job perception

stick with it u will love it

 

I t will depend on what you expect to get out of it. To me there is nothing else or no other choice I am a truck driver. There is days I cuss my truck like it was a person because I'm having a bad day. Other days I just ride around with a big grin on my face for no reason. It's a way of life I've known since riding with grandpa as a kid. From what you have been doing if you enjoy your personal space and alone time you'll love it.

 

The current economic downturn has companies closing their doors. Drivers are a dime a dozen now. Carriers that do have job openings are being very selective, picking the best, brightest, and most qualified for less pay today than 1 year ago. Pay scales and benefits are being reduced in an attempt to stay in business until the economy turns around. So far 10 to 20% reductions are pretty common.

Other things to be aware of; There is a push for EOBR's (Electronic On Board Recorders) which will be like a planes "black box."

Truck stops/travel centers are going out of business and selling out meaning fewer parking spots for truckers.

Some truck stops have resorted to charging drivers for parking (if they do not buy at least $50.00 in fuel)

Many truck stops have reduced there hours of service for their restaurants. Others have closed their sit down restaurants and replaced them with fast food outlets such as McDonald's, Burger King, Sub Way, Blimpies, Dairy Queen, Taco Bell, Wendy's, Popeye's Chicken, etc.

Rest areas are being closed down due to states not having enough money to maintain them.

There are new idling restrictions being enacted all over the country. If you are caught idling a truck in some states you will be issued a ticket.

Carriers are getting very strict about excessive idling and wasting money so they are cutting bonuses, installing shut off switches to prevent idling more than 5 to 10 minutes and even threatening to dock drivers pay for excessive idling.

If you have a steady job now, I strongly advise you to stay put.

 

If you worked in the prisons for so long, you will probably meet many old freinds along the way.

Good Luck.

 

they are also drastically reducing how far they will "deadhead" you to get you home! that is why i got the heck outta dodge. hope ya live close (within 100 miles or so) of shipping points.
good LUCK!!

 

If you're talking about otr it's not a job perception to be worried about as the job is easy, it's the lifestyle perception you need to worry about. I like it and will do it till I can do it no longer.

 

There are whiners in all professions, and this one seems to be especially prone - probably because OTR guys have a lot of time to think about *stuff*. It is a lifestyle adjustment, no doubt about it. But once it gets in your blood... After only two months of being grounded, my wife is about to chase me back out on the road because you can take a driver out of trucking, but you can't take trucking out of a driver. A daily commute to the same cubicle every day... Not me anymore! What JLK is saying are all true and are "heads up" info. The travel and transportation industries are suffering like everyone else is. You can let it get you down or you can look at it and decide you are going to overcome anyway. Keep in mind, also, that once you get into trucking, you will end up in trucking. What I mean is that although you think you have other skills, and you well may (like I do), it is hard as the dickens to go back to those once you have the diesel in your blood. Lots of companies won't hire folks coming "off the road" because they know they won't have them around long - and you really can't replace trucking income with an office job.

 

Well said I couldn't agree more.

 

Waterloo - not far from Seneca Falls (huge Petro) by the Thruway... should not be hard to get home to.
BTW - Panhandle - I love the "Stop Global Whining!! Sign up Al Gore!