Comments on: Why Do Truck Drivers Do That?!? http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/truckermike/2009/07/why-do-truck-drivers-do-that Helping Those Who Are Considering A Career In The Truck Driving Industry Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:54:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Rhonda http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/truckermike/2009/07/why-do-truck-drivers-do-that/comment-page-1#comment-1052 Rhonda Sun, 02 Aug 2009 02:27:21 +0000 http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/?p=1597#comment-1052 TruckerMike Another great post. Now if we can get the other 20 million 4-wheelers to read this and driver's ed students too, just maybe our stress behind the wheel will shrink. Yes, that merging onto a road is one that many just don't know how to do CORRECTLY. And to think that they think the FASTER vehicles are the ones to stop/slow down for them! And so many merge before the end of the ramp, thus taking the space that the vehicle at the end of the ramp was going to take. They could be several feet ahead of you but still on the ramp and then freak out when they see a big truck and then slam on their brakes. You pointed out a lot of great things in this post. Great job. TruckerMike

Another great post. Now if we can get the other 20 million 4-wheelers to read this and driver’s ed students too, just maybe our stress behind the wheel will shrink.

Yes, that merging onto a road is one that many just don’t know how to do CORRECTLY. And to think that they think the FASTER vehicles are the ones to stop/slow down for them! And so many merge before the end of the ramp, thus taking the space that the vehicle at the end of the ramp was going to take. They could be several feet ahead of you but still on the ramp and then freak out when they see a big truck and then slam on their brakes.

You pointed out a lot of great things in this post. Great job.

]]> By: TruckerMike http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/truckermike/2009/07/why-do-truck-drivers-do-that/comment-page-1#comment-1050 TruckerMike Sat, 01 Aug 2009 05:24:35 +0000 http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/?p=1597#comment-1050 Hi Doug, thanks for reading! I haven't been solo for too long yet. I had one full week, a half week, then took some home time, and am now back on the road. So it's hard to give you a real firm answer at this point. But it sounds like most solo drivers at my company are getting between 2300 to 2700 miles right now. Certainly less than what we want, but that's about par for the course with all companies in this economy right now. It'll likely slow down even a little more this winter as the winter months are typically the "slow season" for trucking. Hopefully it'll pick up again next summer. Only time will tell. Generally, if I deliver early in the morning, I will get dispatched a load that same day. Sometimes I have to wait to pick up the load the next day, but I haven't sat longer than a full day up to this point. The main thing I've been seeing is being given a load, then too much time to deliver. So while I'm not sitting a ton, I'm still losing miles due to my delivery times being too far out. My honest advice to you is, if you have a secure job that is giving you a decent paycheck, keep doing it for now. Wait to see what this economy is going to do. Trucking jobs are still out there and will always be out there, but times are tough in trucking just like every other industry. Thanks for reading and leaving a comment! Mike Hi Doug, thanks for reading! I haven’t been solo for too long yet. I had one full week, a half week, then took some home time, and am now back on the road. So it’s hard to give you a real firm answer at this point. But it sounds like most solo drivers at my company are getting between 2300 to 2700 miles right now. Certainly less than what we want, but that’s about par for the course with all companies in this economy right now. It’ll likely slow down even a little more this winter as the winter months are typically the “slow season” for trucking. Hopefully it’ll pick up again next summer. Only time will tell.

Generally, if I deliver early in the morning, I will get dispatched a load that same day. Sometimes I have to wait to pick up the load the next day, but I haven’t sat longer than a full day up to this point. The main thing I’ve been seeing is being given a load, then too much time to deliver. So while I’m not sitting a ton, I’m still losing miles due to my delivery times being too far out.

My honest advice to you is, if you have a secure job that is giving you a decent paycheck, keep doing it for now. Wait to see what this economy is going to do. Trucking jobs are still out there and will always be out there, but times are tough in trucking just like every other industry.

Thanks for reading and leaving a comment!

Mike

]]> By: TruckerMike http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/truckermike/2009/07/why-do-truck-drivers-do-that/comment-page-1#comment-1049 TruckerMike Sat, 01 Aug 2009 05:16:37 +0000 http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/?p=1597#comment-1049 Great point Ike. When I took drivers ed in High School about 11 years ago, I don't recall ever discussing trucks at all. I think just one day in drivers ed dedicated to big rigs would do wonders for our future drivers. Thanks for the comment!! Great point Ike. When I took drivers ed in High School about 11 years ago, I don’t recall ever discussing trucks at all. I think just one day in drivers ed dedicated to big rigs would do wonders for our future drivers.

Thanks for the comment!!

]]> By: Doug http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/truckermike/2009/07/why-do-truck-drivers-do-that/comment-page-1#comment-1046 Doug Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:41:13 +0000 http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/?p=1597#comment-1046 Hey Mke, Great series of articles, I am interested casue I have the same type of office job as you did, and as you did, am looking into trucking school etc. I am intersted in your miles. Since going solo how many miles are you averaging a week, and how much down time (waiting beteween loads) are you averaging thanks for the help Doug Hey Mke,
Great series of articles, I am interested casue I have the same type of office job as you did, and as you did, am looking into trucking school etc. I am intersted in your miles. Since going solo how many miles are you averaging a week, and how much down time (waiting beteween loads) are you averaging
thanks for the help
Doug

]]> By: Ike Kendrick http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/truckermike/2009/07/why-do-truck-drivers-do-that/comment-page-1#comment-1045 Ike Kendrick Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:38:36 +0000 http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/?p=1597#comment-1045 TruckerMike, Great information and well written. I'm waiting for the book, then the movie. With government programs and laws that use the justification of protecting the citizens, one would think that a public information campaign concerning trucking would be at the top of the list. A significant portion of the driving population "just don't get it" when it comes to the laws of physics. I looked forward to your next entry. -ike TruckerMike,
Great information and well written. I’m waiting for the book, then the movie.
With government programs and laws that use the justification of protecting the citizens, one would think that a public information campaign concerning trucking would be at the top of the list. A significant portion of the driving population “just don’t get it” when it comes to the laws of physics.
I looked forward to your next entry.
-ike

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