Impure Thoughts #16. I Still Serve.
Everyone says truck drivers are the backbone of this country, but how many drivers really believe that?
When I joined the Marine Corps at age 17 I was more of an idealist than I am now. I just turned 38. I always wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself. As a kid I was a Boy Scout, an JROTC member, an often volunteered to do community service.
These days I am still doing the same thing, but in a different capacity. I move large loads around to build wind farms. I believe wind Read more [...]
Impure Thoughts #15: Patience
I think truck drivers are some of the most patient people you will find on this earth.
Yes, some people consider me fairly intelligent.
Hear me out:
Consider for a second all that drivers have to deal with. Even guys and girls within the industry whose jobs basically consist of just sitting there and driving have to deal with a ton of scenarios, and changing situations on a daily basis that would make the average cubicle drone's head spin. Dispatchers, law enforcement, shippers, Read more [...]
Impure Thoughts #10: Three people who suck at driving and why
#1) The person who pulls out in front of you on a two-lane road.
Invariably, this happens on just about every two lane road, and even sometimes in multilane roads in commercial areas. Have to get to Wal-Mart from Family Dollar don’t ya know!
Why can’t this person drive?
Well, for all the obvious reasons. He or she is a self-absorbed, selfish, impatient twit. But we’re used to that aren’t we these days? The complete lack of civility that has become the norm? We’re all used to that Read more [...]
Impure Thoughts #7: The High Beam debate ends TODAY
It is dark out and I have just passed you.
After a few seconds, I look in my mirror to make sure I’m passed you and put my turn signal on to move back to the right lane.
You FLASH YOUR HIGH BEAMS to let me know I’m clear. Or worse yet, leave them on a second or two!
Now, flash blinded, I make my lane change, curse your being and move along into the night shaking my head, and hating you. I probably won’t even say anything on the radio, as arguing with an idiot equals two idiots.
I Read more [...]
Impure Thoughts #6: Overdependence on Trucking Technology
Other Guy: “Did you call that shipper and get directions?”
Sinister: “No, they were closed by the time I got the load info. I tried but no go.”
Other Guy: “Okay, well, I got a GPS but it’s a car GPS. But if it’s a decent address we should be able to get right to it in the morning, and hopefully get loaded pretty quick.”
Sinister: “Yup. We’ll see.”
Early the next morning…
Other guy: “The GPS is telling me I should turn on this Peterson Road, but I think I passed Read more [...]
Impure Thoughts #5: The way people talk on the CB
“UUUUUNNNNGGGHHHH….YALL GON GO YONDER AND DO THAT THANG AND GIT THAT THANG CHING CHANG WONG WONG…!!!!”
“UUUUNNNGGH HUH! DAS WHUT WE GON’ DO DRAAHVUH!”
I hate it.
I can’t stand to listen to Channel 19 most of the time. I’m one of those guys who pulls up to the backup in the highway, and doesn’t know what’s going on. I just can’t stand to listen to it for more than a few minutes at a time.
It seems to me that people from down south go out of their way to notch Read more [...]
Impure Thoughts #3: Have you thought about your future, young man?
Have you thought about your future, young man?
Or woman, as the case may be?
Recently, the company I work for mandated that we match our log books to our qualcomm in terms of arrival times at shipper and receiver as well as departure times. In certain applications of trucking this shouldn’t be that big of a deal, and if one is telling the truth on their logs anyway, it would affect nothing. The strange thing is that this company is doing this because we are being audited by the DOT. What’s Read more [...]
Impure thoughts #2: The Federal Marshall
Okay, I’m sure we’ve all heard Billy Bigrigger telling his Federal Marshall story either on the radio or in person.
As soon as I hear one of these stories, I immediately hate this person for insulting my intelligence. On the CB, this guy is usually running with someone of equal or less intelligence, and if I hear an agreement from #2 driver, I realize there are two morons on the highway, and if they are going the same way as me, I immediately plan a quick 5 minute break. Chances are, they Read more [...]
Impure Thoughts #1: Recruiting Ads
You want to recruit me? Then get real.
Trucking companies spend untold amounts of money each year on recruiting ads. They do this for one reason; because they have to. If the best advertising is word of mouth, well, good luck getting truck drivers to say anything good enough to want to make drivers pile into the doors of your massive terminal!
We see a lot of tactics used that I think are put in place simply to prey on people who just don’t think very much about what they are reading or seeing Read more [...]
Tips For Finding The Right Trucking Job Without “Job Hopping”
The trucking industry is different in that there seems to be a shortage of drivers. It has been that way for as long as I've been driving. There was a slow down when the economy tanked a few years ago, but even then a driver could find a job if they wanted one.
There doesn't, however, seem to be a shortage of trucking companies. That, combined with the shortage of drivers, has created a bittersweet situation for the OTR driver.
No matter who a driver is working for, there is always another Read more [...]
