, if I ran out of time and still had a ways to go, I'd drive it out anyway, and tell the company to cram it with walnuts.
     
    Giggles the Original and Dinomite Thank this.
  6. okiedokie

    okiedokie Road Train Member

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    Jun 13, 2011
    PNWET
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    @ some point you won't have a choice. With 3 yrs left I flunked my physical. I get a second chance to take it but because of health issues still might flunk. Oh well, nothing stays the same.
     
  7. Giggles the Original

    Giggles the Original Road Train Member

    sorry to hear that. i hope you pass , if not I hope you find happiness in what you do next. whether it be working at something else or working hard at fishing and hunting...
     
    okiedokie and Dinomite Thank this.
  8. Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    10,353
    11,159
    May 28, 2009
    Rancho Mirage, Ca.
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    Trucking has certainly "evolved" over the years and yes, there's been boo-coo changes. Some for the better, some not so. But one thing's for certain, the Govt has it's nose in it and will continue to do so. So a driver that kills 5 kids in a mini-van doesn't go un-noticed by the Feds as well as some Congressman somewhere. Some changes I personally like are random drug testing and e-logs (which I never used). I prefer drivers that are clear headed and alert sharing the road. I've never liked drivers out there with serious medical issues behind the wheel. You want your pilot very healthy, don't you ? Or how about your brain surgeon that's going to operate on your tumor ? To the OP, you'll know when it's time to bail. You may even get out, saying good-bye to the industry, then come back 6 months later because you miss it so bad ! :bootyshake:
     
    Dinomite and jlind Thank this.
  9. Menehune

    Menehune Light Load Member

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    Jan 21, 2011
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    Just my two cents: Someone once told me that when it stops being fun, then its time to quit. Good luck.
     
    "semi" retired and okiedokie Thank this.
  10. natemn57

    natemn57 Bobtail Member

    5
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    Dec 27, 2011
    Fergus Falls MN
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    Started Driving semi 1978 got out for a while came back driving mid 80s 4yrs ago first time smoothbore when I joined looking for info.sometimes i need to come on here to get my head stright.Thanks for that.
     
    Dinomite Thanks this.
  11. TNMT

    TNMT Light Load Member

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    Nov 11, 2008
    Front of keyboard
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    Paper logs only gave you a false sense of productivity. You were being paid lower than you should have because they knew you would cheat to make up for the lost income if you didn't. If it was a two hour job and you it took you four hours but you marked it back to two hours you just cheated yourself out of two hours of pay in order to make it up with no guarantee you could somewhere else with the saved two hours. You were simple ripped off. E Logs are only a problem because drivers have not, and probably never will demand fair compensation for the lost productivity. Now if you give them the ability to be ripped off by cheating those E Logs? Why they will be tickled pink to be taken advantage of.

    I won't give you a raise of a dollar, but I tell you what. I'll give you another ten hours of work to make that dollar. But you'll most likely have to lose five hours in order to get the ten. So yea its actually fifteen hours total.... Drivers be like Oh Hell Yea thats a great idea.
     
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