We Really Do Care.....

A while back we had a guy come to the forums and ask a bunch of questions which is why we are here. When it was suggested that he use the High Roads training he said that he did not have the time between working and sleeping and family he did not have the time to study. Did not have time to get on the computer like we do.

Now this stuck in my head. Not sure if this guy is still around. Hopefully he went on to have a great driving career if he went forward. We have had many people come through this site and I know we have helped many people. And know many people are very thankful with the help and info that has been provide free of charge. But again I somehow always come back to what I wrote at first up top.

Now this is not pointed at anyone. I am only writing this cause its on my mind at the moment and can't be bothered with posting a video on YouTube about it. Many of us drivers here have been on this forums for years. Yes I mean years. I believe I started here around March 2009 on our other forums. I know many have been here at least since 2009. Maybe some are a bit newer. In either case let me give a quick run down of our days/nights. We pick up our loads and drive down the road. We deal with all kinds of weather and traffic conditions and all that in the same day most times. We have deadlines to meet just like all the other drivers out here. Most times we are dead tired at the end of our drive shift. Sometimes even to tired to get a shower but we make the time. Why? Cause its important to us. Now even if we have had a long day ,which most days are, we still make time to come on the forums here and help out where we can. Why? Cause we want to. Brett does not twist our arms. We want to help out all we can because we have the experience and knowledge to provide good solid advice. Heck I have even seen a time or two that Brett went AWOL from the site a day or two cause he got busy(he was really just playing with the new cows he got. I seen the video so it must be true) :D . But seriously he has enough trust that he knows that things are not going to go to hell in a hand basket if he can't get on the next day.

Now with all we do day in and day out if we were all like the guy above I wrote about where would this site be? Not sure cause I don't have time to check. :D

So everyone just know that the guys and gals here on this site giving advice and helping people out do it cause they want to and have an interest in helping others get into trucking. A few older drivers like Brett and myself and a few others that have 15+ years of experience each did not have this totally awesome resource like this site back when we started. It truly was a life of hard knocks back then.

Ok I guess I can go to bed now. Have to start driving again in 7 hours. Be safe out there. Maybe Saint Christopher be your co-driver.

Wonderful post guyjax i couldnt say it any better myself, i know where ur coming from bud ive been here surprisingly bout as long as you have.i cnt believe how many drivers weve helped and sen come and go.

We really do appreciate what you guys/gals do for us newbies, I found the CDL manual wasn't the way I wanted to study, I like how this site breaks up the info and then tests us. I like to read everyone posts, love the advice. I could go on. I have much more respect for truckers driving on the road, I remember thinking "does he really have to go that slow", well, now I know "yes". What you do for us is priceless. Thank You!

But seriously he has enough trust that he knows that things are not going to go to hell in a hand basket if he can't get on the next day.

AMEN TO THAT!

Really, it's hard to put into words how thankful I am that so many drivers out there come here to help the newbies understand the trucking industry and get their career off to a great start. I've since retired from driving but believe me I never stop thinking about how busy you guys and gals are out there. I'm sooooooo thankful you make the time to come by and help out.

A few older drivers like Brett and myself and a few others that have 15+ years of experience each did not have this totally awesome resource like this site back when we started. It truly was a life of hard knocks back then.

You ain't kiddin! Not to mention no GPS, no cell phones, no Internet, and no Qualcomm in the beginning. We had to navigate the country with a road atlas and written directions from customers. We had to stop and find a payphone to call dispatch 10 times a day. It was quite a bit different back then.

It's awesome that we can do so much now to help people understand the industry, make the right choices, prepare for their CDL exams, and have a good idea to expect from life on the road.

Brett, some of us started trucking when there was manual steering (gives ya Popeye arms), no air ride ANYTHING, vacuum windshield wipers, jakebrake on the floor, no ac, and coffin sleepers. The up side to that kind of cave dwelling trucking ??? You could have as many log books as you could keep up with, as many cdl's from different states that you could get, and you didn't have to pay your tickets, if you could continue to sneak thru the states you got em in !! Now THAT was truckin' !!!!

Brett, some of us started trucking when there was manual steering (gives ya Popeye arms), no air ride ANYTHING, vacuum windshield wipers, jakebrake on the floor, no ac, and coffin sleepers. The up side to that kind of cave dwelling trucking ??? You could have as many log books as you could keep up with, as many cdl's from different states that you could get, and you didn't have to pay your tickets, if you could continue to sneak thru the states you got em in !! Now THAT was truckin' !!!!

This reminds me of the movies Convoy, and Smokey and the Bandit!!!

Without this site I am not sure I would have had the confidence that I had going in to take my commercial driving permit tests. After studying like crazy and taking the practice tests over and over I went in and took the test and past each one I took. I can not wait to get my trucking career started so I can come back on this and maybe have the chance to help out someone else. This site rocks! I thank all the good people on here for all the tips and help you provide.

The "Good ole days of trucking".

I sat here and read all these comments and my hat is off to everyone. And my deepest thanks also.

But in all the stuff mentioned, no one mentioned the best part.

I was in trucking my first time, 35 years ago. Log books? What in the heck were those things? And a drivers lounge??

The cab of your truck was the "driver's lounge". You told someone in the office you wanted to get a little shut eye. Please knock on my door in about an hour. Then you were off and running again.

And every driver helped the other guy out. No matter if you worked for the same company or not.

And the best thing I ever saw. I was only involved in one of these. I was at a rest area one evening on my way back home. A trucker brought out a little grill. Fired it up. Next thing you know, truckers were coming from all over bringing something. They didn't know each other. They were part of a bigger family. The trucking family.

Those are the glory days of trucking. When it meant something when you said you were a trucker.

Those days are long gone. But something I would dearly love to see come back.

Keep it safe out here. The life you save might be your own. Joe S

Joe, we had ALOT of cookouts on weekends in truckstops, all over the lower 48. Get on the cb, give out a hollar, and bring out the grill....someone will bobtail to get the steaks and such, and the "tailgate party" is on...Its a great way to break the ice, meet some good people, and hear some good stories..and to kill an otherwise boring weekend ...