Why do most new drivers quit?

Holy cable ties Batman!!

 

It worked though. At least the fan did. The cooler project was a flop.

 

I haven't had the opportunity to ask those who I've seen come and go in my nearly 12 months with my company but those whom I've talked with before they hit the highway definitely have a false impression of what the lifestyle is like.

It doesn't help that many of the drivers who come through are entering this line of work because other "lower skill" jobs aren't in high demand right now. On top of that, in my province, they get free training through our provincial insurance provider (and can choose from about a dozen companies that sponsor the program) which gives them 6 weeks of training (and a few more of mentorship with the company), but little else to prepare them mentally and physically for life on the road.

It's kind of sad how few people actually last at this line of work. Personally, I had enough after 4 months OTR and got a cushy regional/city position in my company (super-lucky). But I love the work and the driving, just not living out of the truck. I think we go through anywhere from 4-5 new trainees a month, and about 4 of them last at most 1-2 months on the highway before giving up.

Just last week, we had a guy who went through the same program I did, got his license in early January, trained with us city guys for a month, then didn't even last a week on the highway before giving up after a $170 DOT ticket for running over hours. Then he complained that it was the dispatchers fault. Now that he has that ticket, and no job, he's going to have a really rough time finding work outside of construction or gravel hauling.

And one guy we're training now can't even throw a complete trailer worth of straps.

 

Oh Lord, is he going to need Tommy John surgery, or what???

 

I'm not trying to be derogatory, but he's a fair bit older than I would have expected someone who wanted to get into flat bedding to be. I think it's merely his age that's getting in the way, and I think he would be much better off in a much less... physically involved line of driving.

If he can't work on his own and get a load secured, he's not going to last very long.

 

Little sympathy here. I started flatbedding at 51. I'm a very little guy (148lbs) and the most physical labor I'd done in 10 years was mowing my lawn. I did pushups three times a day in my trainers' truck for a month and managed just fine, even with the 105lb 8-foot drop tarps. Hard at first, but you learn. I really enjoyed flatbedding. It's all about pride in your work and dilligence. If you don't have those, you won't last n ANYTHING more challenging than Mcdonalds.

 

Under cover cop truck drivers threaten drivers on the cb radio because they are trying to put them out of business. That's what happened to me when I drove for Smith Transport and Falcon.

 

It's tough dude. Going OTR takes some character. I went to the Melton orientation but halfway through it I decided it was not for me so now I'm looking for something local.

 

I hear you. After two and a half years as a dock banger I got into flatbed at 59. While I had done well to get my weight down with a very healthy diet, those first few days left me sore.

It's like "getting off the couch" to start an athletic season, you expect to have soreness until your tendons, joints, and muscles are prepared to WORK. After THAT you can really go after your fitness.

I LOVE this job.

 

Yep.

I'm majoring in a STEM field and barely halfway through the first semester, I already have a job within the same field my major. All too often people will major in something like Art Appreciation (it's a real course), Dance Therapy, or 18th Century Literature and then wonder why they're working at Starbucks with their BA sitting on their wall collecting dust.