Stevens Transport - Dallas, Tx.

There isn't a trucking company out here that will answer your in depth questions. They'll only tell you about the average pay/miles, benefits, freight hauled, equipment used, time in training/cost of training and approximate home time. This is a whole different animal than what you are used to InkHogNeato. Its a profession where many times you just have to get behind the wheel and do it. Most of the training companies are basically the same. I would choose one thats close to home. Good luck to you and be safe.

 

I have no problem with just getting behind the wheel and doing it. What I do have a problem with is not getting answers to very important questions, and as far as I'm concerned there is absolutely zero excuse for this behavior. Going so far as labeling this "universally accepted" behavior as "industry standard" is a cop out. That's called Enabling, and if it's true that no trucking company will ever answer in-depth questions then it's because people like you have enabled the behavior. I'm an adult with a brain that I'm not afraid to use, and when I ask a question I expect an answer, especially when I'm asking someone who is actively recruiting me.

 

I'm telling you like it is. Apparently you don't like it. I've got 25 years out here and there's nothing definite in this industry! Its the nature of the beast and its been that way long before I even started. You better go back into sales.

 

Picture a cage where five monkeys have just been locked in. There's a banana hanging by string from the ceiling, and a set of stairs leading to the banana. Before long the monkeys will go to the stairs and start to climb toward the banana, and as soon as the first monkey touches the stairs, the other monkeys are sprayed with cold water. After a while another monkey makes an attempt with the same result; all the others are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, when another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to prevent it. Now, put away the cold water, remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and goes to climb the stairs. To his surprise and horror, all of the other monkeys attack him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted. Next, remove another of the original five monkeys and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked, and the previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm! Likewise, replace a third original monkey with a new one, then a fourth, then the fifth. Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs, he is attacked. Most of the monkeys that are beating him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs or why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey. After replacing all the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water, nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs to try for the banana.

Why not?

Because as far as they know, it's always been that way...

 

Your never gonna make it. Stay home.

 

So amusing.

 

10-4... He wont like being with all of us "universally accepted" guys anyway.

If I wasnt satisfied with answers or the lack of and I wanted to drive a truck for a living I sure as hell would be moving on to the next training company. But Im sure that he will run out of training companies to talk to soon.

Sounds like to me that he only wants to be a driver because its easy money and he can get a job. Doesnt sound like he has the desire to drive 600 miles a day and sleep in a nasty truckstop.

Might outta stick with your current career field.

 

IHN...(first of all, clever moniker!)...While I absolutely agree with you in theory here, I can also add that you will not get all the in-depth answers you are looking for from recruiters. You're going to have to sample the drivers, read, read, and re-read whatever you can, and make your decision based upon the information you glean from those sources. Recruiters don't have an inkling of what really goes on out here. They can't give you a realistic take on what you can expect. They're paid to get butts in the seats at orientation, and that's pretty much it. The only difference from recruiter to recruiter is how much they're going to stretch the truth and/or tell you what you want to hear. I should add here that a few of the questions that went unanswered very easily should have been answered (such as expenses for additional equipment).

I personally don't think any of your questions were out of line or otherwise outlandish. But this is not a white-collar, middle management position you're applying for. There are going to be variables that recruiters can not, and frankly do not want to pin down for you. I"m not saying it's right, just the way it is. The more in-depth queries are best answered by drivers. It might take some extra digging and be a bit more time-consuming, but I think you'll find it to be worth it.

Good luck to you.

 

Ignore the naysayers. 48Packard spells it out pretty clearly, the only thing I would add is that no matter what company you start with to just stay focused, complete the training, pay off the loan, keep your nose clean and you can move on to a better company that suits you in regards to location, pay, home time, benefits, etc...

 

Thank you, 48Packard and Blackadder47, for the intelligent responses. My wife's sister and her husband are team o/o and they absolutely love the work. As for me, I'm a guy who is slowly running out of options, and must take care of his family. I live in a small town called Minimum Wage in Oregon, so I'm finding myself having to think outside the box. I love driving, and I love traveling, so when I saw the ad for OTR training, I figured I'd look into it...and here I am.