What Most People Don't Know About the Life of a Truck Driver

[@SmartTrucking]

Hey there Driver. So glad you stopped by to catch today's upload. What is the hardest part of the job for you? What keeps you up at night worrying? Love to hear what you're thinking.

[@kurtvanluven9351]

CB Shop owner and pilot car driver. My fate is linked with how drivers do. And being in Wyoming, as energy does. I know when I go to the store WHY there are things on the shelf. So thank you!

[@xTheBloodyDeadx]

It would be a lot less stressful if 4 wheelers would stop playing games and the pay was better tbh

[@alsteeves2044]

Yes, the low compensation for hours worked away from home. Thats a biggie

[@FL.AirBoater]

That’s what happened to me with 43 years an 3+ million miles I got to where I couldn’t pass the DOT physical, Enjoy your videos from central Fl.

[@mattberg916]

I like driving and after many years of construction and railroad jobs I have found the solitude to be a soul saver for me.

[@donmunro144]

You didn't mention fixing the truck during a 34.

[@dcijams]

I loved the travel, and the sights I saw, but, it was the car drivers, that scared the SH*T out of me.

[@jameseroh6544]

I have kept my CDL for many years. Driving OTR was a job I did when I was unemployed from my regular work. I have pulled bottom dumps and pnuematics locally from time to time. I have done heavy haul and running a 10 wheeler dump truck as a part of another trade. But the toughest bunch of truckers I ever worked with. Was the 719 Tarzana Road Crew, with Caltrans! Of course the 718 Road Sweepers Crew were awesome too! Ken Dougmore was my guardian angel! We were setting up a lane closure on US-101, in Woodland Hills. Ken was driving the shadow truck, and took a hit from a fully loaded 18 wheeler. The attenuator box on the back of Ken's truck was destroyed, but everyone was okay. Ken had noticed the driver was not checking his mirrors or trying to change lanes. So he screamed into the radio for us all to get off the road. He kept his park brake locked, until we were all clear, and had only moved a few feet when he got hit. Trucking comes in many flavors. Some jobs can be easy or fun. But many are very tough jobs, physically and mentally!

[@someoldguy109]

Back pain is one too.

[@petersc143]

34 hour reset is the biggest scam the big companies use to take advantage of drivers.

[@EmpireStateExpress01]

Facts, especially at home

[@690_5]

I got told exactly what I was getting into. I’m not the strongest, sometimes it gets to me. I adore trucking, and I really don’t want anything else.

[@whiskeyrunner43]

When it's good, though, it's really good.

[@muffs55mercury61]

When people are told that owner operators gross $200K or more they believe that they keep most of that after taxes. And I've seen the media embrace this as truth. Gladly hung up OTR in 2008 and the occupation completely in 2017 and I've never looked back. My good health has come back and I have things to look forward to.

[@dcijams]

blood clots, in the legs, that go to your lungs or Heart.

[@James-ol6rw]

Spinal injury from long sitting hours. Compressed disc in lower back causing difficulty walking. Retired now with lower back pain, and pain in legs. 20 years and 3 million miles interstate driving. On the road for weeks at a time as o/o. Leased to big carrier.

[@Retired88M]

I guess I just love it In my 49th year although it’s only part time since I’m semi retired Now it’s my travel money I need to truck at least 3 days a week now to keep the itch from getting to intense

[@bonanzatransport]

Thanks Dave, no kids or family ever followed my foot steps, they lived it at home and knew the truth, lonely, never home for long enough, I can say they all did eat good and had a nice home, that’s the plus to me being a trucker, they knew it.

[@joe-ednew2824]

People don't understand that becoming a professional driver is giving up your human being card to most people in the world.

[@dwhallon21]

My dad was a driver a.farmer he worked his hindof for ust

[@EmpireStateExpress01]

Great video! If I had known about the 34 hr restart at home when I first started, I probably would've never become a trucker driver. I never understood the logic of working 2x to 3x as many hours as 40 hr/wk worker without overtime and only having 34 hours a week at home. I did that my first 2 months before I started taking full weekends off due to depression. Even though I'm not on the road anymore, I sometimes miss the advantage of being on the road. It gave me the chance to get out & explore other cities across the continent from Los Angeles to Boston.

[@skippydinglechalk3525]

Loved the stream last night!

[@stuartloggins3691]

I'm not done driving but I'm tired. I started learning how in 1970 when I was 14. I'm still learning how in 2024.

[@bryantschell5981]

So true

[@NickManCuso59]

I can relate. I've done the job !

[@clarencesechler1688]

Yes I do agree about the pay is really lower then min.wadge and depends on where ya go it is dangerous not all places are like that.i look at it like is use to be Go Navy it's a job and adventure, but instead go truck it's a job and adventure cause ya get paid moving this country and see things ya only see in pictures,books and pictures.

[@HJ-lz4dt]

Depends where you work. I went local LTL and make 110k a year and work five days a week. Try to find those top companies.

[@joeapplebaum3763]

It took me only four months to realize the life wasn’t for me.

[@markrupprnkamp5832]

I remember starting with a regional OTR company in 1979 and had the guy conducting orientation explaining our of the 7 of us in the group 4 would not be there a year later. The main reason a unpredictable schedule causing problems at home.

[@leepialong]

yeah but the pay is good like $100k. even the ghetto walmart nowadays will pay their drivers $100k.

[@FriedShrimpPoBoy]

I always tell guys that are thinking about getting into it that it’s not a career change it’s a life style change. But after 28 years I still enjoy the lifestyle. I’m home now getting ready to leave out tonight for 6 weeks.

[@austro3852]

I have to deal with insomnia is crazy how OTR does really changes your life.

[@georgevavoulis4758]

I am not a truck driver but I can imagine what it takes away from you . God bless Truckers

[@davidfleishman2275]

I was an owner operator.Owned Truck and trailer.Taking care of a truck and trailer took most of my free time.Even on the road during break time I had to deal with truck and trailer maintenance.My whole life was consumed with trucking.

[@howiefeltersnatch6316]

Great video, Dave! If they love the job, I just wish they could have been around in the past. We made some money and had a lot of fun.

[@mikehicks8566]

i fell for the TD school gimmic back in the 80's man i wished i had that money back.. i loved the west coast runs while at HARDY BROTHERS but all thoses others hauling fraight sucked.. i like the WC turn arounds with HB because it team and no E coast thy had old timers for that and would deadhead back in lot better loads back at the barn going west. sumtimes wish i was back at it but it ant worth it

[@jerrycoggin9434]

I don't think I would like this job at all if I didn't get to shift the gears. I want to get a truck with a 5 and 4!

[@mikekahl4745]

I farm and truck, low hourly pay, but alot of them, so I do it because I love it.

[@arthurbrumagem3844]

Most people who aren’t truck drivers don’t exercise either. We are a nation of pending heart attack victims

[@Bucko451]

Bill Mack open road show, 11 pm every night on WBAP am.

[@Griffindor15132]

Good video, as always. I really appreciate comparing the profession in the USA with ours here in Europe. The principle is the same, at least very similar. Also from working hours. However, here in Germany it is illegal to spend the weekend in a truck. The company has to ensure that you are home on weekends. And on the subject of cold and heat: it is standard here that the vehicles are equipped with auxiliary air conditioning. Otherwise: exactly the same. You love it or leave it.

[@SoCal780]

Yes, there are many downsides, but I DO truly love this profession.

[@ImaD-wp7mq]

Amen.

[@HappyTrucking]

I was taking my CDL road test today and had a car blow a stop sign where cross traffic doesn’t stop IN THE RAIN!!!! I reacted and got my truck slowed in time and got my CDL today but yikes do people drive cars like idiots!!!

[@Rob.E.Hansen]

Yeah things have changed a lot since these guys were in the road

[@James-ol6rw]

Here's something I thought about the 80 hr work/week 34 hr reset when I was driving OTR full time for 20 years. If an office worker was required to work 80 hrs. a week/ 14 hrs. a day like a trucker does, and the office worker fell asleep at his desk because of it, nobody dies. If the same thing happens with a trucker, people can and do get killed. Trucking is critical to a country's economy, but so are many of the working people driving amongst the trucks on the nations interstates. How about a long overdue re-think to the trucking work/life balance in the interest in public safety.

[@omarmacias3782]

NOT WORTH IT!! save your life, and mariage

[@3182john]

Kinda hard to when other industries don’t seem to want to give us a break for our sacrifices and hard work.

[@DG38594]

Been in it for 20 yrs and after watching this I'm rethinking my career choice 😂😂

[@goywonder7341]

Trucking is a lifestyle and an occupation.

[@b.d.sonstrucking1915]

It's the only career that enables me to pay for my house. Buy a new car, put 20% of my income away with Schwab, buy quality health insurance, and have pocket money. To me, that's a successful job.

[@jerrycoggin9434]

Jeez, I never knew I was so miserable. Dang!

[@keithtorbert9929]

Amen amen Amen I’m sitting in my truck now can’t pu for 5 hours no compensation people don’t realize we keep the country moving you can’t go to the store and buy a toothbrush until the truck comes same with restaurants we restock everything

[@dougschwamb9653]

I have zero tolerance for those that demean long haul truck drivers, denigrate what truckers do on the road with little knowledge of what it entails to do the job. It's not for whips. You need the 3 B's make it day after day, year after year.

[@EarlMayers-eu3kl]

In. Canada we have to have. 36. Hours off so he’s Wright it’s a different life an most people can’t do it I did it for 57 years an I’m semi retired still have my. Class one hear in. B. C. Canada west. Coast

[@dextert8188]

This year is my last...34 years is more than enough. You drivers be safe...I'm done

[@douglachman7330]

Its too bad that management with high pay and titles do not understand the full picture of drivers because they are too busy and drivers are just a cost line item on a spreadsheet. Ask any fllet or operations manager about the benefits of experienced professionals driving.

[@canadiantrucker9574]

Here's a tidbit of advice for truck drivers, both otr and dedicated, stay away from the women, stay single. After being a truck driver for 20 years and being married 10 of those years, it will never work out. Women will come out of the woodwork left and right saying "Oh yeah, I can handle you being gone two weeks at a time" or "oh yeah seeing the scenery with you on the odd trip is fun and awesome" but in reality they will lose interest in you and your job fast, usually within 6 months.

[@marklittle8805]

A tractor with sleeper is half the size of a jail cell. Just remember that . Criminals have more space

[@polockdan1]

👍✌💪

[@treyfeeley2519]

It's the call of the road! It gets in your blood!!! Once your in, you're IN. It is total insanity to go through what we go through to do this for a living! Maybe we should be called Professional nut jobs instead of professional drivers!!

[@udoklein5345]

Is that today’s drivers?? Because old school are better drivers But you your right That needs to change!!!

[@NPC-Gamer]

I'd think truck driving would be a great gig if you were a single guy/gal. Wouldn't work for me as I have a wife and kids, but I could've easily seen myself doing it before

[@mikeritter2979]

It’s depressing

[@HJ-lz4dt]

Yes, 4 wheelers are the worst part of the job anymore. Me first attitude and no respect.

[@billyturner2396]

Your health takes a real beating can't sleep eat crap food can't pee when need to. it's hurry up and wait for a load

[@kevinpolito1529]

All of these are reasons why over-the-road trucking is a dying profession. The most-experienced, most-skilled, most-professional OTR drivers are going to age out over the next few years, to be replaced by naive, inexperienced young people who are not going to last more than a year or two. The trucking industry is going to experience drastic changes. Long-haul is going to be replaced by relay trucking between regional terminals. Drivers will go home at night. Look at how Amazon and other huge companies do it. That's the future.

[@tesorl5986]

I don't like it, trucking is a miserable way to make a buck. You have no life, all day and night in a rolling jail cell.

[@a.h.s5152]

I hope the drivers get them 5 minute heart scans done at a heart clinic them scans check for clogged heart arteries they can go in and unclog them if they find any it's saved lives. It's called a coronary CT anglogram.

[@nazirar7182]

Do you recommend local cdl over otr?