Drivers/drivers/ drivers

Wannabee, at least be polite..........

No reason for--Shuddup !!!!!!!!!!

 

I have a name, but your right, I meant to say shut up!

I have never been good at slang. Hippie enlighten me please!

 

You won't be around long enough, Good Luck !!

 

Kind of defensive aren't you.

 

WOW!!! Things are getting a bit heated here no? That's too bad as in my humble opinion, there's simply no need for it.

SouthernPride is simply expressing (his?) views and opinions and I happen to agree with most of it. I believe (and please feel free to correct me SP if I'm wrong), he's making two good points.

First, in my 7 months of research into the trucking world I've found that many schools are simply in it for the money and don't really care what happens to the student once they get that money and the new CDL holder is gone. "Some" of them don't even care if you pass of fail. I don't think that SP was lumping "ALL" schools in this but let's face it, his point is valid and in many cases, right on the money.

Now the school I went to? Let's just say there are two very distinct parts to it. The "school" and the "instructors". The "school" couldn't give a darn whether I pass or failed, get a job or not. They got their money and in their mind, they've accomplished their goals.

The instructors however were ALL old school truckers (37 years and UP) and they went WAY beyond the call of duty to insure we got the very best of their knowledge and experience. THEY truly cared about us and more importantly, putting GOOD drivers on the road as opposed to simply filling seats with butts! I not only hold the highest respect for all of them, but I also have their personal phone numbers as we became very close as people too. They didn't simply show us "how to work the truck", they showed us how to "drive" correctly and safely. Even if I never get a job, I'm FOREVER in their debt. I should also add that every one of them is comfortably retired and don't "Need" the insultingly low pay they get. They do it for the industry as a whole in an effort to try and improve what they've always loved! And I might add, maybe just SAVE some lives out there as well!!!

This brings me to the second point I believe SP was making which is the other side of the equation. The DRIVER. From what I've seen so far, many if not MOST students are only concerned with themselves and their needs. That's understandable to a point. After all, we all need to make a living and support ourselves and our loved ones. BUT, there is a second side to it and that's protecting the honor and integrity of BOTH the company you work for and the industry as a whole. After all, if you truly do care about those things, doesn't it behoove us ALL to try and improve things by having a "Professional ATTITUDE" toward what we do? I mean, if you love, or even just like, trucking, truckers and the industry, why wouldn't you want to everything you can to at least "try" to make your chosen field better?

All we truly have when we wake up everyday is a choice between two things. Am I going to be positive or negative today? The choice we make there WILL have an effect on everyone we come in contact with, everything we do and every company we represent. I know what my choice is each day and although I'm human and Lord knows have made my fair share of mistakes, I can honestly say I've lived up to a simple rule I made up for myself as a kid and I've held dear all my life which is.....

"The only thing I absolutely have to go to bed with is my conscience"

To this day I can look God and myself in the eye and say I have a clear one.

Please folks, let's not allow this thread to degrade to personal p***ing matches between folks. I think this is a very valid topic and keeping it friendly will surly help some folks out there. It has me (SMILE)

 

Guys..... chill out.

Hubcap; both you and Southernpride are correct. You're just looking at the same mountain from different sides of the hill.

Lookie here..... the trucking industry has indeed changed in recent years for a multitude of reasons and causes. The unprecedented growth since dereg brought a whole bunch of people into the business on the admin/management/regulatory side who really have no understanding of the core business. Nothing we can do about that folks.

But.... at it's base trucking is still the same as it's always been; one driver, one truck delivering freight from A to B. That we can affect.... by supporting each other, sharing good and accurate info and watching out for our brothers and sisters like we used to. Sitting in the back row, grumbling and pointing fingers will accomplish exactly nothing.

Straight up..... management comes and goes and will eventually cancel themselves out as advances in computer abilities make them redundant. But.... we'll still be here.

 

I have read all 3 pages of this thread and this is just my opinion, First Southern pride is correct in what he is saying, by this i mean read conooks post on how his school was different than it is today, T he trainers have sometimes up to 4 students in their truck giveing each a turn driveing down the road, the problem is its about money the schools wont turn anyone down cause theres a govement kick back to the school, Second the trainer is there to teach and if 2 out of 4 students have never even seen the inside of a truck their gona give them a quick tour and push them thru, what some of you are getting upset about is the school or you feel you have goten screwed and you have! it falls back to money!!!!! but in the same respect if this is the profession you have choosen ,there nothing wrong with haveing a shower,clean shaven,clean cloths,reguardless of what type of clothing as long as its clean and decent and your not running around in last weeks stinky underwear!!!!! its a bout pride in what you do, in anything not just trucking, look at it this way if you worked at KFC ,at the counter dealing with people would you want to wear last weeks uniform and underwear????? no i dont think so ,same gos for trucking ! as far as the schools yes ,if it cost you $7 grand to learn and you want to recommend that school ,looking like a ragbag dont set to much of a standard ,,,,,, once again its about pride !!!! remember ,it's a stepping stone,a starting block ,,,there is more to learn!!!!!! helping a fellow driver out and maybey getting a little dirty ,yah both might learn something,,,,,,,,,,REMEBER theres all types of people out there, and you never know it might bruse your ego and make a new friend !!!! i know i have, wheather its finding a bolt thru your asortment to bolt up something that can loose or fixing a light ,,,whats the worst that can happen, you helped somebody and mabey just maybey made a new friend!!!!!

 

I spect the difference in the two countries accounts for the difference in your experience.

 

this is just what im talking about!!! pride,it dont take much to strike up a conversation! yah never know durring that conversation you may have questions???? imagin that? remember 4 heads thinking is better than one,or while doing some work on your truck another driver just might lend a hand and you might learn something new, and god forbid ,you just might make a new friend,