Question:
I am speaking to the younger generation, of course. You elders should have some better insight into the options available to you, and their consequences.
As for you Greenies, Trucking Is BAD News.
From start to finish. Most of the companies you will encounter, early on, are dirt bags that will leave you with culture shock, by the abuse that they dish out. Loyalty begets loyalty, and abuse gets a high turn over rate. What other industry has such a high turn over rate, as trucking?
Companies want you to stay, for a time ... until you have earned their promised vacation, or other devices to delude you in to staying. Then, they want you gone. Absent a definitive study, I dare say that trucking has destroyed more marraiges and credit reports, than any other single industry.
It is way too easy to get in. Once you are in, for way too many, it is the only thing available. No golden handcuffs, here. They are made of barbed wire. You get to see a little more of the USA, but you are always looking at the zipper line, and it pretty much looks the same, where ever you go. Day or night.
Unless you are un-trainable, or you know how to handle your resources with the utmost efficiency, you will do better to do something else.
Even delivering Pizza, you could work your way up to store manager, or better. Once you are into trucking, you have no time to train for anything else. No time for family, no time for yourself. This business will chew you up and spit you out, with out a second thought.
The working environment is growing more and more hostile, every day. Everybody is looking to get in to you wallet. Nobody wants you around any longer than is necessary. Then they want you gone, ASAP.
The balance between supply and demand, is very favorable, at the moment. Yet, there are many operators on the brink of insolvency. And this business is directly affected by the economic environment. Wages are rising, but your costs are rising faster. That is what is meant, when you hear someone say they were making more, in 1980, than they are making today.
All that experience and seniority, and it pays just a little more than what a 23 year old can expect, when first starting out. What is wrong with this picture.? If there are no jobs where you are, then MOVE to someplace that does have jobs. Just do yourself a favor, and avoid trucing like the plague that it is.
Well, I've started the ball rolling, for you rookies. Spread the word, where ever you go, in this direction. I'm a little tired, right now, so I haven't reviewed this post to see whether it flows smoothly, or for sentence structure, or spelling or anything else.
If you ignore my advice, just do it with your eyes open.
Good luck.Government Ain't YO' Friend. Nor your Servant.
A Tax Reduces Incentive & Capacity. A Regulation is also a TAX.


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Boy... sure does get old listening to all these trucking failures/desk jockies coming on here thinking everyone else will get "exactly" the same BS they've handled. Ever notice it isn't evened out with some positives because real drivers are out making money instead of sitting on the computer? Most of these guys can't show their pictures while degrading some of you newbies because they're so F'ing ugly and fat from sitting on their lazy I dont want to work anus.
Hmmmmmmm... Kind of interesting, I talk with people at warehouses and manufacturing plants and they seem to have a good 110% turnover as well! Oh well, I guess trucking is pure evil and no one out here likes it at all because the same losers keep spilling their sewage on this board.
If I would've OTR'd all of 2004 I would've earned triple of what pizza managers make in a year like I've done the previous years! Though honestly, if I were married with a family I enjoyed being around, I'd become a pizza manager!

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Last I looked pizza deliver did not pay 50k a year unless you we the guy driving the truck bringing the ingrediants.
Now, is it easy? No. What is?
Truck driving is so easy. Many get board with it and all they can do is complain.
Many newbies will earn more money then they have ever earned. Like 36k for the first year. They will plow it each week. When they are earning 50-60k a year after a few years. They will still be just blowing the cash out. They earn more and spend more.
Some, very few. will take ahold of the money and make the money work for them. Not work for the money.
You will find in trucking may diff types. The only bad thing about driving is the other drivers in my book.
One guy can be 30 with 4 years of driving OTR. The other 60 and driving for 40 years. That 60 year old guy dosn't like it when the educated 30 year old (education has improved in 40 years) earns MORE and has investments. That 60 year old dosn't care about 401k"S. They were not around in his time for the most part so they are a scam. He has retirment. SSI. He has invested in SSI and they have made investment on his part.
The 30 year old blows the 60 year old drivers mind. He has no idea what he is talking about.
It is like a driver talking to a driver (that was a dentist) about teeth. My father in law is a dentist. He also drives truck. I stories I have been their and seen. Funny when a truck driver that has listened over the cb about tooth care makes then a DDM. He handles it better then me. I would flip out.
Truck drivers are good at a few things, complaining, being know it alls about everything and telling stories they have heard from others.
Some of you senior trainers will tell you stories you will take and tell others. Many may be 30+ years old.
Hey, if you do not belive me call the federal marshals.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

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I made more driving my first year than unloading trucks and construction combined it has its bad sides and so forth blah blah blah damn just cuz you got lost in a big city and someone flipped you off or some receiver got mad at you because you were late, is no reason to vent your anger and say a job (trucking) is the downfall of mankind Mr. O'Reilly, after a few months I began hearing blah blah blah from most shippers and receivers so now I will continue on this dark lonesome road that is trucking and (sarcasm people) blah blah blah

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Getting into trucking was probably the best move I ever made. It has opened many doors and created many opportunities for me. Now I drive fire trucks full time and drive OTR part time. I still love getting behind the wheel and am proud to be a trucker. I am happy and succesful and I credit much of that to my start in trucking....but shhhhhhhh, don't tell anyone....
I started driving in May of 2000, I was 22 years old.

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Don't tell anyone I posted this but it is true.
I have been behind the wheel now 18 years, wow a long time. In the past 7 years I have made more money than ever, been home more, every day for the past year and a half, built a new house, so what if it has wheels under it and has a trailer hitch , bought two new vehicles, so what if they were ford fiestas , got more back on my tax return , yeh we've had five kids, so naturally the wife doesn't work , and I'm on pace to retire at 55, yeah so what thats only 20 more years. At least I can look forward to it. I LOVE TRUCKIN. I will admit though I do not miss the road. 537 a night from the 77mm I-70 in the Hoosier to the 186 in the Buckeye is enough. You young chaps, and older ones too, can have the road and the lumping and all the fun I've already had. Good luck to you all and (edited) on all the na sayers.
Have a good day ya'll.www.daveramsey.com

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In other words, you have a regular job which happens to involve driving a truck. The vast majority of the individuals who enter the trucking industry will begin by driving OTR and 85% of them will leave the industry within the first year. Of those who remain, very few will have the opportunity to "graduate" to a linehaul job which will allow them to be home "every day".
You got lucky; perhaps through careful planning. Congratulations!

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55sams

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55sams didn't you post awhile back after celadon and TMC bought Roberson that TMC wouldn't take you. Have you found anything else? Why haven't you been able to find anything else, You have experience on your side. If you had been taken on by TMC would you be here right now saying how bad trucking is? Probably not, I think there might be more to your problems than you're letting on but maybe not. Experienced drivers with a clean record don't usually have trouble finding a new company.
If it wasn't you that got bounced by TMC then disregard this and my apologies for being mistaken.
I'm not a driver currently just someone who is looking at doing it. One of the main reasons is you can relocate with this job and get another fairly easily if you keep a good record. I do listen to both the good and bad here but something sticks out about your post.

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55 sams
The fire truck guy knew he didn't want to live to truck 24/7 and throw in no benefits or retirement.______
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I'd rather die on my feet like a man than live on my azz hiding in a truck.........Sir James Brown

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I too, have 18 years behind the wheel behind me. Due to diabetes I have been off the road for sometime. But, (there's always a "but") I miss the road, the truck, and the friends I made out there on that road. If I could have just one wish it would be to have my health back and be back out there. Even today, if I am on the road I have my cb on and I do talk on it. And on occasion I will hear a familiar voice saying, "Foxfire! Is that you?" It has happened many times and I expect to find one (at least) of my old buddies when I head out to Louisville at the end of this month.
You new folks, listen up...... Trucking is just like any other career you may choose. It has it's bad and good points. YOU have to decide if it is the right choice for YOU! No one else can make that decision. Have a good one and I'm back out!

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One thing I found cool was running apon a driver you met. You may be from LA they may be from ND. You get stuck in a fire house ina snow store that closes the road. Play cards all night with other drivers.
You run apon that same driver 2 months-2 years at some truck stop in Atlanta. Then you run into them again! In Carlise PA.
What are the odds? You also get to kinda have a freind. You may not know his phone number, about his family or even remember his name. You know he is from ND and you spend time off the road together because you had to. You also know he can play some spades.
I had a few drivers like this I ran into.
There is a ton of stuff I lost comming off the road.
I may be earning the same money as running the road, sleeping in my bed each night and have the weekends off.
I miss the road and would go back in a heart beat if I could. Just family holds me back. I am not going to leave the family obligations for the road. I can't right now. Maybe latter. I do see a day I will be back.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

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seems a few dummies couldn't understand the first line.
The same peeople that tell their own kids to stay away, for some retarded reason defend trucking here
better feilds out there than trucking for young people to get into,health care or joe tool belt jobs are a better bet,exspecially with all the baby boomers retiring and getting old.Some of them can't change a light bulb and call a service man/woman
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These are the points I made, at the top.
Abuse & High Turn over.
Companies encourage turn over, they want you to stay for only a few years. Then, you cost too much and they want you gone.
Destroys marraiges & credit more than any other industry.
Too easy to get in, & becomes too hard to get out.
Environment is hostile & getting worse.
Wages continue to fall, in a relative sense.
There is no such thing as advancement.
Banana, I thought you were not going to be talking to company drivers, anymore. FYI, I am a company driver and refuse to become more involved than that.
Stagnant, your post seems a little different, from one you posted about 3 weeks ago. Hard to make sense out of what you were trying to say, here.
Bunker has no regrets about getting out.
Max, thanks. I needed someone to feel sorry for me.
Trapper, I was told by PFT, that I would not be picked up by TMC. No regrets, here. I have a fairly well developed attitude, that I fill a seat as a favor to the company. If it takes 10 hours to load, I will continue to log it on line 4. If the schedule requires a log violation, they can get another truck. If I miss deliveries because the people in break down do not respond, nothing I can do about it, and if you try to blame me, I quit listening.
There is more to my own story. I have really been torn, about getting out or not. I made a half hearted attempt to work local, and applied to 1 company. Rejected, A dozen employment entries, 4 from PFT. Now, I am going back out. I told my new boss that I don't see me in a truck in 5 years. BTW, I have only me to worry about, and my net debt is zero. I am considering leaving the Florida heat, & the job gives me a chance to look around.
Fred, howdy!
Foxfire, sorry about the diabetes. Something I worry about, from time to time. Uturn found his problem in diet cola.
Zig, you problably get more rest, than the defenders.
So, I made an blunt statement, and offered a few reasons. Each poster here, has their own view, and their posts will stand as testament, unless they edit it. No one challenged any of my reasons.
I stand by the blunt statement. Greenies look for this, every day. No one that I have seen, has ever given it to them. Now, I did.
As many have said, in many places, this is not a business for everybody. Most in the general population, are not suited to the lifestyle that is required, and become dismal and dejected on their way back to a normal life. They pay a huge cost for the leaning experience. This is the untold story. For those of you that stay with it, you are a different breed. And remember: What ever happens, It Is Always the Driver's Responsibility.Government Ain't YO' Friend. Nor your Servant.
A Tax Reduces Incentive & Capacity. A Regulation is also a TAX.


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You are correct 55sams, I have no regrets about getting off the road...but I don't regret a single day I spent or mile I drove out on the road. I still take a load whenever I can.
I was just trying to point out that trucking is what led me to my Fire Dept. job. Can people get into the Fire Dept. without trucking, sure, but in my case trucking provided me that opportunity.
I am currently getting licensed on an airport crach vehicle, 575 V8 Detroit, 8 wheel drive, 3300 gallons of water, the thing weighs 77,000 lbs...incredibly intimidating vehicle if one has never operated something weighing so much. My prior experience has been wonderful in learning this truck as well as our pumpers, tankers and ladder trucks. A truck is a truck is a truck.
OTR is not the only avenue to persue with a CDL. I even drove a garbage truck for awhile. I think that a CDL is a wonderful asset and with it come some great opportunities. Whether it is getting a union dock job, or transporting and operating heavy equipment, driving a bus, turning wrenches or whatever. But you have to start somewhere and that usually involves going over the road. Wherever you start doing whatever you do, you gotta start at the bottom...where you go from there is up to you. The bottom line is that trucking is not that bad, and it still is a skill, and can open many doors of opportunity, just might be up to you to find them.
Oh, btw I still made more money over the road than I do here at my Dept, been here almost three years...and we work a 72 hr work week, so I only get to sleep in my own bed half of the time.