Gay/Lesbian/Trans Drivers At McElroy

This career is what you make of it for yourself. You will determine your own fate.

MCElroy is one of the top notch flatbed carriers. I’ve met several drivers over the years and they all without exception loved their job. That speaks volumes too me.

I’m assuming you are set on flatbed work. There are far fewer large flabed carriers than box companies. Some have flatbed fleets along with box’s. Prime is one. Roehl is another. My point is if your looking for a flatbed only company you are limiting your choices.

With this ecomony I would suggest applying everywhere through this site or driver pulse and see what offers you get. Things are tough right now and likely going to get tougher before it gets better. Land a job and excel at it and you should be fine.

Congrats on getting your CDL.

Two things come to mind. One is that you're not qualified to decide weather or not to pass up on a company or not. You literally have no reference to accurately judge a company yet.

In this case, worrying about this issue is the equivalent of complaining about the fabric selection on the deck chairs of the titanic.

Things that you should be worried about: 75 to 85 percent of all drivers that even make it one year in the industry have at least one incident or accident. Meaning they hit things or God forbid, people.

Most new drivers don't make it through Training. Those that do don't last more than 3 to 6 months. Very steep learning curve.

Most new drivers take at least one year to begin to start being safe, efficient and profitable to the company and most will cause damage, meaning expenses to equipment along with service failures within that year.

Now, on to the other thing that comes to mind is that both thinly veiled bashing of Christians is just rhetoric and on the opposite side, pointing out the illogical tirade of social justice crapola on the left is as well. They are both sides low hanging fruit. Good for a childish argument and not much else.

In other words, not many people here are going to take the bait on either side of the argument, we have much more important things to do and it's just a complete nonsequitor in trucking.

Thank you Georgia Neighbor. No lectures, just facts which is what I was looking for.

This career is what you make of it for yourself. You will determine your own fate.

MCElroy is one of the top notch flatbed carriers. I’ve met several drivers over the years and they all without exception loved their job. That speaks volumes too me.

I’m assuming you are set on flatbed work. There are far fewer large flabed carriers than box companies. Some have flatbed fleets along with box’s. Prime is one. Roehl is another. My point is if your looking for a flatbed only company you are limiting your choices.

With this ecomony I would suggest applying everywhere through this site or driver pulse and see what offers you get. Things are tough right now and likely going to get tougher before it gets better. Land a job and excel at it and you should be fine.

Congrats on getting your CDL.

Every one who has thus far responded indicated they do not care...I get that. I did not judge the company. Just wanted to know if they were the loving type or the hateful judgemental type. The remainder of your advice and comments are very helpful. It certainly feels like I poked the bear though. lol. Passed my state exam yesterday and tomorrow a Werner driver is taking me to their terminal and giving me the unofficial tour. Thanks for responding.

You don't want to be judged or discriminated against, but that's exactly what you're doing to McElroy. Christian values include love, kindness and acceptance. Sure, there are some Christians that are hateful but that's true for any group. The only thing your trucking company cares about is doing your job safely, and being on time. You may receive some comments or dirty looks from other drivers or shippers/receivers but that happens in every aspect of life. If you want to make it a big deal, it will be. I don't frequent truck stops or rest areas too much, but talking (if any) is usually minimal and is typically about the weather or traffic. We're all out there doing a job, just counting down the time til we get back home to our loved ones.

Terminal or drop lot nearby should be a nonfactor. There are many possibilities of parking your truck elsewhere while you're at home if you can't take it home. However, there are some companies that I can't recall off the top of my head that require your truck be at the terminal when you go home.

Seriously, we do not care what someone's gender identity or sexual preference is. Just focus on getting hired to any large carrier and things should work out just fine. It's a tough time for new drivers to get hired. No reason to make it even harder on yourself. If you go into this with an everybody's against me mentality you're going to be miserable. Trust us, it's only an issue if YOU make it one. Your first year is going to be tough adjusting to what being a truck driver is all about. It is for everyone. If you can make it through that, it'll get far easier. At nearly 6 years of driving most days I can't believe I get paid so well for what hardly feels like work.

Congrats on earning your CDL

Have you used this link to Apply For Truck Driving Jobs

It certainly feels like I poked the bear though. lol.

We keep trying to tell you, the only reason you feel that way is because you are asking a question that shouldn't even be a concern. You ARE going to have a lot of concerns when you get started. None of them will be related to any one's sexuality. You seem oblivious to the things that should concern you. That's why it seems we are dancing all around the fringes of your question.

tomorrow a Werner driver is taking me to their terminal and giving me the unofficial tour.

That's great, but once again it's not important at all. In nine years at one company, I don't think I've been to "my terminal" but maybe six or seven times.

This is a solitary career. Don't try to imagine what it is or how it works. Your imaginations will disappoint you. We want you to be prepared for this. The things you keep focusing on are nonstarters.

Congratulations on your success this far. I hope you continue to develop into a professional who can give good advice to others who share your concerns.

It certainly feels like I poked the bear though

Well, you didn't. None of us care.

What we do care about is helping people become successful in trucking.

I've learned many skills and careers in my lifetime, as have many folks here. A person must figure out what really matters before they will make progress toward a challenging goal.

If an aspiring chef focuses hard on the shape of their hat or the color of their apron, they will make no progress toward their goal of preparing great food until they stop distracting themselves with their hat and apron.

The same can be said of a computer programmer who spends all their time trying to choose just the right desk, lamp, and chair. They will not progress toward their goal until they focus on what matters.

You keep telling us what you want to know, which implies you know what matters in this career. Many of us have told you already that you're wasting your time worrying about things that don't matter. That's ok. That's part of being new to anything. You first must learn what matters.

Also, this idea that everyone should embrace, love, and accept you for who you are is naïve and immature. Neither Jesus Christ nor Santa Claus were universally loved or accepted. Neither am I. Neither are you. It doesn't matter.

Ask yourself if you're here trying to learn what it takes to succeed in trucking, or are you here to wave your flag? If you expect to be coddled, then we'll remind you that you're an adult, and you'll have to deal with the consequences of your choices like the rest of us. Most of the choices I've made in my life are absurd to most people. Fortunately, I was taught to be true to myself, and I'll attract people who understand and appreciate me for who I am. The rest can go jump in a lake.

Figure out what matters and focus on that. Eliminate the rest.

In my limited experience experience in the trucking industry, companies are focused on making money much more than on driver’s personal lives. They all hope that their drivers are people of high character and integrity, but beyond that it’s more of a don’t ask, don’t tell thing.

As I am shaking my head perusing this thread, I got a text from my Regional trainer that he was delayed 4 hours in Ohio due to a fatal crash. Here is the news article: Pedestrian struck and killed by semi in Fayette County When he went past the scene he had to turn his head away as they were picking up body parts and scraping hair/scalp off the pavement.

I'd be more concerned about having the mental constitution to endure events like this versus being emotionally validated for my sexuality.

Want to guaranty you are never discriminated against in trucking (or 99% of other industries) do the following:

1) Have a positive attitude 2) Work hard 3) Be accountable for your actions 4) Don't flamboyantly ram your sexuality down everyone's throat for personal validation 5) Try to improve the day of everyone you interact with.

Best of success to you to you Randall....watch that damn trailer ALWAYS!!