Profile For Steve L.

Hang in there Radar! If you can laugh off the pettiness of one rough Driver, you’ll likely prove to be a hugely successful driver yourself.

You need math to figure out that I havent driven in winter yet? lol.

I have no desire to waste what little time I have left on this earth getting paid trash money and being only able to see my family 4 days a month. Maybe in the grand scheme of things, 4 months is little experience but with what that experience has shown me is not good.

This, along with the fact that the Original Poster only joined Trucking Truth in the past couple of days, is what is often disheartening to me; that if a person doesn't get instant gratification, they move on. How will you ever gain wisdom if you're not willing to stick around long enough for it to appear? And why do you come to such a knowledgeable place only after you've decided you know better than the experienced drivers? A bit of an oxymoron isn't it?

Well, good luck with school and your future endeavors. But, you might want to seek out the advice of the experienced before diving into any endeavor, not after. It'll get you farther, faster IF you heed the advice and practice a little discernment in your decision making.

I'm not an Economist, but I offer a few observations/questions;

1. If the people making the decisions are protected from the economic realities the rest of us must live with, is it possible the typical economic cycles no longer apply?

2. When the freight was so abundant every company had more loads than they could handle, is it possible many of the companies really weren't very well run and are now struggling? I mean, isn't it possible lousy management was easily hidden by the abundance of loads and revenue coming in?

3. Since so many people have figured out a way to survive financially, without the traditional job is it possible this economic valley will last longer than downturns of the past?

4. On the up-side; with the average age of Drivers being so advanced, is it possible the trucking profession may not suffer long, as many retire out to escape this situation and take their retirement?

5. How long are you (individually, and you don't need to answer it here) prepared to weather the economic difficulties?

As with any economic downturn, I do think there are going to be differences geographically, as well as freight type.

I'm old enough to understand that some general principles are still going to matter. One of the major ones (yes, I know, it's my opinion) is debt management. Whether people like it or not, those with the financial resources to hang in there will be the survivors. Those with heavy debt or low cash reserves, will suffer heavily or shut down.

Steve, Congratulations on your new job. With a 15 year old son at home, I think you made a wise choice. You'll never get back the time you spend, or don't, with him. I hope you'll continue to hang with us if you choose, but we understand if trucking falls off your radar.

The business climate is crazy right now in a lot of sectors. Trucking is taking an unusual hit, and there is no way to predict exactly what will be happening. The things you said about the economy and the people who have influence right now ring true with me. There have always been swings in politics and results reflecting what's going on. This time period seems a bit severe in so many ways that it's concerning to most of us. We shall see what becomes of all this. We wish you every success in your new job!

Old School; I apologize if I said I have a Son at home. My Son’s grown, with his own family. It’s this beauty I’ve got to man the shotgun over. 🤣

But seriously, y’all are so kind and I’ll hang in here.

Be safe, be aware!

Steve L.,

Sorry to read that you have moved on. Times are tough right now but there has been ups and downs in trucking for as long as I can remember.

The recession and fuel shortages back in the 70's caused me a couple of jobs but I was able to find another job and even some part time work to supplement the lean times.

Good luck in whatever you do and don't be a stranger here at TT.

Thank you Sir! I do think things will rebound; it's just a matter of when and whether this economy will go farther down, before rebounding. I'm not sure I have 10-15years to see how it all shakes out.

I was fortunate to be offered a position that is paying me pretty close to my truck driving pay, plus I'm home every day and weekends. With a 15 year-old going on 25, my trucking company going through some changes (that could prove good or bad, who knows?), it just seemed a perfect storm of events, along with (possibly) a nudge from God.

One of the things truck driving allowed me to do was, reduce my debt. I could survive, financially, on less than half my truck driving salary. This, I think more than any other financial strategy, is going to factor into how people and companies weather this financial storm.

As I said before, I'm so grateful for everyone here. Especially you and Old School; you guys helped me keep perspective throughout. I sincerely hope I'm able to share what wisdom I've been able to glean from minds like yours.

Back in June, I had calculated a 358 mile (average weekly) drop. I'd estimated it would result in a $10,000/yr drop in pay. Things continued to get worse. Fortunately, for the rest of the drivers at my company, I found a different (non-trucking) job and have left the road.

Yesterday, a close friend who drives for the same company I left, said he finished last week with 1,700 miles. He's a driver that has been with the company ten years, has a great safety record and used to average 2,700+ miles/week.

I'm grateful for this site and all the learning I was able to do before I went to school. While I hope the cycle soon rebounds, I can't say I share that optimism this time around. Many of the people, running the country, are protected from the economic realities the rest of us have to live with. Ergo, they have little incentive to do the things necessary to turn the economy around. Hell, they can't even admit there's a problem, let alone the real causes.

Anyway, I hope I'm wrong and I'm still grateful for this site, Brett, Old School, Errol and all the others who've helped make my Trucking experience the top-notch experience it was.

Keep the shiny side up folks. :)

Have I been conned?

If you come to Trucking Truth before going to any CDL Training, your chances of being “conned” are greatly reduced.

I’m always amazed at how many people find this site after they have problems.

But seriously, when were the DUI’s? Did you ask the Recruiter WHICH companies hire with DUI’s and from their school?

Nothing wrong with looking for a new career, but ask yourself this;

If you were going to spend $150,000-$200,000 on buying a truck, would you hire a guy that has no experience and send him out on the road?

Others will chime in with more detail, but I would ABSOLUTELY NOT start your own trucking business right now, which is what you're asking.

If you wanna drive, go be a company driver first.

Good luck!

Thank you Old School! I was thinking much the same thing as I read it this morning. I am so grateful I came here before going to Truck Driving School.

I went to a private school, paid the tuition and did the reimbursement thing. My school had those rickety old day cabs and 48' trailers. No complaints from me. It wasn't a perfect scenario, but it was what I needed to accomplish my objectives.

Yeah, I laughed when the dude tries to make his passing the test sound like no big deal. I'm pretty sure we've all seen many people not able to pass, even at the best training facilities. So yeah, let's see; basically he taught himself, drove whenever he felt like it, no supervision and still he managed to pass the test. WOW!

Again Old School, I'm grateful to the TT site AND YOU!

Very true Steve!

Most of what I call the quitters are very small operators who finally realize the cards are stacked against them. We've seen some larger operations struggling lately. It used to be that a business could borrow its way through a difficult down cycle, but now borrowed money has gotten too costly. When you add in the interest expense incurred, nowadays it tips the scales in favor of departure rather than simple endurance.

I hope your optimism proves true but, I agree with Davy that this is likely to last longer.

I believe (only my opinion) it’ll last longer because the powers that be ARE NOT interested in solutions, rather their political agendas and keeping their power.

I hope I’m wrong, but fear I’m not.