Maybe It's Just Not Your Gig

Briefly...it took me fully two years before I was totally convinced I could do this. I'm not naturally-gifted in a trucking sort of way. In fact, I come from a line of medical professionals and considered being a pharmacist. And sometimes when I'm backing, I STILL wonder if I can do it!

 

Not misleading at all IMHO; unless hand unloading 48' of non-palletized microwaves stacked floor to ceiling, nose to tail in July in South Louisiana isn't hard work for you. It sure as heck was for me. Or better yet, try telling a car hauler that their job isn't physically hard. I'm just sayin......

 

The one person you always have to count on is yourself(and your voices). My voices told me to get off the firetruck and move my family to Florida.. After almost dying from a MRSA infection from a patient(nice scar on my neck, back injury from a bus hitting my firetruck(now completely healed), contracting various illnesses from patients and realizing I had passed them to my cancer survivor wife AND my kids, I realized those were the voices of reason and experience. Now they are telling me to follow my dream of driving trucks. Hope their right about this one too.Respect for every man and woman who walks this world on their own feet, lives on their own terms and makes their own way. We all get to our rest soon enough. I've seen it MANY times so I know it's true.

 

Whoa, hold up here. You've got less than a year and you think you don't know enough?

Listen up, alot of us "old timers" are just as lost with all the newfangled computer run junk they're putting on trucks these days. Heck, it's getting so the freakin' mechanics have no idea what's going on. Nowadays you aren't as much mechanic as you are a Witch Doctor. I fully expect that soon a mechanic's toolbox will contain a wierd mask and a bone rattle and a list of prayers to the Truck Gods.

And what we do know we picked up over several years of hands on. That ain't happening anymore. Right now, you just need to know stuff like how to change out a headlight/taillight, what your guages mean.... stuff like that. You ain't gonna be required to do a roadside overhaul these days.

What you gotta do is learn to ask questions. There's no shame in it. Just the opposite, 'cause you're showing a desire to learn to be better at your job. That's the difference between a driver and a steering wheel holder.

But if you truly decide OTR is not your thing, take a good look around you. Like I keep preaching; OTR is not the Holy Grail of trucking. Indeed, for many it is the least desirable form of the job. There are hundreds of different things moved daily by dozens of sizes, shapes and configurations of trucks. You may be happier doing local, driving a 10 wheeler, or even a delivery van. There's no shame in any of it. You just have to figure out what best suits you.

So get your year in and start taking note of what's going on around you. Then at least you'll have better options.

And when you get as old and wise and downright Purty as me you can look back on this time with a smile.

 

Good post, and I don't want to derail this thread, but I have to ask Injun what year Harley that is? Mousetrap and everything!!!

(I had a 55 Pan in a straightleg 57 frame for years and years, went through all kinds of "upgrades" [mt eliminator, Sportster 12 volt generator, oil cooler, blah, blah blah.]

Carry on....

 

If you see this dude pop out from under the truck watch out.

 

HEY!!!! Dat be de bes Volvo mechanic in de country mon.

 

Actually I am expected to know what is wrong and how to fix on the side of the road. Or at least how to fix well enough to keep running. (N***er rigging is a rude term, but is what I'm expected to know how to do). All the drivers here are expected to be able to work on their truck to keep them running, and to do their best to keep from having to order any parts. At one point within my first six months, was told I would have to learn how to change and fix my own tires. (I weight around 100lbs, no way can I operate the air wrench) The other drivers here can, and have done before, and have been drivers for many years.

Learn to ask questions? I have asked and asked, I get told I don't need to know, or that I should know by now. I have asked enough questions in the first 3 months I was told to stop asking and bugging everyone. "Just figure it out. It doesn't matter. No one cares". I get chewed, yelled at, or totally ignored for asking now. The equipment here is old and poorly maintained, in most the trucks some of the gauges don't even work. I just supposed to know by engine and pump sound, and how it responds if something is wrong. If I do have a gauge issue, warning light, or something sounds wrong to me; I am told to ignore it, the truck still running, it's fine. example: When I complained last Feb about no heat in the truck I was in that day, took the job I was assigned but asked for it to be put on repair board to fix the heater, was 33F for a high temp that day, I was told "cowboy up". (is an example in another thread about breaks and air loss, I told to just stop using the breaks. several months later, air loss not fixed, and has gotten worse to the point it will not pass a roadside DOT stop inspection. I'm told truck runs, don't use the breaks, just figure it out, but don't be a road hazard driving slower) Yes, I signed on with a local bottom feeder. I thought; at least had a job, my foot in the door of the industry, just do my time, learn all I can, try as hard as I can, and I'd be ok.

I do not do OTR, I drive local oil and gas field hauling water and produced water. I'm not against OTR; just I was offered this job, and all the OTR companies I got offers from out of school wanted an address, and at the time I was homeless. Now I'm told since I took local job and has been over 6 months here, I'd have to redo school, or find O/O to take me on to teach me, or an OTR company wont hire me. I haven't been able to find anyone willing to teach me that doesn't have "special rules" for his truck. (bunk warmer & seat cover, not team driving. Or wont pay me, I drive for experience not income. neither sounds very appealing. I need some income of some kind, "for trade" doesn't pay my bills or feed me.)

This is the only company in the small town I live in currently. I doubt they will be able to stay open here much longer, so the idea of getting on my feet so I could get transportation to look elsewhere is out the window. I really wanted to be a driver. and I really wanted to be good at it. When I got on here hauling water for oil field and realized how much easier it was than I thought it would be, I thought if I could just get it figured out I'd have it made (not that many chic tankers in oil and gas field. I thought would make a company look good to have a chic willing to work and try to do her best.) but it didn't work out. I'll be honest, is another thread about oil field jobs in Texas I was seriously looking into, but I cannot figure out a way to get there to try for work.
I failed and am totally heartbroken. Nothing I can do now but accept it. I'm trying to take out a loan on my non-running pickup to pay off my student loan for CDL school, hopefully will get pickup sold to pay off the note. (have had pickup for sale for 2 months now, no hits) I'm one of the many who didn't make it. No matter how hard I try, I guess I'm not cut out for it. Just another statistic. I don't think this company going to be open another 2 weeks, much less the 2 more months I need to make my first year. since I'm stuck in small town, middle of no where, southwest Kansas without transportation, it doesn't really matter if I have 9 months or a full year. I honestly don't see any options.

sorry this turned into a bit of a rant. I know I am losing my job soon, and I'm very upset. I didn't learn what I needed to, did not get back on my feet to try to start over. I soon will be homeless again, and I understand totally why a company would shy away from someone who does not have an address. I also understand why an OTR would shy away from someone who only has local experience (we get away with things OTR cannot, and some develop bad habits). I also understand much better now the stereo type of drivers, that before I never believed to be totally accurate. In the area I'm in, the people I've talked to and work with trying to find solution so I can keep driving; the stereo type is more accurate than not. (which makes me want to cry)
thanks for reading and letting me vent. the boards here have been great. most y'all are great people. I wish it had worked out for me, but I don't see it happening when I lose my job here.
hugs, be safe and take care everyone!

 

Well ####. Sorry I wasn't here to answer, just got back home frm the road.

First off, none of this is your fault. You got stuck with a bunch of low end losers. Been there, got the scars. When I left, I picked the biggest SOB there and taught him not to f--- with crazy people.

#1, you need to get yourself outa there. I mean the whole place. This place is gonna be disaster for you. Not worth it.

I've been told my whole life that I was less than everybody else, couldn't do anything right, didn't belong. Guess what, I'm still here and doing just fine thanks. You can do the same. Other people's opinions don't matter squat in the whole of it. You only lose when you quit trying. I know that sounds trite but it's the truth. Been proven over and over by people in worse circumstances than either of us.

But don't let anyone suck you into the criminal side of things. That's for the stupid people. Ain't nobody there cool or wise. Even at the top they live in fear of everyone around them. Idiots, all of them.

Nuhuh, you're gonna make it. Fight for what you want. You'll take lumps along the way and they'll hurt but lumps fade and go away. I ain't much in what the world looks at as successful. No big riches and all. But I have got what I value most. That's winners in my book.