If you had to start over...

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Nashville, Mar 22, 2022.

Page 5 of 12
  1. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2015
    Messages:
    17,342
    Thanks Received:
    56,259
    0
    Best answer. Applies to any Job.
     
    Rideandrepair, Mar 23, 2022
    #41
    Truckingdaytrader, Geekonthestreet, Another Canadian driver and 2 others Thank this.
  2. supergreatguy

    supergreatguy Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2020
    Messages:
    1,030
    Thanks Received:
    2,895
    0

    Sometimes responsibility and necessity put you in a position to stay and figure out an exit slowly. A responsible adult recognizes their problem, and acts appropriately.
     
    supergreatguy, Mar 24, 2022
    #42
    Truckingdaytrader, mikamikael and Another Canadian driver Thank this.
  3. supergreatguy

    supergreatguy Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2020
    Messages:
    1,030
    Thanks Received:
    2,895
    0
    In retrospect, (I’m 27 lol) (yes I already know y’all have underwear older than me)

    I have a deep appreciation for what trucking has done for me. I plan to exit, and pursue my passions. Stocks, leather craft, welding.

    Trucking is truly what you make it.

    Went O/O at 23, never did company so I feel like I was really lucky to have a great beginning with the full weight of the experience.
     
    supergreatguy, Mar 24, 2022
    #43
    Another Canadian driver, D.Tibbitt, Badmon and 1 other person Thank this.
  4. lual

    lual Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2020
    Messages:
    4,733
    Thanks Received:
    8,493
    Location:
    SW Georgia
    0
    @scott180, after thinking about it some more, your post #31 (above) is EXTREMELY WELL written and is second-to-none advice.

    Well done--THANKS MUCH for that input!!! :occasion5: :thumbup: :notworthy:

    --Lual
     
    lual, Mar 24, 2022
    #44
    Another Canadian driver and scott180 Thank this.
  5. Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    Joined:
    May 28, 2009
    Messages:
    10,679
    Thanks Received:
    12,240
    Location:
    Rancho Mirage, Ca.
    0
    Lets define trucking.....as said above, it's a business. It is the transportation industry. And really pretty basic. Customer needs his product delivered to his customers. 2 ways to do it, rail or truck, possibly aircraft. Or a mixture of the 3. So you have a truck that needs a driver. Now the hard part comes into play. The trucking co. has rules to follow, drivers to please, weather to deal with, mechanical issues that pop up, accidents, (that's a bad one, a truck load of freight spread across the I-40 east of Gallup, N.M.) I wouldn't want to make that phone call to the consignee about his load that will never make it.

    My point is, transportation, loads, customer satisfied, done on time, etc, etc, does trucking mgmt have to deal with crybaby drivers who want to go home or mess up equipment or can't get up or properly load a trailer, or manage his finances ? I think airlines and rail run a tighter ship than trucking. Just my 2 cents worth.
     
    Allow Me., Mar 24, 2022
    #45
    Another Canadian driver and 201 Thank this.
  6. EuropeanTrucker

    EuropeanTrucker Medium Load Member

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2018
    Messages:
    564
    Thanks Received:
    874
    0
    Would have gotten my CDL when I turned 21. By now I would have top seniority (at almost any LTL company) making $500 a night.
     
    EuropeanTrucker, Mar 24, 2022
    #46
    Another Canadian driver Thanks this.
  7. Mr Uturn

    Mr Uturn Light Load Member

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2021
    Messages:
    178
    Thanks Received:
    216
    0
    I would have stayed a company driver. Joined the teamsters, waited it out and paid my dues. Got a local ltl job, with great bennies. Right now id be top on the list or retired. Sitting at home laughing at all the other responses.
     
    Mr Uturn, Mar 24, 2022
    #47
    downplay, Another Canadian driver and 201 Thank this.
  8. Lazer

    Lazer Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2017
    Messages:
    1,791
    Thanks Received:
    2,850
    0
    If I had to do a ‘reset’, I would get a job with the Railroad right out of high school, do 30 years, retire at 48.
     
    Lazer, Mar 24, 2022
    #48
    Another Canadian driver Thanks this.
  9. bigguns

    bigguns Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2013
    Messages:
    2,846
    Thanks Received:
    6,853
    Location:
    Omega,GA
    0
    What were the questions?

    WOW! Winner winner chicken dinner.
    The absolutely best answered question ever on TTR. Tons of spot on advice.

    After 38 years of dotted lines I’m not sure how respond to the op. I’ve always had an answer for everything. It has been a long crazy ride.
     
    bigguns, Mar 24, 2022
    #49
    Another Canadian driver and Badmon Thank this.
  10. skallagrime

    skallagrime Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2012
    Messages:
    3,856
    Thanks Received:
    9,943
    Location:
    Indiana
    0
    Rail has many benefits (over trucking in logistical sense) and probably really should be utilised a huge amouny more than it is in the states.

    BUT dont kid yourself into thinking its a better run operation than trucking, it has massive amounts of waste everywhere in it. There are also plenty of accidents, and defered maintenance in trucking can be bad, but its nothing compared to the disasters that railroads can create by doing the same

    Probably the best use of rail today if you wanted to improve it and more peoples lives rapidly (ours included) would be to do massive amounts of investment in light rail for passenger service. (Not just in cities, but many cities really ought to have trains that dont) this decreases congestion, makes cities more liveable and just think of being able to go say new york to montana in 2-3 days *without breaking the bank* (at scale with investment rail should be down towards 200$ coast to coast) kids included, got your own sleeper, see the sights, dinner on the train. can just stop off in a small town in iowa to visit grandma then continue on the next day.
    This USED to be possible, every small town had a train station with 1 or 2x a day service. i dont understand why we americans are so bad at it today.
     
    skallagrime, Mar 25, 2022
    #50
    Truckingdaytrader, mikamikael, Another Canadian driver and 4 others Thank this.
Page 5 of 12