Can I ride before I sign?

Bad idea. Trucking is just as screwed up as IT. Our jobs are being shipped off to mexico.

 

At least you're smart enough to know that you should "try it before you buy it". Finding a ride for a trip or two might prove difficult but it's not impossible.
A lot of people just jump in and then because they have so much money and time invested, are kind of stuck!

Not being an IT guy I wouldn't know that but I can tell you that none of our trucking jobs have gone to Mexico.
They have vaporized in the poor economy and many of the factories that we used to haul out of are now in Mexico but the loads still have to move from the border to the customer in the U.S. and most of it moves by truck, American trucks!

 

Almost everything you need to know is here on this site,start by reading these posts.Trucking is very hard work,and not for the softhearted {AKA Wimps}to many people come to trucking with cotton candy dreams,making the big bucks.Nope long hard Hrs.maybe 25000 to 30000 year First Year,The New 2010 rules,HOS rules,.The Trucking Schools love to fill your heads with lies.A Bro just take your time and go though,this site.

 

Plan on learning only if you want something to do. Not because you think there is money in it. There is but there isnt. Your better off getting a job with some no name small internet company or broadcasting company that needs a tech to keep up with their meager demands.

The real problem your going to find is the ride you want. They will expect you to do some of the driving. With out your CDL, your just baggage.

The trucking industry has a break in period of one year. Most companies out there like to abuse the drivers with less than one years of experience because they know they can and will get away with it. We are a dime a dozen. The better companies will require at least one years drive time to be a driver for them.

So if you plan to drive, be sure you can pay for everything before you do it. Because most companies out there pay maybe $50 a week and will tell you that you have done 20 things wrong so they dont need to pay you. There are a few that pay, just not enough.

 

Oh don't sell us so short...I'm worth at least 15 cents a dozen...better than one thin dime...I can account for two coins in the fountain!

 

Like said before, finding someone that will give you a ride will be tough, maybe ask around in the owner operator forum on here and see if anyone that does regional work around you area could take you out for a day or two? Maybe someone will be able to, maybe not.

 

I think itis a good idea to ride along and get an idea of it is a career you want t get into and before you make a large financial inestment.

That is what I did. Drivers do take along riders, their spouse, their children, or what ever. If you know someone in the business or know someone who knows someone in the business that is a good place to start. Otherwise, you can try a craigslist ad or talking to drivers at a truck stop.

I went out with a dedicated driver and we were out for two weeks. This was before I went to, or even enrolled in a truck driving school. So, I didn't do any driving although I did get to help with some things. To show my appreciation for the driver shaing his space and all with me, I did pay for many of the meals and road snacks. It seemed only fair.

However, there are many things to consider. You have to be a very considerate and easy to get along with person, you have to be able to not be intrusive and don't always ask a lot of questions all he time. Remember, this is just to test the water, and if you got to school you will get many of your questions answered. If the driver is used running solo it can be taxing and annoying to now have someone there 24/7, and one with a kazillion questions. You have to be ble to give them their space... even when you are sitting in the passagers seat a couple feet away.

Another thing you will also want to consider is if you can afford it... If you go out for two weeks... then that is two weeks with no income and with added expenses of being on the road.

Also, it can be difficult for two people to get along, even if they are both good people, and things can come upon the road.. So be certain that if need be you can rent a car or whatever to get yourself back home. Don't make it the drivers responsibility... sometimes that just can't and won't work... You may be ready to call it quits and head home, but the driver has been dispatched hundreds of miles in the opposite direction. So, be certain that if it isn't working you can get out at a truck stop call a cab or what ever to rent a car, catch a flight or a bus to get home.

 

NAFTA...
a few of these border crossing loads have gone to mexico. Not intra-national freight however. But its bad enough when freight is the way it is. And the program has not been shut down. They just stopped approving NEW carriers. The ones that were already here are still here.


As for IT, i'm an IT guy...so i know what OP is talkin about!