The Source for Trucking News, Opinions and Trucking Jobs | Boomers Driving

The byline says Newsweek, but it’s really just a recruiting ad.

The Freewheelers: Boomers have discovered the joys of truckdriving
By Jemimah Noonoo
Newsweek

And, despite the grueling hours and physical demands, it can be a win-win situation. Cruz, who spent 20 years working in windowless offices, has driven to nearly every state. He now spends his days singing along to Italian opera, with no one to complain when his notes are off-key.

Former IBM engineer Earl Gooch, 54, says the best part of his new job is that he can wear whatever he wants: “It’s easier to kick back in work boots and jeans.” Recruiters are also attracting couples like Jack and Eileen Murtaugh, who drive as a team and see truckdriving as an enjoyable bridge to retirement. “We can semi-retire in a semi truck,” says Jack, 52.

At least this one mentions the grueling hours and physical demands but doesn’t go into specifics. Grueling hours? I thought driving was regulated and you could only drive 11 hours behind the wheel? What most people don’t know and what rookies find out when it’s too late – driving is only part of the job.

Granted, this is my second career and I started driving when I was 40, but the first two years were grueling hours of loading and unloading or even waiting (until recently, you didn’t sleep if you were waiting, you might be standing on the dock or waiting for your number to be called). Loading and unloading and driving and being taken advantage of and coerced into driving more than I should have was not a good thing. Even when stuff is shipped late, they expect you to be at your appointment on time or else you sit for a couple of days because you rescheduled it. This is why the trucking industry’s average turnover rate is over 100%.

Independent, kind of…

Part of the problem is you might be in the cab by yourself, but you are never alone (usually) unless you need help. Thanks to technology, companies know when, where and how long you stop and how fast you drive. The worst part of any trip is the last mile. Getting from the interstate to the dock is the most frustrating part of trucking. Unless you have something dedicated you will spend a lot of time lost because of bad or unclear directions. GPS is becoming more common in trucks mainly at the drivers expense because – getting lost in a big truck = NOT FUN.

Recruiters should be the same people that work with the drivers day in and day out. I know one person in HR at a big company and she is supposed to still hire drivers even though a lot of their drivers are sitting around because freight has slowed down.