G
guest
Guest
Are Expedited Freight Drivers REALLY Truck Drivers?
hear, hear
>>How can someone get up in the morning and drive for .18cpm?
>>But on the other hand, some expedited drivers hold CDL's,
>>some don't...
>
>
>
>WELL IF THEY ARE DRIVING A COMERCIAL VEHICLE AND DONT HAVE A
>CDL THEN THEY'RE BREAKING THE LAW.
Actually Gambler.. not all companies require their Van Expediters to have a CDL. Technically, you only need a CDL for a van, if you're hauling Hazmat, and "Vanners" as I call them, are definately a large portion of the Expediters out there. I'm sure that's what Miko was referring to.
Dreamer
>>But on the other hand, some expedited drivers hold CDL's,
>>some don't...
>
>
>
>WELL IF THEY ARE DRIVING A COMERCIAL VEHICLE AND DONT HAVE A
>CDL THEN THEY'RE BREAKING THE LAW.
Actually Gambler.. not all companies require their Van Expediters to have a CDL. Technically, you only need a CDL for a van, if you're hauling Hazmat, and "Vanners" as I call them, are definately a large portion of the Expediters out there. I'm sure that's what Miko was referring to.
Dreamer
All you need to drive a commercial truck under 24,000 pounds(wihout airbrakes) is a chauffers license.
As for being a truck driver, I drive a van now, but drove a big truck for about 6 1/2 years before this. The trucking industry just isn't the way it used to be when my father drove one. Now, I make about the same pay, have about a quarter of the overhead, and don't have to deal with the DOT as much. I wish driving a truck was more prosperous, because I did enjoy it. Unfortunately, it isn't, and I would like to be able to retire one day. Now days you are just paying the truck if you buy a big rig. Especially, with the price of fuel the way it is.
As for being a truck driver, I drive a van now, but drove a big truck for about 6 1/2 years before this. The trucking industry just isn't the way it used to be when my father drove one. Now, I make about the same pay, have about a quarter of the overhead, and don't have to deal with the DOT as much. I wish driving a truck was more prosperous, because I did enjoy it. Unfortunately, it isn't, and I would like to be able to retire one day. Now days you are just paying the truck if you buy a big rig. Especially, with the price of fuel the way it is.
Judging by some of the "truck drivers" I have seen over the years I wouldn't want to be lumped into that group. Majority of the drivers I have met were good honest, clean people but there is that group you see in the truckstops who are loud, dirty and dress like they do their clothes shopping in a dumpster.
Usually these are the former "US Marshals", "Special forces" who tell you all about the time they were carrying a secret load, they were pulled behind a scale and the DOT officer goes to open the back door and all of a sudden 300 black Chryslers show up, arrest the DOT officer and have heavy equipment parachuted out of a circling military cargo plane and they level the scale and nothing more is ever said.
If that is a "Truck driver" then no I never was one. I was an expediter.
Usually these are the former "US Marshals", "Special forces" who tell you all about the time they were carrying a secret load, they were pulled behind a scale and the DOT officer goes to open the back door and all of a sudden 300 black Chryslers show up, arrest the DOT officer and have heavy equipment parachuted out of a circling military cargo plane and they level the scale and nothing more is ever said.
If that is a "Truck driver" then no I never was one. I was an expediter.
raceman
Veteran Expediter
What a question.The answer is that some are and some are not. Everyone is just trying to earn a living. I agree with a few of the others who have answered. Call me what you like, I am just trying to keep my kids in new cars, nice cloths and all the proper electronics.
It is a job that requires driving some drive vans and some drive straight trucks and some drive tractors. Everyone I know is just a hard working individual trying to pay the bills and feed the family. I do know one guy that is in it just to go fishing but I don't think he is paying the bills. He may actually not be a truck driver. I will have to think about that.raceman
It is a job that requires driving some drive vans and some drive straight trucks and some drive tractors. Everyone I know is just a hard working individual trying to pay the bills and feed the family. I do know one guy that is in it just to go fishing but I don't think he is paying the bills. He may actually not be a truck driver. I will have to think about that.racemanI'm not sure what you mean by "truck drivers" but I'm rather sure you don't mean "Do expedited van drivers operate large semi-tractors towing a 53' trailer?"
You see, I've been driving trucks for 30 years this December and I can tell right off you've got some notions going about what is and is not a "truck driver" that have more to do with chain drive wallets and cowboy hats than with just having a job where you operate a commercial vehicle for money.
Are expedited freight drivers REALLY truck trivers? I don't know; are thy driving a truck? Are they driving a van? What do you think (I don't want to know)?
How 'bout this one: Are those poor SOB's that bought the Prime-line REALLY O/O's?
While we're at it, here's another: Are people that ask stupid questions REALLY idiots?
finney
You see, I've been driving trucks for 30 years this December and I can tell right off you've got some notions going about what is and is not a "truck driver" that have more to do with chain drive wallets and cowboy hats than with just having a job where you operate a commercial vehicle for money.
Are expedited freight drivers REALLY truck trivers? I don't know; are thy driving a truck? Are they driving a van? What do you think (I don't want to know)?
How 'bout this one: Are those poor SOB's that bought the Prime-line REALLY O/O's?
While we're at it, here's another: Are people that ask stupid questions REALLY idiots?
finney