Do you really enjoy trucking?

Hamadown, I've seen in your other posts the you are a retired LEO. So, I think you can relate to my thoughts here. Trucking, like police work, is one of those careers who have to be drawn to. Some people look for jobs that just put money in the bank and theres enough balance of good and bad that makes the job tolerable. Those people looking for that balance usually dont do well in careers like trucking or police work because a lot of the time the scales tip to the bad side more then the good. Thats when the "draw" or love of what your doing kicks in and makes the bad stuff tolerable.

I struggled with this my whole adult life. I grew up around trucks and my Grandfather taught me to drive and took me over the road. I then went into the Marine Corps which steered me towards police work. After the Corps I was a police officer for five years but always had that "draw" to trucking. So, I left police work and drove truck for eight years. Then I was drawn back to police work. So now I do both, full time LEO going on nine years and I drive truck two or more days a week.

I hope this made some sense and helps you out. Good luck...

 

I too live in MI and I really enjoy driving. I work for a great company that takes care of there drivers and we try not to pull cheap freight

To me the job is what you make of it. if you have a crappy attitude then your job will be crappy and people will treat you crappy also.

we all have our good days and bad days I just do my best not to take it out on my company or the shipper or receivers

these are just my thoughts

Chris

 

I still enjoy the business, most of the time. I enjoy the solitude of being on the road with my own thoughts. I never tire of seeing this great country. I like not having to sit in an office all day. There is always something new to experience.I am enjoying it less in recent years. It seems like every time I turn around the government is throwing more useless regulations that have nothing to do with safety and everything to do with revenue generation. I get tired of this industry being looked upon as a cash cow that is here to solve the revenue shortfall of governments who cannot manage their own budget. All this over regulation is driving many of the more experienced drivers from the industry.I am disappointed in the lack of work ethic by some coming into the business who seem to embrace more control over their lives. But, I am also encouraged by some who come to the industry with a youthful exuberance. There are those who do have a strong work ethic. It will be those who will mold the coming changes we see that effect this industry.

 

I loved every minute of it can't say the same about the wife though. That's why I don't drive right now but like Chris said you have to take the good with the bad. My decision saved my marriage and family. As for the good, you're alone for 90% of your day that was probably the biggest thing to me that and seeing this beautiful country of ours. You do meet a lot of interesting people and never do the same thing everyday. You're not without outside contact if you can stand the ramble on the radio these days.
The bad, well other drivers(4wheelers) suck big time. Some customers are bad too. Other than that probably waiting.
Hurry up and wait that's trucking.

 

I can't imagine what I'd do if I wasn't able to do this....This is in my opinion the coolest thing on earth to do for a living.

 

I have to agree on the government issue. They can't keep their hands out but they are the same with every American not just professional drivers. We are a cash cow and local and state governments budget if you want to call it that expecting a certain amount of revenue from this industry.

 

After 1 full year, I still love it!!!!!...I came into it expecting the worst and hoping for the best and it has so far been closer to the latter....

 

That's 'cause you're a dummy and you suck!

 

Lets face it, if I had to deal with the general population every day being a store clerk or gas station attendant I would have murdered someone by now.