Doesn't at Least ONE Trucker Enjoy Their Career? Stop Whining!

Cost of living has gone up considerably in the last 20 years. Problem is, drivers wages has not gone up in 20 years. Sad......

 

I know that your apology is meant in the same way that my post was. And in the same spirit, I certainly accept your apology.

I guess whining, (the ORIGINAL whine,) is NOT acceptable. But whining about whining, (SUBSEQUENT whining,) is perfectly all right. Depending upon whom you are, and which day of the week it is.

 

Whining will heretofore be restricted to days ending in "Y" and will be prohibited on all other days.

Regarding the moniker "Old Fart" I would think the title belongs to whomever fits the qualifier preceding the name itself: cantankerous, irrascible, grumpy, creepy, crusty and crazy are a few that come to mind.

 

The bottom line is a new driver will probably gross around $26K his first year. That´s pretty far below G/MANs $30-$35K but like the recruiters and the shiny marketing, he is wishing away the layovers, loading times, unloading times, lumper fees, mechanical problems, mechanical maintenance, snow storms, traffic, etc., etc...

Oh, and you want to be home a few days? It´s going to cost you. Oh, you have a bad tooth, need to see the dentist? It´s going to cost you. What´s that, there is an illness in the family, need a few days home? It´s going to cost you. You have a 101 temperature laying your bunk? Tough it out and drive or...it´s going to cost you.
At the end of your first year you´ll find my 26K closer to the mark than G/MANs 35k

For the original poster. I see in your post you using terms like ¨road cowboys¨, adventure¨, ¨excitement¨.

What do you think trucking is?!?

You think your going to be riding around with a monkey, G/MAN in a blackTrans Am and Rosco chasing you going by the handle of rubber duck???

Those are m o v i e s.

You´re not going to find it. What you will find is long hours, low pay and poor working conditions.

But I can tell from your starrey eyed post nothing anyone says will change your mind, you´ll find out. Good luck to you.

 

Oh my, sure seemed to have stepped on a lot of spiteful and career challenged toes. Sorry. It completely dumbfounds a lot of us that enjoy professional driving, how some of the old time "truckers" seem so close to going insane from their poor miserable career choices. Some attitudes (caused no doubt from endless hours of driving OTR) seem to need some adjustment. I'm still looking forward to a late life career "adventure" that's not necessary (I'm retired at 53) but just want to see what it's all about. I got a lot of helpful insight from many drivers, and I thank you. I'm sorry that so many are apparently hooked on trucking, and yet soooo miserable. Seems strange to me. But, everyone chooses their own path in life through choices they make.....

 

Careful there, someone might single you out as a complainer.

 

Just trying to save you some trouble. Hell, if you´re 53 and retired, go fishing, grandkids and little league games, build that 67 Chevelle hotrod in the garage. So on and so on. You don´t want to be tied to a truck.

 

Still don't get it, do you?

You'll learn....

 

Maybe I'm one of the few who actually enjoys what I do. But there are things I don't like. You betcha I'm gonna b**** about it on occasion. Am I miserable? Far from it.

I loved firefighting, too, but there was a lot about that I didn't like. We would grumble amongst ourselves and race to be first on the engine when that bell rang. And then grumble some more when we got back to the station.

It's like that in any profession. Don't like it? Stay off the driver forums. Each personality here completes the picture a little more. Even the ones like you, who complain a lot.

 

I had no idea that you were a firefighter! You must have a strong passion of driving to change carriers as a truck driver. (And/or to switch from working in an extremely stressful environment to working in a "crazy, yet fun" environment.)