Straight Trucks
Topic 32240 | Page 1
Do what you want to do and let your coworker do what he wants to do. You're not paying his bills and he's not paying yours. The opinions of those that don't matter, don't matter.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Hey y’all, New here friend told me about this forum so I figured I’d sign up got tired of Facebook.
Anyway just got a question, I recently come off the road (wife had enough) and got a great job driving a class b straight truck. Which I’m loving it so far and make good money so I’m happy. A coworker come to me and ask me why I’d get out of a tractor to drive a straight truck like I’d just got out of the looney bin haha. Well I told him home time and money of course. He then told me how he was saving money to get his class a to be a real trucker and that he was ashamed of his job even though this job is one of the best experiences I’ve had anywhere. I told him he was crazy. And he said that class a drivers looked down on the lowly class b driver and he wanted to be a real truck driver. He is young and shows it but i told him a real trucker is a person who is courteous professional and don’t damage equipment or freight. Just to prove it to him I figured I’d post here and get your opinions on the matter just to see what comes of it.please keep responses as kind and constructive as possible as he’s keeping an eye on this post as well.
Thanks guys and good to meet y’all be safe out there.
Only idiots look down on someone else for doing legitimate work to support oneself and one's family. Sure, you will see jokes on here, especially OTR drivers cracking jokes about day cab drivers, but it's friendly banter. Let that co-worker thinks what he wants. Be secure in yourself that you know ehat you are doing and that it is best for your family. That is what many of us call a super trucker. He is going to insist that he HAS to train on a manual. He will be looking for a company that has an all-manual fleet. When he can't find an all-manual fleet, he will demand that his assigned truck is a manual. He will no longer be a trucker after 6 months. Those types don't last because once the romance of being a trucker wears off, they realize that it's real work that isn't always fun. They burn out pretty quick.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Day Cab:
A tractor which does not have a sleeper berth attached to it. Normally used for local routes where drivers go home every night.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
90% of the time, comments like the young prospective drivers comes from a place of insecurities hidden by machoism. Most all of us have "been there, done that." Hopefully, he will eventually grow up emotionally (many do not), and realize his ignorance years prior. In the meantime, I try to stay stay from these people.
Hey y’all, New here friend told me about this forum so I figured I’d sign up got tired of Facebook.
Anyway just got a question, I recently come off the road (wife had enough) and got a great job driving a class b straight truck. Which I’m loving it so far and make good money so I’m happy. A coworker come to me and ask me why I’d get out of a tractor to drive a straight truck like I’d just got out of the looney bin haha. Well I told him home time and money of course. He then told me how he was saving money to get his class a to be a real trucker and that he was ashamed of his job even though this job is one of the best experiences I’ve had anywhere. I told him he was crazy. And he said that class a drivers looked down on the lowly class b driver and he wanted to be a real truck driver. He is young and shows it but i told him a real trucker is a person who is courteous professional and don’t damage equipment or freight. Just to prove it to him I figured I’d post here and get your opinions on the matter just to see what comes of it.please keep responses as kind and constructive as possible as he’s keeping an eye on this post as well.
Thanks guys and good to meet y’all be safe out there.
Howdy! Congrats for your time on the road; sure hope you did your one year commit, at least.. as that in itself, earns you respect. The more, the better; don't dip on a driving job ever, lest you not get one similar if again. Check your DAC for free, 1x a year. Ask us how, if you don't know.
To answer your post:
A 'real' trucker is one that provides for his family, keeps one happy, or sustains one's self, while on the road, as so chooses.
A 'real' trucker will not play games with 4'wheelers, no matter. CDLlife shows some bozo box guys too, so..don't be one.
A 'real' trucker will ATLAS bridge heights, truck routes, parkways, and toll roads .. before being hemmed up.
A 'real' trucker will KNOW that 13'6" is the standard a truck of all kinds, strives for..with a bridge.
A 'real' trucker won't let his GPS get him hemmed up on/in Smuggler's Notch. (look it up!)
A 'real' trucker is happy with the skin he/she is in, and won't hide behind shade; ie: initials, and/or state of domicile.
A 'real' trucker would maintain his Med Card; so he would be free to drive interstate again, if ever need be.
A 'real' trucker doesn't care what name is on his door, as long as he's legal, earning/turning/learning/yearning.
>*>*>This, from a trucker's wife of many years; family of truckers before that, too. Hope this helps, and 'peaces out' your pal!
Good to meet ya, or could be....if you'd have a name and/or state, age would help as well!
~ Anne & Tom ~
ps: On a FINAL, share THIS w/ your pal, and send him OUR way; as you should've done first! He doesn't NEED to save money, but for the bills while he's out w/ a trainer.
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CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Interstate:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).
DAC:
Drive-A-Check Report
A truck drivers DAC report will contain detailed information about their job history of the last 10 years as a CDL driver (as required by the DOT).
It may also contain your criminal history, drug test results, DOT infractions and accident history. The program is strictly voluntary from a company standpoint, but most of the medium-to-large carriers will participate.
Most trucking companies use DAC reports as part of their hiring and background check process. It is extremely important that drivers verify that the information contained in it is correct, and have it fixed if it's not.
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
We are all doing the same thing...driving from A to B safely hauling goods to customers...thats it. If someone thinks that the difference between vehicle classes is primarily driver experience then it sounds like that individual has very little experience themselves. We all know guys making good money driving a box truck who do their job and go home to the Mrs which is what we are ALL doing. I attribute two things to guys who think that a vehicle class has to do with experience; inexperience themselves or fragile egos. This is the same argument about the WNBA vs NBA. NBA brings in more money so players make more but they both require the same skills while both playing the exact same game (as for pay). When it comes to driving abilities, I fail to see the difference other than one having a kingpin and locking jaws and one doesn't. Both can bump docks, load securement, strap down flatbed loads, dump buckets, tanker, etc.
Me myself, if instead of managing trucks and driving OTR chem tanker I could make the same amount of money while being home everyday driving the Oscarmayer Weiner mobile I would TOTALLY do it! It all has to do with what you're willing to accept risk wise which directly correlates to pay and lifestyle. Only people in my experience who drive Class 8 vehicles that think box truck drivers are beneath them are guys who have big egos and small.... well you know 
Good luck in you endeavors and stay safe out there! -Dave
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
We are all doing the same thing...driving from A to B safely hauling goods to customers...thats it. If someone thinks that the difference between vehicle classes is primarily driver experience then it sounds like that individual has very little experience themselves. We all know guys making good money driving a box truck who do their job and go home to the Mrs which is what we are ALL doing. I attribute two things to guys who think that a vehicle class has to do with experience; inexperience themselves or fragile egos. This is the same argument about the WNBA vs NBA. NBA brings in more money so players make more but they both require the same skills while both playing the exact same game (as for pay). When it comes to driving abilities, I fail to see the difference other than one having a kingpin and locking jaws and one doesn't. Both can bump docks, load securement, strap down flatbed loads, dump buckets, tanker, etc. Me myself, if instead of managing trucks and driving OTR chem tanker I could make the same amount of money while being home everyday driving the Oscarmayer Weiner mobile I would TOTALLY do it! It all has to do with what you're willing to accept risk wise which directly correlates to pay and lifestyle. Only people in my experience who drive Class 8 vehicles that think box truck drivers are beneath them are guys who have big egos and small.... well you know
Good luck in you endeavors and stay safe out there! -Dave
I have known men and women working for Cintas who made $100k+ driving box trucks and this was back in 2015. Those drivers could be nearing $150k+, with the wage increases that have occurred over the last few years.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.New Reply:
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Hey y’all, New here friend told me about this forum so I figured I’d sign up got tired of Facebook.
Anyway just got a question, I recently come off the road (wife had enough) and got a great job driving a class b straight truck. Which I’m loving it so far and make good money so I’m happy. A coworker come to me and ask me why I’d get out of a tractor to drive a straight truck like I’d just got out of the looney bin haha. Well I told him home time and money of course. He then told me how he was saving money to get his class a to be a real trucker and that he was ashamed of his job even though this job is one of the best experiences I’ve had anywhere. I told him he was crazy. And he said that class a drivers looked down on the lowly class b driver and he wanted to be a real truck driver. He is young and shows it but i told him a real trucker is a person who is courteous professional and don’t damage equipment or freight. Just to prove it to him I figured I’d post here and get your opinions on the matter just to see what comes of it.please keep responses as kind and constructive as possible as he’s keeping an eye on this post as well.
Thanks guys and good to meet y’all be safe out there.