I have only been OTR for a couple of months. For several months before getting my CDL I spent many nights on CAD. I read about all the truckers who complained about being treated like dirt, second class people from third world countries, and slave labor. They shouted, we're professionals and demand to be treated as professionals.

Now that I am on the road I have seen more pee bottles along the side of the road than I can count. I am disgusted every time I see one. Yesterday, while driving through eastern Oregon, I counted 5 within a couple mile stretch of Highway 97.

I just don't understand it. Why do so many truckers feel justified to throw their nasty piss bottles out their windows for some other poor SOB to have to pick up. You have to dump your garbage when fueling or at a rest areas. Why not put them in your trash and dispose of them properly!

In my humble opinion, its drivers like these, in part, who are giving the industry a bad reputation.

Come on drivers. Do the right thing. Take care of your own bodily waste. With hepetitis and HIV so common in body fluids, nobody wants to pick up your nasty waste.

 

I for one would like to see this treated just like a DUI. First time lose the CDL for a year. Second time, Life time loss of CDL. I'm with you. There is NO EXCUSE for doing this.

 

Even worse when the mowers catch one lying off in the weeds.

 

Or worse yet, team drivers that slipseat with other teams. Like to leave little surprises in tucked behind the bunk for the next team. Pee cups with no lids, little baggies of what you would think of as brownies but with a special ingredient. Totally nasty, matresses would be soaked in urine from the pee cups and have to be thrown out while the whole cab stunk to high heaven. :evil:

 

Now that's just wrong on so many levels I can't even begin to respond.

 

And some of these old timers, you know the professional truck drivers, call us new guys, newbies, steering wheel holders. Maybe I'm just different, I'm a new old guy. I like to think I am more professional than 95% of the drivers out there. Disclaimer: This was not directed at anyone on CAD, you are all professional drivers, I look up to each and every one.

 

Slobs at Home they become slobs on the Road

 

I know it happens, but I do not, nor do I ever hope to, understand it.

I was raised to respect yourself and to respect others. Part of this is to treat your property with care, and to treat other people's property even better.

When it comes to truck driving this means:

Do not throw or leave trash of any kind anywhere but in a trash can.

When you turn in a truck you do so clean and 100% ready for the next driver.

 

The industry has brought this situation on itself. When they spend 25 years cutting pay and treating drivers like garbage they cannot attract people who will act professionally. People tend to act in a way that is expected of them by their authority figures. Some people who throw piss bottles out the window would not do this if they were driving for a respectable company that paid them well, and would fire them for such an action. If it were a job that was hard to get and they were afraid of losing, that held them accountable to higher standards, they would look at themselves differently and think twice about it. When they are treated like garbage and made to feel replaceable they just dont care. Then potential respectable, proffessional people entering this industry are appalled and dont want to be associated with that crowd and image and the cycle snowballs. Some of these drivers are just plain pigs. Some can be changed, but the industry has to return to good pay, benefits and proffessional treatment to improve the talent pool. Until then they will "get what they paid for".

 

I am sorry but one's company or pay has nothing to do with a persons character. Character- how a person acts when they think no one is watching. Lastly; wherever you go; there you are!