http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tru...ort-aviary.htm
read thru here. that will help answer a lot of your questions
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again ty for the good advice....extremely frustrating wading through all the bs in general about trucking.

Advice in general? OK, here goes:
Obtain your CDL thru an independent school, rather than one run by a trucking company. It leaves you many more options as to where you can work and when. You are not an indentured servant to a company during a contract period.

No matter what a recruiter tells you, unless it's in writing, don't believe it.

If you choose to obtain your CDL thru a company school, be sure and read the contract in advance, understand it thoroughly. If you are not sure, pay a lawyer to read and explain it to you. Then if you move forward, live up to your agreement.

Make a list of items important to you in life that are affected by your career choice. Set them in order of priority. Then specifically compare those to each company you are considering.

If you are going OTR, home time is virtually the same for ALL of them. One day off for each week out and home at 5-6 week intervals.

Don't believe the promises of 'big bucks'! First year OTR drivers earn around the mid 30's. Some a bit more, some a bit less. More of that is made in the second six months.

After you have a short list of companies, go down to the local truck stop and start talking to the drivers for those companies. See what they tell you. You'll get far more honest answers that way than from a recruiter. Be sure and tell those drivers why you're asking.

Trucking is a brutal business, no matter what anyone tells you. Be prepared. But for many of us, we like it! (or hate it, depending on the day of the week)

If you have specific questions, just ask!

again sir you are very knowledgeable....my particular questions/reasons are as follows.
1 Am I insane for liking the smell of diesel smoke? j/k
2 I have been doing research through these blogs...love the idea of making a list.
3 I am scared to death of failure...even though i am a veteran of two tours of Iraq
4. the reason I am scared is that my future is riding on my completion of a course that seems too good to be true etc....
5. I have read much about Stevens. I realize that your first couple of years suck indeed....I used to drive a cab and own six of them...have been stabbed and shot at...not too fun..i am guessing that truckers have had similar stuff happen...only if you are looking for it.
I guess my point is that i am ready and going to talk to the rep within the next day or so.
I do as mentioned before appreciate your incite.

again there is a independent school here where I live in Springdale AR....its 1700.00 not a problem if you have that cash on hand... my reasoning for not doing that now is money and other issues...I had a few misdemeanors in Pa where i am from over 10 years ago and they without getting to in depth involved a minor. not jail time etc..also have been recently released for non payment of support in April..will this disqualify me for signing up for and with any trucking company?

i guess what it comes down to is this....I have done a lot of careers in 16 years that i have been able to work.....I am just tired of surviving....that's it. really....any good incite would be greatly appreciated.


trucks, I love 'em....great way to spot them beavers"
BO"Bandit"Darvel

Originally Posted by ArcticFox

again there is a independent school here where I live in Springdale AR....its 1700.00 not a problem if you have that cash on hand... my reasoning for not doing that now is money and other issues...I had a few misdemeanors in Pa where i am from over 10 years ago and they without getting to in depth involved a minor. not jail time etc..also have been recently released for non payment of support in April..will this disqualify me for signing up for and with any trucking company?

If you are on unemployement, check with your state. Many states will pay the full amount of your training at a private school.
Since you are a vet, check with the VA. It often pays for the training.
As far as the misdomeaners, be upfront with the recruiter. Have specifics, dates, etc for them.
As for child support? I'm not sure. Most states can hold a professional license hostage if you're deemd a deadbeat. If you're working it out, you are probably OK. Check with your local DMV for accurate answers.

yeah..I did catch up the child support...thank God..and since I hold a Pa license still it is valid....I check it quite often.....I read that you must get a tx cdl while at school....I know in PA for sure that you can lose your license..whatever the class for non support after three months.....hence this is why I want to drive...well one of many reasons....
again I have questions.....like radio shack...you have answers....lol