A trucker recounts how inconsistent training, disrespectful driver behavior, and arbitrary workplace decisions - including experiences with the Teamsters - undermined trust. He notes industry changes like the 2017 ELD mandate and argues that technology helps, but leadership and fair processes remain essential. Ultimately he left for online writing to regain control.

Frustration on the Road

I spent years driving long haul. My anger comes less from the miles and more from what I saw as poor organizational ethics in the industry: managers and dispatchers who treated drivers like interchangeable parts, trainers who skipped basic paperwork training, and a handful of drivers who behaved like road bullies.

I don't claim to have a statistical study - this is what I saw day after day. New drivers often arrive without consistent instruction in logbooks, paperwork or communications systems. When trainers don't take those basics seriously, safety and courtesy suffer.

What I Was Taught - and What Was Missing

When I started, I was lucky to have a trainer who cared. He stressed logbook accuracy, paperwork, and how to use the in-cab satellite communications system we had then. He also taught me road courtesy: a quick headlight flash to signal another truck it's clear to move right, or flashing marker lights to say thanks when being passed. Those small signals matter.

Too many drivers, though, act differently. Tailgating to intimidate, aggressive lane blocking, and disrespect toward women drivers all give the industry a bad name. Courtesy and organizational ethics should go hand in hand. Professionals set the tone; poor behavior normalizes risk.

Union Experience and Disillusionment

I left driving for a while and joined the Teamsters, hoping the union would offer better organizational ethics. I went to meetings and signed on. At a Dallas trade show gig I watched someone who had cleared nearly $800 in back dues get passed over for assignments in favor of less-senior or non-union workers. That felt like a breakdown in fairness.

Later, I worked driving duties for another show. I fell ill after a late-night move and, without a phone, missed calling in. The next day I explained what happened - and I was fired. Whether due to a poor attendance history for my predecessor or rigid enforcement, that outcome convinced me the systems meant to protect workers could be arbitrary.

What Changed - And What I Did

Since those years, the industry has modernized. Electronic logging devices (ELDs) became mandatory for most U.S. commercial drivers in 2017, changing how hours and logs are recorded. Telematics, smartphones, and better communication tools have reduced some information gaps, but organizational culture still matters.

I turned to online writing to regain control of my work life. Working solo meant I was accountable to one person first: myself. If you can't trust your own organization, build the systems you can trust.

Takeaways

  • Training on paperwork, communications, and courtesy matters as much as truck handling.
  • Technology (ELDs, telematics) helps, but it doesn't replace leadership and fair processes.
  • When organizational ethics fail, individuals often seek autonomy or different communities where fairness is enforced.

FAQs about Organizational Ethics

What is meant by organizational ethics in trucking?
Organizational ethics here refers to fair, consistent practices by employers, dispatchers, trainers, and unions - covering assignments, attendance policies, training, and how workers are treated.
Do modern technologies fix these ethical problems?
Technology such as electronic logging devices (ELDs) and telematics improves transparency and recordkeeping, but it does not replace leadership, fair enforcement, or respectful workplace culture.
What are common examples of trucker courtesy?
Simple signals like momentarily flashing headlights to indicate it's safe to move back into a lane, or flashing marker lights to thank another driver, are traditional courtesies that promote safety.
How did union membership affect the author’s experience?
The author joined the Teamsters hoping for stronger ethics but encountered what he described as unfair assignment practices in a trade show division and rigid attendance enforcement that led to his firing.
Why did the author move to online writing?
After repeated experiences of perceived unfairness and arbitrary enforcement, the author chose online writing to work independently and rely on his own accountability.