Doubts between Schneider and Stevens

I did some waiting pulling reefers; didn't like it, but was being paid hourly pay for the wait. It's not like you'll be waiting for free, because you won't.

 

T

That's why I never recommend Tyson. Tyson isn't a regular OTR reefer company.

 

Hey I’m not on meth and can show up at least 3 days in a row. Where’s that $30 an hour at?

Seriously tho 200k ain’t that bad. It’s retirement accounts, that sucks but you could get it out if you buy a house.

200k and no debt would put you squarely in the top 2% in the world. Just doesn’t feel like it cuz everything’s so dam expensive. But kudos man you did alright.

 

When I was a new driver, there was always some driver in truck stops, etc. that would lecture me about being an OTR driver. They'd tell me about the trades and other jobs outside trucking. I shut them up real fast by asking, "If the trades and other jobs you're recommending are so great, then why are you still driving & running the roads."
They'd give some crap answer such as , "Oh, I'm looking, believe me, I'm looking."

 

Look for Ground Lineman/HDD Locator/Fibreoptic drill rig locater. Usually you'll be digging exit pits with a shovel(sucks ### no doubt), standing around with the DCI box for a Vermeer drill, and mixing mud.

It sucks but it's better than sitting in a truck and making peanuts. At least imo but I'm not the typical crybaby driver who refuses to do the slightest bit of labor. Plus it's a stepping stone to drill or equipment operator that pays 40/hr and up in a lot of places. Better not be flat footed though. 30-40k steps a day.

 

Assuming you can get your detention stamp signed. Walmart was about the only place that would sign it. Everyone else wouldn't. I also didn't work for Tyson, I drove at a mega at the time.

 

It's because for them, CDL stands for Can't Do Labor.

Most truckers are little more than feral humans that are too lazy to exist anywhere productive in society. Most of them won't even chain in the winter. If they can't spend 15 minutes throwing iron to keep rolling they couldn't make it to lunch on day 1 in a trade. Most are too fat to even chain a single trailer tire.

If you don't mind actually working the trades are way better than trucking. I'm probably going to go into them if I can't get a fuel job or a linehaul gig by next spring. If I can make 100k+ sitting in a truck in the air conditioning and never talking to anyone I'm doing that. If it means spending my entire life in a truck for 50k/yr then #### trucking.

Trades just suck for the initial few years and I don't want to start as a worm/laborer on the bottom of the D-class out-of-work lists at 30 years old making peanuts. Been there, done that. If I must I might go for that but I dunno. It's hard going back to square one and starting over. Especially with crap health and a bit of a busted up body. (Motorcycles hurt. For the rest of your life usually.)

I can see why the big money maker guys kill themselves once the money dries up from a layoff/getting fired. I can't imagine destroying a career making 500k/yr and not being able to get that income back. I'd probably adjust my suit and tie and jump out of an office tower too. Going to a lesser income in a job is one of the worst things you can experience when you build your entire life around income and nothing else.

 

And yet so many build their entire life around income and nothing else.

 

I made more money pulling reefer for Dot Foods than doing anything else in my 35yrs in trucking. I was paid for everything.

I was offered $30/hr, to start, and once certified, I’d be paid $50/hr, as an HVAC tech. Full benefits. I’d receive a brand new van full of brand new tools, once certified, with a completely new setup every 5yrs. I didn’t take it, because Florida’s residential HVAC systems are in the attics.

 

Yep, did the same. I'm stupid for it. But it's like a terminal brain tumor. Once you've got it, you ain't getting rid of it. At least it is for me. I hated my high paying LTL gig. I'm unfortunately gravely aware of the oppressive duplexity of the situation.

Don't work = No money = No purpose to life.

Work a reasonable amount = Realize you're falling behind by not working or sleeping and doing nothing else = Work more.

Work hard = Make money = Hate working your life away.

It's one of the most miserable feedback loops you can be in. Some say 4 walls don't make a prison. But I'm a prisoner of my own mind. Things I used to enjoy provide no solice. It seems a waste of money to partake and additionally a waste of time that could be used to work more.

The adrenaline rush of going 150mph on a motorcycle while leaned over inches from the ground? - Nothing.
Watching a good movie or hearing new good music? Nothing.
An attractive girl talking to you? - Nothing.
Eating a nice meal? - Nothing.

It isn't lost on me that my state of extreme anhedonia is the result of a psychiatric disorder; I have no intent to suggest trucking hasn't viciously exacerbated the issue however. Perhaps it would always have worked out this way. I suppose this might be what they call "being a workaholic."

Whatever it is:
I ####ing hate it.