Hey Wannabes! This ain't no candy store!!!!

Yea I get to sleep at my own apt every night and make more then all my Friends being that I'm only 20, but I work 10-16hrs a day 5 days a week second shift. 1:30pm until all the orders are picked and the trucks are all loaded in a 30-115 degree warehouse, no thanks lol

I know I'm gonna take a pay cut a least for the first year but I'm not looking to go into trucking for the money.

I like everything about trucking, I love the trucks, the weird schedule, the driving, traveling, the alone time, how trucking is a "lifestyle" as people like to say, getting to live the truckers life 24/7 is exciting to me, not having a 23 yr old boss with a on line bachelors degree yelling and screaming in my ear all day. And I'm at the top of the pay scale where I work, in trucking theres potential to make ALLOT more then $45,000/yr.

Oh one more thing about my current job, after we slave all day picking the orders and loading the trucks, then next day our Penske Logistics Drivers come back an B***h and moan about how stuff was loaded wrong or fell over because they can't drive, lol

I have really thought about this over the last 5 years or so and even more now that I'm giving up a good paying job. And I really think trucking is a better suit for me. I hope I'm making the right decision!

I posted that thread the other day about whether or not you experienced drivers would do it all over again and most of you said you would and you still love trucking, where I work the FEW 2 or 3 people that have been there 10-36 yrs hate the place and are only still there because they have no where to go.

Thanks for looking out for me Rollover I appreciate it!

And if in a year from now I'm kicking myself for getting into trucking, feel free to say "I told you so" lol

sorry for the long post.

American Trucker

 

Since were all coming to jesus, Ive had my CDL for almost 7 years, just renewed last year, Have 3 years Regional Dry Van, and 2 years local (4 states) Flatbed. 3 speeding tickets (All in '07),
1 Misdemeanor (Public Intox that I was not smart enough to fight, no breathalizer, blood test or Sobriety check, All I had was an open container)
1 Accident that was not my fault (Was hit from behind and pushed into another vehicle) Not cited

I have a + 5 Driving record (the best you can have in VA.), (thats 5 good points) because every year you go without violations you gain points.

But the tickets are still listed and so is the accident. Virginia Law states that any accident that has a police report filed stays on your MVR for 41 months. Most companies ask if you have had any tickets in the last 3 years, Well next year I can truthfully answer No, but the older ones will still be on the MVR. Dont know how thats viewed.

Anyway, Whattya think My chances are at gettin a job?

Oh, I have never been fired from any job, Never a log violation, never failed a roadside inspection, never an overweight ticket. but I did quit my last driving job, (that I loved) due to family issues. But I really would like to get back to driving, even though Ive got a decent job.

However, Im not activily persuing, just reading, and researching.

 

There's alot of different reasons for someone to start a driving career and some are good and some are just stupid. Whatever your reason your work ethics have a huge play in the outcome of your career. It's a very hard job to walk the line but if done the right way the payoffs are great.

The reason I started a career driving was to reach my top goal and be comfortable when I stop driving. I've done that. I didn't live to work, I worked to live. I don't worry about medical insurance or where my next pay check is coming from. You need to plan ahead and do the best you can do so you can move up when the opportunities come your way. And just like Oldnew.. has stated the bare minimum items you've got seek the best for you.

Even credit reports are being pulled by companies and examined for character status. Can you pay your bills on time. Are you so debt heavy that if an opportunity showed up would you steel? Believe me they look at this kind of stuff.

If you go into this business with as much research you possible could have that FITS you and you try to do better the next day than the day before then I believe you'll have good work ethics. When it's time to sit back and retire you should have a plan in place to take care of yourself and anyone else that depends on you. Sure it takes a special kind of person to drive a truck but it's still a job and you're there to make a living and if you don't protect yourself by doing the job right then you're a fool and shouldn't even look at this business from the start.

 

Well oldnewbiewannbe seems like you got your eyes wide open...But if I may add just one thing it would be get to know FMCR 395. For those not familiar thats the logging regulations. 'Cause not all "safety" instructors understand it. You would not believe the horror stories I've been told by new drivers..Every story started with "The way I was taught was" so take the time as new drivers to learn as much as you can.

 

Thats great advice for anyone starting out! Its also a realistic way of looking at things

 

Not sure the number of OOS violations, but seems D.O.T. watching HOS real close these days, I have always logged LEGAL, Way I see it a driver has 70 hrs per week. If a driver needs to work past that then they need to reevaluate their driving practice. Let's face it this is the only industry that overtime is against the law (LOL) I've heard over and over, "can't make a good living logging legal" I beg to differ, although some weeks are tougher than others, I work hard for the money and handing some over to a court for a log violation just does'nt sit well with me. Not to mention what I stand to loose taking care of it. Once while doing a sleepler split got stopped by DOT, officer looked at my logs and pointed out I had not taken a full 10 hour break, I told him I was doing a split. He said (get this) I know what it is, but don't understand how it works. So we had a mini class and now he knows, He thanked me and sent me on my way. It made me chuckle, but at the same time I helped him get a better view of drivers. Well I've made this long enough. Just treat yourself and others with respect and you will go far. Please don't listen to 90% of the BS you hear over the CB.

 

If HOS confuses you, download the trial program of Daily Drivers Log (DDL). For the 1st 30 days it's free. It helped me figure it out plainly. Once I tossed it on a laptop, I never had another logbook problem.