The worst part about being a trucker is a general lack of respect for the trade.

[Tobin S.]

You can get jerked around by anyone at any time, seemingly, when you are just trying to do your job. From law enforcement, to the motoring public, to shippers and receivers, to the management at the trucking companies, it's a never-ending experience of having somebody straight up your ass.

Respect is hard to come by for the American trucker. Many trucking companies have a turnover rate in excess of 100% every year in their driving forces. They could probably cut that rate in half if they started treating truckers with honesty and respect.

I just spent another day of getting jerked around in the course of trying to do a good job. I told the management where I work that I'm going to be graduating from college in December. I think that just made matters worse. That's okay. It's just four more months, then they can try to find someone else to do what I do for them, which won't be easy.

I just took a human resources management class at school. It's been found that reasons relating to respect are the main reasons for turnover. It can even trump a very good compensation package.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. You are so right, my dear Tobin...

Respect. It matters in so many professions. If you're not respected, then so many things go wrong.

Your wages won't be what they should be, there won't be good benefits, you don't get the support you need to do the job right.

I've seen it in my own field, nursing. We had good pay because nurses don't grow on trees, but respect? Not from the hospital administration. It sucked.

Hang in there! Relief is coming.

[Mopar151]

4. Managers cannot demand respect

True respect has to be earned. For those who have rarely gotten respect, fear seems like an acceptable substitute, and some seem to prefer it.

[malthaussen]

10. Caligula thought so.

"oderint dum metuant" ("let them hate me so long as they fear me&quot .

-- Mal

[Xyzse]

2. Tons of respect for truckers.

Controlling one of those behemoths is a friggin science that they have mastered in to an art.

Holy S...

[RebelOne]

3. I have total respect for truckers driving those huge rigs.

My father had two rigs after we moved to Florida from Philadelphia when I was a child. I used to go with him on trips during the summer when I was about 10 and 11 years old. To me it was fun to be on those trips. My ex-husband also drove trucks for a short time while we were married. After we were divorced, he bought his own rig and did trips all over the US.

[Xyzse]

6. Wow...

Yeah, even getting on a truck and the idea of backing that up, with multiple points of articulation just makes it insane.

[mackerel]

5. My ex and I, ran our own trucking company for many years. I have totally respect for truckers

and I hear ya. The shippers and receivers are the worst! Especially out of the Port of Oakland.

[Mopar151]

7. My friend was helpin out his dad, truckin'.

They hauled a trailer load of potato chips - just under 5000 pounds, including the packaging. "This pulls pertty easy, Dad.""Yep. Only thing lighter is dispatcher brains!"

[Massacure]

8. I know that feeling

I spent three years working in IT for a trucking company. We had an optimization engine that assigned drivers to equipment and equipment to loads in such a way that minimized "dead head" miles since we still have to pay for the driver and fuel if even if they aren't hauling something behind them. Get the dispatchers to believe that its okay to let one driver deadhead for 100 miles if you can save 5 miles each for 100 others was a really difficult task.

[monmouth3]

9. I was always fascinated by how well truckers can park their semis, both large and smaller. We

would applaud them when an almost impossible feat was accomplished. Truckers loved it and would take a bow...LOL..

[onecent]

11. I'm on your side Tobin S. I was married to an over the road trucker

He was with Kaw Transport out of Kansas City hauling liquid and fuel...and he passed away in 2007. I LET ALL TRUCKS in when I can help, I turn my lights on to alert them to change lanes if they wish....I SO RESPECT THEM.

He would come home from a week or 2 trip and sit in a bathtub with a Miller Lite Beer (4 or 5) and his eyes LOOKED LIKE ROADMAPS. Truly....they were red streaks in his eyes...

I did everything I could in my life to make his homelife WONDERFUL.

Its hurts my feelings, cuz sometimes truckers don't respect us "4 wheelers" but I don't care...
He made alot of money and had a wonderful sense of humor...but it wore and tore on his poor body....physically and the food you eat on the road.

Bless your heart....and I hope you find something you are happy with soon!!!! You are moving the country!!!

[Tobin S.]

13. Thanks, onecent.

[trof]

12. I do a couple of 3000 mile road trips a year.

Here to Boston and back.
I-81 for a day and a half.
I cut truckers all the slack I can.

You guys are earning a living.
I'm just traveling.

[Tobin S.]

14. Thanks, trof.

I know truckers aren't always little angels out there and we can be hard to get along with on the road. It's just that driving different kinds of vehicles requires different strategies on the road. That is apparent from motorcycles to cars to RVs to triple trailers.

[sendero]

15. No doubt...

... respect is a commodity that all workers would appreciate. I took over the job I have right now because the guy before me was treated like crap for no good reason over what amounted to a purely political decision, so he left. Most of the time I feel like finding another job it is because I feel like my efforts are not appreciated or acknowledged or respected, and I 'm pretty sure that is true of a lot of people.

Truckers have been getting squeezed by all sides for a while now. If they are going to cut your pay to the bone, track your every movement and act like you are instantly replaceable, the least they could do is offer some respect.

Best of luck finding a better way!

[Boomerproud]

16. I was wondering about the turnover rate just yesterday.

As you would know, the papers are full of job openings for trucking firms. I don't think the general public really understands the core problem that you articulated so well. Best of luck on your journey after your degree.

[AngryOldDem]

17. Well, I for one, have a hell of a lot of respect for you.

As well as every other trucker out there.