Hey guys. I've posted a ton of questions on here over the past couple of months as I was trying to decide if trucking was for me and my family or not. I've decided against it unless I wind up doing the Roehl 7 on/7 off deal and run my business on the side. But, I do have a question. I've talked with SOOO many truckers at truck stops that absolutely hate their jobs and are very negative. I've also read many post on here about how bad trucking is and how most people seem to hate it. With that being the case, why do these guys continue to do a job that they hate? THat just wears you down physically and mentally. I'm not trying to be a smart aleck but I was honestly wondering. Me for example, I hate my desk job with a passion so I'm trying to make a change. Just curious here. THanks.

 

Speaking for them, i would say that perhaps you can't do nothing else. And this is a relatively easy job that pays ok.

For myself, i enjoy driving. And it's not just a job, it's an adventure.

 

Most truckers don't hate their jobs. They just love bitc*ing more! :lol:

Most truckers just hate being under ANY control. Therefore, they complain constantly about anyone who screws up their daily lives!

SOME people (not just truckers) complain about their jobs because it makes them feel better about themselves. You know..... "I must be a superhero if I can put up with all this and STILL be the best trucker on the road!"

Insecurity is part of being human. We all need reassurance. We're very PROUD of the fact that we can drive these beasts. And we want YOU to know it!

Our parents didn't LOVE us, and our employers don't STROKE us! So... we stroke ourselves by telling you how hard our lives are! We couldn't claim that if we didn't say we hated our jobs!

Lying on the CB is a major part of our lives! We just can't seem to stop it when we get to the lunch counter! :wink:

Is any of this ringing a bell with you? No? Then, you wouldn't want to be a trucker! :lol:

Best of luck to you in what you decide. Trucking parttime (7 on 7 off) isn't the best way to start out, IMHO. That's a reward you should expect ONLY after years of paying your dues.

Try sitting at a lunch counter in a Truckstop and telling those old salts that you're just a "part timer." If you ain't got the stories about chaining up in a blizzard and driving with no heat - in the old days - to back it up..... they'll laugh you outta the joint!

Anyone who drives a truck KNOWS he can do just about anything else he chooses to do! Don't let 'em fool ya! He drives a truck because he LOVES it! He complains about it because it's part of the job description! :lol:

 

Simple. Trucking grabs you by the balls and won't
let you go. You hate it, but starting something new means
starting at the bottom, and that rarely pays mortgage.
In trucking, you make more because you work more.
I was an offset pressman before I became a trucker,
and I would go back, except there is not that many opportunities where
I live. I have a relatively comfortable local position
where I don't make as much as OTR guys do, but
I sleep in my bed every night, and have all my weekends off.

 

there are times when i hate my job because of stupid 4 wheelers & 18 wheelers, shipper & receiver BS, and anything that just burns up my time. but i must say i love my check and everything else i own thanks to my job :wink:

 

Well you'd still have to deal with the moronic 4 and 18 wheelers going to work and going home. :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

I'm sure its just like any other job or career out there; ya might feel 'stuck'; some people simply are afraid to change, or maybe thats all they know.

 

There are basically three kinds of truckers:

--Those who love trucking. They simply can't fathom doing anything else, ever. (They're generally insane, but good folks. 8) )

--Those who don't really like it, but couldn't make anywhere near the same money doing anything else. :?

--Those who don't have the social skills to do anything else. You can tell these guys by the junk all over their dash, their pee bottles flying out the window, and the green fog that follows them out of the truck because they haven't showered in the past decade. :roll:

 

This is the BEST, most concise and ACCURATE description of why we "do it" that I've ever heard. Well done golfhobo!

 

Thanks Hobo. I always look forward to reading your posts. Always Cut to the chase, and hold the cheese.