years and years ago I was dropping off a load somewhere in Detroit. This was way before GPS and when we used maps! Ended up driving through what i thought was a shorter way but it was real sketchy. Got stopped by a cop who told me not to stop for anything else until I got to the warehouse. Told me to roll through redlights, california stop at stop signs.. he even said if anyone got in my way to just keep on goin and let them jump out the way. Was really freaking me out honestly. I got to the warehouse just fine with no problems but man that was real scary for a cop to tell me not to stop.

All I can say is I applaud all you Truck Driver's. If people only knew how difficult that job really is we would think twice before ever saying an unkind word about those men and women who truly deliver!

It takes real talent to maneuver that type of equipment. Especially with all the other types of vehicles and level of drivers out there on the roads and highways. Non truck drivers don't even have to receive the type of driving education you all must go through just to prepare for what could happen or should I say to keep danger from happening.

For instance, if another vehicle of some equalness to ours causes an accident is one thing ... but if a truck is involved... the damage and fatality could add up to being insurmountable. We won't even talk about the vigorous schedules truck driver's have to keep, unbelievable the demands put on these people.

However, what I've heard over the years I have found extremely disturbing, and that is how much pressure these men and women receive to get their loads delivered in a certain timeframe. Seemingly, this is often in total disregard for their general health or in many cases their need of rest and/or sleep. These are people not machines, and in hindsight their well being equals our well being on the roads. If they say they are tired than believe what they say and get off their backs. I would rather a store get goods late if it saves a life.

I would rather eight hours behind, then possibly eight life's lost!!! What about you?

BRAVO!! For where would we all be without being able to receive products and goods, even right down to our food or the gas in our homes to give us heat; if it weren't for the Glorious Truck Drivers. I believe the average salary for that job should be a million dollars a year, and three million for those gas truck drivers. The care those people must practice on a daily ongoing bases....Super WOW... AMAZING people that choose that occupation!

So I just finished getting loaded and I looked at my GPS routing before pulling out and it was showing the shortest route to a near by state route. I didn’t blindly follow the gps but rather pulled up the road on Google and scrolled through the street view to make sure that there wasn’t any signs showing that it was restricted or weight restrictions. No sings showing so I proceeded down the road. I came to an intersection one block from the state route. After pulling through the state route a guy in a white pickup truck pulled me over and told me that I was on a restricted road to which I replied there was no signs posted. He said “I know, we stopped putting them up because they kept getting taken down, but I can give you a website to go to and it will tell you all the roads you can’t be on.” He then took my information and wrote me a very hefty ticket.

Okay, so we went to court and because it was a civil issue, we still had to pay a fine but the judge reduced it by 60% which gave me a little breathing room but it was still steep if you add in the attorney cost.

Last week I was doing a haul and the dispatcher told me I had to make it by 6 that night. It was my own STUPID fault but I drove faster than I ever do. I just really wanted to shut him the hell up and make it there. Well it rained hard earlier that day and I hit a big puddle. The truck skid and I flipped it onto its side. I called it in right away and then yesterday my boss told me I am fired. I couldn’t believe it!!!!! Anyone else ever get into an accident? I can't be the only one! Not sure what to do now.

My truck broke down last week and the supervisor shows up and tells me it’s MY fault because I did not do a good enough pre-trip. What happened was my other idiot supervisor strapped down a tire onto the catwalk and the strap broke, wrapped around my driveline and then tore up all my airlines. I told her it wasn’t me that did that. She then FLIPS out on me gets in my face and says that she doesn't need my attitude WHAT?!!!. The whole time I tried to get her to calm down but she wouldn’t. Guess I made her look bad. I told my boss about it and basically he said that I might be fired because I screamed at her and refused to listen. I did NOT scream. What the hell am I going to do now? Can he actually fire me over something that was not my fault??! Help!!!!

Last week after passing the scale I was pulled over for a DOT inspection. Figured it was routine when the officer asked if could see the inside of my truck. I got nothing to hide so I said sure. I was not carrying anything I shouldn't, but all of a sudden he starts rifling through my stuff and finds a large plastic cooking knife that was next to a spatula and some seasonings under my seat. I have a microwave in the back and sometimes I cook stuff in it. I am not a criminal but this guy said I was lucky he didn’t arrest me right there. For what? Carrying a large plastic knife??! He also told me he could put me out of service. My wife and kids need me and we NEED this money so I was polite and listened to everything he said, but it sucked. I wish I had told him NO when he asked if he could look around. Would that have been worse you think? Did I do the right thing?

First day of class was this past Saturday. We got thrown in the fire without any knowledge of how to back. The instructor showed us once and that was it. Then he expects us all to do it perfectly. I hit like 10 cones and felt like an ass, but a buddy of mine actually backed the truck straight into a ditch. Why they even had the truck anywhere near a ditch I have no clue. The instructor turned red and I really thought he was going to kill somebody. I feel like the videos I watch on Youtube been more helpful than what this guy has taught us. Is this what usually happens?? What should I do?

Hi. I'm Ginny. I have my cdl but have had nothing but problems getting started. I went to school at a mega company, got my cdl but didn't get the road hrs..still being charged 6k. Disaster from the start. I actually got to drive 10k miles with small company in SC..which I wasn't covered by their insurance so there were things I couldn't do. So basically I need a trainer for road time. Ive spoken to several companies and been turned down. Is it possible to obtain without starting over in another school?

I was doing a long haul a couple days ago and had my dog Purdy with me. I love my little girl!! Not even 10 miles out DOT pulls me over. They tell me she can’t have her head out the window and that he is going to write me a ticket!!! I start to freak out, but as he is about to write the ticket Purdy starts to cry and puts her paw up in the air and kind of waves at him like she is saying hi over and over. He asks me if I taught her that. I said I didn’t. He smiles and tells me I can go with a warning. Unbelievable!