roadscholar88
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Why did you choose a career driving? Why should the younger generation consider a career as a truck driver and what advice do you have for them?
Why did you choose a career driving? Advice for the younger generation?
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LTLIndentured
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RUN!
pro1driver
I don't wanna go fishing, even though i got stuff
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i worked as a mechanic for about 17 years, then got out of it.
i got into trcuking, and it's been 27 years now.
i am about to retire.
younger generation getting INTO trucking..??
well considering so many younger ones think they are entitled to anything and not really work hard and earn a days pay, i say, stay away, it's not a job for the elitists out there that want things, but do not wish to work for it.
it's a job.
D
Deleted member 5115
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I love to travel and meet different people on a regular basis. A driving career used to offer a very good living and was a respectable job.
The younger generation should not consider a career as a driver and I recommend that today's drivers find themselves other jobs if they have more than a few years to go. I don't consider driving to be a career anymore. I always felt that a career was something that one would do for the rest of their life and would provide well for them.
I don't get all the pessimism in the replies so far...trucking can be a very good career for somebody with the right mindset. There are still good companies out there to work for you just have to be willing to do your homework when in job search mode. I got into trucking because I found a good company that was willing to give me a chance, more than eight years later I am still loving my job.
The advice I would give a young driver is don't fall into the same trap that many drivers do of jumping from carrier to carrier because one promises you something a little better. The grass isn't always greener over there.
Also, be prepared to work. Some people think that holding a steering wheel driving down the road would be an easy job, there is a lot more to it than that.
The advice I would give a young driver is don't fall into the same trap that many drivers do of jumping from carrier to carrier because one promises you something a little better. The grass isn't always greener over there.
Also, be prepared to work. Some people think that holding a steering wheel driving down the road would be an easy job, there is a lot more to it than that.
D
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Very true, the difference is that most driving jobs used to be good jobs but today they are a sliver of the industry. I do know a couple of guys who left freight and dairy for some damn good paying jobs with companies that make them feel good about their jobs.
Cerberus_Kelpie
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GREETINGS roadscholar88,
I chose this avocation in 1998 because it then appeared the best route.
I knew not then of what I was doing and of where I was going apart from I was simply sick and tired of construction, warehouses and phone book deliveries.
I've had fun and rarely still do yet the negatives now far outweigh the positives and I'll not be a Trucker much longer (due to the recent D.O.T. Physical Exam results [and it's not "sleep apnea"]).
- - - -
WHEN TRUCKING WAS a good way to make a living, THERE WERE PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS.
They WERE well known as Knights of The Highways because they would help other drivers (and often times many drivers joined in) as well non trucking people broke down on roads, highways, etc.
WE have very few drivers on our highways that recall such historical fact and I've yet to find a newbie that even heard of The Old Trucking Days and Ways.
There are very FEW drivers that I would class as anything near "professional" simply by their driving demonstrations and I'm no exception.
Of all the recent drivers I've seen and heard (usually whinging on and whimpering about nothing) since 2000, very few had a mindset of their future in Trucking. Most just wanted/just want everything for nothing and many are simply gullible enough to believe what their "recruiters" spewed forth, until a few months along when their eyes usually got/get opened, yet such is not in every case.
While there remain some drivers at some companies who have been in Trucking over 30 years, they are fewer and fewer because for about 10 years, experience counts for nothing especially when one has been out of seat longer than 2-3 years. Out Of Seat for that time frame or longer and one, while experienced and otherwise qualified, are again seen as newbies and usually have to start, again, at the bottom. That is the way of Trucking.
The old saying "If You Have A CDL, You'll Always Have A Job" is no longer true. MANY drivers not driving have valid CDL's yet cannot get hired because of New Rules.
Companies have lowered their standards of qualifications/requirements and the results have easily been seen and will be seen.
Companies putting 2 (or more) newbies together and hoping for the best, simply endanger EVERY motorist, but because, somehow, there's a "shortage of drivers", the goofiness continues.
The only "shortage of drivers" we have is from all the New Rules or Hoops to jump through as well not recognizing QUALIFIED EXPERIENCE and paying rates reminiscent of 1980 or earlier.
There are as well the new federal guidelines, requirements, mandates, stipulations, penalties, fines, black listings, and other goodies.
Less on this later (thank you pro1).
IF someone is really interested in trucking, after these posts, then you are meant to become a truck driver.
Suggested companies: Schneider, TMC, Bulldog Hiway Express, Transport America, PAM.
IF you're simply seeking another job because you're tired of where you are or tired of being nowhere, you'll do about as well as you're now doing.
Trucking used to not be a "saving grace" for the unemployed yet it glaringly appears to have flipped sides. If you're otherwise UNEMPLOYABLE, Trucking may well be your heaven.
IF you believe that being a Owner Operator or Lease To Own is the way to go, be sure you have at least $30,000 (conservative estimation in the dollars of today) in savings after the purchase(s) and contracts are signed.
There is no known avenue of "something for nothing". It is not available online nor anyplace on this planet.
You WILL "pay your dues" for the first 2 years, if not more unless after the training is paid off you decide to go another route, so be it and do not tell yourself you failed unless you split that scene owing money.
Trucking is a completely DIFFERENT avocation, unlike ANY you may have researched.
You can make a small fortune in Trucking if you start with a large one.
Thank You for your time.
CHEERS!!
I chose this avocation in 1998 because it then appeared the best route.
I knew not then of what I was doing and of where I was going apart from I was simply sick and tired of construction, warehouses and phone book deliveries.
I've had fun and rarely still do yet the negatives now far outweigh the positives and I'll not be a Trucker much longer (due to the recent D.O.T. Physical Exam results [and it's not "sleep apnea"]).
- - - -
WHEN TRUCKING WAS a good way to make a living, THERE WERE PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS.
They WERE well known as Knights of The Highways because they would help other drivers (and often times many drivers joined in) as well non trucking people broke down on roads, highways, etc.
WE have very few drivers on our highways that recall such historical fact and I've yet to find a newbie that even heard of The Old Trucking Days and Ways.
There are very FEW drivers that I would class as anything near "professional" simply by their driving demonstrations and I'm no exception.
Of all the recent drivers I've seen and heard (usually whinging on and whimpering about nothing) since 2000, very few had a mindset of their future in Trucking. Most just wanted/just want everything for nothing and many are simply gullible enough to believe what their "recruiters" spewed forth, until a few months along when their eyes usually got/get opened, yet such is not in every case.
While there remain some drivers at some companies who have been in Trucking over 30 years, they are fewer and fewer because for about 10 years, experience counts for nothing especially when one has been out of seat longer than 2-3 years. Out Of Seat for that time frame or longer and one, while experienced and otherwise qualified, are again seen as newbies and usually have to start, again, at the bottom. That is the way of Trucking.
The old saying "If You Have A CDL, You'll Always Have A Job" is no longer true. MANY drivers not driving have valid CDL's yet cannot get hired because of New Rules.
Companies have lowered their standards of qualifications/requirements and the results have easily been seen and will be seen.
Companies putting 2 (or more) newbies together and hoping for the best, simply endanger EVERY motorist, but because, somehow, there's a "shortage of drivers", the goofiness continues.
The only "shortage of drivers" we have is from all the New Rules or Hoops to jump through as well not recognizing QUALIFIED EXPERIENCE and paying rates reminiscent of 1980 or earlier.
There are as well the new federal guidelines, requirements, mandates, stipulations, penalties, fines, black listings, and other goodies.
Less on this later (thank you pro1).
IF someone is really interested in trucking, after these posts, then you are meant to become a truck driver.
Suggested companies: Schneider, TMC, Bulldog Hiway Express, Transport America, PAM.
IF you're simply seeking another job because you're tired of where you are or tired of being nowhere, you'll do about as well as you're now doing.
Trucking used to not be a "saving grace" for the unemployed yet it glaringly appears to have flipped sides. If you're otherwise UNEMPLOYABLE, Trucking may well be your heaven.
IF you believe that being a Owner Operator or Lease To Own is the way to go, be sure you have at least $30,000 (conservative estimation in the dollars of today) in savings after the purchase(s) and contracts are signed.
There is no known avenue of "something for nothing". It is not available online nor anyplace on this planet.
You WILL "pay your dues" for the first 2 years, if not more unless after the training is paid off you decide to go another route, so be it and do not tell yourself you failed unless you split that scene owing money.
Trucking is a completely DIFFERENT avocation, unlike ANY you may have researched.
You can make a small fortune in Trucking if you start with a large one.
Thank You for your time.
CHEERS!!
Last edited:
For God's sake, if you think it's really that terrible, get out of it.
I'm always amazed at people who consistently gripe about every aspect of the trucking profession, yet keep on doing it and making a living on it. If you're making a living, suck it up, shut up and do the job. If you can't handle it, shut up and do something else. But for the love of God, quit whining all the time! You're making it self-fulfilling prophecy by always choosing to see nothing but the negative.
Cerberus_Kelpie
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GREETINGS medic92,
Thanks for your opinion. There may be other opinions, there may be none
TRUTH is not always accepted,& the growing numbers of our society that believe themselves "special" a.k.a., wanting something for nothing, need to know what really is trucking, not glossing over or just offering completely positive information, like recruiters.
Everyone writes in their own style and messages are delivered.
There are quite many folks here at TB that offer their opinions in whatever format they choose because such inclusions are of THEIR opinion(s).
They are neither good nor bad yet they are presented without profanity unlike some trucking information sites.
Profanity Is The Linguistic Tool Of The Inarticulate.
I despise trucking however I shall not waver at offering up the good with the bad.
For those that only see my information as bad, it's still TRUTH.
For those that garner useful information from my posts, GOOD.
Trucking IS terrible yet, for now, it is better than day labor or some other temp to perm agency and it's relatively predictable income wise.
I'm as well GLAD I do not have to stay out 10+ days before going home, so it's now better than most company requirements.
While I drive a 2002 Freightshaker, it is in better mechanical shape than many of the newer ones AND I do not need bother with D.E.F. and Regen.
"self fulfilling prophecy", interesting.
I "do my job" well yet disregard the "professional" designation.
I will be "getting out of it", just not this year.
You have a lot of useful information yet you tend to, at times, wander around in the negative arena, like many here at TB.
I've enjoyed most of your posts and I'll enjoy some more.
Sorry, I'll not "suck it up, shut up and do the job". This is not the Military and I do not simply hold my tongue with opinions.
I've been able to "handle it" since late '98 with some alternate routes explored yet leading right back to a truck.
There is the "people you ignore" option in the preferences section. Click on "Alerts" to access.
Hope you have Safe and Pleasant Journeys.
CHEERS!!
Thanks for your opinion. There may be other opinions, there may be none
TRUTH is not always accepted,& the growing numbers of our society that believe themselves "special" a.k.a., wanting something for nothing, need to know what really is trucking, not glossing over or just offering completely positive information, like recruiters.
Everyone writes in their own style and messages are delivered.
There are quite many folks here at TB that offer their opinions in whatever format they choose because such inclusions are of THEIR opinion(s).
They are neither good nor bad yet they are presented without profanity unlike some trucking information sites.
Profanity Is The Linguistic Tool Of The Inarticulate.
I despise trucking however I shall not waver at offering up the good with the bad.
For those that only see my information as bad, it's still TRUTH.
For those that garner useful information from my posts, GOOD.
Trucking IS terrible yet, for now, it is better than day labor or some other temp to perm agency and it's relatively predictable income wise.
I'm as well GLAD I do not have to stay out 10+ days before going home, so it's now better than most company requirements.
While I drive a 2002 Freightshaker, it is in better mechanical shape than many of the newer ones AND I do not need bother with D.E.F. and Regen.
"self fulfilling prophecy", interesting.
I "do my job" well yet disregard the "professional" designation.
I will be "getting out of it", just not this year.
You have a lot of useful information yet you tend to, at times, wander around in the negative arena, like many here at TB.
I've enjoyed most of your posts and I'll enjoy some more.
Sorry, I'll not "suck it up, shut up and do the job". This is not the Military and I do not simply hold my tongue with opinions.
I've been able to "handle it" since late '98 with some alternate routes explored yet leading right back to a truck.
There is the "people you ignore" option in the preferences section. Click on "Alerts" to access.
Hope you have Safe and Pleasant Journeys.
CHEERS!!
Last edited:
SuperCourse
It's About The Borders - Idiot
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All the reasons I got into trucking 40 something years ago are gone.
I got into trucking simply because I needed a job. I'm not a leech, so I always need to have an income to provide for myself.
I got lucky in this career as the industry treated me well, but I wouldn't recommend this job to anyone.
If you have a strong work ethic, you'll never be out of a job with a CDL in your wallet. Even on a day off, if I want I can make one phone call or text and be in a class B dump truck within 30 minutes. The job security is epic. No other field out there has the job security truck driving does.
I got lucky in this career as the industry treated me well, but I wouldn't recommend this job to anyone.
If you have a strong work ethic, you'll never be out of a job with a CDL in your wallet. Even on a day off, if I want I can make one phone call or text and be in a class B dump truck within 30 minutes. The job security is epic. No other field out there has the job security truck driving does.
roadscholar88
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Thank you very much for your response. Would you mind if I quoted your response for an upcoming blog I am working on? I would just need your name and title. Thanks!