Am I A Real Trucker?

Ah yes, the age old debate on what legitimately makes someone a "professional" or one who drives a "real truck". I'm curious as what you guys think. Does someone who drives a CDL-A class truck, or 18-Wheeler in general look down on those who drive the 26 ft straight trucks for their local delivery jobs? Now i know there's plenty of differences, yet some similarities one could assert as both are classified as commercial vehicles by regulation. I for one drive a 26 ft Straight truck, and have done so safely for over 2 years now. I hauled my share of weight in hell and high water and take pride in it. However, the egotistical side of me tends to look down on say- FedEx drivers for example as not being a "true truck driver" as comical as it sounds. Then, it got me to think that i wonder if those who drives big rigs look down on others as well in this manner. Think of it as a class system in the trucking hierarchy. For those wondering why not just get a CDL, I would love to get trained and move up to a CDL A class rig; but helping out family is preventing me from that maneuver as many companies want some OTR experience first. So, i'm stuck driving a Straight truck for the moment.

 

Lol ironically I used to be on a straight truck and felt the same way. No that I have a semi I don't ever think about it. Its just another guy making a living. Sure dont look down on them as some kind of inferior driver. I'll even talk to you on the radio if you holler at me

 

I absolutely agree. I do notice that people out of your back yard could go and pick these trucks up without any training whatsoever or CDL. It erks me because i'm one to hit my flashers when passing a fellow truck driver as a 'thank you', and yet many other drivers that drive these box trucks that i've noticed on the road act like nobody's life matters on the road except theirs. So, it inspired me to contemplate on how truck drivers view others lol

 

No

 

You'll only be looked down on for doing dumb ####, the real reason FedEx drivers generally have a bad name.

 

as long as you keep it in between the lines, and drive safely and do your pre-trips and post trips if your employer requires it, and you don;t get any tickets, or accidents, and be on time for your pick ups and deliveries, you would be just as professional as anyone else.

 

I used to drive a Peterbuilt 18 gears when I started in this businesses, about 6 years ago. Now I drive an automatic Freightliner. I’ve never look down , then or now . However I look down to those driver who are driving and texting, I look down to those who throw their garbage anywhere and everywhere. Those people , really pissed me off .

 

Has more to do with how you handle yourself and your rig...so...size don't matter.

 

I agree. I was driving behind a tractor trailer, and i think it was either Prime or Schneider running teams. I figured this because that's typically how mega carriers run, and no trainer and student would allow what i had experienced. The driver threw out a gallon of liquid on to the highway that exploded, splashing liquid over the front of my truck. I could only speculate that no driver would throw out his old tea bottle. I was disgusted and pissed at the fact that they would have the audacity to splatter urine all over the highway like that. I passed them and looked at the driver in a 'wtf' gesture and the driver threw his hands up and looked at the passenger he was riding with as to say "whoops, nothing else i could've done". Needless to say, i took that truck to the Blue Beacon and had it completely washed. Last thing i need is HIV matter all over my truck