When is it time to say, "ENOUGH!"?

It doesnt help the new wannabe drivers when the commericials are on tv from sage driving school and then the college driving school commercials tell how its so glamorous to be a truck driver and how they can make so much money be your own boss and not work in a cubicle making someone else money, if they told the real picture of long hours driving dispatchers always holloring get here get there drive over hours then hours spent at shippers and recievers, bad roads in the winter putting chains on lousy food and always sleeping in a sleeper thats less than the size of the cubicle they work in and then make it clear they cant be drinking alcohol and driving a big truck just might paint a different picture for some of the new wannabe drivers. Yes it can be a good living for the people that are cut out to do it and want that kind of life but like working in an office or work as a radio dj or a factory worker its not for everyone as everyone has their own nitch in life and they know what career makes them happy but please research research to make sure if its for you or not.

 

This is a good thread,and I WAS gonna post something pertinent,but I am about to bake some chocolate chippers....Thanx All.....

 

please be sure to use plenty of these......

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You know, I've been out of the full-time driving for almost 10 years. Oh, I've made some trips now and then. Running a truck for my step-brother, hauling grain or moving trucks around for my brother, but, for just slightly more than 7 of those years, I've been an IT professional for a women's clothing company. The rest of it was as PC Tech for System Transport (was driving for them when I was injured) and as Ops Manager/Dispatch for a good friend of mine, managing his trucks.I keep my CDL current and I keep my skills honed. I got hurt (herniated disks in my lower back) and told myself it was for the best, a blessing in disguise, as I was getting out of the truck. I got remarried, had another child and have been doing the 8-5 family-man thing and it's been good. My wife and I are best friends and I'm closer to my children than I have ever been.

I'm coming back. Yep, I'm giving up my stable, benefited job and getting back to trucking.

The week before Christmas, my brother hit me up, needing my help. He had a load of cars he wanted delivered in the Midwest and a reload that he wanted to get back here before the holidays so he could spend them with his lady and kids. Of course I said yes. I was apprehensive about the trip. I had never been away from my wife and youngest daughter for more than a few days. I figured the trip would either:
A - Make me appreciate the fact that I didn't truck for a living, or:
B - Remind me of how much I loved it and missed it.

The trip was miserable.
It was freaking cold. 3° that cut through me due to the humidity.
Two big guys in the cab of a 2000 Pete with a 48" bunk. Talk about cramped. We are pretty much shoulder to shoulder when we're both up front.
I hadn't slept behind anyone in a loooong time (I was solo when I got out of the truck, although Jarrod and I had teamed quite a bit, back in the day), so sleep was difficult.
I'm out of shape and overweight (desk job) climbing all over that trailer was a bear for me.
Yessir, the trip was miserable.

I loved every second of it.
Option B, it was, then.

During that 7 day trip, I had a better attitude than I've had in the past 3 or 4 years. You almost couldn't piss me off if you tried. I was in my element. I was, once again, doing what I was meant to do. There was an indescribable feeling that came over me that I hadn't felt in a very long time. It was love. As stupid and corny as it sounds, that's the only way I can describe it. I absolutely love trucks and the environment they create. Their elements. It's like watching the opening sequence to Smokey and The Bandit where it's showing nothing but different elements of the truck as it fires up and the brakes are released and the old girl starts rolling down the road. It's all of it. There's a word for this that escapes me.

To be honest, I'm terrified in the decision I'm making. Is it going to work out? Am I going to fail? With the job I have now, the only real fear I have is a RIF (reduction in force - layoffs) which happens and has been happening around here, lately. Aside from that, I go to work Monday through Friday, weekends off, on-call once every few weeks, which amounts to very little. I get great bennies, I earn about 8 hours of PTO (paid time off) every pay period (two weeks) and I have dental, medical and vision which I pay around $40 a month for.

Whatever the outcome, I've got to do what I feel is right and this, I feel is right. Besides, the truck's already been bought and is sitting at the house. I believe in myself and I believe in my industry and another thing in my favor is that I'm not journeying into the unknown as many are when they break into this biz. I did 14 years pretty solid as an OTR driver and O/O and have kept my foot in it after getting out of the truck as a full-time driver, so I'm not blind as to what I'm getting into.

I guess the point of this long, drawn out post is to emphasize what others have said. You either are, or you aren't. If you find that you aren't, call it and move on to something else. Don't drag it out and gain a bad attitude as it reflects on the rest of us. We have a tough enough time overcoming the opinion the public and the feds have of us and being a s***head does nothing to help.


If you find that you are, embrace it and do your damndest to make a positive impact on the industry. We need all the help we can get.

Sorry for the long post.

 

Nice post Joetro.......but I think it coulda been longer...I'm not sure I understand exactly what you are saying....miserable and loving it.......pain and pleasure...sado masochist much............it's good to have you back among the moving Joe!!!

 

Thanks, Nik.




....Smarta**.

 

you know it sure is nice to be remembered....and accurately too

 

At the very end of your post Joetro,you said,"sorry for the long post"....are you kidding?-That was great man...Good Luck..