Is There Anything Positive About Driving a Truck?
Jim Miller
I want to drive a truck OTR, and maybe local once I get some
experience, but everytime I come to this newsgroup I see a lot of
negative posts about truck driving as a whole? Is there anything
positive at all about driving a truck, especially OTR?
Joe Canuck
Well, only you can decide what will be the positives for you.
--
"Its the bugs that keep it running."
-Joe Canuck
Rocky Roads - 25th week
news:b7db609cikdns6lfr...@4ax.com...
There are a lot of good very people out there. Shippers and consignors.
If you ever have to go to a construction site, they will all help block
traffic for you. That is probably the most fun. It doesn't take but a few
seconds, so if someone gets upset, BFD.
As for being an OTR myself, it has been fun and I am sure I'll miss it when
go local.
In summation, if you want to try it, then do, you might like it too.
RobZip
Like everyone else says - it's all a matter of what fits you best. There are
a lot of very good people you will meet driving over the road. There are
some experiences that will earn a spot at the top of your fond memories
list.
You will also have some very forgettable days and meet the occasional
shipper or receiver who elevates being an asshole to an advanced art form.
Your emotional and physical tolerances will be tested in many ways. Some
trucking companies realize that their drivers are perhaps as important of an
asset as their vehicles - others merely regard you as meat in the seat and
treat you accordingly.
One of the most stunning pleasant memories I have was immediately followed
by one of the most negative. In Sept. '03, I was southbound out of
Wisconsin on I-94 talking with 4 or 5 other drivers. I mentioned that I was
trying to get back to Ohio early enough to go to dinner with my family for
my birthday celebration that night. A young black driver - obvious by the
sound of his voice - spontaneously began to sing Happy Birthday to me. He
had a very good voice and sang in the style of an opera tenor complete with
arias. His vocal talent was absolutely amazing and he sang the entire Happy
Birthday tune with power and conviction. It was right about this time that I
was splitting off to follow 41 south while the rest of the group headed for
the toll section of 94. I was quite flattered and surprised that there was
actually a driver out there who *could* sing and even more so that he would
invest the effort on behalf of a total stranger. After he finished, the
radio was silent for a few seconds - obviously the others were as blown away
by what they had just heard as I was. I was just about to key the mic to
say thank you when a voice crackled in to say 'shaddup nigger'. The ensuing
chaos faded into static before I could get my thanks in as I drifted further
from the group. If that driver who sang is out there anywhere - Thank You!
That little bit of humanity made a bigger impression on a tired out driver
headed for home than you could ever imagine.
Amy D
That was a very cool story, Robzip. :)
amy
Net Resident
It is subjective and the old addage /Your milage will vary/ is somewhat
true but my advice would be to avoid it. If you're young, poor, need to
get away from your place of birth etc. I'd suggest considering the
military or the merchant marines. Even a career in the postal service
would be a significant step up IMHO. (I have a friend in the postal
service) Consult more people for career ideas.
There are many numerous problems with being a truck driver. First off it
is physically bad for you, your body is constantly subjected to horrid
roads, exhaust flumes, chemicals, expensive un-nutritious un-sound
dietary food and it is likely you will get food poisoning a few times a
year.
Depending on who you end up working for you can be in constant terror,
torn between time schedules and juggling your log book so that DOT does
not cost you a lot of time and money which you can never afford. You
also in general live in constant fear of the law since you basically end
up with little to no civil rights as a professional driver.
It is for these reasons in particular that I *strongly* suggest that if
you are going to persue a career in this field that you find a large
established carrier that has a entry and training program. It is very
important that you do your research to find a good company, the research
you do can make or break your career. Scrutinize carfully the support
they offer, this support is worth a slightly smaller pay if the support
is real and working. Talking to the other compnay drivers is a MUST, get
their opinions. Be very sure to keep all of your legitimate log books
for proof of career. If a company treats you well, treat them well back.
If not, find another carrier after a year or two.
Other drivers will wrongly consider you the enemy just because your
vehicle is large and it seems many passenger car drivers consider truck
drivers as sub human peons. Unfortunately the most vocal truck drivers
further perpetuate this terrible image and myth via the CB radio. Carry
a ready to use camera on you in case of accidents. Develope professional
attitudes and habits that stay with you even when fatigued.
I'm sure others will add more but best of luck to you.
Gunluvver2
Jim,
I drove over the rode as an O/O from 1974 to 1982 and then as a driver from
1982 to 1989. I loved my time as an O/O. I was leased to H.J. Jeffries truck
lines in Oklahoma City when I was an O/O. I made some pretty decent money while
with them and met some fantastic people. I was single and having the time of my
life during those years.
HJJ depended on heavy equipment and oil field related business for most of
their revenue. In about 1980 the economy started changing and that segment of
the trucking business was having problems. I sold my eqipment in 1982 and after
hanging out at the house for a few months I got an OTR job with one of the
local long haul companies. I hated it!. I stuck it out until 1989 when I found
a 40 hour a week job in my hometown. Nothing at all to do with trucking.
I had to take a medical retirement from the job I started in 1989 and I have
devoted all my efforts since then into managing my investments. Most of that
investment money was possible from IRA and Keogh contributions started when I
was an O/O plus some 401 K money from my stay at home job. Looking back over
the years from 1974 to 1989 when I was driving OTR I am glad I did it but if I
was a young man now I doubt if I would even consider trucking. It is a
different ballgame now.
If you do decide to go OTR one of themost important things to do IMHO is start
a self directed IRA and take advantage of any company pension plans etc. Plus
learn HOW to manage that money yourself. After you drive OTR for a few years if
you decide you want to quit and get a stay at home job you may have a difficult
time doing it. Any special skills you had when you started trucking are
probably rusty and finding a new career when you are in your 40's isn't always
easy.
Good luck to you if you do decide to go OTR.
DL
Cainman
"Rocky Roads - 25th week" <NotARealEm...@sorry.too> wrote in message
news:c44e0k$4...@library1.airnews.net...
> "Jim Miller" <jim...@hotmail.com > wrote in message
> news:b7db609cikdns6lfr...@4ax.com...
> > I want to drive a truck OTR, and maybe local once I get some
> > experience, but everytime I come to this newsgroup I see a lot of
> > negative posts about truck driving as a whole? Is there anything
> > positive at all about driving a truck, especially OTR?
>
>
> There are a lot of good very people out there. Shippers and consignors.
>
> If you ever have to go to a construction site, they will all help block
> traffic for you. That is probably the most fun. It doesn't take but a
few
> seconds, so if someone gets upset, BFD.
Hello Bullis, and how are you today?
Jim Miller
>DL
I'm 40. Is that good age to start driving? I'm divorced and not
married to anyone currently. No kids. Don't plan on getting married
anytime soon, but don't like being alone neither. I know if I start to
date and meet someone anytime in the near future, it's going to be
quite difficult to turn around tell them I'm going OTR. Is it true
that truckers have a significant other at every truck stop cafe and
restaurant? Eventhough trucking is different 'ballgame' now, I work
in a job that is totally unrelated to trucking.
Hdlinnebur
In my short otr experience I have to say that listening to the CB was most
often like being in a room full of crack heads, street thugs, rapists, and
robbers. Constant threats of violence over the most trivial matters.
Wavking
"Rocky Roads - 25th week" <NotARealEm...@sorry.too> wrote in message
news:c44e0k$4...@library1.airnews.net...
> There are a lot of good very people out there. Shippers and consignors.
The shipper *IS* the consignor. The one who consigned the truck. The
receiver is the consignee.
Amy D
No, MOST truckdrivers don't have girlfriends at every stop. It's a
popular misconception, though.
It will be tough to find a signficant other while OTR. It will be tough
enough keeping a significant other going OTR if you find one first. :)
You have to be damn crazy to live this life so if you are looking for a
significant other before going OTR be sure to find on with one foot in
the psych ward already. :)
amy
Amy D
Jim Miller wrote:
Oh....and be SURE they are not "Miss Priss" who can't get their hands
dirty, not afraid of plumbing, car repairs, home repairs, spiders,
snakes, IRS guys....... :)
In other words to survive this life the "wife" has to be independent and
the "husband" has to be comfortable with that......
amy
Rocky Roads - 25th week
news:106ch22...@corp.supernews.com...
> You have to be damn crazy to live this life so if you are looking for a
> significant other before going OTR be sure to find on with one foot in
> the psych ward already. :)
>
> amy
Ok, since I am already in OTR, does that mean I have to find a girlfriend
with both feet in the psycho ward?
If it does, that is OK with me.
<story snipped>
Rocky Roads - 25th week
Amy D
LOL...that would probably be best. :) Make sure she is on plenty of
medication.....:)
amy
Rocky Roads
LOL . . . I doubt if there would be enough room in the sleeper for her and
her medication. I'll have to wait until I go local or get a bigger truck.
Rocky - 9 days left and counting.
Rookie Pedo Watch
>
> Rocky - 9 days left and counting.
>
9 days until what? You grow up? You get a functioning brain?
9 days until you can play butt boy to Richard again?
Rookie Pedo Watch
> Rocky Roads wrote:
>
>>
>> Rocky - 9 days left and counting.
>>
>
Troublemaker
I'm local now, so this probably won't apply. This may sound silly, but now
that I'm local, one of the best things about driving is a pre-school I pass
2 or 3 times a day. If the kids are outside playing, they come running to
the fence and pump their little arms up and down so I'll hit the airhorn.
The way they smile, yell, and jump up and down when I toot the horn gives me
a smile, no matter what kind of day I'm having. I know it's simple, but
sometimes it's the simple things in life that help you make it through the
day.
-Barry
Joe Canuck
Park it outside the school and toot on command, forget about the
driving. ;-)