Unfortunately, it's not just truckers who deal with these inconsiderate jerks (shippers/receivers/security guards). It can be just as bad for the dispatchers.
That's top 5 for me. I switched to flatbed about 8 months ago and I don't deal with that anymore. Ridiculous to cop an attitude when you just met me 2 seconds ago.
It's not only underappreciated it's also a job to be discriminated against simply for doing your job. Countless times we are harassed by authorities, strangers, shippers, and city workers for any and every reason until we 'prove' we have a right to be where we are, have no other choice, or any of the other countless reasons. They would never dream of harassing the everyday road going public in this fashion. If you want to be hated for existing I recommend truck driving to all road going masochists.
Yeah, and Doctors, Nurses, Teachers, Crossing Guards, Fork Lift Operators, Highway Workers,EMT’S, Pilots, Baggage Handlers, Traffic Control Operations, Bakers, Cooks. Get where I’m going with this? Every job is important, no group deserves “special” attention. I also hold this opinion for our military. Without the support of the rest of the country they couldn’t do the task. Many jobs in manufacturing, steel production, public protection and trucking are statistically more dangerous than military operations. Let’s honor all hard working Americans
@@pheleant "Too stupid?" Are you kidding me? Some people I swear. You need true grit to get behind the wheel and drive that beast across the country! Drivers are truly silent hero's.
#10. I learned very early on in my career to not give them the option of trying to force me to drive if I feel unsafe. If they say their gonna fire me, I tell them I'll turn my truck in when it's safe to get back to the yard.
I've had dispatchers that used to be truck drivers and most were still assholes! Believe me driving experience doesn't mean anything! They get pressure from either upper management or demanding customers and then they pass that pressure on drivers to get loads delivered regardless of safety concerns or following the law! Even decent dispatchers will every now and then still try to push loads that are risky!
There is still more brother, I’ll be driving for 3 years soon, had 7 jobs and I’m so disappointed that I’m seriously considering quitting this BS, lots of work out there that pay way more and don’t require you to be a slave and work for peanuts. The amount of money trucking companies make, is unbelievable, maybe if they wouldn’t pay that much to those 30 MFkers plus those liars recruiters in office, they could actually increase drivers pay who actually move their freight so they can get money. This is truly unfair
Standing my ground in bad weather has gotten me fired once. I’m not upset, their the ones who lost a good driver. They called and called trying to get me to come back after about a week. I refused. Being separated from that company allowed me to find a better one that I call home now. Like Dave said it’s YOUR life!!! No load is more valuable than your life. When it comes to safety stand your ground if your uncomfortable performing. Thank you Dave!! I’ve been a fan for years
Speratic sleep schedules; poor diet choices, boredom (sleepiness that comes with it), crushing delivery schedules. I mean...overall "driver wellness" is the most challenging part of trucking in my experience (7 years)
@@rupertplum1709 Good question; but in the end it's all about what YOU want. Driving an 18 wheeler is difficult almost anywhere unless you're working on a farm or a farming company.
This is such a good and intelligent video of looking into the life of a trucker. I dont remember who told me this " trucking is not a 9 to 5 job it's a life style" that and " trucking is like a bad drug that you cant live with out" I think those 2 phrases go hand in hand. I'm going to truck as long as I can. Diesel is in my blood now. Yet it is wreaking havoc on my personal life and my health. I crave eating veggies but dont get to as much on the road. My company, when I get back I have to escape out of there and go home. Keep my phone shut off because they always want me to do 'one last run' that usually takes up the majority of the day. I cant stay home too long before the urge to get back on the road starts. I'm single and most likely will be single for a very long time. I'm happy to see my truck after a few days off, it's like a friend to me. I was born to be a trucker I cant think of any other profession that I could do and be this content
I'm a dispatcher and love your videos! Your perspective is honest and though I may not always agree, I definitely respect your point of view. Preach on!
20 year dispatcher here. Although I’m def not in the “bad dispatcher” category, it is a fact the vast majority are indeed worthless. Will have my CDL in three weeks and am def planning to eventually running dedicated.
Working for the big Carriers 65 to 70 hrs a week for minimum wage has become the norm. Your work day starts when you do your Pretrip and ends with a Posttrip. The hours in between regardless of duty status is what you should be paid for. Example. Last week I ran all week and worked a total of 68 hrs based off my HOS Pre to Post. I grossed $1093. Note some weeks are better some are worse. Understand that's only $16.07 per h My best check was about $1400 working my full 70. That works out to $20.00 per hr for that particular week. Understand that I am on a truck 24hr a day 6 days a week starting and stopping at every possible hour day and night. Over the last several months my Avg hourly rate was $17.58 This is why seasoned Drivers are getting out of trucking.
I'm surprised parking didn't make the list. Along the interstates, between the hours of 9pm to 4am, there just aren't enough truck stop or rest area parking spots to meet the demand.
"Put it in the end dock" which has a trailer on the right side and a fence/retaining wall on the left. With just enough room in front to pull out a day cab and pup
So true, I got lost through Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, and Kansas last night lol. The worst was going through a storm, that was scary not being able see in the heavy rain. Got close to rear ending a 4 wheeler but slowed down in time. You should make a video about driving in different weather conditions and how to cope in worst scenarios or avoiding it if possible
John, thank you for all of your advice and encouragement. I don't know that I would have gone into this industry had it not been for your tutelage. The industry owes guys like you who are willing to take the time out to coach us new drivers, an immense amount.
Been in this industry 6 months, I learn a lot just watching this lol got the itch now and just love the road even through the rough jobs and trash pay, God bless! Stay humble and always remember there is ALWAYS something new to learn!
After 23 years of commercial driving I can say without a doubt that these are all difficult challenges but I would add at least one more and for me it was the most difficult thing. Staying awake while driving.
I'm looking into trades and I'm also telling everyone that this industry is not worth working in. I will NEVER recommend driving a truck to anyone not even a homeless person
@@r.d.9399 it's a shame to hear that, I really do admire the chance to operate a fine piece of machinery, that red truck dave showed in the picture is very inspiring
Yeah it happens to every driver, bad directions but even good directions you can run into problems but also having bad dispatcher that don’t understand the problems you deal with every day gets to be really stressful over time!!
"I hear ya!" I just got back into the trucking industry for a 2nd round. I see more positives running in a team than solo. Better pay and a quick turnaround. Unfortunately, you just have to bite the bullet at times..
I couldn't do team driving. Even if you get along, being couped up in such a confined space with someone for so long can wear on your nerves. But when bills come around you gotta pay it somehow. Wish you the best of luck
10.5: Other vehicles. The most difficult aspect of trucking as I see are other vehicles. It can range from people who park in the wrong spot making it hard or straight up impossible for you to get out of a place to reckless drivers. And the latter you cannot tell appart from other drivers. Remember people, opposite from what you might precieve by the news, most accidents involving a car and a truck are caused by the car not being careful enough.
Hell, I'd just settle for some professional courtesy from shippers/receivers. Not even asking for the "please don't kill me" from other cdl drivers on the daily. Seen so many wrecks out there where speed and ego were the prime movers. Slow down just a little, it could save your life.
Getting the truck ready for winter is imperative but what about the driver. For $100.00 you can buy a wool blanket ( find'em cheep on-line) emergency food and water AND toilet supplys. There will come a time if you do OTR when you will need any or all of them.
I really don't know how these guys on the road do it today I've been driving local now for over 12 years it was bad when I left OTR I was talking to a prime driver the other night well I was fueling my truck said he was quitting that he only made $350 his last paycheck and I bet that is so common I bet a good week for these guys OTR is maybe 6 or $700 so you can only imagine what the bad weeks are like you can go to work at Costco in make 17 to $20 an hour there stocking shelves I don't know why anybody would want to do it and that's sad😞
Prime is horrible, I work in Springfield Missouri where they are based out of, I was thinking about going otr and talked to a recruiter there and the pay was unreal, I don't know how they con so many new drivers into working for them, and their in house testing and licensing facility is a joke, I see a lot of them at the company I work for and 75% of them cant hardly back a truck up to the dock
Accepting miles given at dispatch without verifying they are close or correct. I remember one time having a three stop load and got within 30 miles of my second stop and the amount of money paid on the Dispatch for the loaded miles was done. I still had another 120 miles to go to my third and final stop. It took three months of arguing to get the lousy $37 the trucking company owed me for doing the run. You need to check your GPS and map and if it is not within 8% of the miles they are paying you then you refuse the load until they correct the number of miles on the dispatch. That includes loaded and empty. One more incident I had was I started on the load and they sent me a message to divert to someplace to swap loads so a guy could go home on emergency family issues. After driving from point A ( where I got the load) to point B place I had gotten message) to point C ( the place where we swapped trailers), they paid me as though I went direct shortest route from A to C! This again was cheating me out of 68 extra miles.
Once again Dave, another great video with TONS of information to take away with. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your wisdom my friend. I'm using this Christmas weekend to catch up on your videos :)
I'd be rich if I had a dollar for every time I was told "the concrete truck" made it. Of coarse the 6 wheel drive straight truck made it. Most of our drops aren't to bad though, but some people want their houses in some spots even a 4 wheel drive would have trouble getting to if the road is muddy or snow covered. And getting lost is pretty common. I had to go out to a ranch out in the middle of nowhere Wyoming, the directions included turn left at the dead cow.
I got lost in Pennsylvania on some back roads at night. It was stressful but eventually found my way out. Im now a yard jockey. Home every night. Pay is decent. 4 and a half years now. This is good solid advice to road drivers hope they take it to heart.
I love the hard backs. My first codriver had a hard time with backing and just judging his surroundings all together. I'd wake up to him cursing and panicking. If I felt like I could guide him out of the situation I'd spot him and tell him how to turn, or if it was too complicated for him I'd take the wheel and explain why I'm doing what I'm doing and those were the funnest parts of driving for me. I even try backing doubles when I get the chance
I also like to add about dispatchers, man I have had my fill with some bad ones. We had one in my company that was so bad that one of the drivers caught him in the parking lot and beat the s$@t out of him them later the owners of the company carried him and tossed him out the front door never to be welcomed again. Dave's right some dispatchers can get you in a lot of trouble and then some are Angel's from god.
I'm a bus driver, not a truck driver. But a driver non the less. And I feel ur videos and rules apply to my profession. But I work for the s.a t.x transit system. They work us up to 14 hours a day and only 8 hours of rest between shifts. I feel that's not enough time for the hours. I called in the other day for drowsy driving and got relived. I felt it was a safety hazard. On my 20 min lay over I took a nap but it wasn't enough. When I got home I ended up sleeping for over 20 hours well into the next day. Hard hours man.
What a coincidence, today i miss my Exit and end up in residential area luckily i made back to free way safely.and later on open the TH-cam this video showed up 😂😂
Thank You for the time and advice that You give us. I listen respectfully. I can not help it. I laughed a lot with the big truck that miss a turn. Imagine it in New Yor City. Thank You so much
Good video dave. Yes, arguing with idiot dispatchers is a mugs game Sometimes when they like to press it is fun to send a snap or two of real weather or the forecast. If they still want to insist I speak two words. Safety issue Luckily, I am known for by enough people that I don't get pressed often. Just have to be firm and consistent. Soon they surrender
Great video Dave!! It's shameful that driver's have to know about the business more than the owners or anyone involved and "they don't get paid for it", love your videos, be safe!🤙🤙
If it's not safe to go or my equipment isn't safe to drive, I'm not moving at all and my dispatcher knows that. Sometimes, I think they give me loads that are loaded up on bad trailers just because I don't have an issue sitting and waiting while someone fixes me up.
Hand you nailed it! Just nailed it! Great insight to a difficult profession. 20 years OTR retired from driving but I wouldn’t change a thing. I ran east coast/ hunts point was a real 💩hole in the early 90’s. I remember when $5 would get you over the GW Bridge. Good times and good people back in the day. Kids keep the shiny side up and the dirty down. Truck em safe, mama and the kids are waiting on your return.
I've had to deal with those issue in the past, now days the company I work for is really good about, great dispatcher, no drama and if I call a safety foul they are all over... in a good way.:)
12 To many hands in our pocket - we do the job but they take the most. I had #8 so many times, so many times I told my dispatch not to give me those loads -- those tiny docks with narrow gates to get to the property and the dock is on your blind side only, no space for U-turn, takes so much effort, time/money (if it is raining or snowing, forget about it) especially when the shipper doesn’t care how you gonna back up to ups spot., if you hit something it’s gonna be on you
That Smart Trucking Guy knows his stuff! I like him due to the Fact he's Straight & Down to Earth,no B.S. I wish I would have meet him during my Trucking of 34 Years but been Retired since 2009.
My number 1 rule was I told the dispatcher in every company I've worked for until now that I'm absolutely not delivering anything in any big city downtown no matter what. Once he got a load going to Manhattan and sent it to me via text told me I'll get paid double per mile for it and do him a favor. I made him cancel the load and he called the boss so I got a call threatening me that I'll get fired if I don't get the load. I was waiting in the company yard then for the dispatch so I picked my stuff up from the truck, put everything in my car and left. Never answered my phone after that and just texted my boss "Thank you" 😂 I've been driving locally now mostly from Portland OR suburb to Seattle WA suburbs and back, about 8.5-10h shift a day and get paid $32/h+full benefits. Over the road is absolutely dreadful and I'll never ever do it again. I get paid more now and I don't care if there's a traffic jam or the weather is bad, I just take my time and don't get stressed if I get miles or not. I've decided three years ago that I'll only work for small local family owned businesses where I'm respected, paid well and treated like a human being.
Another excellent video! Well made and edited with some great points. Now that the elog switch is about to get official managing your hours is also a pretty difficult challenge. There's nothing worse than having your whole day planned out perfectly only to get held up at a shipper receiver for 7 hours and they don't have overnight parking.
Dave, my understanding is that some companies that used to say "drive if the roads open", are now seeing the wisdom of not putting trucks on highways in WY, when it a solid sheer of ice.
On the first one I've found that the length of the truck sometimes isn't near as much of an issue as the height of the truck, I do food distribution and they send us into some places that a car can barely get into, power lines are what I get most worried about, but a lot of these little mom and pop restaurants weren't originally designed for a a big straight truck or a tractor trailer and it can be easy to make a wrong turn doing 25 to 35 stops on one route
Rookie driver here, one thing that I have found very challenging is finding a parking spot at night, very stressful when your really close to running out of drive time. There has got to be a parking solution
You are so right I’ve been through all that stuff. Dispatcher gives me a address for a fright pickup I finally figured it out that if correct was in the middle of I-5 in Portland, Oregon. Loading dock had to circle the block and come down a back alley just big enough for a car with semi and 53 foot trailer. Going east bound I-90 out of Seattle January 2017 going over snoqualmie pass heading to Spokane because it was the only pass open east bound and the west bound was closed. We where all stopped at mile marker 148 just east of north bend sitting parked on the highway waiting for the storm to pass at 1am. When the state police told use to move out east bound ; ok by the time we got moving at 2.30am they had closed the east bound lanes but I didn’t know until later that morning. Had a inch of ice over the hole truck and the engine was running hot because the front grill would plug up with ice. Came down into cle elum that was jammed with trucks west bound 5am and I know they had to be looking at me wondering where in the hell did this guy come from. It turned out that they closed I-90 snoqualmie pass that time for 3 days 🤪🤪🤪🤪🥃🥃🥃.
Seems u have same issues in the USA as we do in England. Wages have stagnated, companies employing route planners straight from university with no road experience, roads constantly jammed up & poorly compensated for being out in a truck all week. I definitely have a love/hate relationship with trucking.
Depends on what you're pulling. I've run plenty of dumps. But I stopped at end dumps....it's a fool's pull. You're asked to drop on uneven ground. One breath of wind and you flopped. Even as you're leaving your load wheres it was supposed to go. I've dumped with my drive tires a foot from a 30 foot deep canyon. And I've lost my brakes going down some of LA most notorious hills...WHEW!!!!
Hehe. Well there's the call of the open highway! But keeping your eyes wide open and aware of what the hardships are Albert, is so important. That way, the issues can be dealt with as they unfold. And so the new blood coming into the biz, know what the hazzards are.
Smart Trucking thanks let me add another, the economics of being in your 60s is a pretty harsh reality in many other types of employment. Trucking allows for what can be significant and increasing earnings power so long as your driving skills are solid.
I'm in my second year and wanted to share my reasoning with you since you asked. I drive because I've always liked being mobile, it drives me crazy staying at one place working. I like seeing the country and having my workday be filled with unexpected challenges( although sometimes I eat those words ). The pay is good for me, considering I came from 20k annually to 80k annually. I'm a team so we're only out 4 days on average, so I get good home time for OTR. Overall, even with the problems, I love this job! I just wish mote truckers cared more about each other. The brotherhood of the old days is all but gone and that part of the job sucks.
Parking solution. What do you propose? Think about it. The Interstate system was designed in 1955 and completed in 1991. Designed when population was 150 million. Now it is more than double and truck traffic is 4x. The rest stops would have to be increased 4 times to accomodate all of the current trucks and trailers. 4 times. To fit all the rigs sleeping on shoulders.
Yeah my company sent me there to pick up a load and I thought it recognized the name for some reason and the I get there and I'm like "Ah yes, the hood, that's where I heard about it" lol The most decrepit city I've ever seen.
I’ll be 3 years soon into this nasty industry, “thankfully” I was able to find a job where I work 8 to 10 hours a day and I get pay $20 an hour, home every day and take home 750 to 850 after taxes depending on how good the week is, I DONT GET PAY OT AFTER 40 , I get pay OT after 50 instead. Well, met a friend where I play soccer, that guy has no special license, no certification, not even an OSHA card, he works for an Union in construction, works from 6am to 2pm and makes 32,50 an hour and OT after 8 hours, takes home after taxes over 1700 a week, I asked him to help me enter that job, he is trying, as soon I hear from him, I’m getting the hell out of trucking, is not worth it.
Honorable mention: chaining up!!! Lol coming from a Canadian, trucking the mountain passes of BC, that easily makes my list! Especially with those double dual chains that cover both tires! Really love your videos/insights bud! 😁
Truck drivers are treated this way, it's because you let them. We need to stick together. Put our foot down about what we will or won't do. Too many "thirsty" drivers are fucking it up for the rest of us.
A good thing i do if I'm stuck in a tight place and it doesnt look like there is any way to turn around is call the local PD and ask for help. They will always come and help you back out.
Speaking of being sent to dangerous places, the other day I picked up a load in Detroit Michigan, on 8 Mile rd at 3M. If you’ve ever been there, then you will know exactly what I’m talking about when I say it was very ghetto. They had a security fence around the facility and only opened the gate when they seen my truck pull on the street. Not a great area.
Young guys pay attention to what Dave tells you. I'm a 30 year retired driver and I have never heard him tell a bad piece of advice.
Sound advice found HERE.
11. Dealing with rude and disrespectful shippers/receivers/security Guards. Great video.
Unfortunately, it's not just truckers who deal with these inconsiderate jerks (shippers/receivers/security guards). It can be just as bad for the dispatchers.
That's top 5 for me. I switched to flatbed about 8 months ago and I don't deal with that anymore. Ridiculous to cop an attitude when you just met me 2 seconds ago.
Everyone demands respect, good attitude goes a along way no matter the circumstance.
@Dogurasu please, don't be a racist pos
Noe Mario this one should be on the top
Lumpers. I've always hated the fact somebody wants me to pay them to unload the goods they've bought.
1. Getting lost.
2. Dispatchers.
3. Being away from home.
4. Insufficient pay.
5. Dangerous deliveries.
6. Complex pay statements.
7. Safety conflicts.
8. Challenging backing up situations.
9. Working in extreme weather conditions.
10. Making difficult decisions.
There should be a Holiday honoring Truckers for real. Most under appreciated job ever!
It's not only underappreciated it's also a job to be discriminated against simply for doing your job. Countless times we are harassed by authorities, strangers, shippers, and city workers for any and every reason until we 'prove' we have a right to be where we are, have no other choice, or any of the other countless reasons. They would never dream of harassing the everyday road going public in this fashion. If you want to be hated for existing I recommend truck driving to all road going masochists.
@@MyWatchIsEnded as well as the attitude that we are too stupid to do anything else.
Yeah, and Doctors, Nurses, Teachers, Crossing Guards, Fork Lift Operators, Highway Workers,EMT’S, Pilots, Baggage Handlers, Traffic Control Operations, Bakers, Cooks. Get where I’m going with this? Every job is important, no group deserves “special” attention. I also hold this opinion for our military. Without the support of the rest of the country they couldn’t do the task. Many jobs in manufacturing, steel production, public protection and trucking are statistically more dangerous than military operations. Let’s honor all hard working Americans
@@pheleant "Too stupid?" Are you kidding me? Some people I swear. You need true grit to get behind the wheel and drive that beast across the country! Drivers are truly silent hero's.
Agreed. They deserve more than one honoured day. Maybe every FRIDAY????
#10. I learned very early on in my career to not give them the option of trying to force me to drive if I feel unsafe. If they say their gonna fire me, I tell them I'll turn my truck in when it's safe to get back to the yard.
I think dispatchers should have at minimum 1 year OTR experience
I've had dispatchers that used to be truck drivers and most were still assholes! Believe me driving experience doesn't mean anything! They get pressure from either upper management or demanding customers and then they pass that pressure on drivers to get loads delivered regardless of safety concerns or following the law! Even decent dispatchers will every now and then still try to push loads that are risky!
The worst dispatchers are the ones that used to be dirvers
I've been under a manager and safety who both did and they did the same stuff
@@theshoot2958 What's a "risky" load?
@@rupertplum1709 That's a good question. Definitely needs more elaboration. Maybe Hazmat that's supposedly says "no placards required"?
I been driving for a year now and everything you have said has happen to me already.
There is still more brother, I’ll be driving for 3 years soon, had 7 jobs and I’m so disappointed that I’m seriously considering quitting this BS, lots of work out there that pay way more and don’t require you to be a slave and work for peanuts. The amount of money trucking companies make, is unbelievable, maybe if they wouldn’t pay that much to those 30 MFkers plus those liars recruiters in office, they could actually increase drivers pay who actually move their freight so they can get money. This is truly unfair
Joel Penafiel I hear you on that man. I came close to finding a new career as well. I just fell like the stress isn’t worth the money sometimes
Standing my ground in bad weather has gotten me fired once. I’m not upset, their the ones who lost a good driver. They called and called trying to get me to come back after about a week. I refused. Being separated from that company allowed me to find a better one that I call home now. Like Dave said it’s YOUR life!!! No load is more valuable than your life. When it comes to safety stand your ground if your uncomfortable performing. Thank you Dave!! I’ve been a fan for years
Speratic sleep schedules; poor diet choices, boredom (sleepiness that comes with it), crushing delivery schedules. I mean...overall "driver wellness" is the most challenging part of trucking in my experience (7 years)
Would it be better for you to go local?
@@rupertplum1709 Good question; but in the end it's all about what YOU want. Driving an 18 wheeler is difficult almost anywhere unless you're working on a farm or a farming company.
This is such a good and intelligent video of looking into the life of a trucker. I dont remember who told me this " trucking is not a 9 to 5 job it's a life style" that and " trucking is like a bad drug that you cant live with out" I think those 2 phrases go hand in hand. I'm going to truck as long as I can. Diesel is in my blood now. Yet it is wreaking havoc on my personal life and my health. I crave eating veggies but dont get to as much on the road.
My company, when I get back I have to escape out of there and go home. Keep my phone shut off because they always want me to do 'one last run' that usually takes up the majority of the day.
I cant stay home too long before the urge to get back on the road starts. I'm single and most likely will be single for a very long time. I'm happy to see my truck after a few days off, it's like a friend to me. I was born to be a trucker I cant think of any other profession that I could do and be this content
Well said driver well said.....
Dude, this video is so true that I wish young drivers will really really get to see it, so helpful as all of your videos. Thanks
I'm a dispatcher and love your videos! Your perspective is honest and though I may not always agree, I definitely respect your point of view. Preach on!
20 year dispatcher here. Although I’m def not in the “bad dispatcher” category, it is a fact the vast majority are indeed worthless.
Will have my CDL in three weeks and am def planning to eventually running dedicated.
Working for the big Carriers 65 to 70 hrs a week for minimum wage has become the norm.
Your work day starts when you do your Pretrip and ends with a Posttrip. The hours in between regardless of duty status is what you should be paid for.
Example.
Last week I ran all week and worked a total of 68 hrs based off my HOS Pre to Post. I grossed $1093. Note some weeks are better some are worse.
Understand that's only $16.07 per h
My best check was about $1400 working my full 70. That works out to $20.00 per hr for that particular week.
Understand that I am on a truck 24hr a day 6 days a week starting and stopping at every possible hour day and night.
Over the last several months my Avg hourly rate was $17.58
This is why seasoned Drivers are getting out of trucking.
I'm surprised parking didn't make the list. Along the interstates, between the hours of 9pm to 4am, there just aren't enough truck stop or rest area parking spots to meet the demand.
Managing health is an important and tough challenge. Especially as you get older. It can end your career early if ya ain't careful.
# 1 TOUGHEST CHALLENGE FOR A TRUCKER:
When you decide you retire from a 40 years old trucking career !
Ah ! It IS in your blood, heh ?!
The work you're doing providing the information is invaluable, and well appreciated, I plan on driving and listen to you quite often.
I appreciate that!
"Put it in the end dock" which has a trailer on the right side and a fence/retaining wall on the left. With just enough room in front to pull out a day cab and pup
So true, I got lost through Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, and Kansas last night lol. The worst was going through a storm, that was scary not being able see in the heavy rain. Got close to rear ending a 4 wheeler but slowed down in time. You should make a video about driving in different weather conditions and how to cope in worst scenarios or avoiding it if possible
It's a feeling you get in your heart when you make a wrong turn onto a no truck road. The no truck sign is only visible after I've made my turn.
John, thank you for all of your advice and encouragement. I don't know that I would have gone into this industry had it not been for your tutelage. The industry owes guys like you who are willing to take the time out to coach us new drivers, an immense amount.
Been in this industry 6 months, I learn a lot just watching this lol got the itch now and just love the road even through the rough jobs and trash pay, God bless! Stay humble and always remember there is ALWAYS something new to learn!
For new drivers, do not let these "driver managers" take advantage of you. In their eyes your a dime a dozen. Dave here is right.
gorilla moith what companies u recommend/experience at?
dont blow them off either, they are here to work with you. If you screw them over, they will not help you.
After 23 years of commercial driving I can say without a doubt that these are all difficult challenges but I would add at least one more and for me it was the most difficult thing. Staying awake while driving.
Learn a trade or work two jobs. Trucking companies are robbing drivers and they are criminals. Live is to short.
I'm looking into trades and I'm also telling everyone that this industry is not worth working in. I will NEVER recommend driving a truck to anyone not even a homeless person
@@r.d.9399 Is it that bad?
@@r.d.9399 it's a shame to hear that, I really do admire the chance to operate a fine piece of machinery, that red truck dave showed in the picture is very inspiring
Yeah it happens to every driver, bad directions but even good directions you can run into problems but also having bad dispatcher that don’t understand the problems you deal with every day gets to be really stressful over time!!
Love the videos man. Thank you for making these. I feel like I am really being well prepared for CDL school from your videos. Keep it up!
Being a team driver and finding a partner you get along with has been my struggle this rookie year.
"I hear ya!" I just got back into the trucking industry for a 2nd round. I see more positives running in a team than solo. Better pay and a quick turnaround. Unfortunately, you just have to bite the bullet at times..
I couldn't do team driving. Even if you get along, being couped up in such a confined space with someone for so long can wear on your nerves.
But when bills come around you gotta pay it somehow. Wish you the best of luck
I get along with myself and my dog...but she doesn't drive
And once you find him/her you cannot get along anybody else. I drive solo now, I miss my brother.
Yeah most people are not cut out for teaming or trucking period.
10.5: Other vehicles. The most difficult aspect of trucking as I see are other vehicles. It can range from people who park in the wrong spot making it hard or straight up impossible for you to get out of a place to reckless drivers. And the latter you cannot tell appart from other drivers.
Remember people, opposite from what you might precieve by the news, most accidents involving a car and a truck are caused by the car not being careful enough.
I appreciate your knowledge. You tell the truth and straight forward. I appreciate your honesty and knowledge.
Hell, I'd just settle for some professional courtesy from shippers/receivers. Not even asking for the "please don't kill me" from other cdl drivers on the daily. Seen so many wrecks out there where speed and ego were the prime movers.
Slow down just a little, it could save your life.
All the truth . We wear many hats .
Getting the truck ready for winter is imperative but what about the driver. For $100.00 you can buy a wool blanket ( find'em cheep on-line) emergency food and water AND toilet supplys. There will come a time if you do OTR when you will need any or all of them.
I really don't know how these guys on the road do it today I've been driving local now for over 12 years it was bad when I left OTR I was talking to a prime driver the other night well I was fueling my truck said he was quitting that he only made $350 his last paycheck and I bet that is so common I bet a good week for these guys OTR is maybe 6 or $700 so you can only imagine what the bad weeks are like you can go to work at Costco in make 17 to $20 an hour there stocking shelves I don't know why anybody would want to do it and that's sad😞
Prime is horrible, I work in Springfield Missouri where they are based out of, I was thinking about going otr and talked to a recruiter there and the pay was unreal, I don't know how they con so many new drivers into working for them, and their in house testing and licensing facility is a joke, I see a lot of them at the company I work for and 75% of them cant hardly back a truck up to the dock
I make over 1000 a week in first year. It's all about finding a good company
@@kagenzolen3697 what company do you drive for? Im trying to find somewhere that will train me on a contract.
Driving trucks is not worth it anymore. You can make more money working at Burger King if you do 70 hours in a week
@@kagenzolen3697 what company?
Accepting miles given at dispatch without verifying they are close or correct. I remember one time having a three stop load and got within 30 miles of my second stop and the amount of money paid on the Dispatch for the loaded miles was done. I still had another 120 miles to go to my third and final stop. It took three months of arguing to get the lousy $37 the trucking company owed me for doing the run. You need to check your GPS and map and if it is not within 8% of the miles they are paying you then you refuse the load until they correct the number of miles on the dispatch. That includes loaded and empty. One more incident I had was I started on the load and they sent me a message to divert to someplace to swap loads so a guy could go home on emergency family issues. After driving from point A ( where I got the load) to point B place I had gotten message) to point C ( the place where we swapped trailers), they paid me as though I went direct shortest route from A to C! This again was cheating me out of 68 extra miles.
Once again Dave, another great video with TONS of information to take away with. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your wisdom my friend. I'm using this Christmas weekend to catch up on your videos :)
I'd be rich if I had a dollar for every time I was told "the concrete truck" made it. Of coarse the 6 wheel drive straight truck made it. Most of our drops aren't to bad though, but some people want their houses in some spots even a 4 wheel drive would have trouble getting to if the road is muddy or snow covered.
And getting lost is pretty common. I had to go out to a ranch out in the middle of nowhere Wyoming, the directions included turn left at the dead cow.
Love the common sense advice and really love to hear the truck stories.
Rock solid advice Mr.
All upcoming people interested in becoming or learning should listen to this info, and take it serious! Great insight for folks!
I got lost in Pennsylvania on some back roads at night. It was stressful but eventually found my way out. Im now a yard jockey. Home every night. Pay is decent. 4 and a half years now. This is good solid advice to road drivers hope they take it to heart.
I love the hard backs. My first codriver had a hard time with backing and just judging his surroundings all together. I'd wake up to him cursing and panicking. If I felt like I could guide him out of the situation I'd spot him and tell him how to turn, or if it was too complicated for him I'd take the wheel and explain why I'm doing what I'm doing and those were the funnest parts of driving for me. I even try backing doubles when I get the chance
The difficult challenge for me in addition to this 10. Is my ability to remain professional regardless to opposing or negative attitudes
Would bringing a cold weather sleeping bag be a good idea in winter?
I also like to add about dispatchers, man I have had my fill with some bad ones. We had one in my company that was so bad that one of the drivers caught him in the parking lot and beat the s$@t out of him them later the owners of the company carried him and tossed him out the front door never to be welcomed again. Dave's right some dispatchers can get you in a lot of trouble and then some are Angel's from god.
Experience will be the best teacher in anything you do
I'm a bus driver, not a truck driver.
But a driver non the less.
And I feel ur videos and rules apply to my profession.
But I work for the s.a t.x transit system.
They work us up to 14 hours a day and only 8 hours of rest between shifts. I feel that's not enough time for the hours.
I called in the other day for drowsy driving and got relived. I felt it was a safety hazard. On my 20 min lay over I took a nap but it wasn't enough.
When I got home I ended up sleeping for over 20 hours well into the next day.
Hard hours man.
What a coincidence, today i miss my Exit and end up in residential area luckily i made back to free way safely.and later on open the TH-cam this video showed up 😂😂
#11 for me would be the receivers that get super mad at you the driver for being there too early or late even though it's not your fault at all.
Thank You for the time and advice that You give us. I listen respectfully. I can not help it. I laughed a lot with the big truck that miss a turn. Imagine it in New Yor City.
Thank You so much
I'm just a day ag hauler, but when it comes to safety be it equipment failure or weather I dont go until it's fixed or the weather changes.
Good video dave. Yes, arguing with idiot dispatchers is a mugs game
Sometimes when they like to press it is fun to send a snap or two of real weather or the forecast. If they still want to insist I speak two words. Safety issue
Luckily, I am known for by enough people that I don't get pressed often. Just have to be firm and consistent. Soon they surrender
Great video Dave!! It's shameful that driver's have to know about the business more than the owners or anyone involved and "they don't get paid for it", love your videos, be safe!🤙🤙
Another big challenge is when you do a permit load and the road gets shutdown when you least expect it.
If it's not safe to go or my equipment isn't safe to drive, I'm not moving at all and my dispatcher knows that. Sometimes, I think they give me loads that are loaded up on bad trailers just because I don't have an issue sitting and waiting while someone fixes me up.
I'm with you I'd rather get it fixed and not get a ticket. Amazing some of the things that drivers let go on equipment.
Hand you nailed it! Just nailed it! Great insight to a difficult profession. 20 years OTR retired from driving but I wouldn’t change a thing. I ran east coast/ hunts point was a real 💩hole in the early 90’s. I remember when $5 would get you over the GW Bridge. Good times and good people back in the day. Kids keep the shiny side up and the dirty down. Truck em safe, mama and the kids are waiting on your return.
I've had to deal with those issue in the past, now days the company I work for is really good about, great dispatcher, no drama and if I call a safety foul they are all over... in a good way.:)
12 To many hands in our pocket - we do the job but they take the most.
I had #8 so many times, so many times I told my dispatch not to give me those loads -- those tiny docks with narrow gates to get to the property and the dock is on your blind side only, no space for U-turn, takes so much effort, time/money (if it is raining or snowing, forget about it) especially when the shipper doesn’t care how you gonna back up to ups spot., if you hit something it’s gonna be on you
1 of my favs, south chicago, had to block everything just for me to back into small buisness. when i was leaving.. exactly as much fun
That Smart Trucking Guy knows his stuff! I like him due to the Fact he's Straight & Down to Earth,no B.S. I wish I would have meet him during my Trucking of 34 Years but been Retired since 2009.
My number 1 rule was I told the dispatcher in every company I've worked for until now that I'm absolutely not delivering anything in any big city downtown no matter what. Once he got a load going to Manhattan and sent it to me via text told me I'll get paid double per mile for it and do him a favor. I made him cancel the load and he called the boss so I got a call threatening me that I'll get fired if I don't get the load. I was waiting in the company yard then for the dispatch so I picked my stuff up from the truck, put everything in my car and left. Never answered my phone after that and just texted my boss "Thank you" 😂 I've been driving locally now mostly from Portland OR suburb to Seattle WA suburbs and back, about 8.5-10h shift a day and get paid $32/h+full benefits. Over the road is absolutely dreadful and I'll never ever do it again. I get paid more now and I don't care if there's a traffic jam or the weather is bad, I just take my time and don't get stressed if I get miles or not. I've decided three years ago that I'll only work for small local family owned businesses where I'm respected, paid well and treated like a human being.
Another great video by Smart Trucking. Thanks so much.
I watch this guy as much as I can. Straight shooter no doubt. Would love to have a tenth of his experience in a big rig.
Thank you!
Another excellent video! Well made and edited with some great points.
Now that the elog switch is about to get official managing your hours is also a pretty difficult challenge. There's nothing worse than having your whole day planned out perfectly only to get held up at a shipper receiver for 7 hours and they don't have overnight parking.
Words of wisdom
Dave, my understanding is that some companies that used to say "drive if the roads open", are now seeing the wisdom of not putting trucks on highways in WY, when it a solid sheer of ice.
God bless you brother. Really functional info
On the first one I've found that the length of the truck sometimes isn't near as much of an issue as the height of the truck, I do food distribution and they send us into some places that a car can barely get into, power lines are what I get most worried about, but a lot of these little mom and pop restaurants weren't originally designed for a a big straight truck or a tractor trailer and it can be easy to make a wrong turn doing 25 to 35 stops on one route
Thank you, sir! I am going to try it and at least now I have a better idea of what I am going to face! Thanks a lot!
Thank you for the videos sir. I am about to start attending classes for my CDL. These things are all good to know.
Best of luck!
@@SmartTrucking Thank you sir!
I was thinking about becoming a truck driver but not anymore after seeing this video. Just got it clean out of my head.
Rookie driver here, one thing that I have found very challenging is finding a parking spot at night, very stressful when your really close to running out of drive time. There has got to be a parking solution
Ah yes the misadventures of the GPS, Guesstimated Possibilities System!
Thank you so much Dave. Your info is very useful for me as a driver.
You are so right I’ve been through all that stuff. Dispatcher gives me a address for a fright pickup I finally figured it out that if correct was in the middle of I-5 in Portland, Oregon. Loading dock had to circle the block and come down a back alley just big enough for a car with semi and 53 foot trailer. Going east bound I-90 out of Seattle January 2017 going over snoqualmie pass heading to Spokane because it was the only pass open east bound and the west bound was closed. We where all stopped at mile marker 148 just east of north bend sitting parked on the highway waiting for the storm to pass at 1am. When the state police told use to move out east bound ; ok by the time we got moving at 2.30am they had closed the east bound lanes but I didn’t know until later that morning. Had a inch of ice over the hole truck and the engine was running hot because the front grill would plug up with ice. Came down into cle elum that was jammed with trucks west bound 5am and I know they had to be looking at me wondering where in the hell did this guy come from. It turned out that they closed I-90 snoqualmie pass that time for 3 days 🤪🤪🤪🤪🥃🥃🥃.
Dispatchers sometimes they have there favorite drivers
Of course, why wouldn't they?
4:20 lmao "I don't care what excuse you make up"
Thank you so much
I spent 2 hours trying to find my way out of Indianapolis last week after being detoured around an accident on a construction detour.
Seems u have same issues in the USA as we do in England. Wages have stagnated, companies employing route planners straight from university with no road experience, roads constantly jammed up & poorly compensated for being out in a truck all week. I definitely have a love/hate relationship with trucking.
I absolutely love your videos!!
Thank you Brandon!
I went solo first time this week. I often referred to tips I got from SmartTrucking.
Thank you, God bless you.
All ten are true Dave thanks...
Depends on what you're pulling.
I've run plenty of dumps. But I stopped at end dumps....it's a fool's pull.
You're asked to drop on uneven ground. One breath of wind and you flopped.
Even as you're leaving your load wheres it was supposed to go.
I've dumped with my drive tires a foot from a 30 foot deep canyon.
And I've lost my brakes going down some of LA most notorious hills...WHEW!!!!
nice video, so remind me again about why anyone would be a trucker?
Hehe. Well there's the call of the open highway! But keeping your eyes wide open and aware of what the hardships are Albert, is so important. That way, the issues can be dealt with as they unfold. And so the new blood coming into the biz, know what the hazzards are.
Smart Trucking thanks let me add another, the economics of being in your 60s is a pretty harsh reality in many other types of employment. Trucking allows for what can be significant and increasing earnings power so long as your driving skills are solid.
I'm in my second year and wanted to share my reasoning with you since you asked.
I drive because I've always liked being mobile, it drives me crazy staying at one place working. I like seeing the country and having my workday be filled with unexpected challenges( although sometimes I eat those words ). The pay is good for me, considering I came from 20k annually to 80k annually.
I'm a team so we're only out 4 days on average, so I get good home time for OTR. Overall, even with the problems, I love this job! I just wish mote truckers cared more about each other. The brotherhood of the old days is all but gone and that part of the job sucks.
Sitting in an office all day sucks. And not all trucking jobs are paid by the mile or even OTR.
You took the words right out of my mouth! I'd love to try trucking, I just haven't heard anything good about it. Almost all negative feedback
IMPORTANT!!!!!
The two most important questions to ask when you call the recruiting line.
1. HOW MUCH PER MILE
1. HOW MANY MILES AVG PER WEEK
Parking solution.
What do you propose?
Think about it.
The Interstate system was designed in 1955 and completed in 1991.
Designed when population was 150 million.
Now it is more than double and truck traffic is 4x.
The rest stops would have to be increased 4 times to accomodate all of the current trucks and trailers.
4 times. To fit all the rigs sleeping on shoulders.
Regarding #5......Oh you mean like Chester, PA? .....yeah
I absolutely feel that in my soul.
Yeah my company sent me there to pick up a load and I thought it recognized the name for some reason and the I get there and I'm like "Ah yes, the hood, that's where I heard about it" lol The most decrepit city I've ever seen.
I wish could be working with a teammate like you sir
I agree with #1 happened to me this week in Hopkins Minnesota
I’ll be 3 years soon into this nasty industry, “thankfully” I was able to find a job where I work 8 to 10 hours a day and I get pay $20 an hour, home every day and take home 750 to 850 after taxes depending on how good the week is, I DONT GET PAY OT AFTER 40 , I get pay OT after 50 instead.
Well, met a friend where I play soccer, that guy has no special license, no certification, not even an OSHA card, he works for an Union in construction, works from 6am to 2pm and makes 32,50 an hour and OT after 8 hours, takes home after taxes over 1700 a week, I asked him to help me enter that job, he is trying, as soon I hear from him, I’m getting the hell out of trucking, is not worth it.
Honorable mention: chaining up!!! Lol coming from a Canadian, trucking the mountain passes of BC, that easily makes my list! Especially with those double dual chains that cover both tires! Really love your videos/insights bud! 😁
Truck drivers are treated this way, it's because you let them. We need to stick together. Put our foot down about what we will or won't do. Too many "thirsty" drivers are fucking it up for the rest of us.
not really the dispatcher but the driver leader
A good thing i do if I'm stuck in a tight place and it doesnt look like there is any way to turn around is call the local PD and ask for help. They will always come and help you back out.
I make great money. I get payed more than a lot of owner ops as a company driver.
And I am quite thankful for that.
Be safe drivers.
You're the driver. You're the professional. You decide if you are fit to roll that truck or the weather is ok to run.
Speaking of being sent to dangerous places, the other day I picked up a load in Detroit Michigan, on 8 Mile rd at 3M. If you’ve ever been there, then you will know exactly what I’m talking about when I say it was very ghetto. They had a security fence around the facility and only opened the gate when they seen my truck pull on the street. Not a great area.
I think dispatchers should have at minimum 1 year OTR experience
A lot of self employed plumbers make several hundred dollars a day. I am. Just something to think about.