I understand why so many bums hang around truck stops now

A

Nowadays they don't want a one time donation. They want a monthly donation. Here just let us latch on your credit card like a leech.

 

its very rare i ever give a penny to beggars, its only the rare occurrence that i feel someones story is true and they truly got caught in a situation outside there control.

i will share one time i ended up in a situation and a stranger helped me out.

was early morning i get a frantic phone call from the mother of my best freind saying he was in a accident and was in the emergency room. i was in bed when i got this phone call she wanted me to come to the hospital. so without hesitation i jumped out of bed still in my pj's grab my keys and drive over there, several hours later he is stable she is calmed down im going to go back home. i get in my pickup make it a couple miles back towards the house and i ran out of gas.

so ####. i realize i have no wallet don't have my cellphone, there is a empty gas can in the back of my pickup so. i grab the gas can and walk nearly a mile to the nearest gas station. go inside and try to explain the situation wanted them to let me pump 5 dollars in gas into my gas can and i would return within 30 mins to pay for it. they wouldn't do it, they offered to let me use there phone to call someone but of course i don't know anyone's phone number from memory. they suggested that i walk home and get my wallet and come back, well i was still at least 8 miles from home if not more. so anyway i could tell i wasn't getting anywhere and was just going to do as she suggested and walk my ### home. when the guy behind me in line chimed in that he would pay for my 5 dollars in gas. so i could make it home to get my wallet ect. i was very great full.

when people give me the out of gas story's i normally offer to pump some gas in there car for them, no one has ever taken me up on the offer. i have tried to give food to people with "hungry" signs and had it thrown back at me. i am not unwilling to help someone out but on the same token i have worked hard for what i have and i don't want to give it away to someone who is ungrateful or unwilling to help themselves.

 

I was 17 and got dropped off at a rescue mission by my mom she said good luck.

But hey keep going with your better than attitude.

 

You misunderstand me. Your earlier statement implied that you were somehow compromised until you "got off your arse" and off government assistance. I wanted to point out that sometimes government programs help people to help themselves. I wasn't saying that my life was harder than yours, better than yours, or inviting a competition. I was just disagreeing that those on government programs are all leeches.

 

They aren't ALL leeches, but most are.

 

That would end all the controversy. Those that want to give money could give money, and ease their consciences. Those that didn't wouldn't be bothered. And crackheads could cut to the chase, and not have to wait for so long for their next hit.

Everyone gets what they want.

 

Sit back and watch some of these beggars, after a couple of hours, you'll see them going back to their trucks. Many of them are new to this career, and are stuck working for the low paying trucking companies that are out here. Some are lucky to get a $300.00 check each week, but if they have a family to support, a real man would send his check home to take care of his family, and then does what he has to do to survive out here in the road.

 

I think it's more the opposite. Most of us who have been out here a minute or two are so used to dealing with beggars we've all got our strategies down pat. My personal favorite is "I don't carry cash".

The real reason why you made this post though is because your so excited by all this money you think your making as a new O/O. I bought my first truck at 22 and went from 40k max a year to 100k+ net and I was a pretentious douchebag to for at least 6 months so I get it. It's hard to be humble when you think you just conquered the world,but cash flow is the greatest liar you'll ever find.

What you don't know (yet) is how fast you can lose money in this business, but you will if you stick around a bit. You get 50k saved up hold onto it. At some point your going to need it and more when #### hits the fan and if you stick around long enough it will hit the fan.

 

One time, at the Flying J in Gary, a guy in a JB Hunt shirt came up to my truck, with the typical sob story, no money, needed food, etc. I told him someone helped me out of a situation once, and wouldn't take any payment for it. So I was just paying that guy back, by helping this guy. Handed him a 10 spot. Turned away for a few seconds, and he disappeared! Must have been the most money he'd seen in a while.

 

You should have offered him food instead.Most if not all pick truckstops to beg for money because they know if anyone falls for their sob stories its truckers.