Why are there so many cry babies out here? Can't you read?

I think that this entire post should be put up as a sticky thread! This entire post is 1000% correct. Kinda like cliff notes

 

i like this thread so much im going to drop a link to it in my signature

 

Sounds fun, now if only my graduation date could get here so I can get the ball rolling!!

 

Who's the best company to start with???

JUST KIDDING!

 

Eh in a sense. I listed those because I see a lot of people talking about making a "career" out of trucking and giving reasons a,b, and c. But you are correct many see $900/week and say oh that's great...not when your working 80 hours a week. I could say they may truly want a career in trucking but just don't understand it that being the reason they don't last. I see a lot on the forum about complaining about the mega carriers and how horrible they are ad that leads back to what you are saying about point b. I have made MANY mistakes in life and learned to research before doing something. I'd rather spend hours beind a computer and make the right decision than do something stupid and make a mistake. There are some exceptions, variables, etc etc but that's for a new thread. I see complaining about cdl mills for schools, me gas with turnover rates above 100% etc etc. Its all a crock in my book. For the cdl mills that don't give proper training nobody is putting a gun to your head forcing you to stay at that school. You should know after the first couple days just talking to an instructor if its reputable and you will receive the training you need. As for the mega carriers there isn't really a good option there its 6 of 1 half a dozen of the other with them from what I have read. The funniest complaints are lease drivers, or their wives who get on here and blog about how bad the lease purchase is and how they're going broke or went broke. I can't help but laugh at some of them I have read. Don't get me wrong I feel bad for what happened but they tell you in school DO NOT LEASE! its all over the forum DO NOT LEASE!!! its all over Google DO NOT LEASE!!! yet it still happens in that situation you have nobody to blame but yourself. I see excuses like "I was going to have to wait a week for a truck etc" so you sign a 1 sided lease so and put yourself in more financial hardships. I just don't understand it. It is what it is. There's always going to be people who sign up complain and then quit. It will never change been that way for 30 some years. I was lucky enough to spend my whole life around trucking before getting my cdl and know what to expect even then I have to say some things have been surprising never have I seen over the 3 years watching a load board rates go from 2.15/mile down to 1.35/mile in 6 months. Even a year ago when I started I've seen a change in drivers. When I used to fuel I could strike up a conversation with the driver next to me. Now I'm lucky if they say hi. Used to be able to talk to drivers if you needed some help with something now if they're not an o/o they justlook at you like sucks to be you. Although I will say there are some ######## o/o's out there as well. Had one driver bad mouthing another owner op at a place where I picked up one day. Didn't know the situation at all but he was bad mouthing somebody and ######## about everything under the sun. How this sucked how that sucked how he hosted this how he hated that how all these young drivers and their chicken lights chrome and how much it costs to maintain all that stuff and how were idiots. I live with a 30 year veteran company driver who is also my business partner he believes everything everybody tells him, why I have no clue but I believe its because he's stuck in the 70s where it was a handshake and you could trust people. To this day I listen to him complain about how this should be and how that should be. He is complaining about his rate on the load that's on his trailer and how if he has to take it some place else he should get paid more. Sorry he shouldve dumped the fricken load or called his dispatcher right away before leaving where he picked the load up. She even asked me when I warned her this load would probably get refused why they loaded it? Because the elevator wants to get rid of last years wheat and they don't care. I'm more furious with the fact that I have to babysit a 30 year veteran driver. Shed been dispatching for 15 years for a hopper and didn't know they do that all the time? So now I'm caught between listening to her complain they loaded it, him complain about a rate and getting paid to take it someplace else, all because people aren't smart enough to call when there's a problem. This industry has problems all around that will never be fixed. Until everybody works together (which will never happen) it won't change. I don't see anything changing for the better anytime soon so its just keep moving day to day...now that I have rambled on and on for what seems like an hour probably pissed and probably made absolutely no sense because I'm completely shot my butts going to bed. That's my views on the matter tho they probably made no sense.

 

The last company i drove for the owner said the same thing "drivers are a dime a dozen" after i quit and three of the better drivers out of 6 trucks quit ,he had an add in the newspaper every week for five years until he went out of business.

 

LOL, you did alright

It's interesting just how much things have changed since 99 when I first got my CDL. You found out about things by talking with other drivers. You HAD to have that communication to get any information on anything and it carried over into everyday conversation and how We treated each other.

 

I made the right choice, sure I miss the house and dispise making an appointment time just to wait 12 hours to get loaded, but its life. I tend to get irritated at the old school guys whining about new drivers, sorry old guys but y'all are the reason truck drivers have the reputation we do. Example: tonight over dinner an old hat was going on about how much money he makes and how everyone knows his name yadda yadda. I left and came back and he had spoken with my partner and asked how I liked it being a rookie and all, granted I wanted to knock the guy off his chair so I could eat in peace, but I said I liked it just fine. Then he gives me lip about income. Yeah it's not the greatest but in clearing near a grand a week after expenses and gettin a 34 at the house as a trainee (just got a raise actually) Sigh I'm rambling, however I knew what to expect and have made the best of it. Just wish everyone else would.

 

Thanks for keeping it real. Welcome to the Brave New World of Trucking...

 

I disagree. The old drivers made this industry back in the 60's and 70's. De-regulation made it what it is today. The old drivers knew how to help one another and work together. Trucking used to be a respected profession. I been driving 11 years, 6 years part time while in the Army and 5 years full time as an O/O. In 11years Ive watched it nose dive, its hard to find professionals anymore. People highbeam you at night, cut in front of you, cuss you for doing the right thing, and push four wheelers around cause they think its funny. Dont get me started on truck stops... I love my career, it has ups and downs, but it supports my family. I was taught by a family friend with 40 yrs experience, he drilled the courtesy an unwritten rules of being a professional driver in my head, and Im better for it.