The few guys that got..."lucky"

It's not what you know, but who you blow.

There were a couple of kids that got into concrete at our teamster shop with 0 experience because they were management's kids or friends.

They were terrible as well. Made God only knows how many dollars worth of mistakes / accidents.

Management covered their ##### though. But they never would have stood on their own two feet.

Everyone else had to have 3 years OTR or local with a clean record to get in.

 

What six said... plus be patient and keep emotion out of it.

 

Well if you want to know what it is all about from a fleet owner's perspective, there is a real shortage of experience and worthwhile professionals in this industry.

Most of the drivers out on the road are crap drivers, these are both four wheelers (where truckers come from) and truck drivers themselves.

Crap drivers are what we all put up with when we have people cutting others off, not being aware of what's going on around them and being distracted with crap that doesn't belong in the cab of a car or truck.

Those who come with bad habits in a car, they stay with them in a truck, there are very few exceptions to this fact. Most here will disagree but hell, just look at the threads about tickets and driving, people think this is a game, when it isn't.

If you want to learn the skill, then you do the time.

If you just want a job then you won't ever be a good driver, this is the philosophy of many owners like me who go through 20 or 30 apps just to find one guy to interview.

 

Well said as usual especially the part about having never done anything difficult.

 

Huge amount of truth here, unfortunately we’re a dying breed.

 

I agree with you, that’s why I think the guys who felt “called” to trucking so to speak are better than those that are out of options. Part of my hatred of megas is the reduction to the lowest common denominator they cause. We have a couple problems to deal with, a lot of qualified drivers want nothing to do with the industry because of pay and treatment and we honestly are going to be hurting in the future. I figure the plan will be import immigrants which will not help things. The whole thing is a mess.

 

If you want gravy go to a diner.

I'm in a teamster shop. 100% company paid insurance for me and my family, company funded pension, OT, double time on holidays. Does that sound gravy? From now until October ish...I'll be working 70 hours a week.

I would suggest a different line of work.

 

Its all about passion. If you just want a paycheque, you'll be mediocre at best at any career you choose. I haven't had a tractor trailer on the road in over 5 years but every time I hop in one of our trucks to move it around the yard it takes a lot of self control to not take it for a cruise across town and back lol.

 

That is largely a matter of your area, trucking companies/freight in the area, shortage of drivers in your region. Almost everywhere has dump truck, ready-mix construction delivery, trash hauling, propane delivery, fuel hauling, food & beverage delivery. Those are usually jobs where you are home daily.

The bigger cities have all of the above plus general & dedicated freight, some of which can be home daily.

Sometimes jobs where you are home daily pay less than OTR, sometimes more. Often you arenpaid hourly, sometimes by the load.

You havebto weigh how much time/money is enough to be gone or not be gone. Drivers with experience get many of the best jobs because they have a proven record. These days you can't be sure a newbie will show up for day #2, he stubbed his toe or a new Star Wars movie is coming out.

 

(LUCKY) Well if you call being FORCED to drive an old split shift Mack truck as a young teen with a father punching me when I messed up with gear selections and clutch use (and none use) then I guess I am lucky. If you call me (lucky) because I spent the majority of my early years without a father while mine was (on a trip) then yes you can call me lucky. Be careful son how you throw that word around! Us (lucky) ones most of the time were jamming gears very early on. You think it is tough leaning how to operate a non synchronized transmission at 20 or 25 years old! Try doing it at 12 or 14 or in some cases even younger! Yes you touched an open nerve with me.