The Reality of Trucking

[jeffron]

Is it true that once you get diesel fuel on your hands that you become hooked on trucking? I had been in the construction field for 20 + years before I got laid off, so I went to school for my CDL. I had 2 1/2 years OTR before I had to walk away from the road. Just when the miles and money started looking decent my company started having problems. The owner told me he had to reregister the truck but now its been sitting since February. I wonder if he is being straight with me. Fortunatly I am also a drywall finisher and I found a good paying job doing that but I miss the road seriously. On my way to work I look at the trucks rolling by and I get choked up. I dont mean to sound like Im boasting but I make good money finishing but I really miss the road.

I started out with Gainey then left them for WH Transportation, mistake one was leaving WH to go to Covenant believing I would make more cash which ended up being a recruiters lie. Stayed at Covenant for 3 weeks and went to Melton to lease a pretty blue KW which I couldnt afford. Then I went to JR schugel and was running great as a company driver so once again I fell for the lease thinking I would get the same miles, pretty truck, this one was a shiny white 2007 International 9900. Once again I couldnt afford it so I left and found a local company and even though the truck was a filthy old 99 Pete it ran 80 MPH and I was home three days a week and still running 2500 miles a week.

Now here I sit roadsick, to drive now I would have to take a paycut. With my employment history only a lowpaying company will take me on no matter how I try to explain my circumstances. I was NEVER late with deliveries and I took trucking as serious as life and I know I was a good safe driver but because I never stayed around with a trucking company long Im a jobhopper. If I was a single man I would even go to Swift or CR England just to drive again but I have the wife,kids,dog,mortgage thing going.

I will appreciate any comments or suggestions, be safe and enjoy the ride.

[tbogle]

My husband has went through the same thing. We have three kids and after each one was born he tried giving up the road because he wanted to be home more to see his kids grow up but after about 9 months he couldnt handle it anymore, he wanted back on the road and thats what he did. he has been driving for about 7 years i think it is and i have realized it doesnt matter how many kids we had, he would always be on the road. But one thing you have going for you is the experience other then trucking. The only other experience my husband has is from the airforce and that doesnt seem to help him at all. My opinion may not count much since i am not a trucker, just a truckers wife, is to stick with the job you are with right now, dont take a pay cut with the way this economy is, now is not the time to be doing that. Good luck!!

[Hawkjr]

I started out with Gainey then left them for WH Transportation, mistake one was leaving WH to go to Covenant believing I would make more cash which ended up being a recruiters lie. Stayed at Covenant for 3 weeks and went to Melton to lease a pretty blue KW which I couldnt afford. Then I went to JR schugel and was running great as a company driver so once again I fell for the lease thinking I would get the same miles, pretty truck, this one was a shiny white 2007 International 9900. Once again I couldnt afford it so I left and found a local company and even though the truck was a filthy old 99 Pete it ran 80 MPH and I was home three days a week and still running 2500 miles a week.

Hey Kev... Look at all the Money you can make from a Lease Plan!!

[jeffron]

I polished that leased 2007 International 9900ix inside and out. I handpainted the lettering on the tires in 90 degree sun. I feel that truck was the best material thing I ever laid my hands on and to lose it cause I wasnt getting the miles to SUPPORT IT and my wife and kids was a real heartbreaker. At night sometimes I still see it in my dreams. Some guys drive nasty garbage dumps but I just felt great driving a clean rig. I was never late on appointments, I rarely idled in the heat,I was polite and professional with my dispatch, I did all I could to be a profitable driver but after several slow weeks and really short pay checks my wife pulled the plug on my fun. Cant be out running the road if the bills aint paid at home. Bottom line is you have zero control over the freight available meaning you stand a better chance with the lottery than making a decent living leasing a truck, especially if you have a family at home depending on your income. If anyone leases a truck have a plan B ready.

[Jumbo]

I got diesel fuel on my hands once, I washed it off and after that I wore gloves

[Windwalker]

I polished that leased 2007 International 9900ix inside and out. I handpainted the lettering on the tires in 90 degree sun. I feel that truck was the best material thing I ever laid my hands on and to lose it cause I wasnt getting the miles to SUPPORT IT and my wife and kids was a real heartbreaker. At night sometimes I still see it in my dreams. Some guys drive nasty garbage dumps but I just felt great driving a clean rig. I was never late on appointments, I rarely idled in the heat,I was polite and professional with my dispatch, I did all I could to be a profitable driver but after several slow weeks and really short pay checks my wife pulled the plug on my fun. Cant be out running the road if the bills aint paid at home. Bottom line is you have zero control over the freight available meaning you stand a better chance with the lottery than making a decent living leasing a truck, especially if you have a family at home depending on your income. If anyone leases a truck have a plan B ready.

Now, you got my curiousity up... If you were on a company lease/purchase plan, where did you find the time to do all that polishing? In order to make it work, with most companies that do the lease thing, you NEED to be running nearly 24/7. What time you don't spend running, you'd better spend sleeping or you'll find yourself asleep at the wheel. The companies make you think you have the world by the azz on a downhill pull, but the truth is they've got you by the azz, and you're doing all the pulling UPHILL all the way. How do you find time to polish anything?

[jeffron]

I was sitting at the TA near Morton Salt in Salt lake City and I was on a 34 hour reset. By the time I got rolling again I had enough time to shine everything on my truck that would shine. To make a long story short I had sat for 3 days. Needless to say that was the beginning of the end of my foolish attempt to lease a truck. My settlement for that week was small enough to set the wife off on a trucking vs family rant.

[Twilight Flyer]

Unfortunately, all that polishing just made sure the next guy that fell for the lease plan, got a really nice looking truck. Bet he lost it, too.

But heed the advice from earlier…don’t give up your current job. If you’re making money, stay with it. In this economy, you’re one of the few. It would be beyond unthinkable to give that up to get back into trucking when the industry is in perhaps the worst shape it’s ever been in.