Are you embarassed to be a truck driver

I just wish we could find a way to rid trucking of the trashy drivers who throw trash and piss bottles out of their truck at on/off ramps for every other motorist to see. This is a huge black eye on the -trade- (I refuse to call it a "profession" until we can clean up the small percentage of trash drivers that make a very noticeable impressions on the motoring public) ... a few spoiled apples do ruin the whole lot IMO. The CB trash and filth is bad, but thankfully not many in the general motoring public have CB's, but they can see [where a trucker was prior] and they can put 2 and 2 together.

 

I look at it this way -- if I made what I make here and now in Mexico, well hot ####, I'd be a Mexican millionaire!

Trucking gave me this rock hard physique you see in my profile pic. I'm a #### chick magnet! No embarrassment here...

 

I go back to geography like I usually do. The TS is from southern California as I am (relocated). $40K per year in Tennessee or Kentucky is pretty respectable. It barely pays the rent in South Orange County where Im from.

I read a post a few days ago where a driver was bragging about making 30K his first year in trucking. If you are sitting in rural Mississippi then you agree with him, if you are in New York City you're thinking that you spend more than that on cab fare.

I think that a nationwide vocation like trucking is very appealing to people who's only other option is working on the family farm, trucking to a man who could flip burgers at In and Out Burger (starting pay for full time with NO experience in L.A. is $11/hr) for the same money IS embarrassing.

 

Awesome thread.

Take a look around. I believe the face of trucking is changing. I see less and less of the trash and "last resort" types driving down the road, and more professionals who finally figured out that the cube farm they were chained to just makes them die a little more each day. I have never seen so much excitement in new drivers as I have with those former desk jockeys (like me), but maybe that's just the addiction.

I think the old image of the dirty old guy with a giant gut and scrappy beard with horrible BO is still around, and it will take time to change. Look around, there are a LOT of degrees in the cab of a truck. There are a LOT of steering wheel holders who EXPECT to be able to shower more than once a week and having come from a more corporate atmosphere, aren't likely to perpetuate the nasty disgusting habits of the folks who jumped into it after years of partying and job hopping from factory to factory. Then again, there are those who did just that who have found a great career and are willing to stick with it.

I for one, believe that the increasing numbers of female drivers is a GOOD thing to the industry. Someone who might have just let any filth fly out of their mouth tends to hesitate when they realize that women are on the CB too (some, not all. Some folks are still pigs).

Either way, anyone would change their minds when they realize how horrific the "desk jockey" job market is out there. Here today, layed off tomorrow seems to be SOP nowadays.

 

I would rather tell someone that I drive trucks than admit that I am almost an engineer. I spent 4 years of my life at college. Got a degree. Got a job at a place and what did they want me to do? Drive a truck. If you ask anyone that knows me what I like to do for a job and they will tell you that I just want to drive. I figure one day I might get tired of it. That day just isn't here yet.

 

I remember back when I was in college I was embarrassed to tell my friends I was a part time security guard. But I needed a job with flexible hours.

Now my old college buddies ask where I have been and have I seen anything interesting. A couple of them asked to come out with me so they can see America.

It really does not matter what your job title is, be proud, a professional, and have some integrity. People will respect you for that, if not, then you do not need friends like that.

 

I think most of us would say no we are not embarresed, But that is becouse we know what the industry really is about. Growing up in high school my dad was a trucker. And I said I was never going to be one, and thought less of the job. I never wanted to be a trucker. And would have been embarresed to be one.

I took a different path of a desiel mechanic. But after graduating and working up the money for my tools, I ended up finding myself in a position where being a trucker was the best choice. So here I am now and dont regrete it at all, Infact I feel my job is better then most, Like better then 50 percent of the jobs out there.

I have come across some people who I have had the chance to chat with, who thought trucking was the bottom of the barrel but after you explain to them what it acualy entails and pays they too have a different opinion of it.

So trucking is only an embaressment to the uneducated.

 

I'm not embarrassed in the least. Quite proud actually.

 

I think it says more about a persons sense of self worth.

I know many people that feel like a disappointment to others. In and out of trucking.

I may joke about someone with a "McJob". But believe me when I say there ISN'T enough money to get me to do it.

But somebody has to do it. Or thousands of fat people and kids would starve.

 

NO i'm proud of it, if someone is going to look down on me for Trucking, i really don't need to impress them and they don't impress me