How Has The YouTube Generation Changed Trucking???

Man, 36 cents in 1993 is 61 cents today when accounting for inflation. That's like effectively being paid 170% more than today? Depressing.

That's exactly right, unfortunately. Which is why I think it's more important now than ever that people understand this job really is a lifestyle for most drivers. It becomes your life, at least for a while. There are local drivers who are an exception. They can have set schedules and be home every night and off on weekends. So it can be like a regular job if that's what you're looking for. But that form of trucking has it's tough side, also. It's just a different set of challenges, not fewer ones.

I'm hoping people, even those who are just looking for a job and not an entirely new life, will take the Allie Knight approach, the same approach I took from day one. I wanted an adventure. I wanted a challenge. I wanted to be amazed by the experiences I had.

I didn't get into trucking because I wanted a job. I had a job. I wanted a fascinating life. Trucking was definitely that! The fact that it paid triple what I was making at the time was a huge bonus, but I would've done it without the pay increase.

Everyone knows that complaining and criticizing gets me bent out of shape, when pretty much nothing else in the world does. That's cuz I enjoyed trucking so much over the years and it was such a grand adventure that I'm always flabbergasted when people cry and complain about all of these petty little details and completely miss how cool it is to even get the opportunity to drive one of these amazing beasts around the country and get paid a solid wage to do it!

Come on!

It's trucking. It's cool. At least I think it is. None of these whiners have experienced any hardships out there that I haven't been through a hundred times. Just because something is hard doesn't mean you can't enjoy it. And just because circumstances aren't perfect doesn't mean you have to focus on every little nitpicky thing you aren't thrilled with.

Come on!

Like Tom Hanks said in "A League Of Their Own" ..........

"The hard is what makes it great."

And our version of his other great one.........

"There's no crying in baseball trucking"

Hey, that should be our motto!

There are some whiners on there yes. However there's also lots of helpful videos on pretrip, shifting, backing, etc. I just happened to find a guy doing flatbed (Dake Clay) and a year later my family is in a much better position.

I like Red Viking Trucker on Youtube. His attitude and outlook is exactly how I'm trying to be. You have to get out there and prove yourself and hustle. I think a lot of people feel things should be given to them instead of earning it. I'm going into this adventure with the mind set that I will have to prove myself. For me, failure is not an option. Most people are doomed to fail because they start out with the wrong attitude. Dale Clay is also another Youtuber that I really enjoy as well. I've found Youtube extremely helpful in my planning on this career.

I like Red Viking Trucker on Youtube. His attitude and outlook is exactly how I'm trying to be. You have to get out there and prove yourself and hustle. I think a lot of people feel things should be given to them instead of earning it. I'm going into this adventure with the mind set that I will have to prove myself. For me, failure is not an option. Most people are doomed to fail because they start out with the wrong attitude. Dale Clay is also another Youtuber that I really enjoy as well. I've found Youtube extremely helpful in my planning on this career.

cant agree more- I powered through every one of his videos and there are others that have also been very helpful. It all what you look for and tolorate I think. As for me- I won't listen to the whiners and bellyachers. I have my own dream I want to follow.

Nothing is perfect- I know that It is what you make of it.. And trucking isn't for everyone. So let them move on and let the rest of us who are willing to work and hustle get the job done

I have mixed feelings about YouTube truckers. As previously mentioned there are good and bad.

I enjoy some of the vlogs, especially those that don't really mention their company. Those seem to be just genuine here is what my life is like and not my life sucks and it is everyone's fault but mine.

The other ones I like are those that talk about issues with the intent to try and improve the industry and usually start with the focus on the drivers and not just problems associated with carriers or shippers.

Unfortunately though it gives the terminal rats more of an audience as well. Instead of Brett's example in the podcast of the new driver being poisoned by a group of rats and creating a self fulfilling prophecy; you have rats potentially poisoning hundreds of new drivers before they ever get to school.

Sadly I think RVT gave some of the best advice for new drivers: stay off the internet and focus on your skills.

I say sadly because while there is some good content out there it is overshadowed by the negativity.

you have rats potentially poisoning hundreds of new drivers before they ever get to school.

I'm glad you mentioned that because this has had an impact on incoming students, and therefore the way companies are finding students.

It has a dramatic effect on a person's psyche when they're new to a career, especially one that's as life-changing and risky as trucking, and you have all these doomsayers crying bloody murder, warning you that you're going to be the next victim.

In fact, some of the company-sponsored programs will not bring in someone who has already attended any other company or private school, even for a day, without completing the program. Why? Because they've found that people who quit their private school or quit their company-sponsored program or quit their company before completing the contract often times have done so because their attitudes have been soured so badly by the rats.

I was told that many of these people are so jaded already by the garbage they've heard that you can't even work with them. These folks wind up being cynical toward the instructors and staff, they become withdrawn and intolerant, and they feel like any great efforts they make toward the company will leave them in a position to be taken advantage of. So they don't interact well with people and they're not willing to make the commitments it takes to get this career off the ground.

So there's no question that the naysayers are really hurting the industry and hurting a lot of careers. And the truth is that trucking is safer and has higher standards of professionalism than it has had in 50 years with the advent of elogs and advancements in drug testing and (sometimes) better training and equipment.

You know who believes the ol' cliche that attitude is everything? People with great attitudes who have found great success and know how important it was.

You know who thinks that's a stupid saying? Yeah, those with crappy attitudes. Same people who hate everything.

It makes sense though. A company puts a significant investment into new drivers. If they have already proven they couldn't handle the previous program why take the risk.

Especially when you consider that the training programs are similar no matter what company you go with.

"There's no crying in baseball trucking"

Hey, that should be our motto!

I love that motto!! Here's my first weak attempt.

Here's my first weak attempt.

That's funny!

We need to create a custom T-shirt with that phrase on it as the theme. That would be a hit.

I wish to be the best I can be with your help guys. If you're willing to help keep me going.