The Ugly in Trucking

Unfortunately, there is ugly in trucking just as there is ugly in every other work place. Shippers and receivers usually could care less about the drivers never ending rush to get loaded or unload as fast as possible. Sometimes, they even try to get free labor out of us.

Sometimes our very own company treats us as if we are robots behind the wheel. Some companies won't even route drivers through the house as though they think we are too stupid to know they do have freight going through there. Managers, dispatchers and brokers give us bad information and let the drivers do research for the correct information to make the delivery. (as if we don't have enough to do!)

We are expected to make miracles happen. We are told and expected to run legal then told to get some where by the next morning at 6am after getting loaded a little bit ate in the evening to make it there legally. (We are supposed to be magicians I suppose.)

We often work long hours, many uncompensated but if not for creative time management we wouldn't get a decent paycheck. Everyone on every level in the industry knows hows about this slight conflict of interest there is a lack of unity and political will to do anything about it.

Something (don't know what, but better truckers across the board is a start to being heard) needs to be done to make shippers, receivers and trucking companies operate from the same page and agree upon and work toward on time appointments combined with timely loading and unloading. (Everyone would win if they came together and made this happen). Oh, back to my topic. . .

We have easy access to an abundance of unhealthy meals often with limited time to find something for a good low calorie diet.healthy diet plan. So many truckers gain excess belly fat and body weight and never overcome the denial of what they are doing to themselves. (Now that's ugly, it's like long term suicide. Don't let this be you!)

Ugly could easily describe the way the media portrays us when reporting about incidents or accidents. They will usually imply that accidents were the trucker's fault when there is no fault found or when fault is questionable. Most of the time fault is with four wheelers and the trucker is blamed on a technicality (Logbook says he's wasn't supposed to be there and if he wasn't the four wheeler wouldn't have cut in front of him. What!?!).

Because it is more sensational for media to report truck accidents than car accidents a lot of people think truckers wreck more often and are the cause of most accidents when inactually we are the safest drivers on the road (duhhh. Should only take a little common sense to figure thatout but don't wait on it being discovered by the average citizen or reported that way by the media).

However there is also the ugliness that some drivers do create by giving themselves too much credit for thinking they can beat fatigue. (Come on man you can't resist that Twinkie and poisonous soda but you have enough mind power to overcome something you actually need! LOL. Listen, go to sleep.)

Yes, yes this sometimes leads to an ugly situation. More often than any of us would like but probably not as often as you might think.

The ugliest thing in trucking may be the stereotypical image that the general public has of the American truck driver. Too many people get caught in the hype of Hollywood movies. They think we all are hillbilly rednecks who spend our days looking for lot lizards, racing each other up and down the highway, trying to outrun the police, and talking trash on the CB radio. (We couldn't make it a week out here trying to maintain what our stereotypical image would suggest we are like! LOL. Funny but sad.)People have hardwired thoughts in their head of what we are about and it's sad.

Yep, Ugly is everywhere in the trucking industry! Having said that, ugly is everywhere in your life right now.

Look around you. . . you are just used to it and don't think about it.

Do you internalize it and let it ruin your mood? (You shouldn't)

Do you let it affect your outlook on life? (You shouldn't!)

Do you let it keep you from moving forward, from chasing your dreams? (You better not!)

These things are a part of life. There will always be ugly or the perception of ugly, It doesn't matter which is true.

Any glass half empty is also half full. The choice is yours as to how you choose to view what life throws at you. The choice is up to you as to how you choose to respond.

But check this out, knowing what you know about the unfairness in life, often you are able to prepare the best you can so that when you encounter the challenges of life you can maintain and keep moveing forward.

Never let the ugly deter you from the journey (Unless its deterring you from a journey to hell! LOL) Life is full of challenges and unfairness (uglyness) choose to navigate through them and make the best of it.

Never stop short of attempting to achieve your goals because the path just might be difficult. (I can tell you right now the path will be difficult, so what, get over it. Pay attention and learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of others and keep it moving.)

Use what you can as lessons and motivators to move forward and don't look back! (Unless looking back and reflecting for wisdom is part of your game plan for moving forward.)

In spite of the ugly in life, (even in the worst of times) reflect beauty, kindness, strength and rise above the obstacles you encounter. Smile at the people who say you can't or it won't work or it's not worth it. If you research your next move and you still feel it's the move you need to make. Make your plans then make your move.

You will hear drivers complain about all the things that I mentioned earlier, because it does exist. It's nothing that will keep you from loving this job if you are the type of person this job is for. It's not as bad as it sounds and sometimes bad truck drivers bring these situations on themselves. (If you read about bad truck drivers you might understand how.) If you plan on being the best truck driver you can, you will run into some of these things with a bad trucking company but a good truck driver can go to good companies after getting a little experience and embark upon a fulfilling and rewarding career.

(Once we as drivers step our game up so that we are respected and listened to then we can make some demands for change and actually be taken serious until then we will have unheard complaints so if you come out here, take pride in your job performance.)

Anyway, I have spoken about this enough. Remember this . . .

No matter if you decided to become a truck driver or flip BK burgers. Think positive and keep it moving, you can eventually have it your way.