Hello all! Advice for a newbie going OTR?

Trucking companies are not going to reimburse drivers for expenses the company will not pay for, like tolls. As a rule, if the company gives you guidance on tolls, you follow it or you donate your money to operate the company. I'd never do that. Before most tolls were electronically collected many/most companies reimbursed money drivers spent on tolls if you supplied the receipts. Now that most tolls are collected electronically, the trucking company pay the tolls electronically and the truck has a transponder so the toll charge gets assigned correctly.

As a company driver I've paid for windshield wipers, anti-gel fuel treatment, glad-hand seals, engine oil, fuses, lights and turned in receipts to be reimbursed. You need to find out what the company will reimburse, what items can be paid for with the truck fuel card, etc. You also need to track what you spend, submit, and what is reimbursed so that you get your money back. Trucking companies have hundreds or thousands of trucks and drivers and it is very easy to "forget" to reimburse the driver. Lumper fees are usually handled separately than smaller expenses. Lumper fees are payments required to load/unload the truck. It's not very common in dry van, it is routine in reefer. You will get some info during orientation and hands-on training with your trainer.

 

My perspective is a bit different, Im a big proponent of having 5yd, 10yd and 100yd targets. In other words figure out where you want to be in 2-5 years (100yd) and make decisions today that lead you down the right path.

what is your ideal trucking job, tanker, cryogenic, heavy haul, luxury autos, DOD or a dedicated route like Walmart? Figure that out and then take the steps required.


For instance, if you figure out that you really want to haul for Reliable someday then dryvan and reefer experience wont get you there.

you said you are 45 yrs old, you should be playing chess not checkers with your remaining work years.

 

This is why it's wise to take a picture of every receipt you submit for reimbursement and do not delete the picture until you have actually been paid. I also track my reimbursables in a spreadsheet.

 

Bad idea to get your license from a company. You’re essentially getting married before you ever even had a first date. Plus you’re signing up for a year of doing a job you’ve never done. You don’t even know if you can sleep in a truck, because you’ve never done it. And if you find out after a month or two that this marriage isn’t working out for you, the divorce is expensive. It’ll cost you around 6 grand to cut ties.

There’s a reason companies offer training, with stipulations. Think about it. You’ll be on the hook for it if you leave, whether it’s your choice or theirs.

I got my CDL for free through WIOA this past summer. I got to choose my school. It didn’t cost me a dime. I think someone already mentioned that program. I believe it’s available in most states, and it’s definitely the most preferable method of attaining a CDL A currently.

 

Claremont, NC
You're in a good location for trucking. In fact, the whole state is good for trucking jobs.

 

Well good luck then sweetheart. I’d still suggest paying for it out of pocket and looking for reimbursement. At least then you’ll have more options just in case you change your mind.