Thinking about getting in to Expediting

[Brisco]

It would be an interesting poll, but it couldn't be too generic in order to mean anything. Would I give up expediting for a stable paycheck working in a factory? No. I like the lifestyle of the road too much. Would I give it up to be a mechanic in a railroad diesel yard? Not hardly. An engineer or a brakeman, yeah. Would I give up expediting to get into the airline industry? Certainly not as a baggage handler.

Yes, there's a certain way the Poll Question would have to be worded, just as you pointed out. But if one put in enough thought on how to word the question specifically, giving the pollsters to really put thought into answering the question truthfully, I too think it would be an interesting poll.

Honestly, how many drivers are out there right now because the industry they strive to be in just doesn't have any opportunites open today? How many drivers are out there because they have no other choice but to drive a CV, a ST, etc?

Jump on this there CC. Let's see if you can come up with an interesting and truthfully answerable Poll Question that may get drivers to thinking whether they truly Love Expediting and the lifestyle it demands or if they're just biding time for now.

 

[Turtle]

Well, having actually been in expediting for some time now, I know that a high percentage of expediters volunteeringly left stable jobs to come out here and do this. Some retired to come out here, some just wanted to do this, anyway. The type of vehicle they're in may play a significant role. Not many retire to a life of leisure and excitement in a cargo van. Those are mostly straight truck folks.

Vanners consist in large part of people who used to work at assembly plants and the like, and saw the uber-easy high-hog livin' that vanners get to experience and they went out and bought a van when they got laid off. Those people will quit this in a Yew York minute for another factory job. Of course, most of them aren't even expediters anymore, as most of those failed when reality set it.

Tractor drivers are in it because they have to be, it's in their soul, they can't help it. They go home for a break and three days later they're itching to get back out on the road. They're mostly crazy, tho, so you have to account for that.

After a year in a straight truck, many of those drivers are the same way. Crazy. They need to get back out on the road. Some got into it because there was nothing left, but few of those own their own truck.

As for me, I've been school girl giddy over big trucks since I was a kid. When I found out all the BS they have to put up with these days the giddy faded fast, but not the school girl in me. OK, that came out really wrong. Just wrong. Bad wrong. The draw that the road has, the sights and places you get to see, the freedom to pester people on Web forums at all hours of the day and night, the freedom to sleep when I want, the yearning to be pestered by incompetent dispatchers. I love the smell of beep! in the morning... smells like... victory. Oh, sorry, where was I? Oh, yeah. Despite having more education that I'm going to admit to here, I chose to come out here and do this, and it's not a decision I've regretted even for a minute.

 

[skyraider]

Well, having actually been in expediting for some time now, I know that a high percentage of expediters volunteeringly left stable jobs to come out here and do this. Some retired to come out here, some just wanted to do this, anyway. The type of vehicle they're in may play a significant role. Not many retire to a life of leisure and excitement in a cargo van. Those are mostly straight truck folks.

Vanners consist in large part of people who used to work at assembly plants and the like, and saw the uber-easy high-hog livin' that vanners get to experience and they went out and bought a van when they got laid off. Those people will quit this in a Yew York minute for another factory job. Of course, most of them aren't even expediters anymore, as most of those failed when reality set it.

Tractor drivers are in it because they have to be, it's in their soul, they can't help it. They go home for a break and three days later they're itching to get back out on the road. They're mostly crazy, tho, so you have to account for that.

After a year in a straight truck, many of those drivers are the same way. Crazy. They need to get back out on the road. Some got into it because there was nothing left, but few of those own their own truck.

As for me, I've been school girl giddy over big trucks since I was a kid. When I found out all the BS they have to put up with these days the giddy faded fast, but not the school girl in me. OK, that came out really wrong. Just wrong. Bad wrong. The draw that the road has, the sights and places you get to see, the freedom to pester people on Web forums at all hours of the day and night, the freedom to sleep when I want, the yearning to be pestered by incompetent dispatchers. I love the smell of beep! in the morning... smells like... victory. Oh, sorry, where was I? Oh, yeah. Despite having more education that I'm going to admit to here, I chose to come out here and do this, and it's not a decision I've regretted even for a minute.

amen and amen

 

[JarHeadJon]

By Turtle:
Tractor drivers are in it because they have to be, it's in their soul, they can't help it. They go home for a break and three days later they're itching to get back out on the road. They're mostly crazy, tho, so you have to account for that.

Hey Hardshell, Nice post...but us T/T drivers, you got it wrong. We aren't "mostly crazy", we are all totally insane. ;-)

And that itch is in the blood. Thanks for understanding we just can't help ourselves! Might have been the head injuries though, hmmmmmm.