The Positive Sides Of Trucking

I'll you guys one thing...I've been retired since 2011 , and I've enjoyed every single minute of it. But if I had to make the same choices all over again tomorrow that got me to retirement , I would not change a thing. I worked for the same company (GSF) for over 30 years , and when I did park my truck after the last route I ran for them I went inside to be greeted by not just my boss , but my family , and every driver that could have been there to wish me well. Trucking was very , very , very good to me , gave me a much better than average income , great benefits , great retirement , and allowed my wife to be a stay at home Mom til our boys started college....I only wish the new guys could have the same end result.

 

Finding the "good side" takes a little work and time in, IMO...It took me 2yrs to find the right open doors that allowed me to make the right money AND be home a couple of nights a week as well as every weekend with a terminal within 15m of home...I am completely satisfied with my current job and it would take a lot to get me to change...Good company(60-65 trucks), good pay(always ontime and NO penny pinching), good shop(no delays, if so, they'll have you another truck, or if on road, a rental ASAP and back rolling), more miles than anyone can drive available(I've avg'd 16,000m/mth since I've been with them), truck governed at 77 and all the home time I want...That's my version of "the good side"...It took time to find, but now that I have, it's smooth sailing until they go under or I retire, whichever comes first...

 

Wow, something positive for a change. Thank You

It's threads like this that make me even more eager to get out there.

Just one more week of school.....

 

It's a good living. That's number 1, 2, and 3. For the amount of formal schooling and training you are required to have the pay is excellent. Does the pay match up with the amount of risk you take on? In my mind, no. But it's ###### good money.


Hrm, I'll let others tell you about the lure of the open road and stuff like that...

 

Just got back to the motel. I went to the mom and pop truckstop next door to get some food and they had a live band playing. Had my boots on and some lady wanted a partner to two step with. They had buffalo on the menu (good stuff!), so I am feeling good. Getting ready to pop open a bottle of wine (wish I had some cheese) and watch a little TV, if there's anything on. Life is good.

 

good for you for giving some positive advise and direction. I try to do it but my English not so great and too many trucker on here r making fun of my English. God bless them.

 

I like not just the scenery - but the fact the I have variety when in comes to lot lizards! One day it's the white trash meth head from Kentucky - while another it's the black ghetto fabulous chick from Detroit; or the Mexican latina from Laredo.

I do hear variety is the spice of life!

 

For me, a classroom does not come close to the the history that can be learned out on the road when running all 48. Each city and state has something new to learn about every time I visit one of them. You do have to take the time to talk to them, but a lot can be learned, and it makes you feel proud to be an American.