Possible New Driver

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by SUOrange, Jun 11, 2010.

  1. SUOrange

    SUOrange Bobtail Member

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    Jun 11, 2010
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    I've always had an interest in driving, and recently I've been doing a lot of research and considering trying to start my life off as a truck driver.

    Between the fact that I won't even be 21 until September, and only having had my Class D license for 2 years, I'm a little worried that it will be tough to find someone that will want to hire me, and if they do want to, the insurance issues there may be. I'd like to start racking up experience as soon as possible or I might have to put it off for years to commit to something else, either school or work. For what it's worth, I'd be willing to relocate almost anywhere, so long as I can afford some sort of housing.

    I do eventually want a family and a house and that kind of social life, but for now and at least the next 5 years I don't mind being on the road for weeks at a time. As such most of my questions don't have to do with the work itself, but what an otr driver does in his free time while on the road, if that even exists. Should I expect to be able to get some sort of satellite card for my laptop and have time for internet games/tv?

    I am heading to a local trucking school (Professional Driver Institute in Rochester) tomorrow morning, so I should be able to get most of my questions answered, but I'm the kind of person that likes getting opinions from multiple sources.

    I suppose in my dream world I'd like to start my training so that I can get my CDL license as soon after my birthday as possible, and have a job setup for when I do, and start/training right away. Too much to hope for that?

    Sorry for the long jumbled post, but any input is appreciated.
     
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  3. GasHauler

    GasHauler Master FMCSA Interpreter

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    I say go to school and become a teacher. They make more money than people know. Most states they can start at $50,000 a year and if you figure the hours they put in the hourly wage goes over $60 an hour. Everything is already done for them and all they need to do is follow the course. Then take three months off in the summer. The corporate world would never stand for the pay and benefits with the work they produce.
     
  4. kickin chicken

    kickin chicken Road Train Member

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    Hello and Welcome to the Site:)

    If you are unemployed, then you could qualify for free funding for training, through the WIA program. CDL training is just one part the available training opportunities that this program offers.

    Contact your local Employment Security Commission (ESC), One Stop's, Career Source, Workforce Centers....for more information.

    Keep us posted

    Best of Luck!!!!
     
  5. statikuz

    statikuz Medium Load Member

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    Jun 22, 2009
    Reno Nevada
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    $60/hr.?!

    Assuming we're talking a typical K-12 teacher that works a bare minimum of 180 days per year, for a bare minumum of 8 hours per day, it only comes out to $35/hr. A more realistic 10 hours per day gets them only $28/hr. There are some teachers that put in a lot more time and effort than others, so those ones (the good ones) are grossly UNDERPAID for the work they produce.
     
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  6. GasHauler

    GasHauler Master FMCSA Interpreter

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    In Las Vegas they were lucky if they were there 6 hours. I know because my wife worked for the school district. The grossly UNDERPAID are 1 in a 1000. Any way you look at it they have it much easier than if they were in the corporate world. Plus the results they produce are substandard. Of course I'm talking about the whole in general. I agree there are some very good teachers out there but still their work is easy. My niece started at $50,000 a few years ago and worked at one of the toughest school in the country back in Newark NJ and now she's pulling down some serious money that would never fly out in business.
     
  7. tommyd23

    tommyd23 Bobtail Member

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    Jun 11, 2010
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    Thank you for this information
     
  8. Strada

    Strada Bobtail Member

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    Feb 27, 2010
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    The Average Teacher in the Seattle Area makes $72000/yr plus benefits. They graduate about 50% of their students. They work 177 days a year and have sick time, vacation and holiday pay in that time period.

    In the private sector, any employee who only was batting 500 would be fired. It must be nice to work in a union government shop where results mean nothing.
     
  9. almostthere

    almostthere Light Load Member

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    This is confusing, LOL. The kid asks questions about truck driving and it turns into a discussion about teachers. Does not compute Scotty.
     
  10. Buffalo Chip

    Buffalo Chip Light Load Member

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    Apr 9, 2007
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    I don't know where you live but if you are attending PDI in Rochester, NY they are real good people there and run a good CDL school. At 21 it may be tough to get a CLD A job right out of the gate, but at least you will have the license and may be able to find some local straight truck work and at the very least gain some valuable driving experience.

    I've wanted to be a trucker since I was a kid and at 45 years of age I finally decided that it was time to dust off that dream and make it a reality. This is a lifestyle, not just a job. You have to keep that in mind as you plan what you want the future to hold for you. There are long periods of time away from home and that alone makes this industry difficult for many people. i.e. not much a social life.

    I am now driving with a driver trainer and as far as down time goes he has a tv in the sleeper and that is something I will definitely get for my own truck. I spend a lot of my down time on the computer or reading books, newspapers and magazines. There have been times we've been laid over and been able to walk around the local area and check places out.
    Hope this helps answer some of your questions, remember I am a student myself. A student who is not obsessed with teaching as a career.:biggrin_2559:

    Good luck!
     
    Last edited: Jun 13, 2010
  11. GasHauler

    GasHauler Master FMCSA Interpreter

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    It's not confusing. If you have a choice to go to school there's jobs out there that pay alot better than trucking and teaching is just one of them. That was the point.
     
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