New guys (and gals) read this before you leap into this trucking thing!
old guys and gals already pretty much know this. There is a bit of the trucker bogieman stuff in the story, but their description of the industry as a whole and the life of the trucker is really closer than any trucker related story I've seen in some time.

The survey is interesting, but In Chicago area even I fear the truckers around there! :shock:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...l=chi-news-hed [/url]

 

An EXCELLENT Contribution, Fozzy!!

This should be required study for anyone who may be considering entering the trucking profession!!

I would like the moderators here at CAD place this as a "Stickey" to this forum; it is that important!!

 

I notice the article keeps talking about FL. Well anyone that has driven in amount of time knows -- There isn't any freight out of FL. If your going into FL. then your more than likely going to deadhead out or haul cheap freight to a better area.

While I would agree trucking is not the life for most people and very few can handle the stress. But I made more in trucking than I ever made in any other field. They also talk about putting in a 80 - 100 hour week. Not much different than when I was doing work as a electronic engineer. Or while I work in electronic field service. I hate to guess the hours I worked when I owned my own dry cleaner business.

One other point they brought out is the de-regulation of the trucking industry. There is no doubt de-regulation changed the way trucking operates some for the good some not so good. One thing it did do is destroy the union as far as trucking is concerned. And in the end I don't think there is a single trucklines that last for very long after de-regulation.

I'm glad my life as a trucker has ended. Retirement gets better everyday.

kc0iv

 

After reading it It sounds like a story about one of the worst businessmen I have ever seen! The guy has never taken home more than 40,000 bucks and only took home 9k last year but is driving a 140,000k truck with 2k payments. Seriously...Its so easy to make trucking look like crap with a story like that. And once again its another sotry that points out how many 18 wheeler wrecks there are but fails to mention that the majority are caused by cars. Good read but not very accurate if you ask me.

But to make that $40,000, you've got to work about 120 hours" a week, says John Siebert, an official with the group.

"These guys are working 100 to 120 hours a week, and their sleep patterns are all over the clock," he says.

if you ever catch me working 120 hours to bring home 40k just go ahead and kick me in the face.
120 hours per week on a 7 day week is 17.14 hours per day....who is really doing this on a day to day week to week consistent basis?

 

Waste of time to even read it if you ask me. You can make any occupation look bad if that's your goal. Might be of some use to O/O's, nothing to company drivers.

 

I agree

 

What in the hell is this guy doing wrong? $9000 last year? Why be a O/O if he could go work elsewhere as a company driver and make at least 4 times that? Jeez, the guy could go work for CRE and make more! :shock:

 

EVERY PROFESSION has its bad points.
I am from a family of truckers...Everyone makes great money.
Yeah it sucks sometimes, But so does Construction. I worked my ass off in the construction and concrete business and worked for peanuts.

The best advice I've heard so far from my trucking family is........
"Turn the CB off and watch what you read because there are tons of truckers that try to spread their MISERY on to you."

I'm looking forward to triple any paycheck I have ever received.

 

I see the fundamental issue here as being a realistic, albeit somewhat pessimistic, presentation on certain realities of the business and the lifestyle.

That does not mean that this one driver's experience will necessarily be the retrospective of all who enter the driving profession. At the same time, it does illuminate certain realities that are often overlooked by those considering entering the profession.

 

Its good info if you take it as just that "info".
Some people are better at certain occupations. I think it kind of fits into the recent thread "Why some people fail".
His attitude was "O well, I'm a trucker til the day I die, just like my dad was"

How many of us follow our parents into financial ruin,...or do we see their mistakes and learn from them.

I for one am looking forward to a sucessful career in trucking,...and if I ever made only $40,000 a year (or less), I'll hang up my keys, and use my truck as a planter.