Question to drivers who've been driving a long time 10+ years

I've been driving for nearly six years now as a company driver and every year I get better as a driver especially when it comes to being patient. Before I was a trucker and was self employed, I always did things quickly and never had major delays so I was used to being efficient in getting things done asap.

When I first began trucking, traffic jams, delays at the shipper, etc annoyed me since I was so used to having life run smoothly since I had control of who I dealt with. Many years later as a trucker, I do not get upset at traffic or idiot drivers or anything. I just expect it to happen and when it does I just accept it. I already know I will run into traffic tonight, I already know I will get stuck behind a four wheeler whose MPH changes from 58 - 70 every few seconds, I already know I will be in a slow construction zone that has been worked on for over three years and still isn't complete, etc.

So I wonder why guys who have been driving longer than me still get stressed out over everyday problems like traffic and long fuel waits? I just zone out and relax now whereas before I got stressed and yelled out a curse word. I also wonder if after 10 years I will snap and rage out about everything too like other old timers.

 

Yup weren't truckers making the same pay as today in the early 90s when fuel was $0.55 per gallon?

 

Yes I agree but it will keep happening. I have a way of looking at what types of trucks are in the fuel island and get behind the one that is least likely to hold up the line. For example I dont get behind Swift or CR England because anyone dumb enough to drive for the worst companies is dumb enough to hold up the fuel island. Or I get behind the guy who is still fueling so I know who he is and can hunt him down in the shop if he is being ignorant.