Opinion needed....

My PERSONAL opinion.... the truck I'm driving now is much better than the one I first drove in 2004. It's got more power, rides better and has more creature comforts.

What I don't care for is the much higher fuel prices and more pending government intervention.

 

Would you like that sugar coated or right between the eye's? Welcome to the forum.

 

Well, the driver comforts have improved greatly. Power steering, AC, APUs, nice riding cabs, GREAT sleepers,more power from engines,cruise control,MUCH better roads,NICE truck stops, cell phones,inverters, satellite communications, fax machines, and computers have helped in a lot of ways. All have made a drivers job easier.But some of those items have created a new set of problems.
The equipment has gotten longer, heavier, and wider.More technology in the cab demands more drivers attention away from watching the road. This can mean harder to control and stop at times. That translates into safety problems. And the more bad wrecks we have, the worse our public relations problem gets.
To me, there have been more changes to the bad than to the good. In my opinon,we have lost a lot of the respect we held 20+ years ago.Respect from both ourselves, and from the public. And Washington D.C. ain't helping any.
I used to enjoy walking up to a group of drivers, and entering a conversation with them. We would B>S> about everything,in a civil way, and enjoy each others company. Nowadays too many drivers will argue,curse, have bad attitudes, and generally be unfriendly. I can see why we lost the public's admiration from years ago.
Companies are under tremendous pressure to move freight cheaper, and quicker. That sometimes impossible task makes it rough on the gear jammer.But we keep trying. The freight rates have generally not risen in relation to the cost of operating a truck. That is really rough on us O/Operators.
Some dipatchers have never been on the road, and have little consideration for the pitfalls we face daily. Used to be all dispatchers had driving time.
In years past if a Law Enforcement Officer stopped you, you respected each other, took care of business, and all was well.Today there are too many local laws that can be applied to "those big trucks". Now, if stopped, you fear the officer will throw the book at you, and with CSA 2010, that can ruin your day.Not to mention cost you $$$, and your job.
Way too much traffic on the roads, and some ignorant drivers who are inconsiderate and dangerous behind the wheel. 4 wheelers just do not understand about trucks anymore.
Too many CDL's are being issued to steering wheel holders, not truckers. I am amazed at what these driving schools are allowing to graduate. Some of the new drivers will get better with experience, and some are just too dumb to be hauling freight.
Shippers, receivers and warehouse personell, have, in places, become unbearable. Some of these people are un-caring about truckers, and some are jealous of our jobs. Makes our job much more difficult. Used to be we all worked together to make sure the job got done.Now the vultures sees us as a dollar sign.
Most of our problems are just part of trucking.No answers to the problems, no corrections available, just try to make the best of it.
To sum it up, I think our equipment has vastly improved, our job easier in most aspects, but the people we come in contact with [ to include other drivers ] have become much harder to deal with.That makes trucking not as much fun, but we have always low man on the totem pole.

WE HAVE SEEN THE ENEMY, AND IT IS OURSELVES

 

Boy howdy are you beating that beehive with a stick.

Personally, IMHO. Grears and Jbat are correct. The trucks are nicer in most ways, and the environment that most drivers find themselves in has gotten worse. Primarily due to the drivers themselves.

 

"some ignorant drivers " is the only thing I dissagree with......LOL

SheepDog

 

You know, I should probably re-word the statement " too dumb to be hauling freight" in my post above. Most of the hands I am referring to would be better described as " not meant to be a trucker'. A few are dumb, but most are just not driver material, and never will be. They just see a possible paycheck.