Embarrassed to be a truck driver....

I have been in the transportation industry for going on 16 years now. I have not always liked my job or what i do but i have always been proud to be a truck driver and have such a huge extended family. I consider all drivers to be my brothers and sisters. I help any driver out there to the best of my ability if i can. I have gone out of my way several times even as far as turning around to help a fellow driver. And honestly i know this will probably not come back my way but that is not the reason i do it. If i can make a person smile while in a bad situation they seem to think more logical.

So here is what embarrassed me to all beyond. I don't like to talk bad about my brothers and sisters and i haven't ever done it until now. I actually sat on this for 3 days before deciding to post this here. The other day while down in Albany at the Marine base dropping a load. I got there after another driver. Let me set the picture for you so you can get a good idea of it. The dock was straight and only had to back up to a dock plate. No other dock plates around. No vehicles or obsticles hindered the process either. It is a little tight but the worry of hitting anything is not there. A curb in front of you but it does not come into play. Anyway i sat there 20-25 minutes watching this driver trying this backup. They seemed to be having all kind of problems for some reason. Finally a dock foreman came over and told me the driver was on the phone and wouldn't get of it. This phone was a handheld with no earpiece. He asked if i would back it up since it was against regs for them to do it. I walked over to the truck and sure enough this driver was gabbing away and didn't even see me walk up. I think i startled the driver a bit. I asked if they wanted me to back it up and they just got out of the vehicle and pointed towards the truck all awhile still on the phone. I got in it pulled forward and reset the setup. I backed it in and turned of the truck and got out. As i was walking away i noticed the driver didn't even notice and still on the phone. No thank you, no nothing. The foreman did thank me and i returned to my truck. The tractors have to unhook for them to unload. They didn't unhook airlines and started to pull off but the foreman stopped them first. After the unload was finished they tried to hook back up. They hit the side flaring on the tractor on the trailer and bent it all up. They took all of 20 minutes to re-hook the two back together. They never got of the cell phone the whole time and just left. I just couldn't believe this driver has a cdl. The driver and everybody involved with them getting their cdl should be reprimanded and there cdls' takin away.

This was one sad day for me as a professional driver. I joke around alot but this is my livelihood and that is no joke. Sorry for such a long note but i had to share this with others out there. I know we all talk on our phones but just don't do it while backing up.

 

another sad situation. what is wrong with this industry? sometimes i feel like i'm the only one who gives a shiznit about my job and well being of myself and others. this was until i met some of you here. you have the same compassion to stay loud and proud. i just don't understand sometimes. maybe i will someday. until then i will keep my ears and eyes wide open and my mouth shut.

 

no it was not a jb driver but i will not let out who it was.

 

or when you get out of the truck in the morning and you gotta step over somebodies pee cause they were to lazy to go inside. i hate when they do that.