dispatched to chicago,

door to door directions... except my off ramp didn't exist... had a bull dozer parked where it used to be. 47th street.

raining, dark, scared to death... 6 a.m. traffic on the 94 off at 51st because 47th is gone... #### I shoulda bought the streets and trips program and a laptop...

flashers are gods gift... so I putted along, cell phone glued to my ear, getting street by street directions from a nice ex-trucker guy at dispatch.

the poor man's tom-tom...

"whatever you do don't go left, all the low clearance bridges are over there"

whoops I went left...

"ok..... uhmmm.... go down to state street and take a left... down to 47th... uhmmm take another left... see the bridge????"

yes

"it says 13' 5"... but you can make it..."

what????

"no... trust me, you can make it... but don't go to 35th... that one you will hit..."

made it to my drop on time, big thanx to whoever that guy was...lol

coming out was worse, traffic wise... but I knew where I was and could see then... so no problems...

made it almost to my next load and it was cancelled... got my alternate... but didn't have the hours for the run...

got a shorter run... about thirty minutes later and headed for it a nervous wreck...

drove 150 miles back and forth thru chicago that day, hit morning and afternoon rush hour traffic...

welcome to trucking????????

got layover pay $150 because load was 3 hours late loading and ran me out of hours... making me late for my next appointment.

The skinny:

I survived and consider my cherry popped...

dispatch apologized... they had a good plan... it just kept falling apart...

a good nights sleep in rockford il. de stressed me.... and the next day I new it had to get better... which it did.

not the best newbie experience... but in a way it was good because... I have totally lost my anxiety over not being able to drive in traffic or can I find the address...

any run after that is total gravy... and it has been : )

am guessing the blood pressure factor on the kennedy expressway at 170 over 140...

lesson learned... hit the flashers... don't get excited... go slow... and take your time...

you can drive a conventional with a 53 foot trailer just about anywhere, just be patient...

helps you enjoy and appreciate the open road driving that much more...

seenya...

Great post" This certainly will help a newbe if he reads this as what to do properly in this situation and he or she will know what to expect out there,which is the unexpected. Once again,get a trip planned before you get there and have an alternative to use,then everything should turn out safe and fine for you and your company. We need more of these true stories out there.

week II solo...

last weekend I seriously did go out and buy a lap-top, streets and trips and the GPS thingy. 689+59+49 ($797 total)

PAY ATTENTION HERE !!!

The lap top and maps is the cats meow... it can "help" you out by double checking addresses and just a real nice close-up view of where you are going... the gps is a close to flawless piece of technology... that you just really don't need.

The time it took to program in the route, make sure it was all truck routes, the danger of looking over to see the screen... ect... then... you hit construction and hear "off route" echoing in your ears... useless p.o.s.

rob, my trainer, was right. check out the map before you leave so you get the feel for where you are going. 2 ways of getting there... scribble down and memorize the primary route... (you've got generally 8 hours of drive time and nothing better to do than think about where you're going..)

I had the gps on all week and it only got me there once without a hitch.

by the end of the week I figured out a subtle difference in useage...

Don't try to use the thing to "TELL" you how to drive the truck. (when to turn ect)

Use it panned out so you can glance over for confirmation your taking a left 2 miles up the road...

I'm sure there is a counter point here... but in general you can't be starring at a screen and driving at the same time.

The quick glance at the gps should be to confirm what you already know... e.g. I'm turning left on Port street.

keep your eyes out the front windshield, where they belong, looking for signs.

I didn't have an issue, thank god, but I could see the potential...

5 days, 2648 miles, 1 flat, 1 trip to columbus, 2 to minnesota, and 2 to chicago... hauled 5 loads all togather

$768.00

not peanuts... and I'm a newbie...

same week after three months solo w/ my bonuses will net me $926.80.

time management and the freight being available was key here...

had 61 hours on line 3 and 4...

technically I am under load right now, drove that one home and am sitting on it til monday... or the pay would be even higher... as it is I'll have a short hop monday to bank an additional 150 for next week...

granted... I didn't do much dawdling around... and helped unload at one stop when it became apparent the "kid" was in no hurry...

the company pays 16 an hour detention time... but I make closer to twenty when the wheels are turning...

seen ya all... next week

Thanks for posting your experience for us to read. That is exactly what I like to read about... very informative.

When you say "net", you are refering to after al your pay is included. You still have to pay taxes right?

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In the wind...

Gross is the big pay. Net is after the fact (taxes, bennies, etc.)

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A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

hehe... i know what the standard meaning is, but from the way he structured his sentence ( "same week after three months solo w/ my bonuses will net me $926.80." ) it sounded like he was refering to "net" as with his included bonuses... not necessarily net after taxes. A NET of 768 would be a Gross of $950 ish... which is puching 50k for a new driver, which is pretty dang good... based on what I have read.

Plus a "NET" of $926.80 would mean a "GROSS" of around $1200... which for a year would be around $60,000. Which seems a little high for a new driver based on what I have read on this web site and some of the trucking companies. However, I am not implying that it is a false statement. I am trying to learn all I can from the OTR guys and it is very interesting hearing a newby's perspective on the career being green to the industry. An old hand has a lot of wisdom to share about all his experiences... which I really enjoy learning from... but a new hand is not tainted by years of the grind.

However, what im6under has stated about Transport America so far, makes it sound like a great company to work for. When I go to make my move I am looking at SNI, USX, or TA. Any of these would do well for my first six months OTR. What do you think?

While I am not new to driving trucks... I am completely green to the OTR lifestyle and career.

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In the wind...

netted as in cast a net... my bad cross usage in language.

how much they would with hold in taxes would be variable to each individual so I didn't mean after taxes.

but

I was also talking just mileage pay. didn't include stop pay or driver unload pay.

to me, its good money... that will be getting better.

and

granted I don't live in an urbanized area where rent is 1400 a month nor am I making payments on new 35k ford pick-up truck.

my total cost of living less groceries is 800 a month...

cheap or frugal??? I left home with a 100 dollars expense money 2 weeks ago and still haven't used it.

meaning I eat out of my cooler and avoid the truck-stops like the plague.
$1.29 cup of coffee after pumping $300 in fuel just ticks me off to no end.

rob ate out constantly... and my bill with him was 140 a week for eats...

burger king n.j. actually has a 10 dollar value meal... lmao it all adds up...

or out of pocket...

in guesstimate... my $79 coleman cooler paid for itself thursday morning the first week... and I haven't eaten out again yet...

so...??? I guess it goes to lifestyle and expectations...???

for me its real good money... to others it could be slave wages that aren't letting them make ends meet.

It is still good money either way you look at it.


That's the key to it. A lot of folks waste a lot of money on a lot of BS they don't need. (myself included)

Rich Dad Poor Dad... it's a good book and it sounds like you have a mind for it already... if you haven't read it check it out. The bottom line is what matters... not so much the income as the expenses. IMHO, you are doing real good.

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In the wind...

Hello, looking to go with transport america right out school does anyone have any information on them? Is this a good company to start out with I also was looking at TMC as well. Thanks for any information.