What do you think of this idea

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Thronapple, Sep 6, 2007.

  1. Thronapple

    Thronapple Bobtail Member

    41
    2
    Aug 19, 2007
    Lake, MI
    0
    I've had my cdl A for about 10 years, and owned my own tractors and driven them around, to truck shows and such. I have only about 2 weeks of training with T/T.

    I have about 3-4 months of expediting in a cargo van and liked it. The reason I didn't stay with it is too many vans for too little freight.

    I've spent the last 2 weeks with a friend who owns a local carrier and he has had me doing the things I need to do to learn driving with a trailer as far as right and left turns, the clutch and acceleration and points to shift, where the govener is and such. And of course backing.

    Backing is my down fall. He said that he would put me on the road today if I could back up better. I need practice. All of this "training and practice has been free gratis on his part, which I'm very greatfull for.

    I found out that a local company that shuttels trailers around to different GM plants is looking for drivers. This consistes in drop and hook all day long.

    Would this be good to get my training for backing? It seems like it to me so I'm going to check into it.

    I guess my question is if I try this and learn to back in a month or two will it hurt my record to quit after that time to go over the road?

    Thanks for your comments.:biggrin_2557:
     
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  3. notarps4me

    notarps4me Road Train Member

    10,311
    5,253
    Jan 1, 2007
    NASA HQ
    0
    You have very limited exp, so you won't have a lot of choices. Any peddle job you will get a lot of backing. Time is what you need. You need to buy some somewhere. People bail on jobs. It is not uncommon, but you don't want to make a habit of switching. It is best to do a year somewhere if you can stick it out. Will give you better options.
     
  4. 25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    18,676
    43,100
    Sep 18, 2006
    the road less travelled
    0
    Shag work has started many driving careers, but it isn't the same as OTR. You do learn backing and hopefully don't do much damage, I say that because these trailers we see banged up everywhere we go aren't all getting it out on the road. I have watched the shag drivers work where I'm at now, and when I had a long layover near a shipper or receiver, I would watch them work . The new driver I'm helping to bring on has shagged for a couple of years, he has good backing skills, but he has backed into someone that shouldn't have been where he was.
     
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