I was a troubled young man.

[Tobin S.]

Last edited Tue Aug 30, 2016, 05:32 AM - Edit history (2)

When I was 24, my life was a wreck. I was a problem drinker, I had recently had a brush with the law, I had dropped out of college, I couldn't hold down a job, and I was mentally ill even though no one knew that at the time including me. The mentally ill part was probably the part that was causing all of the other problems, but it would be another six years before that was resolved.

After finding myself unemployed once again, I was at a friend's house drinking beer one night. He was a trucker, and when he came in off the road I would go over there and the beer and the trucking stories would flow. On this particular night, I asked my buddy how I could get into trucking and he told me how. There were a few ways it could be done. One way was through company sponsored training. The way that worked was that you would sign a contract with a company to work for them for a year or so and they would pay for your trucking school. Once you were through with that, you trained with an experienced driver for a little while and then they turned you loose. Since I didn't have any money, I thought that was the best way to go.

And I did it. I found a company that was hiring in my area of the world that paid for my training. After I was done with training, I would be driving as a part of a team in a long haul operation. That was twenty years ago, and to this day, that is still how a great deal of truckers get their start.

One night a few days before I was to hop on a bus and go to the trucking school, I was lying in bed unable to sleep. It wasn't because of excitement. It was because I was deeply immersed in the depression that had been ruling my life. Things were going around in my head that made me feel worthless, insulted, and angry. Then the full realization of what I was about to do filled my mind. I had a ticket that, in a few days, would take me away from that sad and desperate life. I would be starting a new life- an adventurous one filled with hope and promise. I felt elated. I was so happy that I cried.

Looking back on it I now realize how bad you have to feel about your life to see trucking as your savior. But I think trucking truly did save me. And it did again recently only in a different way. I feel very lucky to have my new job.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

1. K&R

Having a job is great.

Always remember, jobs may come and go but it is you that brings value to the job.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. I love your stories, my dear Tobin, and here's another one!

What a fascinating glimpse into your past...

Thank You!

[surrealAmerican]

3. It's all about hope, isn't it.

Without hope, there's no reason to go on.

People need aspirations as much as they need water or air.

[lindysalsagal]

4. Tomorrow really is another day. Things happen. Good for you.

Hang onto the professionals who have listened and helped. Some of them are wonderful.

[localroger]

5. Trucking is an honorable profession

People don't realize just how important truckers are to keeping our modern world working. I have personally seen how truckers are often treated like shit even by the people they work with, but I've also known some very smart and insightful people who preferred life on the road to other ways of working. I'm a scale guy myself, so when you pull over at the state weigh station or you weigh in or out at the plant, your truck is sitting on a machine that's my responsibility.

[nolabear]

6. Heck, trucking has saved a lot of people. It's a good job.

Think about it. It's one of those jobs that songs and movies and TV shows are done about. I know some of that is road gypsy fantasy but still, it's got meaning and makes a living.

And I appreciate what you do too.

[CanSocDem]

7. But you're OK now, right?

I remember when 'de-regulation' opened the floodgates in the trucking industry. Suddenly, there were all these trucks filled with husband and wife teams, disaffected individuals and even young entrepreneurs, all hell-bent on making money. Driving a truck went from an honourable profession to a job for anybody with a pulse.
A lot of drivers from my generation left the business at that time, tired of waiting 2 or 3 days to load, waiting another day to unload and on top of it all having to deal with the lack of respect for the ol'timey rules of the road and other professional drivers. Before the advent of the CB radio, communication between trucks doing their job, went very smoothly. With the new breed, communication between trucks often was reduced to "Shut up stupid!".
The industry changed from a public service to a good old American made profit machine. Despite all the corporate control, it all came down to the worker. They needed more, to fill the rows of new trucks they had on lease from the manufacturer.
A sad, but common sight to see in those days was a husband, wife and a couple of kids living in a single bunk cabover, parked at a greasy truck stop, waiting for another advance from the company to fix a tire or buy some food.
Things have come a long way but I'm glad to be out of it.




.

[Tobin S.]

8. Yes, I'm fine.

Trucking has changed a lot since the early days and even in the time that I've been a trucker. The comradery that was once there is all but gone. I think that has a lot to do with the introduction of satellite communications in trucks and cell phones. If you break down somewhere or otherwise need help, just punch a few buttons or make a call and help is on the way.

Deregulation was before my time, but I know it had hard consequences on the economics of trucking. Most of the old timers will tell you that's the worst thing that has happened to trucking in their careers.

Personally, I just like getting out there and jamming my gears and flashing my lights. The job I have now pays well and has good benefits. I'll work four days a week most of the time a week and I'll make 50k my first full year. I'm home every day. The equipment is a little older, but they keep it up well.

You can still make a good living in trucking. Many experienced over-the-road drivers make 70k a year now days. Yes, your typical driver has changed, but I still feel a great deal of empathy and comradery toward them even if it's not always reciprocated. It's still a tough job and a hard way to make a living. I'll always stop to help a driver in need.

As for me, the head is in good working order now days.

[nilesobek]

10. I'm glad you made it out of that.

I never did and spent over a decade homeless. Good on ya Tobin. It takes determination and willpower to overcome.

[hibbing]

12. I always enjoy your posts Tobin n/t

[Tobin S.]

13. Thank you!