What Gives?

I am led to believe.....you are a lousy shot with those hollow point Q-tips....especially at close range!

 

The CDL school I attended required that I get a minimum of 3 prehire letters before they'd let me start school. Yup, I know they don't mean squat about having a job, but the point was to make sure that their students would be at least minimally employable before shelling out money.

Job of last resort? Nah! That'd be cleaning the urinals at the truckstop! :smt078

 

The ones that I don't understand, are the older, supposed "mature" folks who have retired from something else, then want to start trucking because they think it is a "paid vacation." They have the idea that they are going to be doing nothing but drive around the country, seeing the sights.

 

KJ4, I did not aim that post at you or anyone else in particular. But we have certainly seen enough folks come on here asking about trucking, and they obviously were thinking it would be a paid vacation. THAT IS WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND. People who are supposedly intelligent and mature who have gotten hooked on all those trucking shows and movies.

I fully understand where YOU are coming from, and there is nothing wrong with it. FWIW, trucking was a career for me after retiring from another one. But I had no illusions about it being a paid vacation.

Again, my response was not directed at you, but just a general comment. You will see a lot of that on this forum.

 

KJ4 you have a good understanding on what it takes but most do not take the time to learn. They read the advertisements or see the commericals on TV and they believe they can make 50K to 60K right off the start. They are the ones that do no research and sign all the contracts not knowing that their record will keep them from employment. They are to blame but I believe they do not hold all the blame. The schools should start right then and there explaining what will happen but they don't. The schools want their money and they could care less if they produce a truck driver. Their goal is to get a student their CDL and that's it. It should be criminal on their part and I know I would never associate my name will such a shady operation. So right from the start research is required to find the better schools that do take the time to inform the students. The people you speak of couldn't be bothered with such extra work on their part.

 

The average truckstop is full of drivers that could be Jerry Springer's best guests. Most of the newer drivers are here because they were promised an opportunity caused by a driver shortage. An artificially manufactured driver shortage. Driving schools and headhunters are opportunists, they put food on the table by servicing the "Driver Shortage". A "shortage of qualified drivers" is good for everyone (except drivers). Uncle Slam gets to regulate and control it. Trucking companies get waves and waves of cheap labor- skinny, hungry YES men to do what the corporation wants them to. Lots of bonuses for headhunters, lots of recruits for schools at thousands of dollars a pop, lots of accidents and property damage from inexperienced drivers to justify more regulation and taxes. More money for cash strapped states, counties and municipalities in fines from NooB's who haven't learned how to avoid truck restrictions and tricky compliance traps.

Don't think there are too many drivers? Explain how the newer O/O's are making LESS money than last year. The new contracts are so complicated that the average driver can't tell how much money he'll make until he takes it home. Companies LOVE O/O's. Without them there is no one to sell products and services to, that's where the Mega-Carriers make the best profits. And- lucky for them- there are so many people wanting to be O/O's that they don't care if they sell services and products to you or to your replacement. In fact, they can profit on turnover. We all know how many times a lease-purchase truck gets sold.

This job ain't what it used to be, it ain't what it appears to be and it ain't glorious.

 

I'd say part of the reason why I chose to go back to OTR is the economy and lack of local jobs. It does suck at times, being away for so long (it'll be 6 weeks when I finally get home) and there are always issues arising with "lack of freight." I like driving out here, but like I keep telling my company...I'm here to drive, not sit!

 

I know im a newbie and all but i gotta say, I hate how alot of people these days look at trucking like its some scum bag job or something. I was talking to a driver yesterday and he was telling me how people use to be like wow your a driver thats cool. Now people act like ur a janitor for mcdonalds. Even though i havent drove a truck personally i have done alot of research and i have physically talked to drivers that have over 30 yrs experience and if they were able to feed there family and pay there bills and retire at 65 then theres no reason i cant do it. Im 26 years old prior military and i kept my nose clean for a reason. I have a clean record and have just got in a position where in the near future ill have to start a career so i can be sure my bills get paid and my family eats. It is not rocket science that if you dont have a clean spotless record that your gonna have a hard time if at all be a trucker. Its common sence that when starting out your gonna have to try and get hired on to any company even if you only have bad options. Its common sence that when your a rookie your gonna have to take those ####y loads with a smile on your face and show some respect even to the people that screw you over with those crappy loads(what the hell else would a rookie expect). I know trucking is no dream job but #### for us knew guys you should already know if you just be safe smart and keep your record clean as well as take any load you can and show these other drivers/dispatchers some respect that you can become a good driver and you can make a nice living. You might not see your family much but if you try hard enough you might be able to give them a future so they can have better. OK im done ranting and once again i know im a newbie, but i will not be a newbie forever and i will make a nice living driving a truck i will bet on that.