Truckers Anxious About Training & Job Loss
Truckers express significant anxiety related to job performance, unclear training protocols, and navigating workplace dynamics. They grapple with fear of job loss, inconsistent guidance from trainers, and frustration with colleagues' behavior impacting parking and overall work environment. The desire for authentic, experienced advice highlights a lack of trust in official channels.
SOURCES (60)
“O lord okay right now I’m working on getting everything done from the application. I’m originally from Florida so I need to change the plate on my truck and the plate on my trailer and I had to change some plumbing issues. Then I should…”
it took me a while... homie scared me ... his request where insane yo
“I mentioned it one time to the supervisor and she kind of gave me the run around about everyone having a hard time. I told her with the hours I got I was sleeping on the road and no AC made it worse. This second time I mentioned it after a fellow coworker used my truck and went home half way through the shift cause "it was an oven inside the cab". It was Saturday and we were gonna leave home early, they told me to go home and I was kind of happy until they changed their mind and got me”
“Run a small service biz, 9 vehicles. Been putting GPS tracking off for ages because every quote treats me like I've got 200 trucks - hidden pricing, 3-year contracts, per-vehicle fees that pile up quick. All I really want is to see where the guys are, cut the side-trips and idling, and stop guessing job times when I bill. For those of you in the 5-20 vehicle range, what are you actually running? Anything month-to-month that isn't a rip-off, and did it actually pay for itself? submi”
“I worked on the inside. Some of y'all might remember some months back I posted a video showing off the start of a DIY storage space for my top bunk. The project was put on hiatus because I knew I was about to change companies and didn't want to build a bunch of stuff I would have to switch into a new truck a few months later. Well, I've started with the new company and begun to settle in, so here is a rickety old rack I just finished building that I intend to hang my shirts from to d”
“My fiancé and me are expecting this December what are my options as a company driver ? I’ve heard of FMLA but what should I do? submitted by /u/Suspicious_Ad53 [link] [comments]”
“Thank you for such a detailed response I appreciate it! It looks like the actual traffic course itself is split up into different modules. There probably isn’t much variation between them. I doubt there is anything special behind the paywall. Thanks again.”
“Is it worth it ? I been a truck driver for years . I’m 31 now . Time is ticking . I make solid $ but I don’t want this much longer . I have potential and don’t wanna regret it later down my life . I’ve always been into sports , big football fan . Growing up, played sports , played college football 1 year before I flunked out by partying my ass off and till this day I regret it . Wanted to be a coach / teacher but I feel like it’s not worth it . I just wanna do something surrounding sports . A ca”
“Is it worth it ? I been a truck driver for years . I’m 31 now . Time is ticking . I make solid $ but I don’t want this much longer . I have potential and don’t wanna regret it later down my life . I’ve always been into sports , big football fan . Growing up, played sports , played college football 1 year before I flunked out by partying my ass off and till this day I regret it . Wanted to be a coach / teacher but I feel like it’s not worth it . I just wanna do something surrounding sports . A ca”
“Good luck out there today. It's apparently morons on parade today in the Music City, both drivers and passengers. Between the smelling like weed, not being ready at pickup, putting the pin literal streets away from the pickup address, I had to call it a day early. Great week up until today though. submitted by /u/No_Humor1310 [link] [comments]”
“I live in Phoenix, Arizona, considering making a switch in my career. I know that there are carriers that will start you off and teach you everything, or there are CDL schools around me. Is one better than the other to prepare me? I can afford to go to a school, do I get a head start in any way? submitted by /u/j052766 [link] [comments]”
“Driver: "Hey, dispatch. My pay was a little light. I need to get my wheels turning. Can you look at my route and see if we can get my weekly miles up higher?" Dispatch: "Well, we have this high-volume, long-haul contract, but the base rate on this lane is just a tiny bit lower than your current regional run. You would be running at $0.52 a mile instead of your usual $0.60. But this would be huge win for you, it’s a guaranteed 2,885 miles a week! You wanted miles, right? This is a”
“I just started a new dry van position that pays a gracious percentage of each load delivered. My first job was a local flatbed position so I only had experience getting around the area and manufacturing plants. I went otr for 4 days and stopped at alot of loves and learned quickly I really didn't have to pay for showers, not every truck stop on your gps is a good one and many other things. I caught on to alley docking quickly and was able to do a 2 of them with some pull ups and my trainer s”
“Hi all. Former driver soon to be returning driver here…2018/2019 on the East Coast was when I last drove. I enjoyed it back then. And I’m starting back in the next month or so. When I drove previously, I worked only on weekends. Generally from 5am-3pm on Saturdays snd 5am-1pm on Sundays. I liked it and enjoyed the extra money. I’m starting back soon and will drive way more than that with substantially longer days. I’m aiming towards five to six days a week. I’m a big guy so I’m not on the best s”
“Looking into OTR driving. I’m going to a local school at Chattanooga State Community College. I’ve been watching videos online and talking to recruiters and the one thing I can’t get an answer on is what’s in your truck when starting out? Do the OTR companies provide you with a mattress in the sleeping berth and the power converters? submitted by /u/TheMaleficentPancake [link] [comments]”
“Hey guys. So I’m strongly considering going to old dominion wanting to do line haul. After May of 2027 I will have 1 year of experience and I’m a great driver already. I’ve fallen in love with trucking and was wondering if I could get anyone to put down as a reference and what to expect when applying so I can be ready for it. I head old dominion is strict and to get hired you have to be damn near perfect. I also had a 15+ speed ticket back in 2024. I drive for Coca Cola right now and I’m doing g”
“I work in driver recruitment, so I hear a lot of this from both sides — people who stick with it for years, people who bail within months. Beyond the take-home cut, curious what actually wears people down over time. Fuel and vehicle costs coming out of your own pocket? Insurance headaches? Routes that get harder without the pay changing? And the flip side — has anything ever made you stick with one company over another, or made the jump feel worth it? submitted by /u/service_club [li”
“ok so ive recently go into a job where i drive trucks and trailers at a dc, im good with driving them but the backing them up into a spot is kinda challenging, does anyone have any tips that they could give me to help me grasp it better submitted by /u/Curious_Prune4845 [link] [comments]”
“Running my truck mostly solo excepting when my wife can cashier. Its a startup for me so its been 14 hour days since June 28th. Me so tired submitted by /u/Auguyy [link] [comments]”
“Don't expect work life balance as a new CDL A driver. That comes with experience.”
“I’m new and looking into Schneider and Swift and trying to figure out what I’d need to bring on the road. Do the computers at their terminals let you do basic stuff like browse Reddit or watch YouTube, or are they only for company training and paperwork? Just wondering if I’d need to buy a laptop for downtime at the terminals. submitted by /u/Inside_Ad472 [link] [comments]”
“I've been researching getting my CDL because my long-term goal is to work at the Port of Los Angeles or Long Beach. I'm 33 years old, recently married, and I'm looking for a career that's stable, pays well, and gives me a solid future. Ideally, I'd like to be home every night. My wife and I don't have kids yet, so I'm open to working nights or odd hours if that's what it takes to get my foot in the door. For those of you who work at the ports or would like to give”
“The tractor was overdue (6 months ) for FMSCA inspection and had a list of things wrong with it including a check engine light. The trailers were junk and I had to red tag three of them, but the manager called me numerous times yelling at me about doing pretrips. He told me it’s not my responsibility to do pretrips or put trailers out of service because of safety reasons. The manager at the dedicated account also gave me issues about putting his trailers oos. Then this morning my manager called”
“Coming here for guidance, or advice. Im fresh out of school , passed and have my cdl . I just want to get hired , and strat making money . Im willing to take a crappy job if it gets my foot in the door / experience. If there's no other option . My hope was to do something local. I don't necessarily care if I'm driving a semi ,or a bus, or a dump truck. I understand local jobs usually want you to have experience. I don't look good on paper..lol I've been delivering doordash ,”
“This happened to me. Planned to be hybrid. Moved super close to the company because I didn’t have a car. Then they expected me to travel between multiple locations with no compensation for it.”
“TLDR : M25 single no kids. trucker for 4 years. Tired of it. Have savings. Should i quit driving and start a mini pizzeria? So Started driving in 2021. Did OTR flatbed for a few months, then local, now back OTR flatbed for 5 months. It’s been a complete shit show since the second day of orientation. I’ve only had one good week with no issues. My trucker buddy keeps saying I have the worst luck. I just had a crap DOT encounter and I’m tired of both local and OTR. I was a pizza chef for 3 years be”
“when i used to drive a job that i only drove between MD and DE i used to LOVE listening ro books. This was relaxing, it made me lose track of time and i enjoyed it very much. I will be driving a thousand miles a week soon. Do you think this will still work out? I feel like im a safe driver. defensive, and i am always watching my mirrors. i keep a great following distance and i just feel like slow and steady always wins the race. that being said, anyone think it would be unsafe for me to do?  ”
“I️ have run about 6 routes since being at risk and deactivated last week. Moral of the story: don’t let a bunch of low lives discourage you. Life happens keep grinding 🤩 submitted by /u/Altruistic-Water-150 [link] [comments]”
“FIRST NAME : SLAVE LAST NAME : DRIVER submitted by /u/PathofEnlightment [link] [comments]”
“It’s my 1st month here and the companies i’ve worked with in the past never made a big deal about it so it’s a bad habit i developed. It was a public road, i later got a call from my dispatcher and she told me she’ll talk with safety to get the hold removed and asked that next time i should just go around the block to get to the delivery. I worried because i don’t want to job search again. So am i thoroughly cooked? submitted by /u/Stunning_Pain_7788 [link] [comments]”
“I have zero money and no way to get gas to get to work tomorrow. I already called off today as well. I’m not sure what to do. Any advice? submitted by /u/Ok_Voice2870 [link] [comments]”
“Any guesses? My prediction is 8 based on the distance. How many of these do you guys get a day? If I work a full 10-12 hour day, I’ll usually get 5 or so, and most are add ons like this one submitted by /u/West_Swimmer1325 [link] [comments]”
“Cherry picker who delivers using shared family vehicle (meaning I’m only able to drive 8pm - 5am tues-sat) Thoughts? submitted by /u/Proper_Manner_6571 [link] [comments]”
“Been driving 4 years and my body's starting to feel it. Lower back especially. I keep telling myself I'll do 15 minutes of something at rest stops but it never sticks. Curious if anyone here has actually figured out a routine they stick to. Not looking for gym-level stuff, just something you can do next to the truck. Thanks in advance! submitted by /u/Awkward_System9248 [link] [comments]”
“So fed up with this garbage. We don’t get to see where we are going until we get to the station and scan in. This happens at least twice a week submitted by /u/Big-Bet-7667 [link] [comments]”
“My wife took a trucking job advertised by the recruiter as no touch (meaning no loading/unloading/major manual labor) and was lead to believe she’d be in her cab with air conditioning. Well, turns out it’s TONS of manual labor and she’s in and out of the truck all day and spends more time outside than in the cab. Her supervisor says she’s not allowed to keep the AC running in her truck when she’s not in it to keep it cool. She says her boss is getting mad at her for having to stop and take break”
“New CDL grad looking for my first job . Based in the South . One at-fault accident in my personal vehicle from March that may affect mega carrier hiring . I'm looking for companies that give rookies a fair shot and actually train them well . Any recommendations ? submitted by /u/lettersfromluna [link] [comments]”
“Been running my truck for about two years now and summer is great, genuinely no complaints. But once fall hits and the lunch crowds thin out, it gets rough fast. Last winter I burned through way more of my cushion than I planned because I kept telling myself the next week would pick up. Curious what other operators do to stay afloat. Some people I know pivot to catering and private events to fill the gap, but building those connections takes time and you kind of have to have them lined up before”
“You can just tell when a person is unhinged and Junior. Best of luck out there, I genuinely wish you well and hope that you see the forest through the trees some day.”
“YouTube University is definitely my plan as a PDR guy, body shop or any kind of technician isn't an option due to location. Ive already watched a few videos to get a general idea of the process but it seems the specific tools and order of the steps vary depending on where and what kind of dent so felt like no video would cover it perfectly Thanks Will definitely post a follow up of my success or failure”
“Sup gang been thinking about a career change. Tampa Bay Trucking school says they will get you a job that pays for your training and you can start making 1500 to 2000 a week. Is this a scam has anyone actually done this or a similar offer. I'm willing to accept a year of suffering to pay back they company that sponsored my training if it leads to better opportunities down the line just wondering if its worth it or if ill be making a mistake. submitted by /u/Edthemighty [link] ”
“What are some of the things that safety departments are looking for that trigger off inbound cameras for drivers? submitted by /u/JohnOnWheels [link] [comments]”
All of this for .60cpm submitted by /u/Emergency_Ad1152 [link] [comments]
“To start this, the other night I was parked in a PF parking lot completely alone. 2 in the morning someone bangs on the door of my cab scaring the absolute shit out of me, I peak out the curtains and it’s just a dude standing there staring at my door. I hear his ass mumbling something about “just needing a fcking ride” out my sleepers vent. He stumbled off into the dark but it made me realize how absolutely fckd I’d be if someone wanted to try something on me. We cannot carry at big orange but I”
“Probably shouldn’t chance it tho huh, gotta get back to Tennessee and I’m currently in Colorado. Stopping in Cali first to get a load back. Pretty sure it happened at this shitty ass TA. Not sure if the picture does it justice submitted by /u/Defiant-Medicine3014 [link] [comments]”
“Hey guys I need some honest opinions on tmc. I just set my orientation date with them and I’m wondering what to expect. I’m not a new driver, ive been at this for almost 7 years now mostly local but I have no flatbed experience. My research so far says I can make pretty good money as a company driver with them. Any former or current drivers care to weigh in? submitted by /u/That_fly_guy_Sonik [link] [comments]”
“Recently hit my 2 year experience mark this past May. I have all endorsements, TWIC Card and passport with a clean mvr and criminal record. I was blessed enough to become a local driver after only 6 months of OTR/Regional. My first local job was a shuttle driver position and I did that for the last year and a half. I start my training for mysecond local job tomorrow morning and it's my first tanker job. I keep getting the urge to back OTR/Regional now that I have more options. I'm only 3”
“I want to compile a list of companies that hire people with felonies/on probation. So far western express is the only real 2nd chance company ive talked too. Lets help all those trying to rebuild their lives actually have a chance. submitted by /u/9inchpapii [link] [comments]”
“Should i jump ship to Crete? Just got over 1 year of experience, and I heard the give you consistent miles and have great benefits. What do you think? submitted by /u/Beneficial-Gate-8617 [link] [comments]”
“Hurry up and fucking wait. No matter what kinda truck I've driven so far there's always a few days out of the week where I'm just sitting around, wasting my time not getting paid. I wish I was getting paid hourly so bad 😭 submitted by /u/Hawkyboo [link] [comments]”
“I was out of the truck for 10 seconds. Im going to lose my mind bros. How is this ok? How is International still in business? Please.... Im losing my sanity in this truck. I just want to drive, not block the road when im backing because i have to wait 15 seconds for the air to come up. Or block the guy behind me at the CAT scale because the air pressure is low. Please submitted by /u/derpmcturd [link] [comments]”