Learning To Let Go And Let Be

I found this in a post by TruckerMike. I am reposting this because I think it is one of THE most valuable pieces of information I have found on any forum of trucking (and I have checked ALOT of them). If we all read this every single day, had it posted in our truck somewhere, and read it every day, then, when we have something bad happen, read it again, IF WE all did that, it would make this profession so much better for everyone everywhere.

Enjoy!

Learning To Let Go And Let Be

Which brings me to my last point. To make it in truck driving, you have let things go. You have to be aloof. You can't let things get to you. Just take things as they come. This is just part of the lifestyle, and it actually feels great to simply not care sometimes. Somebody cuts me off? Whatever. Customer makes me wait 13 hours to get loaded? Great, I'll get some sleep and write a blog! Truck breaks down? Excellent, I'll order myself a pizza at the hotel room my company is paying for! Lock yourself out of your truck on your first solo run? Ok, well, that sucked. But I got through it, didn't I? The point is, there are two kinds of truck drivers out here. The kind that say "that isn't fair" over and over and over again, and the kind that make the best of situations and let things go. I've learned that this industry isn't fair. Not even close. The driver always gets the short end of the stick. That's just the way it is. Either whine about it, or deal with it. I choose to deal with it.

Absolutely! The old cliche 'attitude is everything' applies to trucking in a very big way. If you watch the various drivers around a truck stop you'll find that many of the experienced drivers are either as easygoing as a monk or completely worn down and stressed out. It's because things will happen all day, every day that will make you miserable if you let em. But you'll also have 100 blessings to count every step of the way.

So it really comes down to a choice you make....are you going to let things upset you all the time or are you going to learn to enjoy yourself out there and let the little things go?

I've always preached "attitude is everything" in trucking and I'm well aware of the fact that for newbies who haven't gotten started in trucking it sounds like I'm just regurgitating that same old garbage your teachers used to say. But for drivers like Bill who are out there experiencing it for themselves you quickly realize you'll either go insane or have a nervous breakdown if you don't manage your thoughts and emotions out there.

Brett, another thing you've mentioned before that I've taken to heart is to not have any expectations. As a linehaul driver, this still applies to me, because my scheduled run always has the option of additional dispatches after my first stop. If I just run my regular schedule, it's 360 miles for the day and I'm home before my 30 minute break - nice and easy. If I go into a shift thinking I might get home early, I could be sorely disappointed when I get dispatched to another terminal that might give me 540 miles for the day, a much longer day.

Now, I'm not complaining about the extra miles because that means extra money, but there are some nights when I might not 'feel' like doing a 540 mile run, and if I have it in my mind that I'm getting a short night, then it's a bummer. Fact of the matter is that I'm out to run, and it's my job to move the freight. So, each night I go into work, I make sure to have the attitude of getting the job done, and calling it a day when my dispatcher says it's time to call it a day.

Attitude and perspective go a long way.

Bill, thanks for bumping/reminding me of TruckerMike's article. I've read it before but today has been one of those days where nothing is going my way and reading it again just now set me straight.

Here's a link to the full article if anyone is interested.

My First Year as a Truck Driver

Learning To Let Go And Let Be

Which brings me to my last point. To make it in truck driving, you have let things go. You have to be aloof. You can't let things get to you. Just take things as they come. This is just part of the lifestyle, and it actually feels great to simply not care sometimes. Somebody cuts me off? Whatever. Customer makes me wait 13 hours to get loaded? Great, I'll get some sleep and write a blog! Truck breaks down? Excellent, I'll order myself a pizza at the hotel room my company is paying for! Lock yourself out of your truck on your first solo run? Ok, well, that sucked. But I got through it, didn't I? The point is, there are two kinds of truck drivers out here. The kind that say "that isn't fair" over and over and over again, and the kind that make the best of situations and let things go. I've learned that this industry isn't fair. Not even close. The driver always gets the short end of the stick. That's just the way it is. Either whine about it, or deal with it. I choose to deal with it.

This is how I handled last week when I got stuck in Rawlins, WY due to bad weather. I made the best of it. I could have shut myself in the truck for the 70hrs I was down for, or I could get out, sit in the restaurant and have a few good laughs with the other drivers in the same situation and make the time more enjoyable, which is exactly what I did. The time went by quicker sitting and talking.

I too chose to deal with it.

I've locked myself out plenty of times, enough times that now I have a spare key hidden in my engine compartment (Zip tied). no more lock outs. I've only had to use it once. I've had too many people cut me off, flip me the bird. Whatever, Im doing my job and Im doing it safely and at the end of the day, I can say at least no one got hurt. =)

David

By the way, Brett, have you heard from Mike? I haven't seen/heard him around here since you redesigned the forums....

By the way, Brett, have you heard from Mike? I haven't seen/heard him around here since you redesigned the forums....

No he went off and started his own projects and I haven't heard from him since. I'm starting to think him and Guyjax disappeared down the same big hole somewhere.

By the way, Brett, have you heard from Mike? I haven't seen/heard him around here since you redesigned the forums....

No he went off and started his own projects and I haven't heard from him since. I'm starting to think him and Guyjax disappeared down the same big hole somewhere.

Well thats a shame. Maybe they'll both come back some day. =D