Are There Cliques In Trucking?

I know that when you're a trucker that you're really part of a big family. You watch out for each other and help each other out. But I'm wondering something. Are there cliques within trucking itself like in high school. You know like flat bedders hang out with other flat bidders, like wise with local drivers, reefer guys, etc. I ask this because I like to give the usual wave out nod to other truckers going down the road. Buy it seems that tanker, flat beds, and the big national guys don't respond. But I get a lot more response from other local guys like myself or dry van guys. I don't take offense to it at all but it just made me wonder.

A little bit there is...yeah. Pretty much along the lines of what you mentioned - people tend to connect with people who are doing the same type of job or sometimes it will run along the lines of the brand of truck you drive. But it's not a dominant type of thing. Nobody is going to cuss out a flatbedder for speaking with a dry van guy. You're not going to get hit over the head with a baseball bat by a Peterbuilt guy for driving a Volvo or anything like that. It's a very minimal thing.

In fact, the old-school "Ford vs Chevy" debate was much more serious than cliques in trucking are. Maybe in the 70's a Peterbuilt guy would have hit a Volvo guy over the head, but nowadays I don't think there's that kind of brand loyalty anymore - just like in the car industry.

And interestingly enough, after you've been out there for a while you'll find that the last thing you're going to want to do is sit around talking to other drivers about trucking. Most of the bonding that goes on between experienced drivers is usually from the discovery of common interests like sports, hobbies, or health & fitness.

I'm training in flatbed for Prime, I wave at anyone who waves at me but my trainer gives me a hard time for waving at reefer drivers. I still do it though. I was a reefer driver for a year.

my trainer gives me a hard time for waving at reefer drivers

People are so funny about stuff.

Yea that's what I kind of thought. I still wave anyway but it's just funny

Yeah, there are cliques, but we usually don't have time to hang out. Too busy driving down the road. One other thing...we usually don't lock up rookie (geek) reefer drivers in their reefer box. So...in that way, it isn't like high school. Now, in "Little Italy," and cement trucks? I have NO IDEA.

Dave

I'm training in flatbed for Prime, I wave at anyone who waves at me but my trainer gives me a hard time for waving at reefer drivers. I still do it though. I was a reefer driver for a year.

Probably envious.