Say What?

Question: How has the trucking industry changed since you first got into it?

Derek Kroninger, 31, Shepherdsville, KY
Professional driving experience: 11 years   
“I drove over-the-road for 10 years. I’m driving regional now. The pay was pretty good back when I started, much better than it is now. The bad economy has something to do with that. I got off the road because I wanted to spend more time with my family, but money was also an issue.”

Terry Dolly Sr., 49, Petersburg, WV 
Professional driving experience: 24 years  
“It’s changed for the worse, in my opinion. The reason is all these new rules and regulations. It’s just not fun anymore. There are too many regulations and too many companies cutting their rates, so you can’t make any money.”

Ken Haag, 56, Slippery Rock, PA
Professional driving experience: 39 years     
“I’ve seen a big change in drivers and a big change in customers. The drivers aren’t as professional as they used to be, and the customers act as if they don’t like seeing you coming. Maybe that’s just their employees, but they don’t seem too excited to see you. Maybe they just don’t want to work.”

Tony Palmer, 43, Silver Lake, IN  
Professional driving experience: 11 years   
“A lot has changed. Just look at the fuel prices. They’re all over the place, but mostly they just keep going up. About the only thing that hasn’t changed is the one thing you want to change, and that’s the freight rates. They seem to be right where they were when I started.”

Robert Michael Webb, 54, Midland, SC  
Professional driving experience: 38 years   
“A whole lot has changed, starting with the courtesy on the road. When I started driving in the 1970s, people in automobiles would extend common courtesy to truck drivers and truck drivers would do the same. Everyone seemed to be nice to each other. That’s no longer the case. However, if I see someone in need, I’ll stop and do whatever it takes to help my fellow man.”