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Clash of the generations
July 1, 2010
| by: Carolyn Magner and Misty Bell
An open discussion between seasoned veterans and emerging drivers dispels some age stereotypes
Word on the street is that old-school truckers view the younger generation as mechanically inept, technology-addicted, bad-attitude slackers who consider trucking nothing more than guiding a vehicle to a paycheck. The young truckers see the old-timers as smug, condescending, out of touch with technology and unwilling to lift a finger to help them out in a bind.
Rick Hodge trained truckers ages 23-73 for Oregon Truck Co. and says he found many of the stereotypes are true, though there are always exceptions. “For the most part, older drivers appear to be more insecure about the peripherals of trucking, such as paperwork and the changes in the industry coming down due to CSA 2010,” Hodge says. “Younger drivers seem to be more cocky with an ‘I know it all’ attitude but have a harder time driving. I have also noticed that neither group wants to adjust to the new ways that are coming due to CSA 2010.”
Do generational stereotypes apply to all drivers? We chose seven truckers, based solely on their ages, to participate in a roundtable conference call about the differences across the decades. The youngest driver, Jayme Snow, 24, was far from the stereotypical bad-attitude young driver, and John Bryant, 56 (who was interviewed separately because he was unable to attend the conference call), was definitely not the burned-out, techno-stupid old-timer. The 30-somethings, Chad, Trucker Steve and Chris, could see both sides of the debate. Kathy and Lacey* brought their experienced/female perspective to the table. You can draw your own conclusions from the conversation that’s re-capped (and edited for length) here. Ages are noted in parentheses at first reference.
*Name has been changed at request of driver due to a domestic situation.
Generational stereotypes
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[...] Click the links below to listen to the discussion between two Truckers News staff members and several truck drivers about generations of truckers and stereotypes. To see the full article that ran in the July issue of Truckers News, click here. [...]
I’m a newer driver (5yrs) with an old school driver attitude. I think one big change is that in the days of past, trucking jobs were filled by independent minded drivers. Those who loved the road and not having a bunch of people looking over their shoulder. It was a way of life that they enjoyed.
Today’s drivers think of this as only a job. Get from point A to point B, pick up the check and go home. That’s two very diverse mind sets out here.
Another big change is our society as a whole. I don’t think it is all old drivers picking on new drivers. We lost respecting others in the 60′s and 70′s. Then we lost common courtesy in the 80 and 90′s. Today it seems we are losing human decency. It’s not necessarily young drivers, but society as a whole. We see it on T.V., movies, music, radio. It’s all around us.
It’s just a new generation and the young drivers are part of it.
But before this gets out of control, I would like to say that I have had many older drivers help me out. Even some new ones. And I hope that I have been able to do the same. If we all can’t do that, then we have lost human decency.
I have been an otr driver since 1987 and the same topics were raised then as now. The way i look at this disscusion is who cares. you either got what it takes or you don’t.most drivers that are leased to companys do not know what being a O/O is anyway. so let them do what they do and they will be gone after a time. and if they hang around for atleast 5 yrs more power to them they got the bug!
With 10 years experience I have seen the “old generation” behave as poorly as the “new generation”. The general decline in morals and personal hygiene is appalling. We, as a group, want to be taken as professionals yet act like unskilled laborers.
Only once while broke down did I have any driver offer assistance, by that I mean stopping. That was while on I-8 in AZ. He was in his early 40′s. Countless old timers and newbies rode by with out a thought.
Many old timers and newbies no longer work on a truck due to companies not allowing us to. I had a company threaten to fire me for replacing a belt that had broke and turning in the receipt for the new belt. Why take up space in the truck with a tool box when the companies don’t want you turning a wrench. Having turned wrenches on these trucks I find that a little absurd, yet seeing some of these steering wheel holders in these company trucks, I can’t blame them.
In today’s trucking environment, many that appear to be old school are really on that in age. They only have a couple years driving, having been laid off from another career. Where as many that appear young have been driving 10 – 15 years. What is funny is the old guys that are rookies talk smack like true old timers with 30+ years. You just can’t tell anymore who has true experience with all the companies that train drivers of all ages with no experience.
This was an interesting article.
I am in my 41st year behind the wheel of a semi and as best as I can remember I was a rookie at some time in my career. We all had to start somewhere. What is important is what do you do with all that experience? I try to help other drivers out as much as I can and if the other driver does not want my help, I say, “Have a nice day” and I get on down the highway. The only thing that can be done with help is to offer it. The other person has to accept it. I have been helped by quite a few drivers over the years and I would just like to pass it on.
the thing find more from the new
drivers is the trailer
arent ready for the next driver to pickup
there not clean on inside or full of fuel
missing lights
when i started driving in 1993
its about doing your job and if you had a
drop hook the trailer was ready for its next
load
and the new drivers think its all about them
not the company or next driver
and there out wright lazie
i work two jobs one full time
and part truck driver about 50.000 mile a year
the things you see now there is big shortage
parking and no truck parking signs
every where the places you to park
dont aloud it any more
they say cause all the new just leave there
trash everywhere and you see it at all
truck stops \
there not friendly any more if you see
truck broken down on highway you would ask
if they help and move the next lane
now they just care and with all the new
changes going on with csa 2010 and hours
getting ready to change again its not getting
better for the poor driver
after reading what was to be a round table discussion i most say it seemed to be more of a whining seassion.
I have be a Professional Truck Driver for 35 years and I have been on vacation for 35 years any one who thinks this is a job is in the wrong business You get to go places and see things most people only dream about, At the same time I was a Professional and I like to see Professionalism come back to trucking Industry, It doesn’t hurt to ask someone on the side of the road if they need help even though we have cell phones and quelcom. Stop fighting about who has the fastest truck Children!!!
The days of “the knights of the road “are gone
forever,I started driving right after Deregulation went into efect,and the mega outfits started up,and the industry started filling tractors with anyone they could fin(including me )before then drivers came from family operations,ie your dady drove,your granddad drove,your uncle ect ect ect,and you learnd to drive with them siting in the jump seat,
and slaping the crap outa you when you messed .
Nowadays its three weeks in some school
and “you’r a driver ?” …..NOT…..
after 21 years i still have things to learn,and gone are the people who i could ask
ther is a big diference between driving a truck
and being a “truck driver”its up to the experenced hands to lead,and stop wishing for the “old days”and to quote Springsteen:these jobs are goning boys,and they aint comming back”
After 39 years of listening to trucking companies give rookies the snow job,I wish I had done something else.No one care anymore, it’s just about me.
I am 28 years old and have been OTR for 5 years. I am a second generation trucker. I have seen drivers of all ages with unprofessional attitudes, but it is the older drivers that I have learned the most from. When I started 5 years ago I wasn’t afraid to raise my hand and ask an older, more experienced driver for advice. Through this I found that there are still a lot of the more experienced drivers that are willing to help and give advice and I have learned tons of great stuff. The younger generation needs to be able to raise their hand and ask the important questions and the older generation needs to be willing to teach. After all, who better to teach them? We are all sitting here say trucking isn’t the way it used to be but nobody seems to be doing anything about it. I have only been OTR for 5 years and have already had opportunity to help new drivers on many occasions using the skills that I’ve learned. Just a message to the older drivers out there, if you take the time to teach a new driver something you’d be amazed at the willingness to learn.
As a 46 yr old former driver(health issues created the former) it never ceases to amaze me the things that people coming into this industry think. Age being beside the point, so many cannot read maps it is scary. And the younger generation…say under 35…have not lived in the same world most of us grew up in. They confuse confidence with cocky, and self respect with “I can do it all by myself”. That lies somewhat on all our doorsteps. It is a differen world but history teaches us we must learn and understand it or the worst mistakes will be repeated.
I have driven for over 35 years, anyone who thinks this is a job is in the wrong business.
I was on vacation for 35 years I have been to the Statue of liberty so many times I could give you the tour. If there was something I won,t see I would find a way to see it, If you sit around truck stops while you’re waiting for a load you missed a great opportunity to be adventuris. Professional Truck Drivers get to see things and go places most people only dream about. I also trained for 20 years and I made sure my Students became Professionals and adventuris. The problem with the new generation of drivers they don’t know how to be Adventuris and Professional they were not taught that way, all they know is to haul freight. I would like to know where did Professionalism go? I miss that too!!! I retired in October of 2009 and I miss it terribly but now enough to go back driving again. Thank you America for the opportunity to see this great land and make a living at the same time. There are alot of good drivers out there, old and new.
Driving today is the want to have better and if as a driver you want to come home on a regular basis like every weekend this is all possible. When I started and I lived in El Paso Texas at the time if you wanted off on a weekend you probably had to quit for a week or so. Trucking is different today than what it use to be. I like the new generation and sure they might not know what I have learned but you know the younger driver knows a lot more from looking it up on some sort of electronic divise that we didn’t have and what is all out there today for me to use I do not know. Keep it between the lines and hold your head up and don’t make a place for the robotic trucks that are coming to increase corporate greed.