How many keep trucking ?

I reckon that says as much about the school as it does the students.

 

I have always felt one of the problems with drving school is they only teach you to drive. Trucking is a totally different lifestyle--and I feel there should be more emphasis on the social/psychological aspects of this business--Also in the case of younger drivers(those say under 25)many who are first starting out--there needs to be some counsling on money management--As most of you know this isn't a 9-5 job and it pays differently than most--therefore paychecks vary etc. I think there needs to at least be more discussions on these topics--advances--road expenses etc. If you have been out here any length of time you now how much a check can vary(for too many reasons to go into here)Students should learn to look at this biz at least quarterly if not yearly. Maybe they would not be so inclined to try and push so hard in the begining trying to make as much as possible--now that may have somethng to do with the amount of money paid to go to school etc. Or their financial situation at the time, understand I am not blaming or faulting anyone--I just feel if you are going to train someone to go OTR--there is so much more to it than just shifting gear and backing up. Lets out it this way--imagine if boot camp was only a week or so--and all they did was show you how to fire a rifle--and sent you off.
Just my $.02

 

alot of it has to do with the BS recruiters feed these guys , they will lie to them to fill a seat , and the recruiters get paid at the end of the week as the new driver will be sitting somewhere eatting popcorn waiting for a load ( because thats all he can afford for food ) when I run into guys who have a 9-5 job and think about becoming drivers , I have a sit down talk with them , and tell them the truths and don't sugar coat it , if they have a family I first tell them get used to being away 2 weeks or more before seeing home and not getting to see your kids grow up , and then you have the expenses of living on the road. which they really don't understand . heck my shower at home costs me $1 a week at most not $5 each time , and they don't understand the pay structure either , they think that the miles they run they get paid , yes there are companies that pay hub but they are getting far and fewer and alot will not pay dead head miles to get loads , and they don't understand what a household movers guide is for milage or the rail guide ( which In MY opinion should be outlawed for trucking as I cannot travel like a train . ) and then theres the experiance aspect alot of them think they are going to walk into the gravy right off the start .. NOT !!! I tell them 2 -3 years Otr minimum before you find a good gig ( and often you'll make less than minimum wage for your time ) , you have to do your time ( I added up some of my settlement sheets from the early days and I was averaging $4.50-5.00 a hour that was less than minimum wage back then ) , I was a lucky one who got into tanking at a early age but it was my atitude/and safety record that did it , as when I did it the minimum age for the industry was 30 , I was 24 and on probation for 6 months ( now they hire people right out of school and wonder why they have accidents ) I was told I wasn't truck driver material By my first boss, well after being a driver trainer I have to say there are alot more that don't fit this criteria than I would of , most of them have a hard time going forward yet backing up , but somehow get there licenses , I think the new rules change is going to do us some good in the future , but they also have to have some rules changes on hiring practices with outfits too ( I believe that dispatchers should be licensed like drivers ) . I have seen some drivers quit as they can make more money working in a warehouse lumping loads than driving , I know a few of them that did this . its sick since I made 70K being a city /regional tankerman back in 1995 working 60 hours average and this was NON union , and 3 years ago I made only 45k working the same gig but 70 hours and they wanted me to run illegally on hours .. and this was one of the better companies .