r/Truckers

So I'm running regional with a mega and the pay is pretty good ($0.80 cpm, layover pay, and extra pay for special projects) and I've usually gotten home when I've wanted/needed to. I had a truck with a lot of problems and asked for a better one and received it. I rarely have to run my clock out and still make around $1200 a week. Overall I've been treated decent and paid much better than anywhere else I've worked. I left for a local job that went south before it could even start and I came back.

Here's the problem. I was supposed to go home 3 weeks ago only to find my load heading there left without me. Not the first time I've had it happen. They've also changed the way we get fuel and it's to the point where I'm having to run it uncomfortably low. And I can't just stop for fuel, it has to pre authorized/planned. Now I'm waiting for roadside assistance to show up because my trailer tandems won't lock in. I was told 90 minutes and it's been 5.5 hours.

I'm getting annoyed to the point where I'm considering going elsewhere.

I had to go do a drop and hook at an Amazon warehouse today, I get to the drop, the agent tells me there are no empties and to go check the offsite yard, there is an empty for me there. I go in drop my trailer, and head to the offsite yard, that agent tells me there are no empties, and to go in, turn around, and bobtail out. I go in and there are at least 3 empties, I grab one and go to leave, and the guy tells me he’s not going to let me out(I couldn’t really understand what he said as to why), I told him I’m going to sit there until he lets me out, he says he’s going to get the security guard to come over and kick me out(whatever fucker, as long as I get out I don’t care how), I tell him he has 5 minutes to open the gate before I call the police, because he can’t hold me there against my will, I called my dispatcher, he must have heard me talking to him on the phone and thought I called the police, because as soon as I started talking, the gate magically opened.

Again, fuck Amazon.

Ugh 😩 where do I even begin. Man I’ve been trucking for 5 years now and I’ve come to realize truckers aren’t lazy at all. Like this is wild guys . They run us like dogs 🐕 6 feet ⚰️ into the ground . It’s insane we don’t get overtime pay. Or time and a half . Man I’m running 60 plus hours a week every week. Written up if I refuse a load. . I’ve come to realize truckers aren’t lazy at all this industry is straight up burnout culture . Truckers aren’t lazy they’re tired . Burnout . Can’t we organize something? Like this is crazy boys . We gotta do something soon. 🔜 sooner than later .

Hello,

I just got my C driver's license and about to look for a job with it. Do you guys of experience have any advice, wisdom for me?

I'll be mostly working within the EU but I doubt it's tragically different around the world.

Is it actually worth it going 65 in a 55? I know alot of yall are limited top speed wise, but jeesus saw some sketchy moments thismorning with a wiggle wagon and a couple box trucks.

For me it’s gotta be most Subaru’s or a Chevy Impala or Chevy Cruze

Mix in a Gatorade or 2 into your daily drinking routine. I just spent the last 4 months drinking nothing but energy drinks. Turns out I was a couple days away from being hospitalized for dehydration. 🤣💀 started getting alarmed when I was showing signs of a UTI. Decided to take some home time and my doctor was amazed I was so dehydrated.

It seems like loves is the first choice travel stop for most US based professional drivers. Since I am from Canada, I personally prefer PFJ since they operate north of the border and therefore I can use their showers much more regularly.

With that said, here are the main disadvantages of loves in my experience:

1. Virtually all of them have <100 spaces. I began referring to them (along with any other location with a low amount of parking) as “midget truckstops”. Loves tends to fill up quickly, and many of them are also way smaller than PFJ and TA/Petro locations, so backing into the single spot left can be extra challenging.

2. Their showers, while usually cleaner and better maintained. Often lack good water pressure, and are very scarce. Most loves locations I have been to only have 5 showers, and there is almost always a long wait. Many loves locations also lack laundry machines too.

So what exactly makes loves the preferred stop for most US based drivers? It seems like PFJ would make more sense given that they are bigger than Loves, but less dilapidated and disgusting than TA/Petro.

Anyone able to offer their input?

https://preview.redd.it/wa5jz4hile2h1.jpg?width=1168&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d6186a77e4428c823046f91d50b0d5c747938701

I am a local utility driver. Every day I go to a new place, and every day is in some ways a new nightmare. And yet thanks to G-maps I can look at every one of my stops from satellite view and street map, and then have Google Maps straight up tell my idiot ass how to get there.

Without this, how could this job even be done? I am vocally critical of the old fellas yelling about elogs and auto transmissions but you guys used paper maps like the ancestors once did. I can't even comprehend such a nightmare.

Meanwhile tomorrow I have 9 stops I have never been to but due to street / satellite / map intel I am 100% confident in how I will arrive, park, deliver, then get McDonalds without causing a traffic incident.

Dicks out for Google Maps. If Google Maps showed up at my front door and asked me to let it fuck me well, brothers I ain't gonna lie, I would let it.

I’ve been working kitchens since 2012. I’ll always have a passion for food but im ready to make the career switch. I’ve heard for years it’s pretty good money in trucking. I have a wife and 3 kids and I know taking this up would mean some time away from them which we’re all prepared for. I’m currently in western PA and looking for some night schools, tips or advice from some of you guys appreciate it in advance

For fellow OTR drivers that wake up in a different state every morning, do you ever wake up in a state of confusion and be like “bro where am I?” Then you slowly remember oh yeah I shut down in XX state and city last night.