Abandoned Truck

Can the mods delete a thread? I find the bio a little exposing. I posted something earlier with no comments. If there are no answers, or a rouge poster, can the forum be "uncluttered"?

Can the mods delete a thread? I find the bio a little exposing. I posted something earlier with no comments. If there are no answers, or a rouge poster, can the forum be "uncluttered"?

Yeah I can delete anything at anytime. When I first read his statement I was going to delete it but everyone here stood up and called BS on this guy so I kept this thread and deleted the company name he mentioned. I think this is the perfect example of the kind of garbage everyone hears when they're trying to get their career underway and I want people to know this kind of stuff is cr*p.

I mean, his logic is awesome isn't it? He was going to turn in the truck in just four short days but they didn't want to wait that long so now nobody should ever go work for that company - ever.

I'm sorry but this guy is clueless. So clueless that he thinks he can just keep about $150k worth of equipment until he gets around to giving it back and they should just shut up and wait on him. I mean....why would a person think that would ever be acceptable? If it was his truck and his driver was quitting would he say, "Just get it back to me whenever you get the chance. No biggie."

And of course a huge kudos goes out to everyone who responded to this guy and called BS because these type of people with this type of misinformation are causing a lot of new drivers to make poor career decisions for themselves or preventing them from entering the industry altogether. And the attitude that these companies are out to get everyone is completely absurd. Trucking companies exist to make money and they know what it takes. If you're an awesome driver with an awesome attitude and you're doing what it takes to make sure your company is making money then you'll do great anywhere you work. If you're not going to do your part to help the company make money then you're going to be miserable and you're going to get kicked to the curb one way or another. Simple as that.

Trucking companies exist to make money and they know what it takes. If you're an awesome driver with an awesome attitude and you're doing what it takes to make sure your company is making money then you'll do great anywhere you work. If you're not going to do your part to help the company make money then you're going to be miserable and you're going to get kicked to the curb one way or another. Simple as that.

Brett, I am glad you said that. I have always worked with the thought in my mind that if I work to make more money for the company, they can afford to pay me more. With the exception of one union job that has been the case every time.

I look at it this way. If you are going to quit your job you should do it at a terminal. You can let them know you're going to quit while on the road, and that you want to turn in the truck as soon as possible, meaning "I need to get this truck to a terminal , and I would like you to route me to the nearest or home terminal, please," and NOT "I found a new job, and I'll bring the truck back after orientation with the new company."

That is what we are trying to figure out here. If you quit while OTR , and the route(s)/load(s) took four days to get you to a terminal, then no they really can't say you abandoned the equipment. If they said "take it here," and you took more time than necessary delivering it, then they probably can say you abandoned it. If they had to send a driver to pick it up, and it was other than a terminal or authorized location, then yes, they can probably say you abandoned the equipment.

Dave

I am considering becoming a trucker. I am 39 years old. my son has moved out and my daughter only has a couple more years until she will probably be leaven as well. I just wanted to say thanks for all the helpful information from everyone AWESOME SITE. And I will continue to research and think about this career change. Not sure how I'm going to like being gone for weeks on end. but you guys have complied a lot of good information for people.

Thanks, Tommy

Trucking companies exist to make money and they know what it takes. If you're an awesome driver with an awesome attitude and you're doing what it takes to make sure your company is making money then you'll do great anywhere you work. If you're not going to do your part to help the company make money then you're going to be miserable and you're going to get kicked to the curb one way or another. Simple as that.

That deserves a double quote and re-post. I can honestly say this is true. As a clueless rookie with a crazy work ethic 13 months ago, I put it all out there for the company and it is coming back in ways that still blow my mind.

After reading quite a few posts on the subject, it seems there are usually hard feelings on behalf of most companies when any departure occurs....and of course it will for everyone at one time or another. Can a driver just say 'it's been good and I am ready for a change' without ill will on their part? I am planning on starting my career with a major trucking company, drive for 1 year, then re-evaluate for a second year.

After reading quite a few posts on the subject, it seems there are usually hard feelings on behalf of most companies when any departure occurs....and of course it will for everyone at one time or another. Can a driver just say 'it's been good and I am ready for a change' without ill will on their part? I am planning on starting my career with a major trucking company, drive for 1 year, then re-evaluate for a second year.

i have wondered the same thing. It seems when i do read when someone puts in their notice they either get the best miles ever in hopes they stay or they get to sit...

Okay, I had to respond to this one. Quitting a truck driving job is completely different than quitting most other jobs. I recently quit my job one month after being runner up driver of the month in the flat-bed division which consists of around 1200 drivers. Here's what I did. I sent my sorely disappointed driver manager a qualcomm message explaining how much I had enjoyed working with him, and how grateful I was for all the things I had learned while working there, but I had an opportunity that I felt I needed to try so I would appreciate him letting this message serve as my two weeks notice that I was leaving. I also asked to be routed to the main terminal so I could turn in my truck. That's how you do it.

They begged me to reconsider, their driver liason people are still calling me to assure me that any time I want to come back they will gladly put me back in a truck.

You can't just drive the truck home on their dime and then say I'll bring the truck to you when I get my stuff cleaned out. You have to plan ahead and do the right thing. It will only serve to help you if you leave on a positive note.

Yes, it can be done - thousands of professionals do it all the time.

Thanks for sharing your experience O.S.! The first positive I've heard!