Question:
Find something else to do, go back to school, get an education, all you have to do is read what is in the forum, and that must tell you something.
I was with a Union carrier for 32 years, not many offer benifits and the money today as some years ago, and most important a pension plan, 401s or not worth the paper they are written on. Most of these companies today are full of BS and will treat you as a subhuman, you dont have to take my word on it, like I said just read the forum, you will see how many have been cheated or screwed by these companies.
And you will see none that have retired from a non-union company on his 401k plan, nor will you see any who have even been with the same non-union company for 30 years, if any it would only be so few.
If you are young enough, look in another area, if you are a displace worker and need ajob fast, do your homework, for what it cost on the road and the hours you will spend away from home, a job in your home town may be a better option, then sitting somewhere for hours on end not makeing a dime.
So think hard, all you need to do is READ
Good Luck
Frank

Answer:
Good post Frank. Trouble is, the truth is not all that welcome here on fantasy island.
Others, myself included, have posted similar things to what you have to say here, and have basically been lynched.
Good luck though. It's nice to see someone else tell the truth about the job. I hope you're enjoying your retirement, it seems like you've earned it.

Answer:
Mtneerdan
I understand, you just hope you can save just one from it all, I know they have no clue.

Answer:
http://roundtable.truck.net/viiewt.php?t=46483
My second to last attempt at offering advise on this forum.
The last attempt was moved away to the storage shed after the hap d's informed me that the reason I hated trucking so much, was because my wife was fat and ugly.
I just gave up after that. Just not worth it.

Answer:
Here we go again.
Must be some law I don't know about that requires all retired IBT members, people who just in general couldn't stand trucking, and failed owner operators to spend a certain amount of time on trucking boards wailing about how horrible the business is and how they must dedicate time to saving some poor soul from a horrible fate.
Some folks can handle the job, some can't.
It's not a gravy train to the land of golden goblets but neither is it the miserable life most of you bashers portray.

Answer:
Mtneerdam
I followed your link, it was a good one, thanks, got a kick out of the firefighter.
I have been reading this kid that is going to school for or at Prime and Hoss is just having a ball in there, I never laughed so hard reading Hoss replies.
Is there away to mark a thread so you can keep up with it, I want to keep reading that one and a couple others.
Frank

Answer:
Oh heII Wuzzy. Lighten up. Franks seems like an easygoing enough guy to me. Just giving his honest opinion. We've all got a right to that don't we.

Answer:

I dunno Frank. I guess you could just bookmark it in your browser. I really don't know any other way.
On the other hand, an active thread will stay on the front page, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding it. If it makes it to the second page there's no new responses, so you've already read anything that's there anyway.

Answer:

The best advice given on this forum.

It isn't? I guess the masochists would agree but the recruitment efforts
appear to dispell your beliefs. I don't believe I've ever met anyone that
would encourage their offspring to enter the vocation. The fact is it
has become a "miserable" life as the years have passed.
Unfortunetly times have changed and definetly not for the better.
BTW there is a click to watch this topic at the lower left corner of the page.
Answer:
Dear fuzzy/wuzzy
Im sorry, I scrolled down its Wuzzy/Charlie
first of all , my life is not miserable, it is the next thing to heaven, second trucking is for the uneducated like you and me, my father owned his own and drove company trucks when he could, I have been around trucking all of my 58 years, so from watching my father changeing tranmissions in the cold of winter out on the drive way, and seeing and doing what I did for 32 years I say it sucks , and a young person can do far better, now if you love it, so be it, I am happy for you, but to a young person, they can do better. I get a kick out of how they like to throw in the IBT part, think you need to go to round table forum and see whos doing all the crying and complaining.
Curious, you some recruiter, for some nickel or dime outfit looking for more slave labor.
Truth sometimes hurts
Frank

Answer:
Since you seem to have taken a leave of absence from the boards Frank, here is some good reading you may have missed while you were gone.
http://roundtable.truck.net/viiewt.php?t=16719
http://roundtable.truck.net/viiewt.php?t=16645
http://roundtable.truck.net/viiewt.php?t=16660
http://roundtable.truck.net/viiewt.php?t=16693
This is good stuff. Enjoy.

Answer:

I applaud you for your 32 years. I don't have that kind of patience (or desire for self punishment). I did my million miles accident free and I got out. THERE ARE FAR EASIER WAYS TO MAKE MORE MONEY. I decided that I was better than the treatment I was getting from this biz and many of the idiots in it. Too bad not everyone has such a high opinion of themselves.
Proud failure at trucking.
Answer:
Same old crap blah blah blah "trucking sucks" YES IT DOES we know this, this is not news those who have driven for more than 3 months know this, but those that are in it and have been for a little while need some help and some advice about the job and just a place to complain, BS, and make new freinds lets put this don't do this job crap aside you are not going to deter a determined person on a mission, I have told many of my younger friends maybe you shouldn't go into trucking its not what you think like everyone else they all thought I couldnt cut it or didn't know what I was talking about or I haven't found the right company and I thought the same way and they all went in and didn't last more than 6 mos. and found out the hard way and that is almost the only way for people to learn is to find out themselves not some old timer preaching the gospel, lets just put it to rest boys it isn't going to end its a slippery slope both ways there are both valid points to the deabte I don't think there is a clear winner or loser yes trucking is getting crappier by the minute but the only thing I don't like is when a guy goes I am looking at trying trucking how about Swift or SNI or Werner all I pretty much see is get the f*ck out of here there is nothing here for you, you almost gotta go through an initiation/hazing process to become an established member on TruckNet everyone stay safe and have fun and try not to run over too many newbies on the road such as myself.

Answer:
Johnny Cash sang it best:
There ain't no good in an evil hearted woman
And I ain't cut out to be no Jesse James
And you don't go writin' hot checks down in Mississippi
And there ain't no good OTR company.

Answer:
Johnny did sing the truth