Broken, NOT Dead

I have been broken,not physically,but by this industry. I have been driving for 13 years now and I am tired. When I became a truck driver I loved the freedom. After a few years I realised that I really didn't have the freedom I once thought I did. We have schedules to keep, pick-up/delivery times. I also thought I would be able to SEE this great country. Reality soon set in. I did see the country but it was at 65 mph. Most scenic places I would have liked to stop "NO TRUCKS ALLOWED" or "YOU NEED TO BE THERE ASAP".



The truth is that I was fed up after 6 months long haul. I went to local driving for a few years and was not making as much money. I finally found a regional company to work for. They were great.I was home usually every other night. Then in 2000 my daughter was born. I did about three more months then had to be home every night. Unable to find a good paying local driving position I sold cars for 6 months or so. I was making good money but I couldn't handle being STUCK on that 5 acre lot 6 days a week 10 hours a day. I hated selling,having 3 managers up my rear all day,complaining customers and that car lot, I had to get out!



The start of my car hauling career. I started hauling totaled cars going to auction. That was pretty decent money. I only had one boss and I was DRIVING again. All was going well for about three years. Then I transfered to another city with this company and put an offer on a house. The offer was accepted. When I get to work three days later I get the NEWS. The company doesn't want to own trucks. They are going strictly O/O,so buy a truck or find another job. Well I hung there til they auctioned the last company truck. I went to work for a food service company. Now I'm not a lazy person BUT that was too much work for little pay.( lasted five weeks)



I found big money! Well it was big for me. I think it was two years then they sold out. The new owners ran the company into bankruptcy within a year. Now I'm with another car haul company that pays about the same but they make the driver pay for damages. Took our good health insurance and replaced it with crap.
Some where in all of this I became a single parent. So the BROKEN part of the blog name has to do with the trucking industry. They broke me. I'm tired of all the changes. Now with fuel getting closer to five dollars a gallon,I must wonder how long this fairly small company can hold on.



That's the short version of my trucking life. I know some will say "IT'S NOT THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY! IT'S YOUR CHOICES!" That's a fair statement. I work with what I know.
What's next?

Category Posted: General