Actually, I chose long-haul for those exact reasons.

While I don't "hate" ppl I do dislike them greatly, and I cherish my time alone so my choices for a career are limited to long-haul trucker or forest ranger.

Thanks, J.

In my case I would say not really hate but more can only take people in small doses. You are more successfull if you can be a bit of a diplomat when you do have to deal with some of the more, umm, demanding customers. Once that is over and you leave it is wonderfull to be by yourself again in the truck. So I'd say the article you refer to is not so far off.

Becoming a trucker because you don't like people seems like a weird reason to take such a job. I would think that people get into trucking for other reasons. Although, I can see where people who need to spend time alone would like the idea of driving a truck by themselves for hours on end.

Well it's hardly a job for people haters as we still have to deal with some of them not too mention most of them are usually angry at drivers if we don't make the schedule for whatever reason so... take it from there.

You can be a good driver and still hate people. But to be a great truck driver, you really have to possess a special kind of love for others. After all, it takes a special love to deal with pinhead drivers who dart around their slower moving trucks right through blind spots, or cut them off at highway exits. And then resist the temptation to run those pinheads off the road. It's a special kind of love I just don't think I possess.

I love driving, I also love traveling. I'm proud of my truck driving job, because I believe I have contributed something very important to this society for almost 32 years. I'm part of bringing food & goods to their dinner tables so everyone in the family can enjoy their comfort in their home. I believe I help to make life at ease for our country. At times, I was angry on how the public's view has about us truckers. But I guess, this is a way of life we truckers have to live & accept. When I stop by at Tim Horton's and see someone going thru the door at same time with me, I hold it so that person can go in before me. And guess what? not a word of "Thank" when that person noticed that I'm a truck driver. They really have ways to hurting you eh?
Cal. Concord, Ontario

Dear Adam:

This was one of your best pieces you have written in many months. It started a great debate.

Mark Borkowski

If I were to "hate" anyone, it would be the people that make assumptions (usually incorrect) about professional long-haul drivers, the nature of their work, and the lifestyle that necessarily goes with it. Even though I enjoy my work and things I see and hear along the way, I have to say that the loneliness I feel during long layovers in particular is hard to bear at times. Its nothing for anyone to get flippant about.
I have to think, if we truckers really hated people, we'd just stop trucking. With the flow of consumer goods grinding to a halt, we'd see who gets the last laugh.

Before thinking of Trucking a Canadian would want to look at this....not sure what the per mile rate is in the USA but you can do the same math. Here it is:

You get 40 cents/mile.(For a TOP driver, roughly and if you get more it;s not much and if so.....I'd want proof)
So 100 miles is 40 bucks! And wide loads etc get more, yada yada.....the most of what is on highway is vans....ok!

This is 160 km which is 40 bucks also in Canada terms(metric)

Well....you can only do 100km/hour at fastest!!!(Trucks are governed in Canada)
80 km/ hr would therefore be 20 bucks/hour!
100km/hr would then be $25/hour maximum!!
Keep in mind traffic and construction and big cities.....you can't get 100 km in
an hour all day anywhere!!!!

Well.....what about sleeping in a truck, inspections, sitting at
the border, fueling, repairs, breakdowns and sitting at loading
docks.......you never get paid for this. Plus many many many more
items of CRAPPPP!!! And if you do get money it's something ridiculous
where babysitting wage is more.

The guys get say 3500 miles a week maximum.......at 60
miles/hour.......that's 60 into 3500......58 hours of driving!
This again doesn't account for traffic....in a perfect world.
You can only work 70 hours total.....so your maxed out with
inspections etc....in fact wayyyyyyyy over you just don’t
log it.(3500 miles is a top week....you'll only get this once in
a blue moon and spend countless wasted hours due to shipping
crap sitting at loading docks)

You make per week at that rate......3500 miles....times 40 cents
3500 x ,40 = $1400

Total.......1400/week for 80 hours or more! Your 15 past what
is also legal and you don’t log it. I mean you go to pick up a shipment
after your 10 hour rest and it's not ready and you wait 8 more
hours.....so now you've sat 18.....to start your logs. Wow.....what
a waste and you can't recoop this for anyone who understands
trucking....lost week!

Your really making 700/week at 40 hours! That's 17.5/hour!!!!

The wages in trucking haven't increased
in 25 years!!!! Somewhere around there as this is not great
for being alone all week.

It's like taxi driving.....your commissioned and the more you work
the more you take home....but never look at the hourly as your
wasting your life!

So on Monday or Sunday when you get in the truck the company
owns you and gets you home when they feel like it. What is ironic
is that the truckers are the most important person in the game
for getting shipments where they need to be. Well....I'd bet
everyone in the office is treating you badly, or has little if
no understanding of what your giving up for $17.50/hour.

Truckers should demand a better and more fair way of being treated!!!!
Everyone is making money off your backs!

hey we trailer truck drivers in the republic of trinidad an tobago in the caribbean work 12hrs for $300.00 ttd thats $50us 12hrs with overtime our take home is $1700.00ttd per week thats $267.80us per week ..an no truck drivers love people ,,we drive bcuz we love to driver///

Many Professional Drivers love their job. They may spend much time alone however few professions force an individual to deal with
so many new people on a regular basis. Every where a Professional Drivers go they deal with people and on the most part they are very
effective at doing this.
In Canada we have many good carriers who do treat their drivers well, recognize their challenges and don't rip their drivers off on pay.
What is sad is the fact we have Professional Drivers who have worked hard for a long time, but have not worked for one of our many
good carriers.

l have my ABM-Z. l am also interstrested in driving a rig or a truck. l have more driving award. my brother is driving in the STASTES. OHIO. LOVE TO DRIVE. DREAM COME TRUE. DRIVE A BUS. don't hate people.WESTERN STAR IS MY KIND OF A TRUCK.DRIVE WITH A COMPANY PLEASE . START A NEW CAREER. GOOD TO GO .DONE DEAL. THANKS.

Keep up the good work.Excellent topic.Maybe since your doing the paperwork on trucking,per say,You could let our fellow truckers know which carriers are worth working ,especially new drivers,for.In this profession,getting on the right track with a reputable company starting out would be a great stepping stone.

I love driving. I'm proud of my truck driving job, because I believe I have contributed something very important to this society for almost 15 years. I'm part of bringing food & goods to their dinner tables so everyone in the family can enjoy their comfort in their home. I believe I help to make life at ease for our country. At times, I was angry on how the public's view has about us truckers. But I guess, this is a way of life we truckers have to live & accept. When I stop by at Tim Horton's and see someone going thru the door at same time with me, I hold it so that person can go in before me. And guess what? not a word of "Thank" when that person noticed that I'm a truck driver. They really have ways to hurting you eh?
Cal. Concord, Ontario