Is it really that miserable?

You're onto us. The truth is this career is so exciting and rewarding that we are just trying to scare off the competition.

Is it as bad as who says? Honestly, if you really read the site you will find a great many drivers, myself included, who are very happy with how things are going for them.

You will also realize that not all companies are created equal, what is right for one person is not right for the next, and people are more likely to come here when they have something to complain about than something to praise.

The other point is that the turnover rate for new drivers is extremely high. That's not because there are so many negative posts on here. It's because many get into it with little understanding if what it's really like. I think a lot of the 'negative' posts from the guys with lots of experience are intended to help the new or wannabe driver see beyond those misconceptions.

While it may seem the negative posts outnumber the positive it's very clear the people who try it and quit outnumber those who try it and succeed. I think those who are cut out for it will see beyond the negative posts though. Actually I don't those who are cut out for it will make their career choice based on what they read here but it will help them when choosing a company. On the other hand, those who aren't cut out for it may realize it's not for them after reading some of the threads on here.

 

That's good. You have to keep a good attitude. I'm just trying to say, you will have things come at you that will piss the average person off and many quit because they got mad. That's what you hear on the forum alot. Half the companies out there, drivers are just numbers and they could care less about you. The other half are good. Things are going to be tough your first year or two while you go through the learning process and figure things out. Once you get past that and maintain a good relationship with your dispatcher, things are great.

Are your responses coming from that driver that just been screwed or a driver that is at a good company? Plus your older drivers know the ropes and how to deal with everything. Once you know how to maintain your cool, things get better. Work for your company respect and pay your dues, then it will come. Don't be like many and expect to be treated like a five year driver right off the bat.

You'll understand what I'm saying when you get out there.

 

Mostly...it just a lot of people who don't really want to be driving.

If you get with the wrong company, combine that with a bad attitude and the idea that the company owes you something...and you have a recipe for disaster.

Get with a good company...work your way up the ladder, earn your reputation as a dependable driver...then reap what you have sewn. (that holds true for pretty much any company)

 

Why are the responses negative?

 

the best Youtube trucking videos imo:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTLlDbmJ9Uk&feature=related[/ame]

he edits the videos like a professional

 

thats nice but key word is EDITS. you dont see or hear him talking while hes driving. I have to admit i only watched the first one posted. He only shows the easy driving under normal clear conditions. Traffic is light so its good. At least the one i posted he talks while recording. Hell if how his first video was is all you have to worry about driving then more people would sign up and be hoping for such great stuff.

Whats edits:
1. Time frame from when he sent requesting a load to actually got it.
2. Heavy traffic Different weather conditions
3. Dealing with his weight being off.
4. Arriving at delivery point and talking with them.


Honestly it looked like all he had to do was get in ask for a load 2 seconds later get it and run with nothing but easy traffic clear skies. Arrive drop off load and head to next one. hell wish everything was that easy. Never trust anything edited. Youll edit your life away and end up with 5 minutes of good times for 50 years of your life.

 

I make it a point to remember all the bad times in my life. It makes the good times seem that much better.

 

You have to remember that no matter WHAT you do, there are ups and downs to every profession. Almost everyone can see the positives w/o asking anyone working in it. It takes someone who is out there doing it every day (or those of us sitting at home, on our birthdays, alone) to tell you the downsides.

Example: Mechanic
Positive: You can fix your own car for the jobber cost of parts.
You get home every night.
Sleep in your own bed.
Take your wife out for her anniversary and birthday.

Negative: Sometimes the only car you have to work on is your own.
Your personal car is the last car you WANT to fix.
You miss your kiddo's gymnastics meets because they start before you get off work on Friday, or they are on Saturday, when you work.
The pay SUCKS. Just sayin'
Your wife is always on you to "put the #### transmission in the car, before the old one falls out" (YES, he rode in 15 miles on a transmission failure because he kept putting it off. He was LUCKY to make it to the shop.)
You work in the heat. And the cold. If it's 110 outside, it's 120 or higher inside. Flash the temp on the asphalt? 146. (Truth) If it's 16 degrees outside, it's 16 degrees outside. When it warms up to 32 degrees outside, it's still 16 degrees inside, cuz the owner is too #### cheap to turn on the gas so the heaters work.

Example:Trucker
Positive: You see the country, sort of.
It's a HELL of a lot easier than wrenching.
Most of the time, the temps are much more stable (unless you are a flatbedder, or you have to unload yourself)
The wife is very happy you aren't a grumpy old fart all the time.

Negative: Your wife now has to find an honest ?!?mechanic. ######.
You miss your anniversary AND your wife's birthday. And your kids' birthdays, too.
No more snuggling up in the morning to a warm body. For either of you.
When the washing machine blows up, you are 800 miles away, and your wife breaks down because EVERYTHING went wrong that week. And you can't just hold her, which is what she really needs.
You are gonna miss EVERY meet that national gymnast (not elite, level 10) has. Unless she makes Nationals, then ######, hometime better appear somewhere in California. (I think.)

See, good things and bad things. I'm not saying the bad outweighs the good or vice versa. It's different for everyone. We are making the sacrifices NOW, for a better future later. He IS making more now than he did wrenching, but he was out of work for 2 months, and we are playing catch up. Almost there. I sleep like crap. Because he's not there to hold me. Or tell me it will be ok when the washer spews water all over the floor. Or calm me down after a particularly bad nightmare. But HE is happier, over all. YES, he misses us. But he feels better knowing that he is providing for his family in a way that wasn't a possibility before.

Wow, that's a book. Sorry. TL: DR--It's what you make of the opportunities YOU are given.

 

Personally I love trucking! Very rewarding career! My wife and I drove team for many years and even though we made incredible money the memories and adventures we are far more valuable then the money we made and will last forever!

I think part of getting all these negative responses is from drivers that are out there on the road and are stressed out. In this career you get no exercise and exercise lessens the stress. All this negativity you are hearing is truckers exercising through their mouth. Sounds funny but its gotta get out somehow right!?

Like any career you are going to have your good days and bad days and really good days and really bad days! In trucking when you have a really bad day you can't just go home and put it behind you. You are technically at work 24/7 averaging 4-6 weeks or more. When you do come home for a few days it really helps recharge the batteries and you will actually find yourself missing it and wanting to get back out there. Now that my wife and I are retired we both feel as if the rest of the country is going on without us out there.

Thank god for this website! At least keeps you up on the game!

 

Yes good point mate if nothing bad ever happened to us how would we ever learn anything? And how would we ever learn any qualities without trials of life?