Potential Newbie here!

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Sparky753, Oct 25, 2014.

  1. Sparky753

    Sparky753 Bobtail Member

    8
    2
    Jul 29, 2007
    San Diego, CA
    0
    Hi everyone! First of all, I want to thank everyone here. There are a handful of trucker forums out there, but this one has been my favorite. I've been a long time lurker here, and have been pouring over this site for quite a while, and there is tons of great information here. I've been able to answer a significant amount of questions on my own, just from reading the different threads. So, again, I thank all of you!

    First, a little about myself. When I was a kid I had an uncle who was a truck driver (local, in an old purple Kenworth (old as in still had a white steering wheel!) doing mostly rock/dirt stuff in an end dump trailer. During the summers I would beg and plead my mom to let me go riding around with Uncle Ralph, and periodically she'd let me. I could never sleep the night before at Uncle Ralph's house because I knew what was coming in the morning! We'd be up before the sun and in the lot doing the pre-trip around 6:30am. So there starts my love affair with big tires, diesel engines, air brakes and the road!

    I joined the Navy after a few years of college (it wasn't working out), which was almost 20 years ago. I've put my time in and am just about ready to retire and move on to my next career. Back in the late '90's I went through one of the Truck Driving Schools in Florida and got my Class A, which only furthered my infatuation with big trucks. I had more fun in that school than doing just about anything else I can think of (some things excluded from the list, obviously!) The Navy moved me around quite a bit, and after many years of doing nothing with that license, I let it lapse and got a regular old Class C from California when I moved back here (it's where I'm from.) So, I'll be starting over - no problem for me.

    So, after 20 years of military service, several overseas deployments and a whole bunch of cumulative time out at sea (too many YEARS to count), it's coming to an end. I want to take my retirement pay and my benefits on the road. As a side note, I'm single, never got married (saw WAY too many divorces in my time) and have no kids running around I need to support (that I know of, anyway - and besides, I never gave those girls overseas my real name or phone number!) I also know a thing or two about being away from home, though I fully admit our experiences there are always going to be different.

    I know there's going to be a flood of people telling me to do other things with my life, and that's fine. I know starting pay is bad, and I know what it's like to work somewhere where you have to "put your time in" to be fully accepted and compensated. I would eventually (like everyone else, just about) love to have some dedicated or regional gig that maximizes home time, but I'm more than willing (looking forward to, actually) putting in my time OTR and gaining that valuable experience.

    My real question is, California is not a hot bed of big trucking company terminals (that I can see), and the ones that have "home" locations are all in central or southern California. I'm from the Bay Area (up near Oakland) and my whole family is up there, so that's where I'm planning on moving. Would I be able to live in the Bay Area and have my home terminal be in, say Fontana, CA? Do other people do things like that? How does that work?

    Thanks in advance for the replies!

    Shawn
     
    Chinatown Thanks this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. macmanboomer

    macmanboomer Light Load Member

    72
    56
    Oct 19, 2014
    TN
    0
    For OTR, home terminal usually doesn't matter much. Check your area craigslist for companies that are hiring & check out your options. Also, go to a truck stop & pick up some of the industry magazines (usually outside the building by the fuel desk, not in the front 4 wheeler parking lot). They will be able to work with you even if there's not a local terminal.

    Most companies will find a place close to you to park when you're home or let you take truck home, so no need to actually live near the terminal. I'm about 3 hours from my main terminal but since Penske maintains our trucks they've worked out a deal to let me park at my local Penske shop when I'm home.
     
    Sparky753, hal380 and ZephyrSoCal Thank this.
  4. Sparky753

    Sparky753 Bobtail Member

    8
    2
    Jul 29, 2007
    San Diego, CA
    0
    Thanks a lot Macman, I appreciate the reply. I'll do that!
     
  5. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    67,867
    141,724
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    Don't you just love Hong Kong? That was my favorite port; Olongapo being the second favorite.

    You don't have to live near a terminal; just be within the hiring area for the trucking company. Many very good companies hire from the bay area. System Transport is one of them. Attend a good 160 hr. CDL school and then several companies will hire you.
     
    hal380 and Sparky753 Thank this.
  6. Sparky753

    Sparky753 Bobtail Member

    8
    2
    Jul 29, 2007
    San Diego, CA
    0
    Thanks Chinatown! I appreciate the advice. I've got Hong Kong coming up (we hope), but so far Olangapo has been my favorite! Was just there last year!
     
  7. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    67,867
    141,724
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    "Sparky", are you an electrician? You'll love Hong Kong, maybe you've been there before. Don't be concerned about the protests going on there. That's a bunch of spoiled high school and college students that have no clue what they are protesting about. They're from the one child policy rule and are known as "Little Emperors" since the parents cater to their every wish and have very little control over them.
     
  8. Sparky753

    Sparky753 Bobtail Member

    8
    2
    Jul 29, 2007
    San Diego, CA
    0
    Yep, I'm an Electrician. I'm not too worried, there were a bunch of protests in Japan when I was there last year. They mostly stay to themselves and march alongside the police escort they have, haha. But thanks for the info!
     
  9. HotH2o

    HotH2o Road Train Member

    4,094
    4,863
    Sep 23, 2012
    Bunyan Springs, Colorado
    0
    Quality carriers has a terminal in Richmond.
     
  10. Sparky753

    Sparky753 Bobtail Member

    8
    2
    Jul 29, 2007
    San Diego, CA
    0
    Thanks, I'll bookmark their site too!
     
  11. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    67,867
    141,724
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    Here's one of the best jobs around these days for new CDL graduates. Their website has 1 yr. experience required, but this company does hire new CDL graduates. Submit job applications the first day of CDL school.

    Trimac Transportation - Hayward, CA [TABLE]
    [TR]
    [TD="class: snip"]$80,000 a year CLASS A CDL COMPANY TANKER TRUCK DRIVER. Single Driver Operation.
    [/TD]
    [/TR]
    [/TABLE]

    DRIVE FOR OUR ELITE FLEET


    • Loaded Pay: $.55 per Mile
    • Empty Pay: $.40 per Mile
    • $16.25 Per Hour Detention Pay
    • Single Driver Operation
    • 4 Product Lines: Chemical, Dry Bulk, Industrial Gas, Oilfield
    • New Equipment; Avg Tractor Age is 3 Yr
    • Flat Rate Orientation Pay To Keep You Whole
    • Up to 6% Quarterly Safety Incentive
    • Full Benefits W/ Discount for Health & Wellness Program Participation
    • 401K Plan w/ Company Match
    • Paid Vacation & Direct Deposit
    • Product Line Cross Training = Never Have a Slow Season
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.