Getting started no experience questions - Page 2 - Truckers' Trucking Forum | Message Board

charged · **^ Top** #11 07.17.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biker

Perhaps you should consider a different line of work? While confidence is needed in order to survive in this biz, cockiness is a sure fire way of getting hurt or worse. This is one line of work where a mistake can have extremely dire results. In just 3 posts, I'm not sure I'd want to share the road with you.

Feel free to quit your job then.

Biker · **^ Top** #12 07.17.2008

No need. You'll kill yourself or someone else first... I just hope it isn't me that ends up dead....

notarps4me · **^ Top** #13 07.17.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by charged

So only novice drivers have accidents or kill people? Are there any examples at all of a novice driver not having an accident? Are there any examples of experienced drivers killing people?

The load weighs 40.000 lbs. It is stacked sheet steel. Not a coil, but can cut the cab in half. How are you going to secure? How many chains or will you use straps? How will you attach the chains or straps? What will keep it from coming forward if it has chains or straps on it? Is the load more apt to come forward, the side or off the back? These are just simple questions. Flatbedding gets a lot more complicated. You have to figure out how to secure each load. You won't haul coils, but what is shotgun? What is suicide? What is a smoke tarp? When do you need a smoketarp?
How far apart do you put the chains or straps? Can you criss cross chains? What keeps pallets from coming forward? These have been easy questions. Let me know when you want me to ask you some challenging questions....

notarps4me · **^ Top** #14 07.17.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by charged

I know someone who does this and it just doesn't seem hard. How hard is it to strap a load?

Nothing seems hard till someone dies and you get charged with not properly securing your load.

notarps4me · **^ Top** #15 07.17.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by charged

I'm not going to sign on with anyone, it isn't an option.

Stay away from flats and tankers. You have a slight better chance of not killing yourself or someone else with a box with no training, but even then you are not concerned with the welfare of others. Having money and being able to buy a truck does not mean you should be out here. We all are out here to make money, but the day I don't think about the welfare of others is the day I won't turn the key. That is one reason why I prefer to load suicide. It is my job to make sure the load stays where I put it, but if I were to lose it I rather it come thru the cab and kill me than an innocent person or kid passing me on the side.

charged · **^ Top** #16 07.17.2008

I have endorsements for tankers and hazmat, but since I do know someone who does flatbed that is why I'd rather do that. Any questions I have I can ask him.

The main problem I have is he is only getting around $2 per mile from what I can figure. He gets his loads from brokers and online. Before I start into this I'd like to see what is really available as far as money. Do most just call up manufacturers to get better paying jobs?

notarps4me · **^ Top** #17 07.17.2008

The question isn't the endorsements. The problem we have been trying to explain is no expierience. Flatbedding is dangerous to the trained driver. Someone who has a CDL and has no exp needs load securement training. Not a friend to call to ask how to secure the load. I have friends who have medical degree's, but I am not about to take out my liver and call and ask how if I get in a bind...

notarps4me · **^ Top** #18 07.17.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by charged

This is my first post here so take it easy on me. I have read quite a few threads though.

I recently got my cdl class A. I took the skills test in a friends truck. I really have no experience driving though.

I'd never sign on to a company to drive because I couldn't live on $.25 per mile for six months to a year and would not want to be stuck driving with a loser trainer anyway.

I have excellent credit, and driving record.

I have previously owned my own business for several years so can take care of most paperwork.

I should be able to get a nice truck and flatbed for around $50K.

My biggest concern is being able to get loads at a rate where I can make some decent money. Since no one seems to share info on good brokers how does one go about finding good ones? Trial and error?

Your biggest concern should be being safe and not killing someone. That loser of a trainer that you refuse to do knows how to load and secure. All of us started from scratch and several of us have went thru it a few times because we came off the road and had no recent exp. Notice we had exp, but not recent? Why should you just be able to jump out here and know nothing about load securement?

charged · **^ Top** #19 07.17.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by notarps4me

Your biggest concern should be being safe and not killing someone. That loser of a trainer that you refuse to do knows how to load and secure. All of us started from scratch and several of us have went thru it a few times because we came off the road and had no recent exp. Notice we had exp, but not recent? Why should you just be able to jump out here and know nothing about load securement?

If the government thinks it is safe for me to drive a truck, the insurance company thinks it is safe for me to drive a truck and the shipper lets me take their load then why not?

It isn't my fault you had to start from scratch.

When did I say I know nothing about securing a load? I know a little, and that is a start.

Biker · **^ Top** #20 07.17.2008

A smart driver knows their limits and WANTS to learn. A soon to be dead driver thinks they already know enough to make it with no training.

A smart driver also listens to experienced drivers and rethinks their plan if it's dangerous.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Trucker Forum	Replies	Last Post
Landstar - Answers to Questions	SixBrix	Landstar	12	10.24.2008 04.52 PM
Really stupid wannabe maybe questions	newdrivermaybe	Questions From New Drivers	15	05.10.2008 02.54 AM
This was one of the worst companies when I started	Tip	Swift	72	05.02.2008 03.55 AM
more questions from a newbie.	alpo520	Questions From New Drivers	4	08.06.2007 12.38 AM
Trying To Become a Broker, got some questions.	MichBroker	Ask An Owner Operator	6	08.01.2007 02.03 AM

Truckers' Trucking Forum/Message Board - The Premiere Truck Driver Forum
Sponsored Links

The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to notarps4me For This Useful Post:
Cybergal (07.17.2008), mstabosz (08.14.2008), walleye (07.17.2008)

The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to notarps4me For This Useful Post:
bullhaulerswife (07.17.2008), Cybergal (07.17.2008), walleye (07.17.2008)

The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to notarps4me For This Useful Post:
bullhaulerswife (07.17.2008), Cybergal (07.17.2008), MilkMan (09.10.2008), W5IT (07.17.2008), walleye (07.17.2008)

The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to notarps4me For This Useful Post:
Biker (07.17.2008), bullhaulerswife (07.17.2008), Cybergal (07.17.2008), walleye (07.17.2008)

The Following User Says Thank You to notarps4me For This Useful Post:
walleye (07.17.2008)

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Biker For This Useful Post:
notarps4me (07.17.2008), walleye (07.17.2008)

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)