I'm Quitting Trucking

It is quite crazy that you would think that nobody should do this, when it makes your cushy office job possible. There is nothing wrong with it, but it seems like you went into this with no research as well as high expectations. I am not in trucking yet, however, I have come to accept all these truths before I start. Some of us are not in good positions for better work and this can be a great opportunity. Especially if one does not have many things to hold them back. Have you ever made $350 every two weeks? I can't even fathom $1,000 a week! At the end of the day you could have worded this better as a way to help others, instead you have just made yourself look like a big baby.

Either way I hope that people can learn from this and see that truck driving is not easy. I am grateful that I know these things even before I am driving as well as coming to accept these things. If anything this is a prime example of not doing research.

I did my research. It's just I was an oddity and it didn't work out for me.

The failure rateand turnover rate out here is tremendous. It's astronomical. They lose more drivers than they gain. Every company.

I did my research. It's just I was an oddity and it didn't work out for me.

The failure rate and turnover rate out here is tremendous. It's astronomical. They lose more drivers than they gain. Every company.

My comment wasn't to you, it was to the original poster. It is a lifestyle for sure. You provide a good example because we can do so much research, but in the end we won't know until we try it. I am in a position where I have to make this work or I'll basically be homeless. Either way you found out it wasn't for you and that is alright.

I did my research. It's just I was an oddity and it didn't work out for me.

The failure rateand turnover rate out here is tremendous. It's astronomical. They lose more drivers than they gain. Every company.

And it's usually due, as much to false expectations - and much less as to the company actually doing the employee wrong (not directed at YOU HH, just a generalization).

And the turnover is going to be even more marked - in the newbie/training companies, due to the combination of people that just didn't know what they were in for, those that just can't hack the lifestyle, as well as those that DO put their year in and move onto greener pastures.

The first misperception is really, what the original poster highlighted. If you're coming from employment where you punch a clock and get paid for every minute you're on it - then you are in for a rude awakening when it comes to trucking.

Reminds me of when I was doing certification training for forklift & yard mule at the longshoremans union. The TRAINING was free, but you didn't get paid hourly for your TIME WHILE TRAINING. Most guys had a bad attitude and thought it was unfair - like they were doing THE UNION A FAVOR by getting certified to operate equipment. They failed to take into account that these certifications would net them $10-20 an hour MORE than just doing "general labor". Turn it around and look at it as an INVESTMENT OF TIME, to be able to earn more, and putting in the training hours doesn't look so horrible.

EVERY COMPANY doesn't run 100% turn-over. The turnover is due to "greener pasture syndrome" (and it's usually about the same, once you get out of the training company genre of company), people that just can't hack it (accidents, disposition, false expectations, lack of patience, etc.), and folks where the lifestyle (and the sacrifices to home life) just aren't a good match.

Which is not to say that trainers don't "take advantage" of the income when running in a team environment when they don't have to split the "truck miles" with the trainee (company driver trainers - lease drivers get the trainee's pay taken out of their settlements).

It's called PAYING YOUR DUES - and it seems the "luck of the draw" whether or not you get a conscientious trainer, or someone that just wants to rack up the miles.

The original post may be taken as "what's wrong with the trucking industry", and to a degree, some of these things "could be better" (wait times, etc.). Flatbed drivers get Tarp Pay for tarping. NO ONE GETS CHAIN PAY for "chaining up". It's part of the game - and if you have to chain to get where you're going (destination or truck stop), then it's CHAIN OR STOP MOVING.

No one was "promised a rose garden" here. If anyone did ANY READING - they know how difficult the job can be on RELATIONSHIPS.

Conversely - what's interesting is how many people retire from various careers and go out OTR - and LOVE IT.

Trucking ISN'T FOR EVERYONE. But the only way to find out if it's NOT FOR YOU - is to PAY YOUR DUES. Do the year or more to learn the ropes and not be low man on the totem pole. Do your research - not only HERE, but on other forums (though you will find TT to be the most balanced and realistic of both good and bad). Most other forums are WHINE-FESTS.

Rick

Oh I'm aware it is probably a great career choice for many people. Not myself.

The company never did me wrong it was just a unfortunate series of events. But I do believe every sign the universe is showing me that it isn't for me. Every turn has been bad for me. Just plain Murphys law

It may be good in the future just not right now.

$5 says he never comes back and rebuttals his seriously over negative and helpful posts that he's getting called out on.

I have read enough of these here that at this point my only response to him is:

Would you like some cheese with that whine?

Yeah it's mean and not helpful but guess what, so is his post.

I bet I could probably find this same post and every other trucker forum too if I searched... when someone comes, registers and first post is something like this, it tells me he googled "trucker forums" and registered on everyone he could to post the same thing.

Fffff

I made $6,000 last year...not even enough to file taxes. And this guy's gonna complain about $1,000 a week.

This post makes me mad.

To the OP (who has likely vanished forever from this forum):

I agree with a lot of what you said about trucking. There are things about it that suck sometimes, and there are certain aspects of it that suck all the time.

I had a cushy office job, too. I made more money there, and I could have stayed there and likely would've been promoted by now to a gig that pays $70k minimum and over $100k on average. My old boss has asked me a couple of times if I would consider coming back.

So what do I find myself thinking about when I'm tarping a load in bad weather, or sitting somewhere delayed by something (lack of freight, slow loading or unloading, traffic jams), or have a bad week with a small check?

I think, It could be worse! I could be working that crappy office job I had! And then I smile because I'm not there or anywhere like it. I'm driving a truck.

I guess it's all about doing what suits you. Trucking isn't for everybody. Neither are office jobs.

In fact, it's folks with attitudes like yours that made the office jobs so awful. Are there truckers with bad attitudes? Sure there are. Do I have to listen to their griping all the do dah day? Nope, I can always get in my truck and shut the door. Is it my job to make them happy, productive workers? Not any more ha ha!

I hope you enjoy your new job, and I hope your new boss figures out how to keep you happy. Better yet, I hope you learn how to be content with whatever situation you find yourself in.

P.S. It is my considered opinion that ranting into the wind about some bad decision you've made is better done in private, or outside a bar somewhere after you've tossed back a few while you're waiting for a cab.

I've only been driving truck for 18 months. I'm home every night and every weekend. I work for R&L Carriers, making $22.10 per hour, average 9.5 hours a day. After 3 years, I'll be making $27 per hour, with cost of living increases every year thereafter. Our benefits are also great. I spent most of my life in an office, and got layed-off at age 57 when my company downsized. I could not get another job in my field, so I went to CDL school. There are so many opportunities in this industry, and its too bad this fellow ripped the entire industry. Even though I drive locally, I have seen some of the most amazing sunsets driving Westbound interstate 78 in PA. Not going to see that in any office. I also like the fact that Im never stuck in one place all day.

Hudsinhawk predicts:

[Trucking companies] lose more drivers than they gain. Every company.

So you're saying more leave the profession than join?

Does that mean in a few years there'll only be Old School, 6 string, G-town, mountain girl and me for all that freight?

... Wow!