"I Want To Drive The Cool Truck"

Dear Young Trucking Fanatic,

Oh... so you want to drive the 'Cool' truck?

You told me you want to 'sit up high' and 'look cool going down the road' among other nonsense that tells me nothing about why you think you can contribute to that sector of the American economy.

At first when your dad came to me and said you had an interest in driving professionally I scoffed and asked why and maybe you should consider another career.  I said that because most of the successful drivers I have met have tried other careers before coming to trucking.  There aren't many life-long truckers that I know personally who got started early in life and stayed until retirement. Thousands of drivers who did other things before obtaining a CDL including but not limited to:

1.) Fast food worker
2.) Barber
3.) Warehouse worker (maybe because they got tired of truckers bragging about the money)
4.) Accountant (he needed a change)

And...

5.) Attorney (He saved and bought a truck outright and lived his dream for once)

Of these people that I know, they all brought a work ethic with them that persists to this day and that what makes them successful.

SO WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU CAN DO IT?

You've already had two jobs you got fired from for poor performance and I remember the first job you acquired. All you did was complain.  Then you got smart with the manager.  I know working in the dining room of a busy restaurant is tough because I did it at one time. But you were hired for that job for that task and that's all you had to do. You could have tried harder and did your job better.  Complaining gets you nowhere.

You really messed up on your second job at the towing company.  I thought this was a good way to get exposure to the towing business because you could have learned a lot but you couldn't even trim hedges or mow grass for the boss when he asked you to.  You didn't have to sneak off and ride with a driver to fulfill your childish fantasies.

Now that you're at the grocery store you know what to do to keep your job.  Quit complaining about the old people that shpo ther.  They are part of the customer base and need to eat.  You have an obligation to your customers and to take care of them. It gets busy on the weekends and that is when most people buy groceries.  Get over it.  And most of all, don't get fired for something stupid.

And if you think it's tough now, you have no idea what you're in for.  Since you complain about your shift at the grocery store here are a few things to consider...

1.) You are in for some really long hours, no 9 to 5 work here.
2.) The money you make and the money you spend out there are going to conflict with each other if you aren't watching.
3.) You are going to see the world as you pass it by on the highway; there will be no time for stopping.
4.) Most of the general public really hates truck drivers.
5.) You are going to be another target for law enforcement.
6.) You are going to be away from home a lot more than bargained.

I could go on but then this post would become a novel.

And as far as you driving the 'cool' truck.  You might not get lucky enough to drive the Pete with the big stacks.  You will, however, drive a truck that nobody wants until you can get a newer truck nobody wants until you can get another newer truck nobody wants so that the company can save money by not buying Peterbilts and chrome.  Do you really think anyone wants to give a rookie the keys to a brand new $175,000 truck without ensuring he has enough experience to drive it or do you think you feel entitled. You aren't going to get the Pete until you can manhandle a Cascadia first.

It took 15 years of trying to get the job I have now and I am insulted that you think it's going to be easy. So on behalf of all of the truckers who are laughing at you right now, I say good luck and let me know how that works out for you.