What's the Deal with these Log truck drivers?

Hey @BUMBACLADWAR, we run the same roads, probably mostly around the same days and times. I've come to the conclusion that its the same small group of aggressive drivers that happen to be on the roads, typically running to or from the Longview log yards, and mostly seem to drive for the same outfit (I can't picture them right now). Just like any other type of trucking, these guys give the other loggers a bad name. Sure, most of them run pretty fast, but for the most part they seem to be decent enough folks. I always have my radio on, and I've talked to more than a few of them. They're actually a pretty friendly bunch for the most part.

There's bad apples everywhere. I just let them blow by and don't think twice about them.

 

At 18 My first driving job was logging and as one person said said mills open an close at certain times only a few will let you unload yourself after hours and yes you learn to handle a rig and haul the mail around any road quickly. passing each other with inches between Mirrors is an all day occurrence it's the most competitive job I've ever had

 

How hard can it be to get into driving truck for log companies? Pros/Cons

 

Depends on the company. You have top tier companies who won’t hire anyone without years of experience driving log trucks. Others will take whatever they can get and run garbage equipment. In my area it’s not a easy job. Driving up complete muddy, snow covered mountain switchback roads often in the dark to get the first load. 90% of guys around here are loading their own trucks too unless your on huge operation.

 

Also, it makes DOTs day when they see a log truck rolling into the scale

 

i noticed the same thing in ky and tn. junk equipment and hammered down. i wasn’t going slow and they always caught me like i was going backwards. glasgow to cookeville. 63-163-51-52. especially before they put the new road in on the ky side.

absolutely beautiful country, though. esp running that ridge heading e on 52 toward celina. i have some good pics of that connector to livingston during and right after completion. beautiful.

 

Yo @BUMBACLADWAR It's been over 2 years since you started the thread and posted this. How is the escape plan coming together?

 

Pros:
Your home every night.
It's a paycheck.
It's better than welfare, barley.
Got a drug or drinking problem, your hired.
Wide open piece of junk truck.
Flexible schedule, half time there is no work anyway.

Cons:
Your home every night, depending on the price
Of lumber you might be home every day and night
For a couple weeks until the price goes up.
Without pay too.

DOT loves you. Your a ticket waiting to happen.
You make there job easy.

You get to run narrow 1 lane death roads for 400
Bucks a week.
That's if you get any work that week.

Your not only allowed,but incouraged to run
The back roads around the chicken coupes.

No worry about random drug test.
Anything goes at most of these places.
That's the only reason anybody works for them.

No benefits,
No vacation,
No unemployment,
No 401 k,
No safety meetings,
No raises,
No future,
No advancement,
No driver appreciation day,
No regular pm's on the equipment,
No medical,
No dental,
No vision,
No health insurance offered,

You get the point.
It's the absolute bottom of the barrel for
A truck driver.
The cashier at Walmart makes more than
80 percent of log truck drivers.

 

What part of the country are you talking about?
Hardly any of what you wrote is correct if you're talking about the west coast.

 

There are logging outfits in western Canada I know are paying in the mid to high $30s/hr. All good iron too. As I'm sure you're well aware, logging trucks are pretty much disposable. Buy it new, toss it once warranty's up. Trailers seem to last the life of about 3 trucks before they're getting welded up every weekend.