Posted: 8 years, 10 months ago
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World's first self-driving truck
Besides, safety doesn't dictate what we do or don't do in this society.....money does. Something that is dangerous but profitable has a much better chance of success than something that is safe but unprofitable. If big money can be made using drones they'll be used heavily at some point you can be sure.
Exactly. We can't prevent every single accident, no matter how advanced technology is. There is great potential to make money with drones. Big companies are already testing with them. USAA has an exemption from the FAA to test drones on their main campus and in unpopulated rural areas. they are eventually going to use them to expedite insurance claims from natural disasters. I'm interested to find out the different ways drones are going to be used in the future.
It is safe to say, though, that machines will not replace us completely in this lifetime. Blue Collar jobs are the safest from this because there are some things that you just need people for. There are rumors around my work that when UPS expands the San Antonio hub in a few years, they are going to replace the small sort with machines, like they have at the Worldport Next Day Air operation in Louisville. Worldport mainly has loaders and unloaders. All of the sorting is done by technology, but they still need those people to do the jobs that machines can't. At least it's not like some desk jobs where they can outsource to other countries or replace you with a computer.
Posted: 8 years, 11 months ago
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World's first self-driving truck
The only way self driving cars or trucks would work safely is if every single vehicle on the road was automated and connected to the same system. Think about how dangerous that would be to have both humans controlled and automated vehicles on the same road, especially an 80,000 lb. truck. Computers can't calculate every single driving scenario, and they won't be able to take into account the randomness of our world. Murphy's law. If something can go wrong it will...
Posted: 8 years, 11 months ago
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Any doctors or people in professional fields now in trucking?
Check out Errol V.'s "What did you do before this" thread if you're curious about drivers' past experience. You can post your work experience there. See the first page of this thread for a link.
Posted: 8 years, 11 months ago
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What did you do before becoming a truck driver?
Worked in the food industry in high school. When I was 17 I left my job as a busboy to go work for my dad as a law clerk in his law firm. We worked from home so I didn't leave the house unless I needed to go to the store for supplies or to drop a letter in the mail. On my 18th birthday, I sent in my application to UPS. A buddy of mine put in a good word and I was hired. I started work right after graduation as a part time package handler. One year later, and 90 pounds lighter, I'm still at UPS, waiting to turn 21 so I can live my dream of driving OTR.
Posted: 8 years, 11 months ago
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Twisted sisters in the Texas Hill Country. Ranch Road 335, 336, and 337.
Posted: 8 years, 11 months ago
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At UPS, things really start to pick up around mid-October. Very hectic until January 15th or so. That's when they let the seasonal guys go. Then, it's slow until March/springtime.
Posted: 8 years, 12 months ago
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What to do while waiting until I'm 21 to become a truck driver?
But what do you mean about the private study of policy and politics?Well, all of us are influenced by what goes on in Washington, D.C., our state houses and even the local politics ... many people have NO interest in politics (which is where policy is determined and implemented) and so they don't participate or even if they do they are woefully uninformed ... you are being "educated" right now in what should be, objectively speaking, the best place to learn HOW to get and process information which is how we all get informed - through information ... regrettably, most institutions of "higher" learning have become institutions of "indoctrination" where certain agendas are propagated unbeknownst to the people BEING indoctrinated ... the only defense is to NOT accept the underlying premise that is offered in these "schools" and go out and get the OTHER perspective on your own ... the internet is a great tool for this or asking the opinion of older, more experienced friends or even talking to older relatives who have LIVED for a lot longer ... all sources of INFORMATION are good when you are learning to formulate your own opinions about how you want to live your life, what you will accept from the powerful people in your life and what you (eventually) want to impart to your own children ... it's never too early to start accumulating REAL information to help you form your own unique world view ... that's what I was talking about ... that, and it is vitally important that you DO NOT accept other's views on the most important relationship you will ever have and that's the one with the Creator & His Son ... even that one (and especially that one) you need to seriously look for information that you know is true - it has a way of substantiating itself to ANYONE who will look into it ...
Jopa
Thanks for clarifying. I agree completely: it is terribly obvious that universities are biased, and some unsuspecting students slurping down the lessons given to them by their professors don't know how to filter. They take everything their professors say as truth, without working out for themselves what does and doesn't make sense. I try to learn from many different sources: through books, internet, school etc., but I try not to adopt the world views completely of the sources I learn from. Instead I try to pick and choose which pieces of information can help me the most and keep that. It's hard because the tendency for young people is to idolize and to mimic. I am guilty of dismissing politics, though, so maybe I ought to do a little reading on that subject...
Posted: 8 years, 12 months ago
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What to do while waiting until I'm 21 to become a truck driver?
AMEN Brother ... if you are going to spend the time AND money for school, dump the "Liberal Arts/Basket Weaving" and take something meaningful ... Math or Real Science are going to be the least "indoctrination" -centric type of studies ... do some IT "Problem Solving" classes (skip the "How To" classes like MS Word or Excel and go for programming concepts - these will actually tune your mind up for you) ... HOWEVER, your question was about what to do re: Trucking in the meanwhile while the wetness behind the ears evaporates ... good suggestions here about finding work ancillary to the ole' truckin' world ... keep looking and keep asking until you find something that keeps you at least NEAR the game until you can get into the game ... use your imagination ... meanwhile, do you realize how many young people you have PASSED UP by showing a mature assessment of your future and wanting to so something about it? Maybe those ears are drying up faster than expected ... personally, I recommend you make a private study about the world of policy and politics while you have the time as this part of your life will become more and more important as you age and acquire a family and responsibility ... and DO NOT neglect getting to know the Creator and His Son ... that's the most important thing you can do ...
Jopa
HAHA "Basket Weaving". Yeah if I do go back for another semester I'll try to avoid pottery and basket weaving. It's scary to think that most kids, as well as myself, not too long ago, think that all they have to do is go to college, have fun, and then they are set for life. Nobody wants to work or be challenged. But what do you mean about the private study of policy and politics? (Maybe my ears aren't as dry as I think).
Posted: 8 years, 12 months ago
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What to do while waiting until I'm 21 to become a truck driver?
If you want to end up over the road. I would suggest getting a job as a trailer mechanic or diesel mechanic for a bigger company in your area... JB Hunt is hiring for one in San Antonio right now... Just go tell them that you want to become an otr guy and that your not old enough. you already have your cdl (get your cdl) and that you want to learn everything about the trucks. how many guys have sat on the side of the road because their fuel filter lol. you would know to carry an extra... if you had to bypass something ;) you would know how to do it instead of waiting on the side of the road. plus its not bad money while waiting to drive. some would even argue the money is better... and once you go over the road if you dont like it... you are more versatile less expendable. and if you want to go local... you can up end being a heavy equipment mechanic and a driver delivering the excavator and fixing it if it breaks but mostly routine maintenance and delivering the wide loads... you have a thousand options. but thats what I will always suggest to the one that has to wait but wants to learn. youll know the pretrip better than anyone if you have to fix the everyday. except for daniel he has a masters in the pretrip.
That's a good idea! I could use this time to learn about the trucks. That would put me ahead of the pack when the time comes to start trucking. Do the companies usually train diesel mechanics or would I have to go to a vocational school? I have no experience whatsoever with fixing things, but I'm definitely willing to learn. I want to go OTR eventually (I have the traveling bug). So I would only work for UPS until I'm old enough to do that.
Posted: 8 years, 10 months ago
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Is trucking worth it anymore?
I am interested in trucking as a career because of my sense of adventure. A lot of young people like myself want to travel and see the country and the world. But is it better to see the world while you are young and able, or to work when you are young and invest your money, creating a foundation for yourself to be able to do amazing things in the future? Trucking would allow me to do both.
I also like the idea that I could take months off to go long distance hiking or traveling outside of the country, and I could come back and as long as I have a safe record, I could easily get a new job.
I love that you earn your money in trucking because I love to work hard. Over the past year I have been soaking up information on this job. So much so, that I know more about trucking than my major in school (Modern Language Studies). When I become knowledgeable about something it makes me love that thing even more.
Finally, I have a job in the industry. It's a crappy job, but I have a little bit of insight into what it's really like to work for these companies. I know firsthand the lies that recruiters in HR will tell to get people in the door. I know what it's like to stand up for myself and tell a supervisor "No" when he orders me to do something unsafe for the sake of meeting unrealistic productions standards (UPS).
So, I have the dream, most of the knowledge, the willingness to work hard, and some experience that I believe will help me be successful in trucking. Now all I have to do is hurry up and wait until I'm 21.