Trucking is a Thankless job

I have been thanked several times in my years of driving a truck. Let's see if I can remember a few of them.

I was involved in a huge accident on I-77 southbound back in 2004 just south of Wytheville,VA. I came upon the "New River Bridge" and the traffic was stopped because of a accident on the bridge. I got my truck stopped about 20 feet from the accident without hitting anyone or anything. The person driving the little car just in front of me "Thanked me" for not running over them.

When out of nowhere a tractor trailer came barreling down the hill behind me, he did not get stopped. He hit me in the back of my tank, did I forget to mention I was pulling a tank? Oh sorry yea, it was full of ACETONE 7000 gallons to be precise. The other driver totaled his truck and my tanker, but thankfully there was no leak or spark.

A company I was supposed to deliver to one time, had to shut down because I refused to run over my hours on my log book in order to make a delivery. Some of the workers "Thanked Me" because they got to go home early.

I made several early deliveries on some major high dollar hauls, and have been thanked for doing this also.

No, I really know what you are saying, about it being a "Thankless Job". Every time there is a accident involving a tractor trailer (we) get blamed for it. Does not matter that the four wheeler that got crushed, it's driver was on the cell phone or reading a newspaper, or putting on her makeup, or doing work on the computer, all while driving down the road at about 15 over the speed limit.

We as Truck Drivers are looked down upon by society, as a lower life form. It has been like this and will be most likely forever. Even though in times of disaster we are lifesavers. Disaster strikes, besides the Red Cross and Fema and the Emergency people, who else gets called into action?

Truck Drivers, we drive all hours of the day and night to deliver water, and supply's to disaster areas. But are they thanked for it? Yea, maybe right at that moment. But a few weeks later that same driver might be delivering in the same town and he/she gets treated the normal way, with no respect because you drive that truck.

Is your job secure in the trucking industry...or in any industry in America

Is your job secure in the trucking industry today? I have been reading a lot here lately (it must be slow if I am taking time to read) about company's closing their doors, or putting a freeze on hiring drivers, and or just laying drivers off.

I just read this Schneider National not hiring inexperienced drivers this is big news. They are pretty big in the industry, I wonder how long before the other big boys start this if they have not already.

I am sort of glad in a way to see this come though, as freight is short as it always is this time of year. Just seems this year is worse, than previous years I don't know why unless it is because of the way the economy is. I am just feeling it worse I guess as is everybody.

I am hoping, along with a lot of other truck drivers that this is not another ploy to get Mexican drivers in! Is Schneider in cahoots with the government? The US Government seems to want to give our jobs away to the immigrants. I kinda hated to show that link, but peoples eyes need to be opened to junk like this!

Now, I for one am not racist at all. BUT, I feel if you are going to want to move to the USA then at least do it legally. Pay your taxes, and learn the language!

You, know a few years ago I applied for a state job here in Kentucky working for the road department. I know I am lazy, so I figured that was a great way to have to not work really hard and have good benefits. I was denied any job. But go down the road during the summer and look and see who is wearing the hard hats now! I felt really offended by this! I have 14+ years working as a Truck Driver and also a heavy equipment operator. But they hire a immigrant just because they have too!

A year ago I drove for a small dump truck company out of Tiffin, OH. We were laying some black top for Shelly Materials Inc up in Toledo, OH and they made us leave the job because we did not have any immigrants working for us. They brought in another company to finish the job! We were not allowed to dump our loads as we were turned around and told to take it back to the plant and dump it on the ground! The state of Ohio wasted so much money on this it's no wonder they had to put a freeze on all the construction last year!

I now work for a fairly large bulk tanker company we have around 600 trucks. The work is pretty much seasonal, so I know this is why we are so slow. My shop/terminal in Kentucky has nothing to do, so we go to Michigan and work every week now.

Anyway, I hope all had a great Christmas, and I can only hope for a Better New Years!

Keep the shiny side up, and Truckim safe!

Trucker vs. Lawyer

A lawyer and a Truck driver are sitting next to each other on a long flight.

The lawyer is thinking that Truck driver are so dumb that he could put one over on them easily...so the lawyer asks the Truck driver if he would like to play a fun game.

The Truck driver is tired and just wants to take a nap, so he politely declines and tries to catch a few winks. The lawyer persists, and says that the game is a lot of fun. "I ask you a question, and if you don't know the answer, you pay me only $5.; you ask me one, and if I don't know the answer, I will pay you $500." he says.

This catches the Truck driver's attention and to keep the lawyer quiet, he agrees to play the game.

The lawyer asks the first question. "What's the distance from the Earth to the moon?"

The Truck driver doesn't say a word, reaches in his pocket pulls out a five-dollar bill, and hands it to the lawyer.

Now, it's the Truck driver's turn. He asks the lawyer, "What goes up a hill with three legs, and comes down with four?"

The lawyer uses his laptop and searches all references he could find on the net. He sends e-mails to all the smart friends he knows, all to no avail.
After one hour of searching he finally gives up. He wakes up the Truck driver and hands him $500. The Truck driver pockets the $500. and goes right back to sleep.

The lawyer is going nuts not knowing the answer. He wakes the Truck driver up and asks, "Well, so what goes up a hill with three legs and comes down with four?"

The Truck driver reaches in his pocket, hands the lawyer $5. and goes back to sleep.

Don't mess with us Truck divers!!

Re: post from Truckersforum