OK Kids, Lets debunk the myths surrounding the latest profession du jour. First, lets get acquainted, I have been involved in the industry all of my life, I always wanted to be a driver just like my father was for over 45 years. I considered it an honorable profession, Back then.

Most people’s view of the “Truck Driver” comes from the cheesey movies of the ’70s and all the bad stories on the news, but, as some of you have said it was a trucker who came to your rescue in your time of need. This is the case more than you hear of.

The 1st thing that happened to this industry was in 1980 when congress passed the Interstate Commerce Act also known as “Deregulation” This was to make companies more competitive. Before this Companies had to apply for permits and operating authority in each individual state, and this was up to the state whether or not it was granted. If you did not have authority to operate in another state you had to “Trip Lease” to another company to travel through that state, this also meant that they got part of the profit from your load. An example: If you loaded in San Antonio, TX going to Denver, CO you had to call ahead to 2 different companies (other than your own), Stop at each of their terminals in TX and CO and get copies of the permits, and stop at the KS port of entry and pay $2.00 for a 1 trip permit.

Well, deregulation ended all of this, any company could apply for and get authority to run all 48 states and this was guaranteed by the ICC. Some have said that they went broke after deregulation. Those independents who did not have the money up front to get their authority went under or leased to a company like we were. Lots of the big companies who made a lot of money by being the only companies who served a certain area and made huge sums from Trip lease funds went by the wayside. I.E. Lee Way, Transcon, Campbell express, Be Mac, C&H etc. But it made the industry more competitive, but more cut throat. This also gave little up start companies a door to go through, Enter JB Hunt, Warner, Schneider, etc. They were always around but you only saw them in certain areas of the country Now with the help of some big bank loans they were able to become the major players that they are now. With this change also came the need for new drivers ( This and the prosperity of the ’80s).

Now Back in the day, if you wanted to drive a truck you went about it in 1 of 3 ways, either you learned on a farm driving a hay truck, you had a dad or uncle who tought you how to drive, or you learned in the service and got a driving job after your discharge. After the need increased came the advent of the “Truck Driving School” where seasoned veterans taught persons how to handle a rig and do paperwork. This usually took about 2 months but the industry needed drivers faster so the curriculum was cut to about 6 weeks. Now it is approx. 3.5 weeks. You then get hired on with a company and run team with a “Driver Finisher” for up to 50,000 miles before they turn you loose solo.

Back when I started you could count on a Truck Driver if you were in trouble( I Can remember if you stopped on an off ramp to relieve yourself by the time you were finished there were 5 drivers there with their tool boxes thinking you were broke down) THAT WAS THEN THIS IS NOW!!!!

Todays industry is based on unrealistic schedules, unfeeling, uninformed Dispatchers, Shippers and receivers who think “I have to be here for 8 hours so whats your hurry” Mechanics who think the driver does not know a damn thing, and companies and recruiters who think “So what, Quit, I will have 5 more to replace you this afternoon” The biggest problem in this industry is that the companies say they are “Keeping Quality Drivers”. Well, most recruiters will tell you exactly what you want to hear to get you to sign on the dotted line and then when they get you in it’s all out the door. You find out that they have a “Forced Dispatch Policy”, which means “you go where we tell you to go or go home and get wrote up or fired”. When you get back you get all the crap loads.

As for all the ads for drivers in the papers, today there is more freight to move than ever before, and companies will never have enough drivers, and as MR said the roads would be jammed with just trucks. They say in their ads “Make 50 to 75k a year driving a truck”. Yes you can, If you never want to see home again. In order to make that kind of money you have to be on the road 11 hours a day 6.5 days a week driving 4000 miles a week in order to bring home $1,ooo.00 a week to make $52,000.00 annually. Do the math – it don’t add up. Most companies also figure into that 50k figure your fuel and safety bonus. You have to get a certain fuel mileage average and drive so many miles in a given period to get that. Now in all that they don’t take into consideration: Road construction, Traffic, Weather, Delays at docks, Breakdowns and the “Hours of Service” laws that we now have. There’s another point the new HOS rules have. They state ” a Driver can only drive 11 hours a day after 10 hours of rest. and you can only be on duty 70 hours in any given 8 day period.” So, therefore, in order to make the “big money” you have to live in that cab.

Now, the company that I work for is a little better than that, I don’t make much money per mile but for giving that up, I am home most weekends, have a brand new truck( a 2006 Freightliner Coronado With an Automatic transmission) and usually know what my next load will be, and do not have a Satellite communication device attached to my truck ( A Qualcomn).

I hope this has helped to educate you all about the industry and what we do out there, I will be happy to answer any questions about the industry and speak with anyone who is considering getting into this industry and give them an honest answer I know I have only scratched the surface. I will post some stories about some of my exploits some other time. Thanks for your time.