I hear that! More respect to you for the OTR work. I used to feel so much more confident than I do now around the rigs. Used to, the best damn drivers on the road were y'all. Seems to be changing, IMO.
Your totally right there. I quit about 6 years ago, cuz it screwed up my knee, ankle, and back. But my trainer had been trucking for 40 years. Back then, all the new guys got at least a few weeks or a month of seat time with a vet that knew and could teach all kinds of tips and tricks, safety etc.
They mostly all retired during the last cpl years, now the new guys get a few weeks of training with somebody thats only been behind the wheel for a couple months at best.
But the industry is desperate for drivers. I'll admit I'm tempted to go back, could probably start at 90+ thou a year, but my knee is so messed up, some days i can hardly walk.
Several hours a day in rush hour traffic for years with a heavy truck clutch is really bad for your knee it turns out. 🤷♀️