Professional Drivers are they history ?

Reading posts from people like ampm wayne really helps to remind me that there are good and intelligent people in trucking still. It's getting harder and harder top to bottom to see that good solid people that are in this industry for the RIGHT reasons do exist.
I made alot of sacrifices and took some big chances to become a part of this industry. I did it because I grew up around it and had a love for it that dated back to being a small child. I put up with an awful lot and had some really scary times but, it all paid off as I am where I want to be in my career.
None of it comes easy but, if you have your head on straight and are realistic about what you are undertaking you can do well in this industry.

 

It takes a lot more than that . Good drivers are losing their jobs for no good reason . Too many carriers have no concern for their drivers . Lay off a guy with full benefits , hire a newbie , then abuse him so he quits before he's eligible for insurance , vacation , and his 401K is vested . There are real good jobs and real lousy jobs . There seems to be no middle ground .

 

I was thinking about this subject the other day, why is it that one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch, But nobody notices one shinning apple?

 

Yea thats life. Lots of people all over the world lose their jobs for no reason. Japan and many others tried the cradle to grave employment scheme and it failed. Why do some feel their needs to be some egregious reason for someone to lose a job?

I agree drivers due to false advertising and boneheads in orientation have been given this sense that a company will care about them more then as the cost of a tool to get the job done. But why do some drivers need all this love? I show up for work and I get paid after I complete the job. I expect no more or less and could care less if the company cares for me outside of making the workplace safe and paying me what they owe. If you need more caring then that? I would suggest a career in social work.


Drivers are treated better now then when I started. But are micromanaged more. But most occupations not requiring a degree don't pay you what you can make as a OTR truck driver. So in my mind they care even less.

 

I don't believe professional drivers will ever be history. Unfortunately they seem to be more and more of a rare breed right now. In time, the economy will improve, the industry will improve, and the cream will once again rise to the top.

As for mega carriers, it seems they have a few professional drivers, many pro-drivers-in-training, and an excess of transient truckers.

 

professional drivers should present themsleves in a professional manner.
Tuck that shirt in, lose the gym shorts, baggy pants, shower often, comb the hair. Wear shoes/ boots not flip flops into the custermer. Say Thank You, Yes Sir, No Ma'am, please. Drive like a professional.
If your a company driver, try to wear a nice clean company shirt.
After all youra representive for the company.
Treat people the way you want to be treated.

 

Going to a driving school does not make you a professional driver!
Wearing a boyscout shirt like vet SNI do does not make you a pro driver.

skibum_63 ---professional drivers should present themsleves in a professional manner. Tuck that shirt in, lose the gym shorts, baggy pants, shower often, comb the hair. Wear shoes/ boots not flip flops into the custermer. Say Thank You, Yes Sir, No Ma'am, please. Drive like a professional.

Sorry, Let me put it this way, I do not care how many coats of paint/graphics and crome you apply on a truck to make it "look" sharp, if it does not have good performance under the hood(in the head), then it is not a good truck. May look professional, but does NOT make it professional!

I feel a big part of being professional driver is experience. Experience creates knowledge. Knowledge is then applied to your decision making and gives you better choices based on more information. Knowing what to do any certain situations, and knowing not to make poor choices. You will be in a constant state of learning. Its a basic skill that can't be taught. Its called THINKING. Idiots can not be professional drivers. PERIOD! A newbie thrown into the hells of the highway is bound to make mistakes by poor choices. But what about a guy who has been on the road 15-20 years and is making newbie mistakes. Then something is wrong! He is an idiot that is not learning from mistakes.

Another part is road courtesy. Some of this is old school and you learn from the old drivers.
When being passed and you signal to let the other driver know he can move back over...DO NOT FLASH YOUR HI-BEAMS!!

With more trucks governed at around 60-65 MPH , and you find yourself in a drag race with another truck. Both going about the same speed, blocking both lanes and can't get enough speed to pass each other. Kick out the cruz control and drop back a little, let him get in fromt of you and not block up traffic.

Know when it is right to park it for the day when fatigue sets in or weather gets bad. Don't be an idiot! Take notice in a snowstorm when all other drivers are moving slow and easy in the right lane, don't go balls to the wall in the hammer lane.


Whats ,makes a professional driver, the ability to think!!!

 

respect does'nt pay the bills,and they know it.Have any of you seen our economy,there are no local jobs at all,and in less you want to live on unemployment,you do what you have to.That sometimes means working for a company you would not normally work for to survive.Right now it's about feeding your kids,not your pride.Good luck,and god bless.

 

amen,

and to this I add....


How to gauge the respect you receive from your company

1. How big is my paycheck?
2. How well maintained is my equipment?
3. How often do I get asked to do something shady?
4. How often am I home?
5. How am I talked to?

You can keep all the rewards and little stickers for the side of my truck, I don't want them or need them. Ask yourself the above 5 questions. If the answers are, in order, small/bad/often/never/bad then one of three things is wrong

1. Your company sucks
2. You suck as a driver and your company doesn't care about u
3. both 1 and 2

Now if the answers to the 5 questions are, in order, big/well/never/often/civil then congrats, you found a home, don't look for greener grass.


You notice i didn't say anything about miles, where i like to run, how hard i work, etc. If those things are more important then the first 5 questions may I suggest a package check, cause some drivers need to man up and stop whining like lil #$%##$#!

 

I believe if one is a mature adult, those two things should be synonymous.