How Truck Driving Became One Of The Worst Jobs In The US

More than 3 million people drive trucks in the US, but the job is no longer the golden ticket it once was to a middle-class life. At the start of the pandemic, truck drivers were celebrated as frontline workers, but now many of them say they feel forgotten again.

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How Truck Driving Became One Of The Worst Jobs In The US

[ronaldreagan-kfwn]

Truck drivers takes alot of risk, just because of the money they are ready to drive at night just to get high paid.

[kimbrey]

My dad was a truck driver for 30 years with the same company. He never had an accident. I was always proud of what my dad did. I miss him.

[Alex-Defatte]

As a retired truck driver the best advice I can give is invest in a mini fridge, an electric stovetop, a nice TV/computer, a small grill for summer, adblocker for listening to things on youtube, A dehydrator for fruits and meats. Use truck stops for showers, laundry, and socializing. But don't give in and buy their over priced stuff. Plan your comfort accordingly. It's key for the long haul. Drive safe. Love from Wisconsin!

[kevincrozier]

I did 30 years long haul. Admittedly, trucking is paying more now, but for the last ten years I drove I noticed the comraderie has been diminishing. With all the cell phones now and the Qualcomm for instant communication with the company, nobody talks on the c.b anymore. The restaurants are being taken out of the truck stops in favor of fast food. Hell, most drivers don't even own an atlas. It seemed to me that the the job got to be a chore. It used to be a lifestyle along with it being a job. There are no "characters" out there. I retired three years ago and quite frankly I was glad to. I still enjoyed the driving part. But, trucking used to be a fraternity. It's no longer that. There is no brotherhood. And really, that's too bad. Another one of those parts of life that are gone.

[mixermanbear.]

Not to mention getting treated like an incompetent villain at every state line by DOT police who have never driven a truck for a living but have no problem making a more than comfortable living off of the backs of hard working CDL drivers.

[spenhdtv]

My dad was also a truck driver, he started driving right as I was born. I’m 22 now and he passed away couple months ago. Every time I see a truck similar to his pass by I always try to check who’s driving just out of habit:/

[Worker-dude]

Companies treat drivers like trash these days

[lrn_news]

The average life expectancy of a trucker is 61 years old. 16 years below the national average.

[dicksyphilis]

The life of a fortunate truck driver:
Work 70 hours a week.
Waste time in the truck 50+ hours a week.
Shower twice a week.
Spend time at home 48 hours a week.
Listen to spouse complain seven days a week.
Put off everything because job is more important.
Watch the world go on without you.
Amazed how you just got hired ten years ago.

[buzzypeterson]

I went to a tech school. Paid out of my pocket for my training and got my CDL with no job. My first job at Roehl transport. They had cameras in the truck and nit picked me. I quit. Then got a Bill in the mail for something like $8000 for “training”. I already had my license. The only “training” was job orientation. I refuse to pay it. They sent to collections. It ruined my perfect credit. There is a special place in hell for these crooked employers.

[fastfiddler]

I drove school buses for a few years. NOT the same thing, but it did open my eyes. Trucks and buses seem to emanate some kind of force field that lowers the IQ of everyone around them. People cut you off and hit the brakes for the exit they forgot about, not realizing that you can't stop that fast. I learned that if you were trying to get onto a busy stroad without a traffic signal, sometimes you just had to go, "well, they have brakes." People sure as hell won't let YOU out. People only care about THEIR convenience, so if it's not their child they're cutting off, or their food, they don't care. All they see is a big ugly box that is in their way. It changed how I drive around truckers. If they're signaling, I will hang back and flash them to come over. And you know what, it feels a lot better than being an a-hole. And you'd be surprised how little it impacts your GPS arrival time to just be decent.

[Genesis-efjt]

As a trucker driver myself, it baffles me that there are drivers that only average $50, 000. I drive for a big company locally, and as of right now we are pulling 6 figures. Off on weekends and I normally work 8 hrs a night.

[Kevan]

Truckers are the hidden backbone of our economy. I feel it's an unappreciated career field. Hopefully our economy/supply issues get straightened out to keep these guys going.

[rowdystrongarm]

I was a truck driver for many years and I finally decided to get out when they started changing the rules against drivers. Law enforcement is very much against drivers so if you do get into an accident you can expect to take all of the blame no matter what the idiot in the other car did.

[sherrydalton]

I’m about to start CDL school and I’m nervous but excited. I hear a lot of truckers complaining about how hard the job is, and how bad the industry sucks right now, but I sold cars for over 20 years and I can tell you there is no harder job than customer service and sales. There’s nothing more stressful than dealing with people all day and having to cater to different personalities all the time. Add to that 10+ hour days, working on straight commission, no benefits and sometimes not having ANY days off….and working 70 hour weeks out on the road by myself with just my pets, seems like an absolute dream come true!

[CousinJesse]

Same as every other job - over worked, over taxed, under paid, inadequate workers rights & working conditions. That is all it is with every job.

[avthateck]

Truck driving one of the most necessary jobs that everyone hates you for doing

[wayneanderson]

There were still independent owner operators who bought their own freight when I started in 1996. These guys were rich, very high income. They bought a truckload of oranges in CA & lined up a buyer on the East Coast as they drove. All cash paid buying & selling. For them, trucking was lucrative & they were treated well by shippers & receivers. I knew a guy who bought plastics in Dallas, , produce in CA, & whatever he could find in the northeast, making a giant loop of the continent.. Every cent of profit went to him because he was the buyer & seller. But for company drivers, it is a no respect job anywhere they go. The highly respected trucker who earns more than doctors is long gone.

[blakevalentine]

Trucking changed my life for the better. Never in a million years thought I’d be driving a semi. Best decision I have ever made in my life so far. 2nd full year and I made over 100k this year at 26 years old. I’m proud to be a trucker and I hope more people realize how important truckers are. Thank you all brothers and sisters keep trucking and be safe out here.

[landonlogsdon]

The trucking industry held me for 4 months. I figured out quick that it's not worth working in an industry in need of such massive reform.
"Debt peonage" couldn't be more accurate. "Indentured servitude" would be a good term for it as well. You would not believe how many of these companies try to get brand new drivers to lease trucks just to be indebted to the company. It's a predatory system that robs the workers of their livelihoods. Many of these people have little to no education and don't see it coming until they're underwater and out of options.