Whiny Butts In Trucking

There is nothing you can do for the whiny butt trucker... PERIOD!

Yet no one is trying to make a positive impact, at least from the rank and file side of things. I asked a coworker at another job if he any hope of anything getting better and he said no. In 30+ years of driving professionally all he could say is no.  Where does that leave us?  

Maybe he has a point.  Regulations are tighter, loads are more and more urgent, there's more unruly traffic than ever before and employers don't care if you live or die out here.  Even the Teamsters at YRC Freight are losing touch with any hope that might be out there.  

People who say, however, that the company they work for is a joke haven't yet realized that the joke is on them.  You've had time to figure this out and get out while the getting was good.  For those of us who choose to stay we are going to make the most of it.  I start out by knowing what my first objective is.  That is to get from Point A to Point B in the safest, most efficient and timely manner possible.  It's not impossible to focus on the job.  But seriously that's where people have lost focus and that doing a good job, regardless of the level in the company you are, is the first priority you should have.

Complaining only exacerbates the problems you already have,  You have two choices really.  Either stay where you are or leave outright.  There is no in between.  I want to be able to encourage drivers to do the best they can but i all you can do is complain I am going to leave drivers to wallow in their own misery.  It's not personal; I don't want to mess with my mental hygiene. 

Consider The Frustrated Truck Driver

I think the above picture says it all.  Surely there's no way we were born to exist in an environment that just pays us to be there and ask no questions and have no room to grow.  Here's the problem I have with all this anyway within the trucking world.  This should explain why many people leave the industry and are now leaving the industry at an alarming rate.

1.) Getting paid well.

Most truck drivers do not feel as if they are getting paid well.  While most of us do better than the median incomes of most every other occupation the expense of living out on the road can pile up quickly if you don't know how to survive on Top Ramen or have a fridge in the truck.

2.) No one gets mentored hardly at all.

It's been my experience that many of us within and outside of the industry do not even try to mentor those who have less time an experience in the field.  Those who do train are often in it for the money and have no other interest than capitalizing on a newbie's work ethic to get the job done.  Very few people indeed care about developing someone as a top-notch truck driver.  Given the fact that most newbie truck drivers don't last after their first year then the incentive to develop people becomes very low.

3.) Being challenged but in the wrong way.

Instead of challenges that help develop skill, character, work ethic or just all around contribute to a positive educational experience in the trucking world most drivers face challenges that force them to watch their back.  This can come in a form of behind-the-back policy changes at the home office, intentional hindrances to driving, interference with job duties and harassment by management, customers and law enforcement.  You can't hinder a driver and expect him to succeed.

4.) There is virtually no chance of promotion.

Let's face it, for most drivers this is as good as it's going to get unless the driver gets his own authority and buys his own trucks.  Even if one was to land a safety or dispatch position then this will definitely come with a cut in pay (see #1) and a lot of disrespect from fellow drivers.  If you happen to be one of the drivers that performs well you can expect to see the a lot more of the truck and less time at home.  No one in that office hardly can do what you do.

5.) Drivers aren't involved as much as you would think.

The real experts on the business on the ground level are the drivers and they can tell you more often than not how something should be fixed. Does this happen?  Often times not.  Some government bureaucrat or insurance executive usually steps into an advisory role to help shape policies which tell us how to do our job even though none of these people can actually do it or even want to do it. The drivers often don't have a voice because they gone away to do the job.

6.) Many drivers do not feel appreciated in the slightest.

Truck driving is a thankless job.  You deliver on time and it's business as usual, Whatever. Deliver late and catch the Wrath of God, as if you had control over the fact the state of Wyoming closed I-80 or not.  You couldn't help it you were 3 miles behind a 42 car pileup. All the customers want is their freight.

7.) Drivers are not valued as assets.

I don't hear it much anymore but the commonplace view of the driver is that truck drivers are a dime a dozen.  You can be replaced and most trucking companies know that for every driver that quits there are 5 more ready for orientation.  This is a much the drivers' fault as it is the industry's fault.  However if more trucking companies places a value and communicated that value to the driver maybe you'd have more drivers stick around.  Pay for the drivers also plays into that equation (again see #1.)

8.) Many truck drivers do not see themselves as being on a mission.

Most drivers view their job as something to do.  They aren't aware of the importance the role plays.  They are not encouraged to take it seriously enough to view it as a mission.  I state it to new drivers like this, if you're hauling parts for Ford and you're late do you really want to be responsible for a potential assembly line shutdown?  Most drivers get it.  Everyone is counting on their freight and each piece delivered plays a part.  Trucking companies should take more time to point this out.

9.) Many drivers are not empowered to do their jobs.

Empowering a driver can start with nothing more than encouraging words and a positive message that what drivers do is extremely important.  Sometimes everybody has to be reminded of that.

10.) Every driver in his career will know that trust is an issue amongst drivers.

I heard a safety man once say that no driver can be trusted and that's why his job exists.  Over and over there are drivers who call in to report something or update dispatch only to be met with disbelief.  It hinders the communication channels to the point that no one want to talk to anyone anymore.  If you're treated as a pariah then why would you want to try to communicate?

I hope this enlightens everyone on what we as drivers have to deal with.  Hopefully in due time things will get better.

Further reading... Top 10 Reasons Drivers Leave

"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.