Question:
i would like to know why somepeople would choose trucking when it is clear they donot want to be away from home and family. do they not know that they will be away from home as long as they are or are the recruiters giving the wrong info. i have been aroud trucking all my life my brother and dad were truck drivers so i new what i was getting into. i gave up being a mechanic because i needed to rest and heal from years of martail art tourtaments (getting my butt whipped)
YOU CAN SLEEP AFTER YOU DELIVER THE LOAD

Answer:
It’s a good question
I guess a lot of people are fulfilling a boy hood dream of driving a big shinny truck, sitting up nice and high. Some think that they enjoy driving and traveling, but they have no idea just how much they are going to be doing.
They get caught up in the romance of the job, of being free traveling the highways of North America but then the reality sets in.
I was told when I first started that it was the hardest easiest job you can have, and it’s true.
I haven’t been involved in the business for years, but I will be doing it on a part time basis shortly.
I still love to drive the big rigs and I still love being on the road, and I may decide to get back into it in the future but if I do I will be more select full of who I will be running with.
There are plenty of trucking companies that will get you home for a full weekend, so you can have quality and quantity time at home, you just will have to look a little harder to find them.
I will go with the small family run companies (20 to 50 trucks) I won’t bother with the big ones anymore.

Answer:
I spent over 7 years as a Vice-General Chairman of the largest railroad Labor Organization and this topic came to me many times.
Even when I was in the Marine Corps the question often debated heavily was which was more important " Troop welfare or Mission accomplishment"
If we lean toward the first "Troop Welfare" there are those that say take care of the needs of your troops or drivers/employees in this case since this questions will work in any work environment or industry, and they will perform their duties exceptionally because they will be happy.
Others say that if an employee acomplishes his daily mission what ever that maybe then they will be happy because they have acheieved their goal, inturn making for an employee that is for the most part happy and pleased with his work and employer.
As I said before in the from my experience in the Rail Industry most did not care wheather or not they made it from point A to B w/ the train or if they switched 300 cars out in a day because there was no immediate reward for doing such. Even though $26 an hour and excellant benefits were not enough. Unfortunately I feel that it is like this in most areas of employment these days.
As I look in to the workplace today I see many people that are unhappy. I see owners that hate their industry, employees and customers. I see employees that show up to work just for the paycheck. They whine and complain that nothing is ever good. I see managers that snap as employees like the were unruly children.
So why do we stay in positions we are unhappy with?
The question is quite intriging My interest has been generated by the concept of "Troop Welfare" strive to make your employee happy and he/she/they will inturn be more productive. Employeers need to let their employees know that they are needed that no one is more important than the next because with out different departments there would be no Employer and therefore no employee.
Employee attitude these days also needs a swrious reality check. We expect the unresonable and complain with anything less. Inorder for a company to survive then the company (everyone) must work to make the best of it. Consessions must be made on all levels if they are to succeed.
You are and I soon will be a driver. But we are highly skilled and professionals not just drivers. Let your carrier, shippers and receivers see that we are skilled professionals make yourself a needed and demanded commodity in this industry and you shall be successful.
The question begs us to look into the depths of our existence. This look is different for each of us so we cannot assume that what works for one will work for all.
The answer is not in someone else, but simple core advice will help us all to find the answer.
" somepeople go through life wondering if they have made a difference, Marines don't have that problem " ~ President Ronald Reagan
SEMPER FIDELIS

Answer:
Here are some basic reasons why some stay in jobs they do not like.
Inertia:
It is easier to continue doing what you have been doing than to take action and make a change.
No time:
Your current job takes all your time and energy. There is no time to do a thorough job search
Money:
Your current job pays the bills and gives you your benefits. It would be hard to give that up or even risk it by looking elsewhere.
Fear:
The job you know is safe. A new job is unknown and therefore frightening.
Lack of confidence:
You are not sure you are capable of doing any job other than the one you have.
Believing that your situation will improve.
Friends:
Moving on means losing the friends you made in this company.
Believing that any job you get will have the same problems as the one you have now.
I have seen all of these first hand recently. I was wrongfully dismissed from my job as a railroad conductor. Mainly because of the level Union position I held.
I went through all of these I felt that all was lost what will I do now. Do I stay railroading or find a new career. I will say this even though I have no steady paycheck or Health benefits (married and 3 girls) I have virtually no stress.
I was like most, not happy with my current position but if I had not had this happen I would have probably stayed on resenting my job every day.
Going from 65k a year to what a driver makes will be a shock, however my wife and I played it smart over the years. we have virtually no debt. I have learned money is not the key to happiness. I have been forced (a good thing) to get back to simpler pleasures in life family, friends and what not.
I am looking forward to my new adventure. (starting school Dec 1 w/ Roehl)
I have met many people in this forum and hope to see you all on the road. I am thankful for all the advice I have recieved.
Semper Fidelis

Answer:
I was working for a co. pulling tanker hauling their own product to feed mills and farms all around the Midwest. I was one of the first drivers they hired, and I trained a lot of the drivers how to load/unload etc. They hired a new mgr. that I could'nt get along with. (Get the mission done and the hell with the driver. -->) I was making 55K/yr and bennies and my wife worked in the office. I had an accident with them in 2001 (unpreventable/unavoidable) and was laid up from Feb-May. Came back and was given the oldest, crappiest truck in the fleet. --> Was told I'd get the next new one, and when they arrived, they were given to new hired drivers. Went with Roehl the following week. --> I'm back to 45+K/yr. now and am satisfied for now. But I am looking for a local job.
Better to have it and not need it as need it and not have it!
_________________
Better to have it and not need it as need it and not have it!
Just remember:If the world did'nt suck, you'd fall off!
The more I see and read about Republicans and Democrats, the more I wish we had an Independent Party.
IMPEACH BUSH!!!!!!!!!!

Answer:
I still need to know, if you don't mind, how to get involved in the railroad industry in any capacity besides engineer--because you will have an accident with cars and people and I cannot and do not wish to handle that.

Answer:
I think one of the Main reasons I am getting into trucking is the stability of the Job. As long as you keep you nose clean, follow the regulations and bite the bullet on the Home Time you will always have a job. After 9/11 the IT industry was never the same again.
Drafter
Keep the wheels rolling

Answer:
Well it seemed like the easiest way to get another job after a lot of interviews. I guess
i had a previous job that was too specialized
or maybe i was too gray. I also paid nothing for school since I went to a community college and was a veteran. I still tried to get other jobs
but nothing happened. Then my truck driver instructor called me one day to see where I was
working.Told him nowhere. He said I better get
going and I did and the rest is history. I enjoy my new career sometimes.I think the worst part is dealing with del and pu times and dealing with dispatchers.

Answer:
I suppose the reason I wanted to drive was for the simple reason: I always wanted to since I was 5 years old and I climbed into my uncles Pete. Now I know what alot of you are going to say and "NO" I don't regret driving. I had a great paying job before I drove and I could still have it. I chose to do this, I have my own independence. I do have a boss, but she only messages me when she has a question. That is only like 1-2 times a week. Other then that I'm just a tomboy at heart, thanks to my father who let me help him rebuild cars and trucks.
Sweet Whiskey