Does anyone have anything good to say

There are drivers that have good jobs but they for the most part have over 5 years experience . Even drivers with that much time are facing layoffs . It's a career worth sticking with for old hands but carriers have no respect for new hires . Did you read the post stating Schneider is dropping the pay for new drivers ? A lot of drivers complained they sit without getting paid . Experienced drivers get detention pay . New drivers are being exploited big time .

 

Times are tough, and that goes for any job out there. Its hard for the new guys to make it with low pay and low freight. But if you can stick it out, trucking will get better. Most of the bad post are new people that did not know what they got into.

 

i love my job and have only been driving a few years.

the thing about trucking is that you are not an hourly employee.

well 99 out of 100 aren't.

this means you can "potentially" make a bucket load of money on paper.

likely you won't.... you can't average 70mph for 11 hours every day. it takes time to load or unload and often daily. there is traffic, in town speed limits, the need to refuel, oil changes, tire repairs.

with all of this, non paid activity, you are lucky to average 35-40 mph for the actual total time you have invested, not counting time away from home in the sleeper, just actual work hours.

yes, this sucks...lol

but, nobody messes with me... good view... I know what to expect...

I'm not physically strained by the work... and I don't get bored easily...

most cannot truck successfully because of the mental requirements.

that sounds silly???? but the guys that quit most often are wound to tight, frustrated, nervous, ticked off, whiners....

just do the job and don't worry or freak about any single day or week... at the end of the year you will have made good money...

your fine if you can do this... hehehe

 

I like driving a truck. It gets me out of the house. LOL Momma gets tired of me being under her feet.
Seriously, Trucking has been good to me and my family. Sure it has had its good and bad times but it seems to level itself out. I have missed raising my kids but get to pop in and see them enough they know who I am.
I enjoy not having someone looking over my back, checking to see if I am doing my job the way they want or think I should be doing it by their book. I may need to improvise and don't need to explain myself or my actions to anyone.
My boss hired me to drive his truck and deliver his loads and that is what I do. And in a Safe and courtious manner too. For that he appreciates me and my services and pays me well for it. That in turn makes me appreciate him.
Alot of drivers don't get the respect and appreciation that they deserve but it goes 2 ways too. You have to respect the co. also BUT the co. also must earn the drivers respect.
Enough babaling. Being a driver has let me see many places that I wouldn't have seen and has let me collect more knowledge of our great country so I can pass that on to my kids. It makes it seem easier to teach History and Geograohy when Dad has been there and seen that.
I wouldn't discourage anyone from driving, just warn them. It isn't for everyone and you must find the co. that fits for you. If you don't like it, get out. It won't get any better for you if you don't like what you are doing.

 

I can't wait, Away from my family, no money, abuse from company, and a bunch of un-happy people to talk to on the road.
...New truckers, have to be mentally ill to drive today,..Let, alone driving for TA...

 

I drove a logging truck parttime over 30 years ago,tried other jobs ended up back in my own truck over 10 years ago,I still enjoy it but Im an o/o. Its like any other job,you will find someone complaining about something, so tune them out, do what you can, and hopefully can weed out some of the negativity out here!! I really dont recall any bad companies forcing anyone to drive for them! You have to realize its a different life out here, hometime, lack of miles can cause problems but you should weigh those issues before you choose to drive for a living. All business is down now so its starting to effect everyone, so if things pick up people will start doing ok!

 

It's like this. Trucking is like anything else. It is what it is. Just make sure that your attitude is not your biggest problem. All too often I have seen drivers who make their life miserable by having unrealistic expectations. This is a job. No one really owes you anything beyond what you both agreed to when you hired on. If the company you are driving for is not living up to their end of the bargain then move on. Otherwise, do what is expected and if you can't, for whatever reason, then be upfront and say so.
The most valuable asset you have in this business is your CDL. Keep your record clean. If dispatch wants you to break the rules (and I promise, they will.) understand that you are the one who has to make the decision to do so and you will be the one to pay the consequences of doing so. Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself but, don't be surprised if some childish dispatcher doesn't load you up with garbage loads in retribution.
Learn to communicate intelligently and calmly. This is a business, keep your emotions in check no matter how angry or frustrated you are. This will go a long way in getting what you need and in keeping the lines of communication open.
Good luck.

 

As for a career. Yes I would recommend it. Is it bad? You #### skippy it's bad right now.

Why is it bad?

2 reasons.

Freight is slow. And everybody that lost their real job, is willing to work MY job for 20-70% less than I do.

Just to get a paycheck next week.

Companies are pushing the envelope at the moment. Offering less and less to new drivers, forever seeking the bottom of the pay scale.

 

Love my job..been doing it since dirt...30 years or so most of it under my own authority as an O/O.

Not stressed...okay I have my days. Have the patience of a saint for the most part....always glad to help anyone.

I don't mind being out 8 weeks or more....no one is at home and got a real good group of neighbors to watch my place.

During these times we will find out real quick who was made to drive and be gone from home. Been down this path before and the tough ones who do little complaining are still out there turning the miles. Yeah the economy is bad but it's been going south for awhile no one was paying attention. We can thank Pres. Clinton for NAFTA and the start of all the trouble.

So to you leave you on a good note....I like it out here, the trucking industry has changed and not necessarily for the better but I still like driving, delivering, challenges of the weather, dealing with shippers & receivers and having my Sundays off.