October 10, 2017
It’s easy to have preconceived notions about truckers, because a lot of us were brought up watching “Smokey and the Bandit” movies, and even recall C.W. McCall’s song “Convoy,” which was also a movie by the same title. That image a lot of us have from the 70s and 80s was of a tough as nails outlaw truck driver, who was to be feared, drank beer and did drugs, wore a cowboy hat or baseball cap, spoke in a secret coded language on a citizen band (CB) radio, cussed all the time, and broke as many laws as they could get away with.
Some of those stereotypes may have been true back in the day, but anymore those driving commercial trucks must pass random drug and alcohol tests, get a Commercial Driver’s License by passing state and federal mandated written exams by passing with a score of 80 percent or better, and a driving skills tests. Actually, it’s not uncommon for truck drivers to have a college education and make incomes above the average U.S. household, because the work they do is very skilled and in-demand. The must also be U.S. citizens. So, let’s look at some of the modern myths that surround these hard-working Americans.
Five Myths Dispelled About Truck Drivers
5 Myths About Modern Day Truck Drivers | Denver Truck Accident Attorney
Myth 1: Truck drivers are not as relevant or as important as other working-class Americans.
Truth: Actually, if it wasn’t for commercial truck drivers, our society would come to a screeching halt. They deliver food to our grocery stores, clothing to retailers, and vital equipment and electronics that keep our country sustained and modernized. Christmas as we know it would cease to exist, hospitals would run out of vital medical supplies in 24 hours, and our nation’s water supply would be exhausted in four weeks without truck drivers, according to CDL Life News.1
Myth 2: Truck drivers are scary people. Our society, through old movies, has unfairly painted truck drivers as being everything from rowdy fighters to rapists to murderers.
Truth: While you could probably find recorded history of some truck drivers being murderers, it’s probably just as statistically likely as tracing back in your own family’s lineage and finding a murderer. The truth is truck drivers are a vital part of our society, and some even help save the lives of other motorists, who end up injured in motor vehicle accidents.
Myth 3: Truckers are slovenly and unclean people.
Truth: While the same can be said of nearly any kind of worker, most truckers pride themselves on their work ethic. They keep their cabs clean, and always know where their gear is, and whether it is working properly. Plus, truckers have some of the nicest and roomiest showers at truck stops across the country, like the Petro gas stations in Kansas.
Myth 4: Truck drivers are reckless drivers.
Truth: On the contrary, truck drivers are held to an even higher standard than regular motorists, since their driving test, written test, and random drug testing would suggest otherwise. Many of them are even trained in CPR, so they can be first responders when they come across bad motor vehicle collisions. According to CDL Life News, truck drivers are three times less likely to cause or get into a motor vehicle accident as regular motorists.
Myth 5: Trucker drivers are poor.
Truth: In 2015, the median average salary for a commercial truck driver was $73,000, which is above the national average for Americans (which is approximately $52,000), according to CNN Money.
Contact a Denver Truck Accident Attorney at Warshauer McLaughlin Law Group
If you or a loved one have been the victim of a truck-related accident, you are entitled to fair compensation for your injuries, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses. If you have suffered an injury, an experienced Denver Truck Accident Attorney at Warshauer McLaughlin Law Group will aggressively fight for your rights.
To speak with the Denver truck accident attorney and get an idea about our services, as well as how we can best serve you, call us today at (720) 606-6887 or email us using the contact form on this page.
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1“Top 5 Myths about Truck Drivers” published in CDL Life, March 2015.
