Vast and various reasons for all of it…. ok not really.
It all comes down to a simple human desire to better our own circumstances in the easiest and quickest way possible. OTR trucking can be difficult psychologically, physically, and emotionally. The reason many get into it though, is a perception of a fairly easy job making good money with benefits, and some adventure as a bonus. At least thats what a typical large to mega company recruiter is selling.
We all know that for the vast majority of those jobs, that’s just not how it works out. Some will leave the industry, many look for a better job, but eventually they all get sold another pitch, if you just had your own truck, everything would be so much better. Come over here, sign at all the Xs, and you’ll be on your way to big money and big freedom, it’ll be easy, cross our hearts.
So you have drivers who think trucking is not for them, drivers who continue to fall for recruiting pitches, and drivers that fall for the “drive your own” sales pitch. This is just referring to those that fall for the pitch, not the drivers and o/o that have their heads straight.
The typical promises…
1. “It will be easy.”
2. “You’ll make lots of money.”
3. “You’ll be a big shot.”
4. “You’ll get to do whatever you want.”
5. “It will be an adventure.”
If a new driver goes to a company for training, and the trainer isn’t required to be on duty the entire time a student driver is in training, big red flag. If the trainer doesn’t have a minimum of 5 yrs and 500k mi experience, big red flag. If a trainer is more concerned with miles than teaching, big red flag.
