Really? Why!? - Part II

At this point, Mike isn’t a truck driver. He’s still working for a city in Southern California in a middle-management position that deals closely with the public and the media. His salary is above average, the medical benefits are better than most jobs, the retirement plan is generous, and he likes and respects his co-workers. So why is he considering becoming a truck driver?

The better question is why is Mike ready to leave local government. From a practical standpoint, the political climate in the city he works for is unstable. It’s likely that this November’s City Council election will result in a council majority that wants to fire the current City Manager - which often brings with it a shakeup in the entire management staff. Mike’s been through that situation enough times in his 26-year career to know it’s not something he wants to go through again.

And he’s not terribly anxious to go to work for another city (and he'll become eligible for retirement benefits on his 50th birthday this August). It's not the work that he objects to but rather the public's changing attitude about it. More and more people have developed an entitlement view of government. They believe government - at all levels - has an obligation to give them exactly what they want; not because it's right or just or fair but simply because they're "entitled" to it. (This same attitude is becoming more frequent in many areas but that's a topic for another post!) And if they don't get it it's because the elected officials and/or city staff are corrupt, inept, lazy or all three. Same thing if government does something they disagree with.

It's especially frustrating at the local level because it's so easy for folks to walk right into City Hall or a council meeting and tell you how bad you are. And they do. State and federal officials are immune to attacks at such a personal level because people just don't have that kind of access to the state capital, Congress, or the White House.

Mike believes in the First Amendment and the public's right to address their government as much as the next guy. And of course there have always been people more than willing to exercise those rights. But nowadays there's more of them, their attacks have become more frequent, vicious, and personal, and they've developed political clout. The candidates they put on the ballot and the ballot issues they support are winning more frequently. Not only has that created a discouraging work environment for local government employees, in Mike's opinion it has resulted in bad public policy decisions that will negatively affect the quality of life in many communities. It's a frustrating situation that he'd rather not be a part of any longer - at least not as an employee.

So why trucking instead of some other profession? Well, there's a lot about it that's attractive to both Mike and Lori. Taking long driving trips has always been something they like to do, even before they met. Few other jobs let you experience first hand the vast and varied beauty of this country. They also like the independence that comes with being the "captain of their own ship" out on the road. That's even more true as a lease operator with Prime since they'll be able to control when they run, where they run, and how much money they can make.

We think this gives you a good idea of why we've decided to go down this road. We hope you decide to be a part of our journey by visiting the blog often and sharing any comments you might have.