More negative posts than positive

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Blue Goose, Dec 6, 2009.

  1. Blue Goose

    Blue Goose Bobtail Member

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    Dec 6, 2009
    Phoenix, AZ
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    Greetings everyone..
    I've been considering going into trucking for several years and my life is at a point where I can make a go of this. This list is very informative.
    But its obvious to me there are far more negative posts than positive ones. I consider myself a positive minded person, realistic expectations, and hard worker. My sense is that there are a lot more positive experiences out there, but those folks are not posting as much, maybe they're just out there enjoying life.
    Theres been a lot of talk about the bad economy and trucking. Reality is the economy is bad in many fields right now, and it will get better with time. I dont see that as a reason not to start on something that one really wants to do. We all start from exactly where we are in the environment that is as it is. In fact in many fields there is no job security at the moment (including mine which I've been in for the last 10 years and ready to make a change).

    So what I've learned from you folks is this:

    1-Dont sign up with a company school (Im not, Im going to community college)
    2-be prepared to have some grunt work/low pay/frustrations for at least a year
    3- after you have a year of experience with no accidents, tickets/ problems, more doors open up
    3-have a clean mvr, health/drug test/ect (I do)
    4-Take whatever a recruiter tells you with a big grain of salt
    5-Life is what YOU make of it.. there are people at Wally World (or whatever job) who are happy and those who are miserable, same for truckers.
    6- There is no crapper in a big rig...and our leaders are not the tooth fairy... duh!

    Appreciate any feedback...
    Drive safe!
    Respectfully...
    Goose in AZ
     
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  3. JustSonny

    JustSonny Big Dummy

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    Oct 22, 2009
    Troutman NC
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    Good afternoon Blue Goose,
    I'm a wannbe too and when I first joined the forum I noticed a lot of negative posts and threads. Soon enough, though, as I read more and more, I began to discover who the more positive posters are. Believe me, they are out there. It just takes more time to find them. Be aware that there are some really great guys/gals who will throw a negative spin on something just to make folks think. Now I have a better idea who to listen to and who to ignore. I zero in on the posts/threads authored by those I can rely on to "tell it like it is". BTW, many of the ones (members) I zero in on are wannabes and newbies.
    This forum has been a great source for information and entertainment for me. I just bet you'll find it that way too!
    Oldnew....
     
    simplyred1962 Thanks this.
  4. simplyred1962

    simplyred1962 Betty Boop, One Bodacious Babe!!!

    Yes, there ARE many negative posts here, but there are many MORE positive.

    As ONGonnabe stated, it just takes a bit of time to find them.

    Good luck, and keep up your positive attitudes, Blue Goose, and ONGonnabe!!

    Judi Kay
     
  5. jeepskate99

    jeepskate99 Road Train Member

    I think I have seen more negative than positive. Try to remember though, having all that time alone in a truck to stew over things makes you way more likely to post about bad stuff. Even more so than normal and it has been shown that people are 10 times more likely to ##### than praise.
     
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  6. John Miles

    John Miles Medium Load Member

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    Nov 14, 2009
    Monroe, NC
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    Blue Goose ... Yep ... you got a pretty good handle on what it is all about. As in any new job, the new guy ends up takin' the worst loads etc ... but this lasts only as long as it takes to prove to most that you are on the up and up and are going to be more than just another "90 day wonder".

    It can be done and you can do it ... just depends upon how much you want it and what you are willing to do to make your dream come true.

    Take your time, be careful, don't do anything you don't feel you are able to do, don't make an enemy out of a dispatcher (they can make your life miserable), use the4 community college system ... unless you are positive about something check with dispatch first ... just because you think they want it done a certain way don't mean that you are correct ... learn from your mistakes. The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything. If you are out here long enough ... you are gonna make a mistake ... use it as a learning tool.

    Love, Live & Laugh
    It's a short pony ride:biggrin_2559:
     
    simplyred1962 Thanks this.
  7. vinsanity

    vinsanity Road Train Member

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    Nov 23, 2009
    South Florida
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    As for negative posts, it's like that in any kind of forum. Complainers always seem to have more time on their hands. People who work hard and are successful don't have as much time to post.
     
  8. groundpounder

    groundpounder Road Train Member

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    Keep in mind that some of us have been out on the road a very long time and are passing along our bad experiences so that the n00bs know what to look for and avoid.....good luck with your new career..

    GP
     
    RACEFAN Thanks this.
  9. jtrnr1951

    jtrnr1951 Road Train Member

    And some folks like to paint a rosy picture all the time. Some, not all, of the negative post are THE COLD HARD TRUTH. Trucking is not all it's cracked up to be. Jump on in and find out. Good Luck Drivers, and future Drivers !!!
     
  10. JustSonny

    JustSonny Big Dummy

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    Oct 22, 2009
    Troutman NC
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    One thing I forgot to mention in my earlier post. When you're reading a post check out the number of times the poster has been thanked. It's right there in their profile. If the poster is worth their salt, and has been active in the forum, you can get a pretty good idea whether you should pay attention to them or not.
     
    david07003, phroziac and jtrnr1951 Thank this.
  11. tnoisaw

    tnoisaw Bobtail Member

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    Nov 16, 2009
    Port Orange, Fl
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    I take the negative with a grain of salt. I worked many jobs that others have hated that I enjoyed and vis-versa. I may go to a company for the reason of having employment when I get out of school and not hoping someone will hire me.

    I checked into the local community college and was discouraged by the length of time it takes. I can be earning a wage far sooner through a company program than a college. This is why I applied at Roehl yesterday. I will probably have to move to Iowa but that's ok, I grew up there.

    I've been scanning more post than reading when it comes to the negative ones. It just discourages people like me who are just getting their foot in the door.
     
    jtrnr1951 Thanks this.
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