Does anyone have anything good to say

I see a lot of truth on this thread.

Would I recommend trucking as a career for anyone within this forum? NO !!

Why ?? The majority of the "newbs" within this forum are seeking stop gap jobs, not careers. Although a lot of them will turn it into a career. The majority will go back to their 9 to 5 job, when the economy comes back.

As an example.... I offer this news story. EVERYONE wants to have this career.... Watch how the mighty fall, flat of their ###.

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=12582289&ch=4226720&src=news

 

There are no jobs, There is no way your going to treat me like a slave, AND there is no way ,I'm going to be gone from my family... for, 50-200 $$$ a week.

What is,.. so, hard to understand?

What career, are you talking about, .. This is no career for a human being.... maybe, a monkey?

 

I just watched the video dance694....

Maybe, he should of gone out of business sooner? Maybe, he should of paid off his house, Maybe, he should of , could of, or would of.... Monday morning quarterbacking again.

In my situation; I may start driving, when they need drivers?... It will also be with a small company, where I can get to know ,and understand the people, and there requirements, or demands of me. That will PROBABLY, never happen... since, you need a year, before you find those job's?

I hope ,I was not offensive or rude to you.... If ,I was I'm sorry !

 

Sorry that you feel this way. But it's a matter of prospective and experience. Unlike the fantasy that is being taught in our schools these days. Some of us must start at the bottom, or there can be no top.

Trucking offers me more choices in my personal life, than any other career. Staying away from larger companies, offers even more choices.

I'm off on weekends, home occasionally through the week. And I brought home $991 this week. Far short from the goof ball in the video, who brought home $750k a year...and still doesn't have a clue.

Times are tough for everyone right now. Especially the serious new guy, who wants to make a career in trucking. The beggars are making his/her choice, a living nightmare.

I understand what you are saying. Let me shine a little light on my prospective.

Experience and your personal work ethic makes the differance......period.

No other career offers me the "time" that I want, when I want it. Other careers force you to work a predetermined time frame, with a predetermined number of days off per year. That sucks in my book. And that's slave labor to me.

Yes I work long, hard hours. But I play equally as hard when I want, when I'm off. I can take off for extended periods, and walk right back into a job tomorrow.

MY career, has paid for a medical degree for the ex. Put 3 kids through school. Paid for my house and everything else I own. Where as the guy featured in the video...owns jack. And is in debt up to his eyeballs.

Careers, without proper life choices. Are all slave driven jobs.

I work for myself...NOT the bank. Therefore no one owns me. Nor do they make me do anything.

Although I was off the first 2 months of this year. I still have the ability to walk, when I want. I still have a minimum of 6 months salary banked. I still have approximately 4 months of food stocks. Although I ran out of coffee today.

And I'm still enjoying my life. unlike a lot of others.

And my career, makes all this possible.

 

No offense was taken.

I just hope you take the time to realize, if you want to make a career out of trucking, it is possible. Although it is difficult at the moment with the massive numbers flooding the industry right now. Wanna bees....that are only in it for the moment.

It will turn around and drivers will be going to the highest bidder, again.

As far as staying out weeks/months on end. Those days are numbered. And any company who fails to make the needed changes, will fail in the future.

 

I hope that's true. But with the way things get outsourced to save money and the pressure to do things cheaper, I can also see a way that it all goes to teams out 6 weeks at a time.

 

You sound like a blessed man !!

I would love to drive a truck. No one is hiring. The abuse by BIG companies is not something I will tolerate. I would be perfect for this buisness... Maybe, a small outfit?.. In a few years?

I'm just blessed to have other talents, .. while this economy is in the dumps.

p.s. I would love that "Heavy Haul trucking"....Oh well,..

Have a great Day !

 

The HOS have impacted too many drivers, companies, and accounts. Future changes will have further impact.

Right now, we are suffering through a period of time where drivers have little if any impact on their hometime.

Once the economy picks back up, and "starving" drivers leave the industry. Companies will once again be at the mercy of newer drivers demanding time at home.

We were starting to see an impact before everything went in the crapper.

Companies relaying loads from driver to driver. Thus keeping drivers closer to a lane and home.

Eventually, we will come to the point where there are few solo long haul drivers. And drivers will be able to have a more effective/predictable home life.

One thing I did notice. Newer drivers were demanding hometime, over wages. And they were getting it too.

Nothing wrong with long haul or long times out. If that's where you are in life. But a lot of people don't want to be there, ever. While many do.

 

This seems like a vision for a "win-win" situation for both the employer and the dedicated employee. Here's hoping it comes to fruition.

What sort of time frame would invision for this to develop? 5-10 years? More or less?

Great posts btw.

 

I don't think I could put a time frame on it now. The economic downturn has thrown a wrench into everything we've gained over the last 5 years.

3 years ago, major companies would have been in a blind panic if a driver called in raising hell about having to lay over for 24 hours.

Now, they consider 72 hours as normal. And if you don't like it, clean your truck out. They have 200 applicants waiting to take your place today.

But......

If, and this is a big if, companies are forced to go to paperless logs. We could see this within 5 years. Companies would struggle with logistics for awhile. But once the reality of exactly how much time was wasted hit them in the wallet, it would change.

No longer would they sit a driver for 4-8 hours waiting on a load once the empty call was sent. It would be a full 10. And the companies who made the best logistical use of its drivers, would win.

Could you imagine a company the size of Swift having 50% of it's fleet hamstrung by the driver moving the truck from a parking spot to the dock. ALL at 8am. The clock starts when the truck is moved. Tick, tick, tick. If it takes 3 hours to unload, and another 2 to find a load. The driver will max out for the day, at about 400 miles at best. PERIOD....no way around it, no matter how much they complain.

Pre-plans would almost be mandatory for a company to survive. The plan may be a 10 hour break, but it would be a plan.

A simple look at Werner, shows how this plays out even in a down economy. They broker out loads at an unbelievable rate...due primarily to those paperless logs, and their inability to provide the necessary logistics for the freight they have.

Very few companies outside of LTL, know proper logistics. In a race for dominance, UPS would rape Werner, Swift, or JB. Based simply on the logistical use of their real equipment. The driver.

UPS has even went as far as planning routes with NO left turns. Or as few as possible, to reduce stopping and idle times. The story was posted here a couple of months ago. No other company has even come close to the depth that UPS has applied to logistical use of equipment and drivers.

Logostics will win, and the drivers will eventually see the benefits.