My impressions of drivers from being on this board 2 months

Your post reminded me of a joke that somebody either emailed me or posted on one of the college football forums. Here it is:

An honest man was being tailgated by a stressed-out woman on a busy boulevard. Suddenly, the light turned yellow, just in front of him.

He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection.

The tailgating woman hit the roof--and the horn--screaming in frustration as she missed her chance to get through the intersection. As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up. He took her to the police station where she was searched, finger printed, photographed and placed in a holding cell.

After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects.

He said, "I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him. I noticed the 'Choose Life' license plate holder, the 'What Would Jesus Do' bumper sticker, the 'Follow Me to Sunday School' bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk. Naturally, I assumed you had stolen the car."

 

I have been on this site a lot in the past month and I LOVE reading the posts. Some people are harsh, but the majority are very kind and helpful. I like reading the stories here and I like the people here. If/when I get to driving, I think this site will be VERY helpful to me. It has already. I just hope this site reflects the rest of truck driving community. Thank you all that visit and comment on this site and especially the moderators, they are very fair and observant.

 

For one thing, I haven't figured you out yet Endzone...if you are just an Intenet troll, looking for some good arguments, and/or just enjoy insulting others (at no risk to yourself since this is mostly anonymous on forums). Or if you are a "student of people" just trying to get some inside information on a "group" of people.

You did make one intriguing statement in your opening post. The one about the newbies or wannabes just asking questions and "seem better able to communicate" with "normal" people. In this statement (or following...maybe preceding it), you indicate that the "truckers" are (to use my terminology) defensive and can't handle others disagreeing with what they say. It occurred to me, that you tend to lump all CDL holders in ONE LARGE GROUP, no matter the experience level (time at the wheel) or experiences "survived". In my years, I have found several groups, and I tend to group people (posters) on this forum in these categories:

1. Absolute Zero; individuals that have no concept, experience, or curiosity about a Professional Driver, quick to "blame" all the ills of the roadway on truckers.

2. Considering the business due to no other employment options; these people have a negative attitude going in and very little will, or can, change this negative concept, along with, the attitude gets "saltier" as the weeks go by.

3. Considering the business as a "second" or "final" career; these people have led a "complete" life, retired from one or two career fields, (military retirement, then private sector for many years) and are looking for a new career, with lesser demands (financially and/or responsibility) and tend to want to "see the country". Almost an income producing tour of America.

4. The newbie/wannabe that has a family background in trucking; the next generation of the family that has Dad or Grand-dad currently or was a Professional Driver.

5. The "Greenhorn"; less than 3 years experience driving big rigs.

6. The "Interloper"; greater than 3 but less than 10 years experience.

7. The "Experienced"; greater than 10 years experience.

8. The "Used to was"; retired or just got out of driving. and consider the length of time in the industry, along with the positions experienced in the industry, not necessarily only driving.

Now there are categories that fill the system with different "takes" on our industry, that aren't the "driving types":

1. The "spouse or significant other" of a driver; this group can have "the other half" filed into one or several of the above mentioned "driver categories".

2. The ones who are "in the industry" but not drivers; could be owners, DM's, and even Recruiters.

3. Younger children; these are the children who are using forums to "follow and communicate" with Mom, Dad, and even Grand-dad who is a Professional Driver.

So with such "variety" and obvious differences in background, attitude, and especially experience in this industry, how can anyone "group" so much diversity into one or two "groups"? When reading a post, or a group of posts from any individual, a reader should first look up in the personal history box (upper right corner) of the poster and consider the information presented from an overall experience level. To often, our society "cubby holes", and/or "stereotypes" an individual by speech patterns, appearance, job status, political choice, gender, and hundreds of other "monikers" of life experience...and offers little, if any, allowances for finding the reasons the person thinks or acts the way they do.

Endzone, you have entered this arena of truckers and others, by "enticing" if not "attacking" our industries actors, claiming or "inferring" our members of "stupidity", "uneducated", and just all around clowns (to coin a phrase), and in return you haven't offered (except AFTER receiving rebuke from our members) any reasons why you have "come after" our members. Past tense redirection of claims to smugly hide a possible "contempt" for our members and our industry. And in each new thread, have attempted to return to the first threads and the "direction" of that thread.

Why don't you find out for yourself by getting your CDL...yes ANYBODY can do it...and experiencing OUR WORLD from within...now wouldn't that be a hoot?!

 

I don't think I've done that. And I'm not impressed by intelligence. I think it's way over rated. But I don't pride myself on being dumb either.

Your very last paragraph was worth reading. I guess for the first time in my life I have a certain fear of failure regarding getting a CDL. I've been an electronics technician all my life, but most all electronics manufacturing has disappeared except federal/military jobs making gear for the US government. I have had some sickness this past year. When I was in my 20s, 30s, 40s, I could do anything. I was very strong. So I'm still just kind of hanging out wondering if I have what it takes in spite of my issues.

 

An elderly couple went in together for their annual medical examinations. After examining the man, the doctor then said, "You appear to be in good health."Do you have any medical concerns that you would like to ask me?"

"In fact, I do," said the old man. "After I have sex with my wife the first time, I am usually hot and sweaty, and then, after I have sex with my wife the second time, I'm usually cold and chilly."

After examining the elderly lady, the doctor said: "Everything appears to be fine. "Do you have any medical concerns that you would like to discuss with me?"

The wife replied that she had no questions or concerns. The doctor then replied: "Your husband has an unusual concern. He claims that he is usually hot and sweaty after having sex the first time with you and then cold and chilly after the second time. Do you have any idea why?"

"Oh that crazy old goat!" she replied. "That's because the first time is usually in July and the second time is usually in December.

 

Would this be a tough manuever for a newbie? This is at the Sears Parts & Service right next to the monthly hotel where I am staying in Ft. Worth. The guy in the yellow truck has to put his truck in the spot where the Old Dominion truck is. Here's the sequence of pictures. He did it the first time.

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Simple, basic, "sight side" maneuver! Especially with a day cab...(no sleeper)...but even with a sleeper...there appears to be plenty of room to do the back to the dock!

 

What are the jokes and photos all about? Trying to make amends after insulting quite a few people?
Ya know, at least I tell people that I'm under a rock or a log. I don't try to hide it.
I know as well I'm not the only one here that see's your feeble attempt at being accepted. My suggestion? Just go away, but stay out from under my rocks and logs.

 

No sir, I'm not trying to make amends for anything. And I don't believe I've insulted anyone. If anyone has been offended or insulted, then that is on them. I can not control what people allow themselves to get offended by especially when no offense was intended. Your flesh loves to get offended though, and you can find the most harmless of statements to get offended by. So, I'm sorry to say you will have to take responsibility for allowing yourself to be insulted.

What are the jokes and photos about? Oh, I just think it makes this board more interesting, and I like to take pictures and post them. And I think the jokes are good clean fun that can kind of lighten the mood.

 

Well, you make it sound pretty routine and easy. Do you think most all newbies coming out of school could do it like that the first time?