Looking For Directions/Road Map From 0 To Owner Op

I know I'm trying to enlighten a solid Midwesterner but I can just say things run different out this way.

Prevailing wage is for state and federal projects. Think road construction and stuff like that. It's why the big construction companies always have new shinny rigs.

I know it's a thing by region,

Non-union corporate warehouse lift truck drivers (think Penske logistics) are pulling $25 to $30 an hour out here. Of course cost of living is significantly higher than out your way.

 

I was stationed in Cali for a few years so I know cost of living is definitely higher in the west coast. I would move there immediately if I was able to find a job paying over $30 an hour. I have 6 months of class A experience and a clean driving record for 5+ years. I’m not saying there is no jobs paying what you’re saying they pay. What I’m saying is good luck getting one. Especially as a new guy.

 

Honestly, if that’s the offer on the table though I would apply. I’m not sure how other food service companies do their hiring process, but when I started you go to the interview then go to the warehouse. There are 6 pallets, 3 full and 3 empty. The first pallet was I believe paper goods like napkins and cups. You build the empty pallet next to it identical to the one you are downloading. The 2nd was small boxes of peanut butter cups. (Individual cups that come like 30 a pack) probably around 300 cases or so. Download that one on the empty. The last one was a pallet of 50lb bags of rice. Download that one. You had a time limit, can’t remember what it was but it was a workout. If you do all 3 pallets you got hired. When you start, you aren’t a route driver. You were a helper for a few weeks to condition your body. Then you went with a trainer for like 3-6 weeks and ran different routes. (All the routes where people call off) then you do a release route where the trainer sits and doesn’t do a darn thing but grades you on how well you empty your truck. You pass that, you get assigned a route. Dude, take this job if the numbers are reflecting what you say. It’s even worth relocating for sure. I’m hoping you get it and can let us know the inside scoop. Happy new years all!

 

If you want to become an O/O, start with paying attention to your company truck. How much fuel/def are you using and at what price points? How often is the truck serviced and what is routinely done? When do the major components fail?

As you're doing that, get/keep your finances in order. One of the biggest problems I've seen with guys trying to get into owning a truck is a lack of capital and credit. Problems and catastrophes are much easier to deal with when you're rolling deep than when getting a roller dog is 'giving yourself a treat'. There was a study where researchers had participants play a game like Monopoly and put them into a binary choice situation where they could chose a long range plan with a virtually guaranteed payoff or a quick paying scheme with high risk with a very low chance of payoff. They were given the choice twice, once when the participant was flush with cash and once when they were skint. Almost invariably, the choice the participant made corresponded to their financial status in the game. When they were broke, they took the high risk option. When they had cash, they took the safe route to a guaranteed payoff.

You want to go into it with 1 year of "house expenses" and 6 months of "truck expenses" in cash equivalents. That way you don't NEED to be profitable. You can make mistakes without losing everything, which makes it easier to learn from the mistake instead of doubling down on stupidity. You want no other debt (outside of a mortgage) - especially no credit card debt. If you do that, work smart and learn from your own stupidities - there's a chance you'll make it. Just remember that more than 50% of first time truck owners don't.

As for now Fedex Freight is hiring inexperienced drivers in Kent Washington Driver Apprentice-City in Kent Washington | FedEx Careers

 

Any decent LTL carrier will start a driver out with no experience anywhere from $28 an hour to top out which can be as high as $35+an hour depending on experience. Like GentleRoger posted, they have driver apprentice programs and bring people in with no experience to train.

Yearly raises, overtime after 8 or 40 for some carriers, linehaul paying up to 80+cpm, retirement, up to 5 or 6 weeks vacation, and home daily for most of them.
And they have lowered the standards to get hired there over the last ten years.