The real reason so many new drivers don't last...

Randall · Dec 16, 2009

MrxBurrito said: ↑

This is an interesting thread, and I dont mean to interrupt the course of the thread but for some reason I decided this will be my starting point as to know if this could be something for me or not. I have not held a CDL in a few years and I have not been inside a cab for even more, nor ever have I worked OTR so I wouldn't know about this. But I would much rather look a the ugly first than listen to the promises of a recruiter from a CDL Mill.

So I am contemplating into getting into one of these schools and get my CDL and make this a career. And this thread is very discouraging for me to look at when I am trying to make of this a career. But at the same time I love it, honest people telling people like me (wannabe's) what its going to be like, and why most likely I will not make it. Im the kind of person that prefers an ugly truth before a pretty lie.

In my case, this will be a career change (obviously), a major one, but not the first one. So I went to college, got a degree, worked in my area for about 10 years and got tired of it. Plenty of BS, doing more that what I was getting paid for, etc. So we moved to Florida, Well, guess what; Florida is big time in customer support jobs, so that's were we ended up, working for the Mouse. Long hours, minimum pay, putting up with a-holes 110% of the time. I see my wife for 5 minutes twice a week due to our schedules. Life here is beautiful, I mean I work for the mouse, it cannot get any better(that's what some people actually feel about working for these company). So time went by, and its been 4 years.... Still long hours(not like you have a choice to decided if you want the OT or not), still see the wife twice a week for 5 minutes, and still earning minimum wage for the job that I have, Yes, I was upgraded, I have 3x times the responsibilities I had before and make 0.75cents more of what I made almost 4 years ago(so I make $30 more a week if I work 40hrs), working in an industry that its hurting like hell, in a state/area where the estimated per capita income is $20,000. Now take Fed tax out of that, and tax almost everything else at 7% and what you end up with is a $700/month rent over at "Crime Hills" and cabinets full of "Great Value Brand" products.

What I'm trying to say at least to me, even though this is meant to be a discouraging thread of why people should not get into the business or why is it going to most likely suck for a while, To me its more of a motivator. I might suck at it, I don't know yet. But it try to keep a positive attitude about things regardless of how bad they suck. I might not be cut for it, I don't know yet, I guess I will find out in the process. I'm not going to see my wife, well WTF, I haven't seen much of her in the past 4 years anyway what's another year or two of it (She's contemplating the possibility of teaming up depending on how this works).

So I guess, the question is, should I give this a try? I mean how bad can it be aside from what you guys mention here?

I respect and appreciate everything you guys do and comment, this country or any other will not run/operate without truck drivers.

Any input will be greatly appreciated.
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Go for it. Take the wife with you, never know, you both may love it.

Skunk_Truck_2590 · Dec 16, 2009

Well as I agree with the start of this post because I knew what it was like and knew everythign that was involved loooong before I ever got my CDL. Like stated, it's rarely the case but like Prime, wanted me to run 55 and get 6.25 mpg or better. Well I did as they asked and shifted the truck liked they asked but still wasn't doing any good. Knowing that they were getting ready to fire me over it I simply quit before they could so I wouldn't have anything bad on my DAC. Anything wrong with that?

Skunk_Truck_2590 · Dec 16, 2009

frdr said: ↑

The basics of employment is that you are trading your time and talent for money. My next point I want to make clear is I DON'T WORK FOR FREE! Why should I waste my valuable time with some jerk-wad trucking outfit, when there are so many other avenues of employment that pay better, have better benefits, home every night, etc. Think about all the down time in trucking you don't get paid for. It's frikkin' ridiculous. If you enjoy working for free, living in a metal box, and wasting your time and money to eat and shower at filthy truckstops, then go for it.
I DON'T WORK FOR FREE!
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Well, someone has to get the job done. From the sound's of it you don't have much respect for the other's who do so either and if that's the case then I will tell you just like all the other disrespectful ungrateful whinner's and go to another country to purchase all the every day to day thing's you need. Other wise don't b***h. I learned that the hard way. Every job you work will have some type of BS or another. Thing is, to find your flavor of BS and deal with it. I learned that from a veteran driver and that changed my whole point of view.

Ridgerunner665 · Dec 16, 2009

I never intended for my original post to be discouraging...just honest and no BS.

Having just finished off the VERY WORST day of my trucking career...I can honestly say, even after you've been around the block a few times...bad days will happen.

Like the old saying goes (from the movie "Rocky")...its not about how hard you can hit, its about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.

The only thing tougher than a trucker, is a truckers wife...

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