Dilemma (chauffeuring vs truck driving)

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Sephiroth, Apr 24, 2014.

  1. Sephiroth

    Sephiroth Bobtail Member

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    Aug 23, 2013
    Rancho Cucamonga, CA
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    Hello there all. You might remember me. I posted a thread about white glove furniture delivery a while back. Company went through some bad stuff, most people got laid off and I decided to try my hand at being a chauffeur.

    Now. I thought being a chauffeur would pay well. However it is barely 900 every two weeks. Always on call, hardly a day or night I am assured to myself and I am starting to miss the days I would be gone a week or two and come back with certain nights and days off. I am weighing the perks of being a chauffeur to the perks of truck driving. Truck driving paid me well over what I am making now (sometimes as much as 1500 every two weeks) chauffeuring has its benefits in that sometimes you get good tips. I absolutely never have to drive my car to work (company limo or sedan sits at home with me). I never liked the feeling of leaving my car in the lot for long amounts of time. (if there are companies willing to pick you up at home by all means refer me to them)

    Long story short. I am thinking about looking for trucking work again. I now have 7 months of experience under my belt. I am confident in my ability to drive (Though I still can't back up a rig for ####) I would like either a regional company or a company that doesn't require you to be out more than two weeks at a time. And that would consider picking its drivers up at home. Am I being way too demanding for a guy that has only 7 months of experience and that can't actually back up a rig?

    Any advice would be much appreciated. I am based out of Rancho Cucamonga, which is extremely close to Fontana (lots of companies there)
     
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  3. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
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    No trucking company will pick you up at home. Buy a cheap used motor scooter or bicycle to leave at the terminal since you live close to Fontana/Pomona.
    KKW Trucking in Pomona will probably hire you.
     
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2014
  4. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    Nov 1, 2010
    Burnsville, MN
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    Yup.

    To expect personal shuttle service from any company is asking way too much.
    But maybe you think that they should have a chauffeur on call just for you?

    And you can't say that you know how to drive a truck if you can't back it.
    The most important driving skill in trucking, is backing. Without it, you don't ever get loaded or unloaded.
     
  5. freightwipper

    freightwipper Road Train Member

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    Mar 24, 2014
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    Especially when you go to the "docks" in LA or Detroit or some in the Northeast.
    Again in LA today I was told by the customer to do a blind side back starting on the street in front of the building with oncoming traffic.
    Now that was fun!

    :biggrin_25510:
     
  6. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    Nov 1, 2010
    Burnsville, MN
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    Well, you didn't tell a tale of an accident while backing, or that you couldn't do it.

    THAT's driving!
     
  7. freightwipper

    freightwipper Road Train Member

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    Yeah even in CDL school more time was spent backing than actual driving.

    Tell u what.. these crazy butt docks and winter ice/slush driving nobody trains for and those are the most difficult.
     
    Moosetek13 Thanks this.
  8. KF7WTV

    KF7WTV Medium Load Member

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    Aug 8, 2012
    RENO, NV
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    I agree. Use a bike or scooter. Roehl has a small yard in Fontana with a pass-card security gate. They train non-CDL students, so your 7 months won't be an issue. And when you go thru 9 day orientation, the instructors are awesome about teaching how to back. I attended in Gary where they had us back thru a half mile circular course. You figure out what you're doing wrong in a hurry! Or kill lots of innocent cones in the process.
     
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