Question:
For the life of me I can't figure out why some of you bash the very industry that supported you and your families. It was/is good enough for you but not for the newbie looking to get into this industry.
Truck drivers uneducated? Maybe in your day they were but todays truck driver is usually the highly educated displaced worker. Yet another victim of downsizing!
With a little hard work a newbie today can find their "niche" in the trucking industry. Sometimes it takes trial and error but it can be done.
A lot of these people come here seeking sage advice...the last thing that they need or want to hear is how some retired trucker thinks they are stupid or uneducated to want to drive a truck.
Trucking has been very good to me and for me. I found my niche in tankers. I managed to save a nice, very nice nest egg, made good money that wasn't ear marked to savings, have friends in just about every state, I was
never alone. I live a very comfortable life thanks in part to trucking.
The advice you "seasoned" drivers should be giving to the newbie is to stay out of the chrome shop, avoid the video machines all over the truck stops, being a company driver is not a bad thing, do not take cash advances on your paycheck, pay yourself first out of each check, and maintain a budget for home and on the road!
Truck stops are not the only place to stop for the night....I have a book that has a list of lakes that I have discovered that have truck parking too!!!!
But nobody says anything about the beauty that is out there and you can see because of trucking!!
There are things to look for in a company when just entering this industry. Help them with that info.
Would you folks please stop telling the newbies here that trucking is not for them. You don't know that and are not qualified to make that statement. Statements like that make you look and sound like you are talking out of the horses azz!
Newbies, trucking is what YOU make it. You can be a failure or a success, it's all up to you.
Good luck in what ever you decide.Stephanie Sills
"A positive attitude will not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.".......
Herm Albright.


Answer:
The reason is that the drivers that are whinning and crying constantly were never meant to be truck drivers in the first place. They were miserable before they became truck drivers, they were miserable while they were truck drivers and now their miserable behind a computer somewhere driving a mouse.
If you notice, it's the same people crying everyday.
There "is" no hope for these type of people. Their irrelevant society failures.
I use to work in a hospital environment for ten years. I use to see these types of people wondering around in the street outside the hospital.
There is nothing you can do for these types of people but to ignore them, step over them, and continue on. If you keep trying to pick them up, you'll wind up wasting your life away along with them.

Answer:

That's common sense stuff Steph. If they haven't got it by the time they get in a truck, they're not going to get it.
You came down awful hard on Frank in that other thread, and there is really no excuse. He seems like a gentleman, and he claims to be retired after many years of experience. The advise he gave here was no different than he would probably give his own kids, I.E., that industry is changing, for the worse, and if there are other opportunitys, then avoid trucking. What's wrong with that?? Doesn't he have a right to his opinion??
You're usually pretty balanced Steph. Did somone steal your screename or something??

Who, truckdrivers?? I agree. Just look at them. Most of them are loser washouts from other industrys, with a few good guys, like Frank, mixed in.

Answer:

The short answer is that it's not a very good job anymore and there's no sign that it's going to improve.
However, if you don't care for what the "bashers" post, and/or consider it a disservice to potential new drivers, why not post your counter-arguments rather than bash the bashers?

Answer:
To propose a counter-argument you have to assume something worth discussing was posted. Just saying "your an idiot", "your mother wears army boots", and "trucking is messed up" is not worth arguing.
I posted a thread of why newbies fail quite awhile aog and got the usual crap from the trolls in this forum. I just shifted to another forum that is:
1. Much more intellegent in its answers thus attracts much more articulate experinced drivers that really answer newbies questions rather than engage in senseless chatter.
2. Much more strictly moderated
3. Because of 1 & 2 is much more worth my time.
There are a few posts worth reading and I hit this forum every once in awhile to see if drivers like "Shuffler" post something. I generally just ignore "stuffs" who in my mind trolls this forum to see if he can goat newbies.

Answer:

In other words, you went where you could hear what you wanted to hear, rather than have to deal with reality. Wise choice. You're going to make a perfect dweller.


Answer:

Yes, you are right on two counts here, well, ok, three.
It is common sense to those of us that are experienced in this industry.
I did come down hard on Frank and I don't doubt that he is a nice guy. But admit it, he was a bit extreme in his rush to violence.
Thank you for the compliment about being balanced. lately in these forums that is uncommon it seems, hence I take to just lurking more than posting.
I am not "picking" on Frank. I am only stating an opinion and using his post as the marker.
Lets not argue over this.Stephanie Sills
"A positive attitude will not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.".......
Herm Albright.


Answer:

"WAS" being the keyword.

Those highly educated displaced workers are the ones you see
muttering "what the hell was I thinkling"as they leave the vocation in droves
everyday replaced by more of the same.

Yes it is,ask any one of the recruiters that are replacing the thousands
that leave the vocation everyday.
Answer:
To me the biggest problem with this industry. There are to many non educated. Not een a GED drivers in this field.
The folks with educations at collage levels seem to make a simple living pretty well at it.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:
Messyme
You dont seem to read well, Trucking was good to me, i Started in the good ol days, and watched it deteriated, I retired at the age of 54 im 58 now, how many do you know that will be able to do that. Now I am not saying I am a financial wizard , im not , just a little smarter then the average bear.
All I said was to think about what your doing, and that education is a better way to go, and most in trucking that have a good education I found not to have much common sence, I still go to where I used to work, I dont see any highly educated folks running around there.
Think about it lets say you go to deliver somewhere and you are there 5 hours and get a $10 drop, wow, that is $2 an hour, does that make sence, are you 2000 miles from home and you sit 24 hours waiting on a load, how much do some get, NOTHING, does that make sence, so that what Im saying get a job where you get paid salary or hourly, the good trucking jobs that paid you for your time and exsperience have long gone, sure there is a few out there, no doubt, but darn few.
My little sister 40 years old went to collegegot a degree in the computer area not sure exactly what and married another computer geek, they live in Laguna Beach California 2.2 million they paid for there house, and makeing well over 250k, if you will go to the movie star Pierce Brosnon web site you will see their work. So there is alot to do out there is my point for a young person, not to spend his time being abused and not paid what he is worth, The United States Constitution covers this , its called Unvoluntary Servitude, do you know anyone who would volunteer to sit for 24 hours and not get paid apart of it, our who would like to unload for $10.
I was very fortunate to have a good trucking job in the good days when you were paid for your time, you should have enough self esteme not to allow anyone to treat you as such, not you personnally , you might have a good job, but others who dont..
I was very fortunate, but still I put up with alot of BS, and many jobs have that,
it wasnt your normal 8 to 5 job for sure.
You can sit there and defend it all you like , I know , i been in it all my life along with dad, so dont try to chit an old chitter.
Good Luck to you
Frank

Answer:
dak1
you are implying something you know nothing about

Answer:

It's been nothing but a play hobby for you.You haven't been trying to pay a mortgage and support a family off of it.
What do you have to show from it,like in net worth after all these years.
The owner of JB Hunt, MR Hunt said years ago before it got even worse his drivers standard of living was lower than that of a prisoner in the state of Arkansas.
Look at it,they have indoor plumbing,get 3 meals a day,work less hours on work details and have a regular rest period and access to medical care on a regular basis.
the industry doesn't run a massive training program because it's a good job,it is always recruiting labor because the job sucks.
Just because a few people that have no other skills need to try and pump it up as a good job to save face doesn't change the reality of the job.
Answer:
Really, are you sure you haven't found a job where running illegal as heII is accepted?
That of course is how some view the post. Others see it as good advice. I'm not sure where you find the highly educated displaced workers. Most are not highly educated or not beyond high school. Trucking is far to easy to get into with very low educational requirements.
Most of the beauty will be quickly overcome by traffic and shippers/receivers. The beauty is a scene out the windows of a truck as you pass by. Most have little opportunity to enjoy it.
We do on a regular basis. Unfortunately it is usually countered by some company project driver who claims the information is all lies. Who do you think some newbie will believe. The guy claiming all is great or the guy saying it's not that great at all. Hint, they usually listen to those who say what they want to hear.
That of course is also a matter of opinion. To super truckers who couldn't care less it looks that way. To those who try to reason with the actualities of the job it doesn't look that way at all.
That is true. they can either accept what will be dished out to them by the mega training companies and push on down the road happy as can be or they can see the realities and make an informed decision. What you make of it equals what your willing to accept.
The truth is the actions and driving habits of many of the experienced drivers is what makes it impossible for newbies to get fair treatment. Drivers who take absolutely no concern and run from Fl. to Ca in short order lying on the logs all the way. Those who push 700-900 mile days with no concern and those who think all that waiting time for free is ok along with the many who think repairing a company truck is the right thing to do are the ones ruining the industry for anyone wanting to get into it. You all do it and claim trucking is what you make of it. trucking is what many of you have made of it. So the new drivers will also be required to do it. Then some want to biotch because others think it's wrong and want to point it out to newbies. It makes no sense when a driver chastises people for pointing out the negatives when they are a big part of the problem.

Answer:

Some still refuse to admit "todays"facts.
Answer:

You and I have have never even had a conversation let alone discussed my finacial status, what I own, and what I have gained from trucking. Stick to topics and people you know.
You made yourself look foolish with that comment.Stephanie Sills
"A positive attitude will not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.".......
Herm Albright.