Why Did You Quit- Why Do Drivers Quit

Hi DD, that's true. Just another reason why family and trucking don't mix. Problem is, these companies have heard every excuse known to man, and when something real comes along, they don't believe you. That's pretty cold on their part. I give you a lot of credit, I probably would have told them to cram it. My kids mean more to me than anything, and I'd become the donut fryer at the Safeway before I missed a chance to see a grandchild.

 

Hi crzyjarmans, I've always wondered if when someone is applying for a dispatcher job, they are given a list of situations, and then evaluated on how cold they can be before they get the job.

 

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4451433]Hi DD, that's true. Just another reason why family and trucking don't mix. Problem is, these companies have heard every excuse known to man, and when something real comes along, they don't believe you. That's pretty cold on their part. I give you a lot of credit, I probably would have told them to cram it. My kids mean more to me than anything, and I'd become the donut fryer at the Safeway before I missed a chance to see a grandchild.[/QUOTE]
Fortunately for me, there was a fairly good ending. Shortly after they arrived in Korea, the North and South started spitting at each other across the DMZ, as they do from time to time. That time, however, looked fairly serious, so the Army ordered all non-essential personnel and families relocated back CONUS and I got to visit them not long after. I have a picture of my new granddaughter giving me her first-ever smile!

It took me a very long time to calm down enough to apply to another company and I still do not trust anything a trucking company representative tells me...recruiter, DM, or executive, it doesn't matter.

 

Because in the trucking world, freight comes first. To hell with what's going on in the driver's personal life. A driver (to many companies anyway) is nothing more than an extension of the truck itself. We are not to have feelings, concerns, or a personal life.

It's one of the reasons why I have such a love/hate relationship with this industry. Where else does one work where it's considered a half day if you only work 8-10 hours per day? Twelve hours or more is the rule, and many work Saturdays as well. Oh, and don't forget that you'll be considered a slacker if you don't want to work 70 hours per week. How dare you want to have a life outside the company or the truck?

 

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4451437]Hi crzyjarmans, I've always wondered if when someone is applying for a dispatcher job, they are given a list of situations, and then evaluated on how cold they can be before they get the job.[/QUOTE]
Yes very cold, Just glad it happened on the phone, and not face to face, I'm not in Favor for hitting women, But don't know if I could have restrained myself after hearing those words leave her mouth

 

Same here Voyager. That's one reason I never did OTR. I try my darndest to explain that to new drivers, but I don't think they listen because they've never experienced anything like that in most other lines of work.

 

I tend to always look at things from the opposite of everyone else(its a curse ..er Gift,im not sure which)

But,i ask?..why do drivers stay?
Find out why a driver like myself has spent coming up on 10 years w the same company?
people quit jobs everyday..drivers much much more so than in other industries..

But find a company with LOW turnover and find out what they are doing right?
Rather than looking at companies with high turnover too see what they are doing wrong?

 

in my limited experience it appears drivers quit not over major issues but little things that come up on a day to day basic. like if a company came out with a policy all drivers had to wear red hats and green pants,sure the drivers would not like it but no mass walk out. however if the company was going to take green lights out of the dash and be replace with blue lights in dash now that would be a major issue to deal with. in my five years as a dispatcher i learned to just go with the flow and the less you say the better it will be for everyone. i am not saying to be unfriendly but stick to the dispatch and dont start on the drivers about little things. b safe out there

 

We quit and move on easily because we can. The trucking companies know there's an unending supply of people who will work for the pitiful wages and diminishing benefits Corporate America offers. Things aren't exactly what their glossy ads portrayed? So sorry...quit. They don't care and you will soon be replaced.

Until this industry starts rewarding performance and longevity, things will stay the same. They are classic enablers and we are their willing addicts.

 

Playing devils advocate here, but I'm sure most companies have heard every excuse in the book about wanting to get home. After a while, they all sound flimsy. How do you tell the real need from the slacker?
Knowing DD had the hometime scheduled way in advance, they should have pushed out the delivery, or repowered the load.