I have read through most of the posts asking questions and the advice that has been offered. I have found a lot of it to be helpful. However, I have found one question not asked. I have recently decided the desk job doesn't cut it. I have spoken with my father who has been a trucker for many years. I asked him if now is the time to make such a career move. I asked him because I have been looking at companies that hire students and to be honest of the top 100 trucking companies in the country not very many are willing to hire students. So I pose this question to current student graduates and all experienced truckers that are now driving, is now the time to make such a career move into the trucking industry?
I have already found one company, Falcon, that a local training school advertises as a placement company that is no longer hiring students. I don't mind doing OTR/Regional to gain the experience to get local work but don't want to invest the resources if the opportunity is not there. Another question is about compensation based on mileage. Can it really $35,000 - $45,000 as the school as told is possible? Also is this how all the large outfits compensate drivers?
Advice and questions
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Chase, Apr 11, 2009.
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I don't think now is the time for anyone in a secure job to be making a move.
If jobless though, I would say get your foot in the door if you can. When the economy rebounds trucking will be one of the first industries to feel it. -
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With everything that was said so far, I'll add this, the trucking industry is killing itself by constantly underbidding each other to keep a truck moving. Finding miles is hard. That's why there are a lot of troubling posts on this forum lately. Once the economy picks up (and we are just beginning to see the first signs) then the miles will start becoming available and the companies can stop under-bidding as they have been.
Currently, shippping rates are at a 5-year low. A lot of companies are dropping their payrates to reflect that. What would be interesting is when the rates go back up, will the companies return their payrates to what they were before the cut?
Anyway, if you get through the door, expect the first 6 to 12 months to be rough. Hopefully, the economy will fully recover by then and the money can start accumulating in the bank accounts once more.
I'd stick to your desk job. Right now, you are better off. -
I really appreciate the feedback that everyone has provided. I thought the trucking industry was hit hard. I valued my father's advice but he was working for a company with less than a 100 trucks doing a dedicated run to Kentucky all week with percentage pay. I noticed the big companies don't do this with their drivers and wanted more opinions.
I will keep my options open and continue to watch to see if the industry does pickup. Again thanks for responding to my questions. I really appreciate the advice given and found it very helpful. -
I run dedicated runs out of KY and I'm still doing o.k. . Some segments of the industry haven't been hit as hard as others . But drivers like your Dad and I aren't about to give these jobs up so they just aren't available . A really decent job is just about impossible to find .
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