had a truck driver tell me.......

[Ford 1]

Still drive, and love it, about 4,000 miles a week, give or take. But it's getting harder to make ends meet when everything is going against the driver. Between Hours of Service, D.O.T., fuel, and everybody else that think they need a piece of the truck driver's pie. I've made almost 120k this year and over half has gone to expences. My dad grossed as much as I do now in the '70s. With a fourth the overhead. You have to sacrifice a lot to drive O.T.R. and make money. Hometime being the main thing. Plus, the hours, 70 hours in 8 days. No more than 11 hours driving in a 14 hour workday. Then a manitory 10 hours off duty/sleeper berth. Basicly your life whittled down to 15 minute increments in a log book that any law enforcement can request at any time. And you must comply. And dangerous. I've had a shotgun, a knife, and a tire bat pulled on me in the last 11 years. Not knowing if the car at the intersection in front of you is paying attention to the traffic or their MP3 player, TV, or Bully Dog. Always looked down on, as a drug user, criminal, "Guilty until proven innocent." Even though most are not. But, even with all the negitive things, there is something about it, mostly freedom , that makes it irresistable. Knowing that tomorrow you'll be someplace else. Not to mention the satisfactory feeling you get from a job well done:burnout . And the pay's not too bad either.

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Last edited by Ford 1 : 10-21-2006 at 06:55 AM.

[WD40]

Wish I could have said it that well.

[Ford 1]

Originally Posted by WD40

Wish I could have said it that well.

Thank you WD40

[raveer2000]

I did it for about a year.. then the time away from home would just eat me up... So I went back to school and became a teacher... Now I have weekends, holidays, SUMMERS... I will never regret leaving the OTR life.

[Ford 1]

Originally Posted by raveer2000

I did it for about a year.. then the time away from home would just eat me up... So I went back to school and became a teacher... Now I have weekends, holidays, SUMMERS... I will never regret leaving the OTR life.

O.T.R. isn't for everyone. I'll never regret doing this, even if I quit someday. I have seen the greatest country in history from the road. Somedays I forget how good we have it here in the U.S. Then others that I'm so greatful to live in such a free and blessed land. That we can go from one end to the other and see the freedoms that our fallen soldiers have died to protect. From the cactus in west Texas to the mountains in the northwest. The bustle of the northeast. The gators of Florida, and farms in Cali. I'll never regret seeing our country, and the friends I've made along the way.

[Fry]

True there are a lot of hoops to jump through, and you are just about a slave to the gov't, but had I not gone OTR I would not have seen things from coast to coast. I drive local now, but there are times I would lik to go back OTR and see more stuff out west.

[slammedSI]

Originally Posted by stump0331

he was a owner operator, while his truck was being unloaded he was braggin about how much his truck cost, and how much money he made. he said he makes 3500 a week after taxes , team drivin with his fiance. i was wonderin he was legit or just talkin.

either way he gave me 50bux for gettin him unloaded early

I have a bud that drives for Stevens transport i will ask him tonight what he thinks of this..

[straycat]

I love it, I miss it, and I'm gona do it again. Lookin for the right truck now.

Gord.

[StarDriver]

I've been driving professionally since 1987, only actually did 5 months general freight, all the rest of the time, it has been for private carriers/entertainment. I've gotten to go to many cool places and drive some really nice and different equipment. I am now driving one of the premier entertainer coaches in the industry for a private individual/entertainer.

[Big Tone]

Originally Posted by straycat

Lookin for the right truck now.

Gord.

Het Gord , I've got a 74 Jimmy with a 6V72 and a browny 8 speed that I'll let go cheep!