Hello TT! It's Been Awhile, But This Amazing Thing Happened...

OMG! Brett,

Talk about where to begin...

Ok, so when I was looking at Roehl, you had said basically the same things; but you had asked me to consider if the 7/7 program was going to be enough "pay" for me, since it is basically working part time. I have had several drivers ask me the same question.

Yes, it is. Just to clarify and stress for everyone out there, it works for me; but it may not work for everyone. I have a husband who is working, so for me, in my situation, I don't NEED to work to eat. I'm working because I need to pay for a college student, and two teen-aged boys who can eat, a lot! Have you seen the price of groceries these days? Just to let everyone know, I am now making .34 per mile (I expect to get a .02 cent raise soon) and usually get anywhere from 2600-3100 miles per week that I am out. Of course, sometimes things happen, like last week, my partner was a day late coming home, so I started a day late, and then, I was down a day while I had to have new tires put on my tractor. So I only got 2200 miles last week. But the week before I had over 3200. So it all averages out in the end, and since I don't need health insurance, that saves me a ton of money, so I feel like I make as much as someone who is running full-time, but paying for insurance. The point is, I get paid the same way everyone else does, but with more hometime, and it works for me, and my situation; but anyone out there considering this option, please understand that just because it works for me, and I am happy with the program, it may not be right for everyone. Just saying...

Okay, so now I have a question for you. I have been running in upstate New York a few times along the 90 from Erie to Albany. Well one day, I was traveling along, and I had to get off at exit 21, so I go by exit 18 and I'm thinking "wow, I only have 3 more miles to go?" then I look down at my GPS and it says that there are 24 miles to go to exit 21. So I'm thinking, (I know, dangerous) but, I'm thinking that maybe this is why things are so expensive in New York. I mean, just think about it... If every time you had to pay for something and it was supposed to be 3 dollars but they charged you 24 dollars, wouldn't that explain the disparity in prices in New York? What kind of math do they teach up there?

So seriously, why don't they have the mile system for exits up there that they do everywhere else? It was just weird; but they did do something different than other places that I thought was a brilliant idea. On their exits, instead of having exit 21A and 21B for a road that exited Northbound and Southbound, they numbered the exits as 21N and 21S and there were other exits that were 25W and 25E for West and East. I thought that was great, but the exit numbers were crazy. (Of course, there is only 1 exit about every 10-20 miles, so there's not a whole lot out there, but still...

That's awesome Julia! Fellow Roehl driver here too. I love it here. I'm on the national fleet and would like to be home a bit more in the future, but this works for now. Great company!

Thanks Scott!

My main terminal is Gary, so I'm there a lot. What's your truck number? I'll try and keep an out for you.

Great to hear from you. Thanks for your encouragement a while back. Wondered about you glade things are good for you. I'm also enjoying the 7/7, felt like it took a bit to get here, but it has been worth it! Say hi when ur in Gary, I know I get there a lot - truck 8012 -Steve

Steve, I was wondering how you were doing. I will definitely say hi. As I told Scott, I seem to be in Gary a lot. I will definitely look for your truck, but if you know you are going to be there, send me an email. I'm wondering if we haven't crossed paths before and just didn't know it. I'm in truck 8778.

I have officially confiscated my son's laptop and will be able to keep up with all of my TT friends a lot better now, plus I have the NFL Package with Direct TV, so I'll be able to watch the games on my laptop. Just in time for football season... WooHoo! Go Steelers!

Great to hear from you. Thanks for your encouragement a while back. Wondered about you glade things are good for you. I'm also enjoying the 7/7, felt like it took a bit to get here, but it has been worth it! Say hi when ur in Gary, I know I get there a lot - truck 8012 -Steve

I'm sitting in Gary right now actually. Truck #4839 if you all ever see me say hi!

That's awesome Julia! Fellow Roehl driver here too. I love it here. I'm on the national fleet and would like to be home a bit more in the future, but this works for now. Great company!

Thanks Scott!

My main terminal is Gary, so I'm there a lot. What's your truck number? I'll try and keep an out for you.

#4839. Sitting in Gary right now. I'm sure I'll run into you at some point. I have one of like 12 Kenworth's in the company. Easy to spot..

So this is my first time replying to ANY posts on TT. The website and information here is phenomenal. My dad has been driving a truck for over 17 years now since he retired from the USAF. Someone once asked him if he considered himself a "Professional Truck Driver"? He responded by saying; "No I am always learning something new. The minute I consider myself a professional driver is the minute I stop being vigilant, and become complacent. I will never consider myself a professional driver."

BTW, this is not a stab/mockery/insult at anyone who has a different view or opinion. This is just my dads own personal view. Thanks for taking the time to read this "Not yet truck drivers" opinion.

Christopher R.

Okay, so my laptop felt the need to be vindictive yet again by not posting the rest of my blog.

So I will retype the missing portion.

What do you more seasoned/veteran/career drivers feel about being called a professional driver? Advice and answers are welcomed from ALL drivers regardless of time behind the wheel.

Once again, thank you for reading my post and hopefully my laptop will stop being vindictive towards me.

Christopher R.

Welcome aboard Christopher!

Well, your dad interpreted "being a professional" in a different way than most people would I think. I'd say he was thinking more along the lines of "being perfect", which nobody is. And he's right, you'll always keep learning.

I talk about being a professional truck driver all the time. What I mean by that is you handle yourself with pride and integrity and treat others with kindness and respect. You do your job the right way - work hard, safety first, take care of your company, your customers, and your equipment. You look respectable, act respectable, and do your job in a way that will earn you the respect of your company and your peers.

I'm willing to bet that your father, having retired from the military and taking the approach he takes toward truck driving, is indeed what I would consider a true professional. There aren't many out there I'm afraid and this industry could sure use a whole lot more of em. But from my standpoint, that's the greatest compliment you can give a truck driver - to call them a true professional. It's what I believe we all should strive for in everything we do.

You know Brett; I never thought of it that way. And judging by his answer, I'm sure he didn't either. Either way, this isn't meant to offend anyone. I know he takes great pride in his career, and me being a former Marine and LEO myself can understand where he and you are coming from. I appreciate your insight and time taken to answer me.

I look forward to opinions from other Professional and Newbie drivers.

Stay safe out there.

Chris

I think what you father meant to stay is he is not a veteran truck driver. I am been driving for 15 years and I am not a veteran driver. I am a rookie driver cause I am always learning something new. Driving a truck never gets old to me and I am on a dedicated account that travels along the same exact roads every week and its not boring. Something always changes along the way.