why all the whining

Yup.... All i wanna do is sit behind the wheel mentality... Not just a job but a career/lifestyle. But then, what the heck, how many people making good money in white collar job and still whining? When folks don't think things through to come to the decisions they make, life will be much less kind to them!

 

It's not what I thought it was going to be, it's much easier.

 

Movies have glorified trucking for years. The general public think all truckers are making major $$$ driving. Then someone gets the trucking bug they sign those contracts and get that dream job. Some can handle the stress of trucking and some can't. Its the ones that cant or never should have started driving to start with that does all the crying and such. I have spoken to several drivers over the last few years that are trapped in year contracts. They are homesick, broke and discouraged. I try to encourage them to stick it out. I also offer them my phone number to call if they are ever in a bad situation and need a friend.

 

Agreed. I read all 36 pages of mine word for word - in fact, most documents I sign, loans , etc - I always read before signing.

 

It's that new Affluenza virus going around. See, one day this guy woke up and discovered that he was fat and smelly. "It must be the truck's fault!" Can't be his fault, right? Doesn't bathe, crams CarlJr down his neck and on stressful days consumes 10 lbs of fried chicken at the buffet.

"But he had a Diet Coke, Six! Doesn't that count for anything?"

Someone logs on to TTR. They ask about schools. "What's the best school to get my CDL Training?" The best school. Only the best will do. Successful drivers could have only come from the best schools. How do you know which school is the best? Passing and hiring percentage? Well if they did that "no child left behind thing," you may be in for a rude awakening.

We won't even talk about the recruiters.

"What's the BEST starter company?" Difficult question. Which war would have been the BEST to fight in as an American? The War of independence, the CivilWar, WorldWarII, VietNam are your choices.

"Six, they're asking about trucking, not war."

Understood, point is this: any one you choose is going to have pros and cons, and a lot of tough situations and challenges. If you've never had to endure tough, grueling work (burger flipping is NOT hard work) to make a living, you're in for a surprise.

So they get packed up on a Greydog, and spend 2 days eating out of vending machines and old breathed over and rubberized hotdogs. Get to their destination and the company shuttle bus picks them up. Worse parts over, right?

You get into a motel and there's someone else already in there. "This ain't cool. I have no privacy." You don't know him, he doesn't know you, so both of you avoid interacting. Next day, the mega company orientation slaughterhouse begins. Best thing about orientation is the free lunch. Come back to the motel room, and there's someone else in the room. Your first roomie is heading back on a Greydog.

You finally meet your trainer. He's just like you, a loner, so you both dislike each other. He's a rookie himself and you're his first student. "But I deserve the best!" The relationship deteriorates quickly, and you're back on a Greydog in a month. "They are saying I owe $5000. Can they take my CDL?

So Six, how would you fix a mega bottomfeeder?

1. No 'loners' on my team. I'd send recruiters to schools, but he's looking for people that could play team ball.
2. No Braindeads. If you can't follow simple directions, you shouldn't be driving.
3. Real trainers. Ever go to a gym and see a trainer that looks like they've never done any exercise themselves? How are you going to inspire a rookie to greatness when you yourself look, act and drive like a rookie? One who has mastered his craft is c-a-l-m, even under stress. Now if a trainer could turn qualified rookies into solid drivers, that trainer would be making 6 figures.
4. No hand holding, no micromanaging no Beancounter trucks. You want it, go get it. You don't get it, it's your fault. I don't want to hear any excuses. Want to be preplan need, they will preplan you. You handle everything else. You want to work, we will work. You don't, you will be out of my truck. No slackers allowed. If you ask for a run and I give you a run, you'd better make it. NOW if you have some emergency at home, communicate with the office BEFORE you make any plans or promises. We play team ball, we will get you covered and home ASAP. You drop the ball and hurt my team, I will crucify you.
5. Managements got your back. If you were a solid driver and run into any issues and problems, we would have your back. There was a thread about a license getting suspended because of child support. If you were solid, I'm not gonna leave you in the lurch. Fly you home, and help you get it worked out, even send people to help you mediate a deal to restore your driving privileges. If you are a deadbeat, it will come out.

 

But six they didn't tell me in school how many inches were in a foot or how many pounds in a ton when I drove over that 11'6" bridge that was rated for 6 tons

It's not my fault, i'm telling you it's not my fault

 

No Braindeads. Company policy.

 

Expierience is school out here. and we are enrolled til we hang up the keys. Like OP said. They dont man up. They hear you can get home ABOUT every other night so they take it as you WILL get home every other night. But dont understand that you sacrife home for money and money to be home.