Most Important Questions From New Drivers Threads

[RickG]

Originally Posted by panhandlepat

come on bamasboy! no need for that #### man.
yea, rickg is a little pessimistic, but no reason to throw around the threats and all. he is a good guy, just pretty damn blunt in his answers.

Looks like Bamasboy got shown the door . His other sarcasm didn't bother me but there are limits . I'll tell you . We know what the deal is out there . I hate to see people that are already bad off go thousands of dollars more in the hole and gain nothing . I may be blunt but I have all the statistics to back up what I say .

[2Lilboots]

Originally Posted by DBL_TIME

I agree with some having it tough, I also say that just because someone can't find the job they want or even qualified for dose not mean there are no jobs available. My point is when we're on are CELL phone complaining about how bad things are that they may just not be bad as we think. When is the last time you drove by an empty walmart parking lot or tried to find parking at the mall on the weekend or didn't have to wait in line on friday night to get into outback? That's all I'm saying......I mean seriously a housing crisis when over 92% of mortgage holders pay theirs ontime? It is not as bad as we are led to believe. I know we all have tried to be trained that we are all victims and have no control over are own well being but I just can't buy that.

Restaurant parking lots are empty around here on Fri, Sats, and Sunday nights. The only reason the walmart has so many cars parked there is because the mall lot is empty as well as the major named grocery stores. The paper has very few jobs posted. The internet job site for this area used to post 2000 jobs now is down to 200. You must be in a very lucky area that hasn't been hit by what is going on in this country.

[Tran Man]

Keep up the good work RickG !! For a man to keep taking his very valuable time, to warn Newbies about "The empending doom", of the trucking industry TODAY.... "Is very helpful"

You had a direct inpact, on saving me alot of waisted time ,and effort. For that I'm grateful.....

[RickG]

Originally Posted by Tran Man

Keep up the good work RickG !! For a man to keep taking his very valuable time, to warn Newbies about "The empending doom", of the trucking industry TODAY.... "Is very helpful"

You had a direct inpact, on saving me alot of waisted time ,and effort. For that I'm grateful.....

People just have to stop and look at how many other people have the same idea they have . The jobs aren't there . A local article in a paper here listed training programs for careers where there are jobs -welding , pharmacists , hair stylists , and plenty in health care . You don't have to be a nurse . Companies need drivers to deliver health care equipment like those electric wheelchairs you see on tv . Job opportunities and Department of Labor statistics should be researched before pursuing a career .
Hey , be a coroner with 40 hours training . Steady work there . [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link.

[Tran Man]

I completely agree, I have three offers, for different trades as I write this. My problem is deciding? what to do?
I thought I was going to be a R&R guy...cleaning debry, and chemical spraying.... I changed my mind AGAIN..... I'm more than likely going to join a flooring co. .... What will it be next week?... I have know idea, but, I will say; "What bad economy, and God blessed me with many talents"
I'm still glad I went to CDL school !.... You never know, what will happen "down the road"?

[Electra-glide]

Yeah, but if you don't have recent driving exp, and I mean recent driving exp like in the past 30 days or six months your cdl does not mean a thing. They don't need drivers like they did. Grant it some drivers needed to be thinned out but there are good drivers who can't work. It will get better.

[MrMustard]

Originally Posted by VanNelle

Well, thanks for calling me and another couple thousend people who trying to pay their bills and feet their kids, foolish and irresponsible, WAY TO GO !!

I think he's telling it the way it is.


The last 3 months have been a huge reality check for me. Before that, I was making 45 cents a mile, 2100-2500 miles a week got me $700-900 take home pay. Right after the New Year holiday, my miles dropped to 1200 or so a week. 2 weeks ago, they cut me down to 32 cents a mile, telling me it would all even out because I'd now be running 2800-3200 miles a week. A 3000 mile week got me a lousy $580 paycheck. That's it. I'm back to making the same pay I did when I started this career back in 1998. My house is pretty much going to be gone soon. I've applied at other companies and none of them sound promising. I told the wife she needs to divorce me and get on welfare, SSI or something, because that's the only way I see out of this mess we're all in. My wife is a diabetic, and I have no confidence whatsoever that my company will keep paying my health insurance if this trend continues. I don't see how I can keep up with an $850 mortgage payment and feed 4 kids with $400-500 paychecks.

It would be irresponsible if anyone told you that trucking is the answer to your problems. It simply isn't. Not right now. And probably not for some time to come. If my company made all these changes, they obviously aren't expecting things to get better any time soon. If you are single, have no home or family, and are willing to work for a few hundred bucks a week and live in a fiberglass box, then by all means, go get your CDL. Don't hold your breath finding a job though. I wish I could sound more hopeful. Trucking has been good to me and I love it more than anything. But the last 10-12 weeks have really got me wondering if it isn't time to go home and find a minimum wage job somewhere.

I got ten years of experience. No Points on my DL. No accidents for the last 5 years. And they have me beaten down. I couldn't imagine how they'd treat a rookie this day and age.

[RickG]

Originally Posted by Electra-glide

Yeah, but if you don't have recent driving exp, and I mean recent driving exp like in the past 30 days or six months your cdl does not mean a thing. They don't need drivers like they did. Grant it some drivers needed to be thinned out but there are good drivers who can't work. It will get better.

That isn't true everywhere , just with carriers that see a way to make more money with refresher courses . Construction companies and other companies that use trucks in their business wont require a refresher course . Bridge painting , paving , and other construction companies when the weather warms up . They aren't as strict in their hiring standards .

[MrMustard]

Originally Posted by DBL_TIME

I agree with some having it tough, I also say that just because someone can't find the job they want or even qualified for dose not mean there are no jobs available. My point is when we're on are CELL phone complaining about how bad things are that they may just not be bad as we think. When is the last time you drove by an empty walmart parking lot or tried to find parking at the mall on the weekend or didn't have to wait in line on friday night to get into outback? That's all I'm saying......I mean seriously a housing crisis when over 92% of mortgage holders pay theirs ontime? It is not as bad as we are led to believe. I know we all have tried to be trained that we are all victims and have no control over are own well being but I just can't buy that.

I have never missed a payment on my house. I didn't buy no McMansion like some of my friends did. I bought a small 3 bedroom, finished the basement to make it a 4th bedroom. I spent a lousy $96,000, and unlike others, I put 20% down. My house is toast. There's no way in hell I can keep it the way things are.

The problem is those 8-10% of the people we are probably going to be bailing out. When you stiff the banks, they stop loaning. It's too risky. That's why we aren't moving. No one is building any new homes or buildings, no one is buying cars, motorcycles, mobile homes, televisions, refrigerators, etc, because they can't get financing. Those 10% who didn't play by the rules, or bought what they couldn't afford, are dragging us down with them, because we have a government that feels obligated to step in and "do something."

[Tran Man]

Originally Posted by Electra-glide

Yeah, but if you don't have recent driving exp, and I mean recent driving exp like in the past 30 days or six months your cdl does not mean a thing. They don't need drivers like they did. Grant it some drivers needed to be thinned out but there are good drivers who can't work. It will get better.

I appreciate your concern; But, I made an agreement with my school.... Free Refresher Cource...For LIFE.
Hazmat;.. around $200.00, every two years..."Something, like that?.

Driving said; No to me(economy), and I said; No way in hell,.. anyway...good luck suckers !